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For most people (e.g. excluding large breeders, horse dealers and such), it is usually best that you purchase a horse which is already trained to the level you will be using the horse at. If you will be using the horse for basic riding it should be trained to this level pre-purchase; if you are using it for advanced riding then you should buy a horse that is trained to the advanced level. If you are using it for show jumping, it should already be trained for show jumping.

Although cushings disease occurs in different animals (horses, dogs, even people), the symptoms for each species are different. For example, in horses it causes the coat to grow longer and thicker, often becoming curly, whereas in dogs it has the opposite effect of causing hair to fall out and produce bald spots. The equine (horses, ponies, etc.) version of this illness is known as ECD (Equine Cushings Disease).

Cribbing is one of the various bad habits which horses can develop. It appears to develop as a result of boredom, in particular when a horse is confined to a stall for most of the day and has never been observed in horses which live in a natural environment (e.g. pasture based). With cribbing, the horse grabs an object (e.g. fence rail or feeding trough) with its front teeth, then arches its neck while pulling on the item, then sucks in air. Although the reason for this activity has not been proven, it is believed that the horse does it because it results in the release of brain chemicals (such as endorphins) which are pleasurable. The terms ‘crib biting’ and ‘wind sucking’ are also used.

People can be allergic to many things and some people are allergic to horses. Depending on the person, this can result in one or more of the following symptoms: - Itchy or watery eyes - Itchy or running nose - Itchy skin, hives or rashes - Sneezing or coughing - Difficulty breathing - Asthma attack

First-time horse buyers often look closely at the cost of buying a horse and will by influenced by a few hundred dollars difference in the purchase price of different horses. What they don’t realise is that keeping a horse is far more expensive they buying one.

Colic is the most important horse illness in terms of: - It is the most frequent cause of pre-mature death of horses - It is the most common cause of serious illness, with at least 1 in 10 horses getting it each year - It is the bigest single cause of large veterinary bills (into thousands of dollars) - It sometimes results in other serious illnesses (e.g. laminitis or founder)

Laminitis is a serious hoof disease and the second most common cause (after colic) of premature death among domestic horses. Although laminitis is seldom fatal in itself, serious cases often lead to euthanasia either for humane reasons (the horse is crippled and in pain) or because the hoof damage means the horse can no longer be used.

When deciding on a new horse, a key factor is its health. Although one cannot be 100% certain that a horse is absolutely healthy, there are some basic checks.