Buying your first horse isn't an impulse purchase. You're not just buying an animal: horses live 20 to 30 years. It's a commitment for a long time. This guide walks through what to do, and what you're better off skipping.
Before You Start Looking
Make three decisions first:
1. Where will the horse be kept? Boarding, taking over a half-board share, or your own stable. Decide this before you start looking. A horse that doesn't fit its housing situation becomes a problem on day one.
2. What do you want to do with it? Recreational riding, dressage, show jumping, eventing, driving, all-round? The right first choice already takes this into account. A specialist 12-year-old show jumper that you want to teach dressage becomes an endless struggle.
3. What's your realistic budget? Don't just budget for the purchase itself (see what riding costs). Also plan a reserve for unexpected veterinary costs in year one: the LICG (the Dutch national information center for companion animals) says that operations in particular are expensive and that you can consider a special horse insurance.
Where to Look
| Channel | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Established dealer stable | Guarantee, right of exchange, often a test ride | Higher price |
| Private seller | Lower price, often more information about the horse's history | No guarantee, risk of hidden defects |
| Auction (KWPN, ELITE) | Pre-vetted horses, so you can see what everyone else is bidding | Fast pace, no chance for an extended test ride |
| Online platforms (Marktplaats, Horseman, Equinity) | Large selection | Lots of scams and misrepresentation: always visit in person |
For your first horse: start with a reputable dealer stable or through your own instructor. Buying privately requires experience you don't have yet.
Questions for the Seller
Ask these before you arrange a test ride and write down the answers. Whatever turns out to matter goes into the purchase contract later.
- Why is the horse being sold, and how long has the seller had it? A horse that was bought recently and is already for sale again calls for a clear explanation.
- What illnesses, injuries, and treatments has the horse had? Ask for the veterinary records and for the vaccinations.
- May I see the passport and check the chip number? According to the RVO (the Netherlands Enterprise Agency), you never buy a horse without a valid passport, and the chip number in the horse must match the one in the passport. Without a valid passport and chip, a horse also may not take part in competitions.
- Is the horse in the registration system? With the chip number you can look up on the RVO website whether the horse is known, who issued the passport, and whether the horse may be slaughtered for human consumption. If the passport says the horse may not be slaughtered, that can no longer be changed. Ask for the reason: the RVO names, among others, certain medications and a duplicate or replacement passport.
- How did the seller come by the horse, and can that be shown? A passport is proof of identity, not proof of ownership (RVO). An earlier purchase agreement or invoice shows whose horse it is.
- How does the horse behave with the farrier, in the trailer, in traffic, and around other horses? That tells you about behavior you won't see in a single test ride.
- May I keep the horse on trial, and may my own veterinarian do a pre-purchase exam? Both come up later in this guide.
The Test Ride
Arrange at least two test rides, on different days:
- First ride: have the seller ride the horse first. Watch whether it accepts tacking up calmly, whether it's easy to mount, whether the basic gaits are correct. Then you (at least 30 minutes, all three gaits, possibly a small jump).
- Second ride: bring your instructor or an experienced rider. Have them watch and ride the horse too. A second pair of eyes catches what you miss in your own enthusiasm.
What you're testing:
- Mounting and dismounting, without pushing or pulling
- Responds to leg aids, not just the whip
- Standing still in the arena and outside
- Riding away from a group without tension
- Reaction to unexpected stimuli (a rattling door, a noise)
Red flags: the seller doesn't want you to come back a second time, the horse is only calm after a sedative injection or heavy lungeing, no medical records available, the price feels too good to be true.
The Pre-Purchase Vetting
Legally, a pre-purchase exam is never mandatory. According to the LICG, it can be sensible to have a horse vetted when you buy it; that costs a few hundred euros, depending on how thorough the exam is. For a sport horse, the LICG says it can be sensible to also have X-rays taken of the legs, which costs more. Prices differ per practice: ask for a quote beforehand for the exam you want. If you want to insure the horse, ask the insurer beforehand whether it requires an exam, and which one. What exactly happens during the vetting and how to read the results is covered in the guide on the pre-purchase vetting.
The Royal Dutch Veterinary Association (KNMvD) has an examination report for horses that veterinarians can use for pre-purchase exams. With it, the veterinarian can do a clinical exam alone or add X-ray examination to it.
| Type of vetting | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Clinical (basic) | General examination and examination of breathing, heart, digestion, reproductive and urinary organs, nervous system, senses and eyes, and the locomotor system, including how the horse walks and moves |
| Clinical + X-rays | The clinical exam plus X-ray examination. Which images are taken, you agree beforehand with the veterinarian. In the KNMvD report, X-rays of the neck and back have their own assessment field; you can choose not to have them taken |
| Extensive | The above plus additional examination where indicated, for example a tendon ultrasound or blood tests. That depends on what the veterinarian finds and on what you want to do with the horse |
On the KNMvD report, the veterinarian also records what you want to use the horse for.
Important: choose a veterinarian that you pay and who serves your interests. A seller who proposes "their" veterinarian and pays for the vetting is a red flag. If in doubt, get a second opinion from an independent clinic.
An extensive vetting can reveal osteochondrosis (OCD), tendon damage, a heart murmur, eye problems, or lameness that you can't see yet but that shows up on X-rays. A missed OCD finding can later require surgery or shorten the horse's sports career.
The Purchase Contract
Always put the purchase in writing. Include:
- Identification: name, registration number, chip ID, age, sex, breed
- Purchase price and payment terms
- Date of transfer
- Seller's statement on health and behavior
- Cooling-off period or exchange clause (always ask about it and put the length in writing)
- Who pays for the vetting and interim care
Does a defect show up after the purchase that the seller didn't disclose? Report it as soon as possible, in writing. If you wait too long, you lose your rights. If you buy as a consumer from a dealer, reporting within two months of discovering the defect counts as on time. If the defect appears within one year of the purchase, Dutch law presumes it was already there, unless the seller proves otherwise. That rule does not apply to a private seller: then you have to prove the defect already existed at the time of purchase. More in Buying a Horse: The Purchase Contract and Your Rights.
Not sure about legal clauses? The Sectorraad Paarden (the Dutch horse industry trade association) and KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation) offer template contracts you can adapt.
Buying a Horse on Trial
With a sale on trial, you decide after a trial period whether you keep the horse. Dutch law (article 7:45 of the Civil Code) treats such a sale as concluded on the condition that the horse satisfies the buyer. If you let a period long enough to assess the horse pass without telling the seller your decision, you can no longer refuse the horse. As long as the sale is not final, the horse is at the seller's risk (article 7:46).
For a trial period, put in writing how long it lasts, how you report your decision, who pays for feed and the veterinarian, and what happens if the horse is injured or falls ill during the trial. A test ride at the seller's place (see above) is something else: there is no sale yet.
Beginner Mistakes
- Choosing a horse that's too young or too inexperienced. A 4-year-old isn't a partner for a first-time horse owner. Both need guidance from an experienced instructor. Start with an 8-14-year-old schoolmaster that has already been through the competition classes.
- Falling in love during the test ride. Before viewings, write down three hard criteria (e.g., "must be 17+ years old, no history of lameness, calm in the stable and on the road"). Stick to them.
- Skipping the pre-purchase vetting to save money. A vetting costs you an amount now, but a defect you only discover after the purchase can cost much more later: the LICG says that operations in particular are expensive.
- Not bringing an instructor. You're not experienced enough to buy on your own. A good instructor costs you an hour and saves you years of misery.
After the Purchase
Arrange the paperwork right away:
- At the handover, check that you receive the original passport and that the chip number in the horse matches the one in the passport. The original passport must always stay with the horse, including at a boarding stable or riding school (RVO).
- Have the horse registered at its new location. If a horse changes location for more than 30 days, the keeper of the old location reports within 7 calendar days that the horse has left, and the keeper of the new location that it has arrived, in the RVO's registration system (I&R, identification and registration). At a boarding stable, the stable keeper is responsible for this, using the stable's business number (UBN); if the horse stands on your own property, you need a UBN yourself.
- More on passports, chips, and registration is in Passport, Chip, and Registration: The Paperwork of Horse Ownership.
A new environment is stressful for a horse. Plan for the first month:
- No competitions, just loosening-up work and walking
- The same people around the horse
- Switch feed gradually (ask for the old feeding schedule)
- Schedule deworming and a dental check for week 2-3
Give the horse, and yourself, time. A well-bought first horse means years of enjoyment instead of years of regret.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I look for my first horse?
For your first horse, start at a dealer with a good reputation or through your own instructor. A dealer often offers a guarantee, an exchange right and the chance to test ride, at a higher price. Buying from a private seller requires experience you don't have yet. With online platforms, always go and see the horse in person.
Which papers belong with the horse?
According to the RVO (the Netherlands Enterprise Agency), you never buy a horse without a valid passport, and the chip number in the horse must match the one in the passport. Without a valid passport and chip, a horse also may not take part in competitions. The passport is proof of identity, not proof of ownership: a purchase agreement or invoice shows whose horse it is.
Is a pre-purchase exam mandatory?
Legally, a pre-purchase exam is not mandatory. Do choose a veterinarian that you pay and who serves your interests: a seller who proposes "their" veterinarian and pays for the exam is a red flag. What happens during an exam is covered in the pre-purchase vetting.
What if a defect shows up after the purchase?
Report it as soon as possible, in writing. If you buy as a consumer from a dealer, reporting within two months of discovering the defect counts as on time. If the defect appears within one year of the purchase, Dutch law presumes it was already there, unless the seller proves otherwise. That rule does not apply to a private seller: then you have to prove the defect already existed at the time of purchase.
Can I buy a horse on trial?
Yes. With a sale on trial, you decide after a trial period whether you keep the horse (article 7:45 of the Dutch Civil Code). If you let a period long enough to assess the horse pass without telling the seller your decision, you can no longer refuse the horse. Put the length and the agreements in writing.
What do I arrange right after the purchase?
Check that you receive the original passport and that the chip number matches; the passport always stays with the horse. If a horse changes location for more than 30 days, the keepers of the old and new location report that within 7 calendar days in the RVO's registration system. At a boarding stable the stable keeper does this; on your own property you need a UBN (business number) yourself.
Sources (verified September 2, 2026, purchase rules and registration October 20, 2026, pre-purchase exam and costs November 2, 2026): Dutch Civil Code: article 7:18a (presumption in consumer sales) · Dutch Civil Code: article 7:23 (timely notice) · Dutch Civil Code: article 7:45 (purchase on trial) · Dutch Civil Code: article 7:46 (risk during a purchase on trial) · RVO: Registration rules for horse keepers · RVO: Reporting horses · RVO: Applying for and rules on the horse passport · LICG: Horse (purchase and costs) · KNMvD: Veterinary examination report for horses (Veterinair keuringsrapport voor paarden) · KNMvD: course on the veterinary examination of the horse (components of the exam) · Stalwijs Market Monitor: auction data
See also: What riding costs: a cost overview · Buying a Horse at Auction · Auction prices in the Market Monitor · Glossary: pre-purchase vetting, studbook, boarding · Level: considering your own horse · Spotting a Neglected or Unhappy Horse When Buying