A hunter is a horse used show on the flat or over low fences, this is in contrast with a jumper; a horse shown over tall fences. While a jumper is judged purely on faults, a hunter is judged on many factors, including overall appearance, proper form over fences, correct leads, and so on. Buying a child's hunter horse can be a difficult task as while many horses can jump fences, few are suitable for a child, and just being able to jump fences might get the child around the course, they will not necessarily win ribbons if they wish to be competitive.

Price

Depending on where you live a good child's hunter could cost well over $3,000. This being one that is well trained, seasoned, and has proven itself. In some cases these good horses can be over $10,000.  Buying a horse is a huge commitment.

Where to Look for a Good Child's Hunter Horse or Pony

Your local tack store, saddlery shop, or even livestock feed store, may have a bulletin board of horses for sale. Many of these also offer periodicals where people advertise their horses for sale. Some of the larger riding stables often have bulletin boards where ads are posted. Riding instructors often know which horses are for sale in the area.

Many horses are advertised for sale on the Internet, however you must use caution and never buy a horse sight unseen no matter how good the advertisement seems.

What to Look for in the Horse Itself

You want to arrive to see the horse early, watch it getting caught in the pasture to see if it is easy to catch. Be suspicious if you arrived early and the horse was already stabled, feel between its front legs to see if it is warm indicating that it has already been ridden, possibly to tire it out and make it more calm.

Watch how easy the horse is to have its feet picked up, saddle, and bridle. Also note if it stands well when tied in general. Make a note of the bit they are using, if it is harsh bit this could indicate the horse is hard to control.

Have the owner ride it, watch how the horse moves. Hunters are judged on their gaits which should be smooth and forward moving. Have them take the horse over a few fences. The horse should not rush the jumps or appear to be afraid of them. Over the fence the horse should arc its neck nicely and tuck its feet well. As the horse goes over the fence the front legs should be even, the horse should be equally neat with its hind legs too, noting that a horse that is sloppy when picking up its legs over the fences will be penalized in a class.

Next either you, your trainer, riding instructor, or your child, should ride the horse. You want to get a feel of how easy the horse is to ride, steer, and control. Take it over a few jumps, just enough to see if the horse feels hesitant, or rushes, as it approaches the fences. Ask it for a lead change.

photo source - note the "neat" front legs

Be sure to ask about the horse's show record.

If you are buying a pony as a hunter be sure your child will not outgrow it too soon, select a pony that is slightly “too big” for your child rather than one that is just right, as this will allow them more time together.

Veterinarian Check

If you are paying a lot of money for a horse having a veterinarian examine it is a good idea. This is usually done at the cost to the buyer, and should be a veterinarian selected by the buyer.

Contracts and Guarantees

It is important to get everything in writing. In some cases you can ask for a 2 week trial period but not all sellers will be open to this. The contract should state:

• Date of sale
• Seller's and buyer's name and contact information
• Name and description of the horse
• Terms and Conditions of sale (eg, paid in full, listing details of a trial period)
• Include reference to the veterinarian check, or indicate the horse is sold as is
• Be signed by both parties

The buyer should also receive the horse's health care records, vaccination reports, as well as the registration papers if the horse is registered (note a seller cannot charge extra for registration papers).