Getting started For long horse touring trips, an animal can be bought at the start of the trip and sold at the end. Horses are used for daily transport all over the world and are widely available. Experience with buying horses is, of course, helpful. For most, time and budget will mean that purchasing a horse is not a realistic option. For tours elsewhere there are a number of specialist travel and horse touring companies that can arrange trips.
Organised trips vary from the luxury to the basic.
Gear You need a horse. The features to look for in buying a horse are too many to list here, see specialised guides and other independent riders books for tips. Saddles and tack can be bought locally, however, quality of equipment is often poor so it is worthwhile carrying out some research into the availability before departure and giving consideration to what you should take. A crash hat is the only mandatory item and it is best to have one that fits properly. Other than this, you don't need much in the way of personal gear.