TT55
Well-Known Member
After almost a decade of being horse-less I am finally looking to buy another horse. A polo pony to be precise...
Now apparently there is a big shortage of polo ponies at the moment due to increasing demand and decreasing supply (importation from Argentina has become ridiculously expensive).
I have many people advising me, all telling me various things. But all say don't rush. I'm not too keen to wait until spring as at the moment I am spending just as much to play as what it would cost to keep my own.
One of the people advising me is a professional player and he has a horse available for sale at the moment (on behalf of someone else). At first he said it wouldn't be suitable as he said it is more of a man's horse. He since changed his mind and let me try it. Turns out I quite liked it. It is by no means perfect, but if I can get it at a good price I will consider it (it's still very expensive compared to buying a 'normal' horse).
HOWEVER, after showing photos to another horsey friend, he said that the horse looked unkept (I put it's coat condition down to the weather???) and that it had a big belly like it has worms. I thought it was just a bit fat, but now thinking about it, it may well have a hay belly or a wormy belly. My question is, will this be sorted out by a good dose of wormer? Or could it end up being a problem? If the horse is not in tip top condition now, will it potentially become unmanageable to ride when it is?
I will, of course, be getting the horse vetted if I choose to buy it. But I need some advice making an informed decision. I THINK I can trust the person selling the horse... but after hearing so many horror stories, i'm starting to wonder if i can trust anyone! I'm not a novice by any means, but i've been out of the game a while and I am relying on others to offer me sound advice.
Opinions please? Would you spend big bucks on a horse that wasn't in top condition?
Now apparently there is a big shortage of polo ponies at the moment due to increasing demand and decreasing supply (importation from Argentina has become ridiculously expensive).
I have many people advising me, all telling me various things. But all say don't rush. I'm not too keen to wait until spring as at the moment I am spending just as much to play as what it would cost to keep my own.
One of the people advising me is a professional player and he has a horse available for sale at the moment (on behalf of someone else). At first he said it wouldn't be suitable as he said it is more of a man's horse. He since changed his mind and let me try it. Turns out I quite liked it. It is by no means perfect, but if I can get it at a good price I will consider it (it's still very expensive compared to buying a 'normal' horse).
HOWEVER, after showing photos to another horsey friend, he said that the horse looked unkept (I put it's coat condition down to the weather???) and that it had a big belly like it has worms. I thought it was just a bit fat, but now thinking about it, it may well have a hay belly or a wormy belly. My question is, will this be sorted out by a good dose of wormer? Or could it end up being a problem? If the horse is not in tip top condition now, will it potentially become unmanageable to ride when it is?
I will, of course, be getting the horse vetted if I choose to buy it. But I need some advice making an informed decision. I THINK I can trust the person selling the horse... but after hearing so many horror stories, i'm starting to wonder if i can trust anyone! I'm not a novice by any means, but i've been out of the game a while and I am relying on others to offer me sound advice.
Opinions please? Would you spend big bucks on a horse that wasn't in top condition?
