Horse/Choosing a horse

Choosing a horse involves

Discipline: what do you want from the horse?

"English" implies not only a style of tack, like this English saddle, but also a style of riding.

Western or English?

Although Western style riding includes classes in English pleasure, horses trained for that discipline may not be as comfortable with being ridden "on the bit".

Where can a horse be obtained?

Rescue horses

In the UK, the RSPCA offers horse adoption [1]

Racehorses

Racehorses can become adoptable for many reasons.

Thoroughbred race horses [2]. Other organizations place a variety of race horses, including standard bred pacers [3]

How can a horse be properly evaluated?

Avoiding injury

The reality of equestrian activities is that death and serious injury, including permanent paralysis, are not rare events. Such outcomes cannot be entirely prevented by proper training of horse and rider, the correct use of sound equipment in adequate facilities, or by riding only under proper supervision - but they can be readily prompted by any or all of the opposite practices. Horse shopping can be a very dangerous pastime for that reason.

The equestrian who is interested in avoiding catastrophe is generally advised to never ride a horse, no matter how safe and well-trained the animal is said to be, without seeing the horse ridden immediately beforehand by a person who is familiar with it.