What You Need Before Buying Your First Horse: A Checklist

Do you have the knowledge and the time?

A horse is a commitment of years. The RSPCA says horses and ponies can live well into their thirties or longer, though their ridden or driven working lives may be much shorter; How Long Do Horses Live? covers how many years to plan for.

The welfare code published by the UK government department DEFRA (2017) advises an honest look at your experience and skills before you take on a horse; work at a riding stables, voluntary work with horses or qualifications will help. The British Horse Society (BHS) adds part-loaning someone else's horse, which shows you the real routine and costs.

Where the horse will live

A horse needs safe shelter, grazing and company of its own kind: DEFRA describes horses as herd animals that should be able to socialise with other horses, so a horse living completely alone is the weaker choice. Turnout, company and grazing are covered in more detail in the article on horse care.

The BHS names four common set-ups (British terms); ask each yard what is included and what costs extra; prices are in the article on monthly costs.

• Full livery: yard staff do the daily work, such as feeding, mucking out and turnout.
• Part livery: you share the tasks with the yard.
• DIY livery: you rent the stable and grazing and do all daily care yourself.
• Grass livery: the horse lives in a field all year round; some yards include feeding and watering.

Anyone in Slovenia who houses and cares for horses for third parties must, under the Regulation on the protection of farmed animals (Article 53.g, added by Ur. l. RS 63/2023), hold a training certificate: the training is at least ten school hours, followed by an exam; the three-year deadline ran out in June 2026 (our calculation, as of 29 September 2026). Ask the yard whether it has one. The Regulation applies to farmed animals (Animal Protection Act, Article 5, point 21); if your horse is kept purely for pleasure, ask the competent authority whether it applies.

Your own land gives you control but brings responsibility. The BHS says you need a reliable water source, proper shelter and someone trustworthy to cover your absence, and you may have to keep more than one horse for company. Under the English DEFRA code the general rule is roughly 0.5 to 1.0 hectares of suitable grazing per horse when no supplementary feed is given; the real area depends on the grass, ground, season, type of horse and pasture management, and may be smaller for a horse that is mostly stabled. That is a British figure, and we found no official Slovenian or Croatian figure for pasture area in hectares (the Regulation on the protection of farmed animals sets a minimum paddock area, see how much exercise a horse needs). In the Croatian Animal Protection Act we found no horse-specific turnout rule. A new stable may need permission (the BHS says so for the UK); in Slovenia or Croatia, ask your municipality.

Budget and insurance

We do not repeat amounts here: How Much Does a Horse Cost? covers the purchase, the pre-purchase exam and first equipment, and How Much Does It Cost to Keep a Horse Each Month? the running costs. The BHS recommends a financial buffer for unexpected vet bills.

Insurance covers two different things: liability and treatment. DEFRA warns that you can be held legally responsible for damage your horse causes even if you took precautions, so you should carry public liability insurance; the BHS strongly advises it. Vet insurance, says the BHS, gives reassurance for unexpected bills, but read the exclusions. We have not checked which policies exist in Slovenia and Croatia, so compare several insurers.

The team you need

The vet comes first. DEFRA says owners should have access to a vet and keep the vet's contact details, including out-of-hours information, easy to find. Find one before you buy, not in an emergency; in the vets directory on Živalce.si you can choose "Horses" under "Animals accepted".

Next come the farrier and dental specialist: the BHS counts visits from the vet, farrier, saddle fitter and dental technician among the regular visits that take up your time too.

Third is an instructor. The Equestrian Federation of Slovenia (KZS) says its licensed teachers completed training approved by the ministry responsible for education; the Croatian Equestrian Federation lists licensed trainers and instructors. The BHS advises taking a trusted coach or knowledgeable friend to view a horse.

Choosing the horse

Choose for what you can manage, not for looks. Age, schooling, viewing and trying the horse are covered in Which Horse Is Right for a Beginner? Choosing for a child? Extra points apply, covered in A Pony or Horse for a Child: What Parents Need to Know. Breed is only one factor: suitability depends on the individual horse, its training and your instructor, so even a breed profile such as the Haflinger or the Lipizzaner is no substitute for viewing and trying.

Paperwork: passport, microchip and register

As of 29 September 2026, per the official sources named here; confirm deadlines and forms with the issuing body before you buy. Every horse needs a single lifetime identification document (ID, in everyday speech a "passport"), which according to the Slovenian Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection (UVHVVR) must accompany it when it moves. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963 the keeper must have the horse identified within a period set by the Member State, at most 12 months after birth, and the document goes to the new owner when ownership changes. The details are national, so Slovenia and Croatia are covered separately.

Slovenia. According to the UVHVVR page, identification is the responsibility of the "operator" (izvajalec dejavnosti), who may or may not be the owner, and who must be entered in the register of keepers of farm animals (EIRŽ). The holding where the horse lives must be registered (holding number G-MID) before keeping begins, including holdings with equidae kept as a hobby. Where horses of different owners stand on someone else's premises, the Pravilnik (Official Gazette RS 1235/26, Art. 15) generally has the owner or possessor of the site register the holding, so at a livery yard ask for its number. A move to a new holding, permanent or over 30 days, must be reported to an authorised veterinary organisation or the issuer (Veterinary Faculty, Lipica) within 7 days after the move, says UVHVVR; the Pravilnik, in force since 1 August 2026 (Art. 9), has the operator at the destination holding notify the CRK within 7 days of arrival. The owner entry in the ID and CRK is informational only; for pedigree and competition horses an owner change goes through the Veterinary Faculty or Lipica.

Croatia. The Ministry of Agriculture says all equidae must be entered in the Central Equine Register, which records every change of ownership. A horse must be identified and have an ID by 12 months of age and in any case before permanently leaving the holding; marking means a transponder and an outline diagram. The ID stays with the keeper and travels with the horse. HAPIH requires the ZPV form to be signed by seller and buyer; when the seller signs separately, the buyer has 14 days to complete the process. The Ministry's pages still cite older rules (NN 123/09, NN 96/15); under the Pravilnik on registration and approval of entities and establishments (NN 102/2025), premises where equidae of different owners are kept (livery yards) are also subject to registration. Ask the Ministry or the veterinary inspection what applies to your location.

Buying across the border (SI/HR)? According to UVHVVR, a horse moving to another country must travel with a veterinary certificate as well as the ID; confirm other requirements and deadlines with the issuer of the document.

The vet's examination before you buy

A pre-purchase examination ("vetting") is carried out by a vet at your request to assess whether the horse has problems that could limit its intended use. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) says it is specific to the horse presented, the buyer who commissioned it and the stated purpose, so it is non-transferable: the same horse may suit one buyer but not another. DEFRA advises examination by an independent vet.

The scope differs by country; the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that US examinations are not standardised. The BHS describes a 2-stage vetting and a fuller 5-stage one that adds ridden exercise; the article on the price of a horse compares what each includes and the UK prices.

X-rays are not part of a 2-stage or 5-stage vetting according to the BHS, but you can add them. The Zagreb author says X-rays are not compulsory everywhere, yet carry great weight in Croatia.

You choose the vet, not the seller: the BHS strongly advises against the seller's vet, and Merck and the Zagreb author agree the vet should have no tie to the seller. Tell the vet your plans and experience (BEVA, Merck) and be present. In the UK the seller is not the vet's client, so findings go to the seller only with the buyer's consent (BEVA).

After the exam, sources differ. The BHS says a vet is unlikely to "pass" or "fail" a horse but discusses how likely it is to suit your intended use; the American AAEP says the vet should express no opinion on suitability, as that is solely the buyer's business judgment. All agree a vetting is no guarantee: the BHS says it does not guarantee future health, and Merck that a comprehensive examination finds some abnormality in almost every horse.

“Ultimately, the buyer must understand that the decision to purchase rests with them.” (Merck Veterinary Manual)

Contract and records when buying

The Veterinary Faculty in Ljubljana strongly recommends a sales contract because it lets the new owner prove ownership. The BHS also recommends a sales receipt and a transfer-of-ownership statement, and keeping adverts, messages and videos in case of a dispute. Ask the seller to disclose in writing the horse's medical and surgical history and the dates of recent shoeing, vaccination, worming and dental care (Merck).

What a buyer can demand if a horse is not as described depends on national rules and on whether a dealer or a private person sells; the BHS describes UK conditions, so take legal advice in Slovenia and Croatia.

First-day checklist

Frequently asked questions

Does a horse have to be registered?

Yes. In Slovenia, according to UVHVVR, every horse must be marked with a microchip and have an ID, and the holding needs a G-MID number and an EIRŽ entry; in Croatia every equine must be in the Central Equine Register (Ministry). Before you pay, compare the document's description and chip number with the animal.

Can I keep a horse at home in the garden?

Not without preparation: a horse needs grazing or turnout, shelter, water and equine company, so one horse alone in a garden is a poor start. Ask your municipality whether a stable needs permission, and the Ministry of Agriculture (Croatia) how to register the holding; in Slovenia it is registered with UVHVVR or the administrative unit before the horse arrives.

Is it better to loan a horse first?

It can be: the BHS names part-loaning as a way to learn the real daily routine and costs. But a loan gives no owner's rights: DEFRA says loan periods can end at any time, and the agreement should set out what care and costs you cover and how to end it. Loan costs are in the price article, loan as a trial in the beginner's guide.

What should I ask the seller?

Ask about history, health and behaviour. The BHS suggests questions about past injuries and illnesses, behaviour when hacking, loading, catching and clipping, behaviour with other horses, stereotypies, and whether vaccinations, shoeing or trimming and general care are up to date. Ask for a written medical history (Merck) and see the document.