Things to consider when buying a horse.

Buying a horse should be well-planned and carefully thought out. Don't settle for less than you expect nor more than you can handle. There are always other horses and other days.

Horses are expensive, to buy or to keep. A lot of time is required for daily care. Unless you are willing to devote time on a regular, daily basis and to pass up other activities, you probably should not become a horse owner.
Horses can become a life-long hobby, and owning a horse may also encourage development of responsibility in young people.

A horse's condition and training are more important than its age. Prime age for a horse is about seven to nine years, but this is not necessarily the ideal age. Horses frequently are active into their late twenties if they get proper care.
A buyer can often buy a top-quality older horse at the same price or less than he would pay for a younger horse of lesser quality. Although most older horses can't perform as actively as they did when younger, they may have many years of useful service left.

Be ready to decide whether you prefer a younger horse or if an older one would do as well. This decision can't be made until you evaluate each individual horse.

The age of the horse you buy depends on what you can afford and what horses you find available. Your experience is also important. An inexperienced horseman should not purchase an untrained young horse, unless both he and the horse will receive training from a competent professional.

Mounting a green rider on a green horse is a serious mistake. The rider can't improve his horsemanship if the horse is not trained to behave properly, and the horse can't learn to respond properly if the rider has not been taught how to give cues. Neither rider nor horse is capable of handling potentially dangerous situations that may arise on any bridle path or trail.

Faults and problems of a poor horse can be disguised or may not be noticed by an inexperienced buyer. If you don't have the necessary background, seek help from a reputable individual who knows horses. Veterinarians are commonly used as resource persons. Other respected horsemen, such as breeders or trainers, also can help.
Since you must spend the money and live with the horse afterward, you should become as knowledgeable as possible. Know the type of horse you want, why you want it and what to look for.

There are both advantages and disadvantages in owning registered horses. A registered horse may enter both breed and open classes in competition while an unregistered horse is restricted to open events. Registered horses usually have a higher resale value than do unregistered horses, but also are more expensive. Simply because a horse is registered does not automatically mean it has better conformation, disposition or training than a less expensive horse of uncertain origin.
When you examine a registered horse, ask to see its registration certificate. Check the papers carefully to be sure the description fits the horse you are considering. Ownership transfers must be up-to-date. Don't buy a registered horse unless the papers come with it. You can send them to the breed association yourself as long as the owner has signed the transfer statement.