Some of the best places to buy a great horse are horse auctions. But keep in mind that you'll need to use your better judgment and common sense. Buying a horse is a major investment and you should be just as careful as if you were buying a car. So when you go, there are some things you really need to avoid.

Don't

- Don't make an impulse purchase. There are some cases where horses are doped up on drugs that make them seem healthy and calm. As rare as this is, you should still make the effort to double check. Ask the dealer if you can try out the horse before you buy it. A good horse dealer won't mind.

- Purchase a young pony for your children. At horse auctions you'll see a lot of people doing this. It's a nice idea on the surface, but in truth, no beginner should buy an inexperienced horse. This is especially important if the horse is going to be around children. It's far better to buy an older horse that is relaxed and calm.

- Purchase a horse based on color! You'd be amazed by how many people seem to do this. You may have a certain color that you would love to have, but it's important to check the overall health, demeanor, and temperament of a horse before you purchase it.

- Get a horse if you aren't ready to take proper care of it. Caring for a horse is a big expense. If you or someone else won't be taking care of the horse every single day, you'll be neglecting the horse. Food will still need to be bought even if you lose your job or want to purchase something new and cool.

With those tips out of the way, horse auctions are a great place to buy horses, and providing you have all you need to take care of a horse, good luck!