It's been a lot of work, but everything's finally ready for your new horse companion--stable, fencing, pasture. You have a hay supplier, a farrier, and a veterinarian lined up, a horse trailer available, a bucket full of new grooming tools, and a big empty stall--but no horse. Not yet.

How do you go about finding the right horse for you? It's a big decision and you don't want to make a mistake. Before you start visiting stables, there are a lot of things you need to think about.

How much experience with do you have with horses?

Just because you've ridden a lot doesn't mean you're ready to take care of a Thoroughbred stallion straight off the racetrack. Then again, just because you're a raw beginner doesn't mean you can't have a great relationship with a horse of your very own. You just need to find the right horse.

The first step is evaluating your experience with horses honestly. Can you ride competently? Have you ever cared for a horse before? Can you put on a saddle without someone helping you? Do you know how to clean out hooves, and can you tell when a horse doesn't feel well? Answering no to any of these questions should make you think about the kind of care you can give your horse. Before you rush out and buy your dream animal, consider taking a class, joining a club, or finding a mentor who will be willing and able to teach you what you need to know. Most "horsey" people are friendly and eager to share their wisdom with someone equally eager to learn.

What horse breeds interest you?

If you're going to get a horse, get a horse you like. If you long for a graceful, fleet Arabian, that's where you need to start. If you love the solid beauty of a Percheron, don't let anyone talk you into an Arabian.

The first step is to research your favorite breeds. Find out the typical temperament, housing and feed requirements, and any specialized care your breed may require. You'll need a bigger stall with more headroom for a Percheron than an Arabian, for instance, but an Arabian may need more daily exercise than a Percheron.

What will you be doing with your horse?

If you just plan to trail ride or participate in local events, you'll need a much different horse from someone who plans to hit the professional barrel racer circuit or wants to show on a national level. Consider your plans together with your experience.

If you expect to be showing your horse, you'll need to make sure you buy an animal from good bloodlines that is registered in the appropriate breed associations. You'll want to join those associations ahead of time, too, both for networking and to learn as much as possible about the breed. Become very familiar with your breed's ideal conformation and common faults.

If you want to do a mix of local evening--small shows, fun competitions, and so forth--and pleasure riding, you don't need to spend as much for a fully registered pureblooded horse. You'll save a lot of money if you consider a half-Arab or half-Percheron.

If you just want a horse for trail rides with the occasional event thrown in for fun, you don't need a purebred or super refined athlete. You're lucky in that you have a wide spectrum of horses to choose from, so you can find the horse whose personality exactly fits yours without worrying too much about looks and breed.

For more specialized plans you may need to adjust your idea of breed. For instance, your Percheron probably wouldn't be very happy in an endurance ride, but your Arabian might live for the sport. Then again, your Arabian would be out of place hitched to a plow, but your Percheron would love the activity. Keep in mind what your favorite breeds were originally bred for. If you don't want to give up the breed, consider adapting your interests to breed-specific activities.

Naturally, no matter what your plans for your horse, you'll want to have the horse examined by a veterinarian before you make a decision about buying.

Stallion, mare, or gelding?

Unless you have a lot of experience with horses, you don't need a stallion. Stallions can be difficult to control, especially around other horses, and can be dangerous when an in-season mare is in the area. If you're serious about getting a stallion, talk to experienced horse people and find out what they recommend. Stallions of some breeds have calmer dispositions than others, but you don't want to buy a stallion and find out too late that your horse is the exception to his breed's calm-stallion rule.

A mare is much better for the average horse owner. While a mare can be a little irritable while in season, it's rarely a problem, and you always have the option of having your mare bred. If your horse is a well-bred animal with no conformation issues, and particularly if you show her, it makes sense to breed her. On the other hand, a mare can be much more expensive because you're not only buying her, you're buying her future foals as well. A good broodmare will never be cheap.

If money is a consideration, or you just don't want to deal with foals, you can always buy a gelding. These neutered males are as even-tempered as mares and may be more predictable in behavior.

In the end, the choice is up to you. Just be sure to do your homework before you decide on a stallion, and if you choose to breed your mare make sure you know what you're getting into.

What age should your horse be?

A younger horse generally has more energy than an older horse, but may also be more excitable, nervous, and harder to control. An older horse is usually calmer and has a less changeable personality--young horses, like young people, sometimes try out "attitudes" to see how they like them. An older horse may also be better trained--or then again, it may have more bad habits.

Unless you have experience training horses, you probably don't want a very young horse (under six years old). Often, a "green-broke" or novice horse will sell cheaply, but it takes a lot of time and effort to finish the horse's training. Then again, if you have the time and experience--or an experienced trainer to help you--finishing the training can be a fantastic way to bond with your horse and also get him or her trained exactly the way you like.

On the other hand, if you buy a very old horse you may be buying some physical problems as well. Even if your vet pronounces the horse sound, will he or she still be sound in a few years? If you just want a horse for non-strenuous rides and companionship, though, an older horse may be ideal, and you have the added satisfaction of giving an old-timer a good retirement.

How big should your horse be?

If you're six feet tall and weigh 250 pounds, you want to make sure you get a horse strong enough to carry you and tall enough that your feet don't drag the ground. Then again, if you're four feet tall and petite, you might feel nervous on a seventeen-hand horse. Your breed choice will make a big difference on the size of your horse. If you have your heart set on a Shetland pony but you're a fully grown adult, you won't be able to ride your pet. In general, it's better to buy a horse that's a little large for you rather than a little small.

What kind of personality should your horse have?

After all the preliminary work is done, how you and the horse get along is the big factor. You may find a horse who is perfect in every way, but who has a personality that clashes with yours. You may be easy-going while he's high-strung; you may be athletic while she's lazy. If possible, visit a prospective horse a number of times before making a decision. Get to know the horse. Remember, you're going to be spending many years with your horse; you want to enjoy each other's company.

Should you consider looks when buying a horse?

That's up to you, ultimately. If your choice comes down between two otherwise perfect horses, you'll probably end up with the one whose color or markings you prefer. But don't let a pretty color blind you to conformation faults, and don't get a horse just because he's flashy-looking. Even if you plan to show in breed classes, color is one of the last things a judge will look at.

Conformation, condition, training, temperament, and personality are the important issues. Remember the old horse trader's adage: "Fat is the best color."

Searching for a new horse can be exciting, but the real excitement comes when your new friend is in your stall or pasture, ready to get to know you. At last the work is over and you can enjoy having your very own horse, knowing that you've done everything you could to pick the right companion for you.