We all value our animals — both in terms of money and our emotional attachment to them. Although there are fewer horses today than a hundred years ago, there are more people who own horses, and individual animals have a much higher value.

Many well-meaning people buy a horse just because they become emotionally attached to it — kind of like “love at first sight.” However, before you fall in love with that horse, it’s important to get the opinion of some experts — and listen to what they say — about the horse. Purchasing a sound horse will help you avoid some very expensive and potentially incurable problems that would be with you all of that horse’s life.

Here are 5 important tips that will help you improve your chances of purchasing a horse that is sound:

1) Engage a competent farrier as well as an equine veterinarian to perform a thorough pre-purchase soundness examination of the horse — before you become emotionally attached to it. Hire a specialist who does this type of exam regularly and knows what to look for. This doesn’t have to mean a lot of x-rays or expensive tests; it simply means you have an experienced person look over the animal and examine it closely.

2) Purchase the horse only if these experts pronounce the animal sound. If you plan to hire a professional to take care of your horse, you will profit by also getting their opinion before you buy. A horse that may not be sound for use as a daily stressed runner may be ideal for an occasionally ridden pleasure horse.

3) Learn about conformation. Consult some books, look at horses, study them, and really acquaint yourself with what is good conformation and what is not.

4) Learn about behavior. Become familiar with what constitutes normal behavior and what is abnormal behavior in horses. Look for these traits in the horse you are interested in purchasing.

5) Learn about feet. If you haven’t studied the feet in any detail, consult a good book that includes the anatomy of the horse’s foot. Pay attention to any genetic factors in some breeds and lines of horses, such as club feet and other inherited problems.

When searching for a horse to purchase, if you come upon a foot problem on a horse that otherwise seems to have a lot of possibilities, have the feet examined more closely. The experienced observation and advice of an expert is often more valuable than simply looking at an x-ray and making a decision on your own.

Realize that you are making a major commitment to take care of this animal — perhaps for its entire life. A rational judgment at the beginning could save you tons of money and heartaches later and make your life with your horse an even more enjoyable experience.