How to buy the right horse with a clear head: find one that matches your riding, ask the right questions, ride a proper trial, get a thorough vetting, and seal the purchase with a fair contract.
Buying a horse is a big decision – financially and emotionally. The most common trap is falling for the wrong animal. Honest preparation, straight questions and a calm process will lead you to a horse that fits your riding, your goals and your everyday life. Here is the whole path, from first daydream to a completed purchase.
Before you start looking, be honest with yourself about your riding, your goals and how much time you really have. A horse you can handle and develop at your own pace will give you years of pleasure; one that is too much can become dangerous – and expensive. Write down what you are actually looking for before emotion takes over.
A decent advert should have honest photographs from several angles, and ideally video of every pace. Read the description carefully and phone the seller before you travel. A conversation tells you a great deal – whether the seller is straightforward and knows the horse, and whether the animal actually matches what you are looking for.
Book two viewings if you can, before you decide. Arrive on time and ask to see the whole picture – fetching from the field, tacking up, the warm-up – before you get on. How the horse is cared for, and how it behaves on the ground, says at least as much as how it feels under saddle.
A pre-purchase vetting is one of the best investments you can make. The vet examines the horse's general condition, movement and health, and can add X-rays. You get an objective basis for your decision – and you avoid expensive surprises.
Once you have decided, put everything in writing. A purchase contract protects both you and the seller. Never pay the full amount before the agreement and handover are complete, and stay alert to fraud on remote purchases – always insist on seeing the horse and the seller in person.
If you are buying from a distance, plan the homeward journey in good time. As the buyer you rarely need a permit yourself – but the haulier must be properly licensed, especially if you are paying someone to drive your horse. Ask about permits, insurance and experience before you book.
Every horse in Sweden must have a horse passport and be microchipped. The passport travels with the horse at purchase – it is not sent in when ownership changes. Instead, notify the organisation that issued the passport (breed society or studbook) using the proof of ownership and the purchase contract. If you keep the horse at your own premises for at least 30 days, you must also register it on your holding with Jordbruksverket (the Swedish Board of Agriculture).
Yes, if you can. An experienced trainer or horse person will notice things you may miss in the excitement – movement, temperament, and whether the horse matches your riding. It is cheap insurance against an expensive mistake.
It is strongly recommended. An independent pre-purchase exam gives you an objective picture of the horse's health and movement, and can save you from substantial costs. Agree the scope (clinical examination and X-rays if needed) according to the price and the intended use.
If you buy from a private individual, köplagen applies: the contract carries real weight, and as the buyer you bear the burden of proving that a defect was pre-existing. If you buy from a trader – or from a private seller through a sales yard – konsumentköplagen (2022:260) applies. It is mandatory in your favour: you have three years to complain, and a fault that appears within six months is presumed to have been present at purchase. For animals costing more than half a prisbasbelopp (SEK 5,920 in 2026), however, the six-month rule may be contracted out. Establish which law applies before you sign.
Always see the horse and the seller in person before you pay, never send the full amount in advance, and be wary of prices that look too good to be true or sellers who will not meet. Sign a contract and complete the handover before final payment.
On top of the purchase price come livery or your own yard, feed, the farrier, the vet, insurance, tack and any training. Work through the full monthly cost before you buy, so the figures hold up over time.