New horse

Action point:  it takes a horse about a year to adjust to a new place, so a good time to buy a horse is in the fall because then you have the winter to get to know the horse and sort things out.

Rational:  Changing homes is stressful.  Importing a horse is very stressful.  I have found that imported horse get the time off whether you give to them or not.  The change from Europe to here is huge:  different tasting food, different routines, the bugs here, the ground is harder here, you don’t ride as well.

Action point:  have expectations of behaviour.  Know how to correct a horse.

Rationale:  After a few months you will have trained the horse to your expectations.  If your once mannerly horse is not mannerly:  it is you.