Hi merilynj78,
Welcome to the Uni and the Forum!
You're about to embark on a wonderful journey.....if you make the right start!
So consider finding a Certified Instructor in Monty's concepts where you live, and get some hands-on experience and advice before you decide what kind of horse would suit you.
Your question about one or more horses is a very important one, horses being herd animals need each others company. There a so much to learn about these beautiful animals. A lifetime of learning lays ahead of you, take your time, to be well prepared.
Many happy horse hours,
Miriam

Hi Merilyn & welcome. Great advice from Miriam, as always. There are so many possibilities, depending on what you want to achieve. Horses require daily attention & constant companionship ( herd animals ). They should have annual inoculations, regular worming checks & a farrier to attend to their hooves every 2 months - even when not working or if barefoot. Depending on where you live, some breeds or types of horse need to be stabled in bad weather - more equipment & time required to carry out basic needs. Sorry, this is beginning to sound like I'm trying to put you off the idea - but I'm really not. These are the realities of responsible horse ownership. It's a costly business, both in terms of money & personal commitment. My advice would be to find a horse owner willing to share with you, as a step towards becoming an owner in your own right. That way you experience the reality & expense whilst gaining knowledge. Then you would be in a position to absolutely KNOW whether or not to commit to looking for a life partner - horses can live well into their 30s so you're talking about a partnership of decades. I'm assuming you are the type of person who would be appalled by the thought of abandoning your horse once it was no longer competitive or euthanasia to avoid the expense of a well earned retirement in favour of a youthful replacement. So much to consider - so not just sunny days & carefree canters across open grasslands. Having said all of that I wouldn't ever part with Max, Humphrey, Kirk or Miss Moley - they bring me too much joy! Cheers, Jo.

Make sure that when you go to buy the horse that you watch the sellers saddle the horse and allow you to ride it. Also, get a saddle that fits well. Montysfan

Hi. More good advice, if incomplete. Yes, see the horse being saddled but also watch someone ride it first. Any excuses, then offer to come back another time when you can see it ridden - before you risk your neck on an animal you don't know. Check for signs of being washed off - could have been worked hard & long before your arrival ( exercise is a great way to suppress less than desirable traits ). Visit more than once, preferably at least once without prior notice. This allows you to build some small bond with the horse & also to see it unprepared for you. Ask to groom it. Is it edgy or nervous or, conversely, half asleep? If too relaxed it may be on a high dose of calmer. Buying a horse is not so far removed from buying a used car so, take someone knowledgeable with you - someone who can be objective. Once you have decided that you can afford the costs of upkeep & the emotional price of horse ownership ( partners & family need to understand that a new member is joining the family ) then it's likely you will try several, if not many, horses before you find a match. Don't dismiss a horse with scars if they are consistent with an active life - the totally clean legged horse may have little experience of life in the great outdoors - but be very easy in arena. Lastly, before you seal the deal have a vet check. It won't cover everything but it will give you some legal leverage, if needed. A neighbour of mine, years ago, came back from the sales with a stunningly gorgeous horse, the highest priced animal of the day. Three days later the pain killers wore off & the horse was irrevocably lame! Heartbreaking & very costly. Terms of sale were 'as seen' so no comeback, no refund, high vet bills & the horse couldn't be saved. Not everyone who sells a horse is a bandit. However, there are good reasons why poor tradesmen are referred to as 'cowboys' & for sayings like 'buyer beware'. Cheers, Jo.

Hi Merilyn ;  You have received outstanding advice from these ladies above.  They have withstood the test of time with their horses, with their lives and as human beings.  Their wisdom stands and separates itself in the company of the outstanding.  

 The only thing that I might add would be for you to look at what`s available with an older trained mare that has the ability to teach you about the horse- human relationship while also can take you on a trail ride that is safe for you.  If you look around, I believe that you might find many choices in this category.  These mares will teach you more in a few months than many of the other choices.  Coming into the horse world like you are, GOOD INFORMATION will be your strongest capital.  The Bedouins of the Middle East rode mares on their raids for a reason.  Their male counterparts raised too much of a  commotion.  Please give this approach some thought.  

Good luck
Bud 

Hi Merilyn and all,

Having read Buds advice about a mare, I kept thinking of Monty's 'Willing Partners', who are all geldings, for a reason. Monty wants them to be stabile and reliable, pridictable and not prone to hormonal fluctuations....
This made me look back on my time at FlagIsUpFarms, when the Introductory Exam and the Advanced Course were set so, that I could stay there for a whole month.
I was joined by a young women, who had been in one of Monty's 'Riding with Respect' courses and had fallen in love with the Willing Partner she had been riding during the course. She decided to buy that great teacher! She was not an experienced rider to begin with, but very willing to learn and invest time in her own education. So we spend 4 weeks of learning together and I watched her grow, as a person and as a rider.
Learning can be so much fun and it can go so fast, if you find the right path for yourself and the horse.
Sharing this story with you doesn't mean I expect you to do exactly the same, but it might help you to be even more creative and find what fits you most!
DO take a look at the 'Willing Partners' program, these are such wonderful, handpicked horses with a great lifetime ahead of them.
'Have fun and let your horse have fun, too'
Miriam

Monty also has a DVD called "The Perfect Match" which is a guide to buying horses. Or like Miriam said, you should take a look at the Willing Partners program. A horse from Monty may be more expensive that one from your neighbor down the road, but it would be well worth the money! 

Hi  merilynj78 . I am throwing in my two cents here as well, although most have already been said.
What I want to say ties in a bit with Jo's response; I want you to look at yourself first. What do you want to do, what are your dreams, what is realistic, how much time and money do you have to spend in this? If things go wrong in any way, do I have the means to fix it? (And you don't need to tell us about that, just yourself!) :)

Your post gives little clue to your experience of horses and riding but whatever it is, I think before you go for a horse, that you consider your own knowledge in riding and caring for it - what do you want to do with it? Show jumping or plain trekking in the forest? Whatever it is, you need to look for a horse that is "geared" in that way too or you are bound to disappoint eachother.
Also, make sure you have an experienced trainer of some sort that you can turn to - a lot! You will need it. ;)

Then there is the question of your own knowledge base. You say you are an amateur and this is your first ever horse, so maybe the horse you look for is a well schooled, mature horse of a calm disposition, that can teach you a lot and not frighten you - which happens way too easily I'm afraid. (Then, maybe, your next horse can be more of a challenge.) 

Best of luck, and remember; if you don't find the right horse at once, don't worry! Sooner or later, he will find you! ;)

Hey everyone,
Thanks so much for your input.  It is very appreciated!  I will consider it carefully.

Cheers!

Hello,

I just purchased my first horse two months ago. I was taking ground work lessons and asked my trainer if she thought it would be a good idea to buy a horse that we could work with instead of using hers during lessons. She thought that was a great idea and went on the hunt for one. She found me the perfect pony. She found a 7 yr. old gelding that had a lot of experience and hours of training because she knew that my 61 year old timid self needed a boy like that. It was great because she knew me well and went on the hunt for my boy. He cost more than I would have wanted, but thanks to her insight and the info from Monty, I'm in "horse heaven". He's the perfect fit for me! My suggestion would be to ask your instructor to help you find your new friend. 

Hello and best wishes to you! I am 62 and purchased my first horse last year! I had no experience, barn, or paddocks before considering buying a horse. I started by taking lessons and asked my trainer to keep an eye out for a nice horse. I asked my husband his thoughts and he ran with it! He built a small barn with two walk-out stalls. We used the "covid time" to build fences and finish the barn. I found my first horse, a POA (Pony of America) because I thought the size was nice. It turned out that he was $5,000 and too much for me. He bucked my trainer and would just harder for me to handle. I found his a nice home and looked for another. We wound up finding two quarter horses. My horse, Henry, is a 2003 model. He was a cow horse in Montana for years and somehow made his way to a farm in Wisconsin. Yes, he's older, but he is perfect for me. He is kind, gently, doesn't spook, he is everything I could have asked for! Our second horse is 14 and is also a sweet, kind horse. He is a sweetheart as well. I LOVE quarter horses and have read that they are a great breed for beginners. I love that they are older because they are calm and gentle. I would never have one by himself. It makes me so sad to see a herd animal in some field all alone. It worked out really well for us because our neighbors have a lot of land and their teen wanted a horse. So, after our paddocks were done, they decided to add two acres on to it and bought their daughter he horse. So, now our boys are a small herd of three. We had the Amish build her a little barn and now the horses have two areas where they can walk in and out of shelters. So...my advice, get to know horse people. Listen and learn. Read. Dream big. Have confidence and if this is what you want, do it. All I have to do is look out my widow,and there they are. I am talking riding lessons, but most of my enjoyment comes from hanging out with them in the field. They have grown to trust me completely and I them. It's an incredible joy! Best wishes to you! Kathy from Wisconsin

Yikes..sorry for all of the typos. I hope my comments helped. i also should have probably said that we paid $2,000 for Henry, so more money doesn't always mean more horse. On one of my trips to find a horse, I took a farrier and that proved to be invaluable. He charged $100 to go with me, but noticed immediately that the horse I was looking to buy, was lame. He saved me a lot of trouble. I think if you find a great trainer and rely on him/her for advice and help, that would be a great idea. Oh, and I prayed...a lot! Best wishes! Kathy