buying a horse - questions to ask

[MissSBird]

Well I'm beginning to look into getting another horse. I'd forgotten how daunting it was looking!

It's only my second time doing this so I thought I'd ask for the benefit of everyone elses experience? As a buyer what sort of questions do you like to ask? Any sneaky tips or hints as to seperating the truth from the not so truth? I'm a bit of a cynic since I got conned with the last mare. All advice is much appreciated.

And on the other side, what sort of questions would you want to hear as a seller?

Also, I've been informed most people price higher than they expect to get. How do you go about negotiating? Are you open and upfront at the very first call you won't pay the asking price, or do you wait until you've tried the horse?

Particularly asking as I've seen a horse thats actually the right age, type and location but is severely over-priced imo.

I feel like I'm completely new at this now and I really don't want to end up the way I did before, having a horse that wasn't anything like I'd been told.

 

[dieseldog]

I always ask if they think the horse will pass a vetting, you would be amazed at how many will say no - could save you a lot of time.

If I was interested in an overpriced horse I say that I have only got £x would they be interested at that price. I do it on the first call as it would be unfair to do it when they have put effort into getting the horse ready for you to see if they will never take the money you are prepared to offer.

 

[pinklilly]

Write a list of questions down, anything not already covered in the advert. Find out what hes like to hack alone and in company, if hes good in traffic. Whats he like to handle, is he good to catch, box, shoe and clip etc. Ask about what hes done with the seller and why they are selling him. Ask about vices and any previous ailments or any health problems. When you go to to try a horse, try him on the road if you are wanting to hack as well as in the school and take someone experienced with you. Good luck!!

 

[Lippyx]

Study the horse... it will tell you lots of things!! My friend went and looked at a horse, and she noticed he had Heart Bar shoes on, when she asked the owner why, the owner couldn't (or wouldn't) give a straight answer! I told her to walk away at that point!!
Scars, bumps, randon white hairs all have a story behind them, so ask what the story is!!
Remember you are the one "thinking" of purchasing their horse, so to some extent you have the upper hand! Always ask to see the horse being ridden first before you get on.... another story is of a horse going mental with its owner/rider before buyer got on.... as you can imagine, potential buyer didn't get on!!
Write a list of questions, and TAKE IT WITH YOU!! Don't be embarassed to read off this list!! Alot of sellers will look upon this as a good thing of how well prepared you are, and also shows you are not a time waster, wanting a free ride!!
Be cheeky when offering prices, but don't insult!! If a horse was up for £3000, after viewing and riding I would probably offer £2500 and go from there. Any seller will expect to drop the price, and as you say, sellers will add a little more on top of what they expect! Make sure you all understand what is included in the price - tack, rugs etc, and if you put a deposit down, make sure this is written on the receipt, and also whether the deposit is refundable if the horse fails a vetting!
Good luck!!!

 

[Annagain]

I hate haggling, so I always say (not on horses but anything where haggling is a possibility) "I'm not in this to haggle, this is the most I can afford, take it or leave it" You'd be surprised how many take it (especially if it's not too far off) Take care not to price it too low though or they'll say no and you're either stuck or looking silly when you back down and offer more.

 

[neddynesbitt]

The most important question which I failed to ask when buying my lad was "what exclusions are on his insurance".

Rather than asking outright & risking them saying oh he's not insured, I would ask who they insure with & how much is the premium and you are trying to decide who to insure your potential horse with.

When they say its insured with xxxx then ask to see the insurance certificate & check for exclusions.

When my lad was vetted, she noted that he had an asymetrical pelvis & warned me it may be excluded but the seller assured me that she had no exclusions as it had also been picked up on the vetting when she got him & insurance company DID NOT exclude it. The vet advised that lots of competition horses have asymetrical pelvis without problems but obviously it's better not to have an exclusion for it as it could be tied into so many other things by insurance company to get out of paying (back probs etc)

I decided to be safe I too would use the same company she used & lo and behold the asymetrical pelvis was excluded. When I rang to query it, the insurance company suggested I go back to the seller & ask to actually look at the paperwork rather than taking their word for it as it had been excluded all along with them as well

Turns out he also had exclusions for windgalls & SI strain.

He now also has navicular, soft tissue damage in feet, suspensory probs, stifle probs, etc etc which have occurred since I have owned him

That will be one of the 1st questions I would ask next time as it really doesn't matter how good the horse is, with all those exclusions you are at high risk of other things going wrong as well.

Up until he went lame with navicular (which couldn't have been predicted at the vetting 18 months before diagnosis) he was an amazing competition horse and we had high hopes for his future.......now he is a light hack!!

 

[Zealah]

I've just finished my 6month search to find a new horse! Happy to say I've found the perfect neddy but it wasn't easy so GOOD LUCK.
As well as the above, I was ask the questions they would be for the vetting, surgeries, stable / turnout routine, bedding, feed, current workload etc. If you don't get enough detail ask "why" or Always ask another question.
I wasted time seeing a gelding which on the phone when I asked Hows his fitness - described as fully fit, ridden 5-6 days per week, mixture of schooling and hacking - not jumped often. I should have asked more! On the day I went to see him and asked to see him being ridden, walk trot canter both reins, the owner then said she didnt canter him!

There's no such thing as a silly question when buying a horse. Good Luck.

 

[Doris68]

What are its feet like?
Remember - no foot, no horse!

 

[Creaturescape]

When I was selling my horse I had loads of people phone up and ask how much I would take for her - well clearly the amount I was advertising her for! I had some well insulting offers and felt that people were happy to play and see how desperate I was - bad economic times and all that. It wasn't a very nice feeling.
You should be very clear about what you want and make sure this is realistic within your budget. And remember that a lot of people find selling their horse as stressful as buying one.
The people who eventually bought my mare didn't even try and haggle. She was perfect for them and so worth every penny.

 

[MissSBird]

These are all great. Most I've known but it's been useful having the reminders.

I never thought about asking the insurance company. Thanks for that!

Out of curiousity, just to confirm my original judgement was correct, how much would you guys think for a registered M&M gelding, 5 years old. Won in-hand at local level - nothing mentioned about county level. Needs work under saddle but happily popping fences. Good temprement.

 

[camilla4]

I'd also add:why are they selling, how long have they had it, if it is a mare has it ever been bred from, who normally rides it - if it is being sold as child's pony for example you want to see it being ridden by a child!; does it come with tack/rugs etc. (if yes, make sure it is the tack you see it being ridden it and not something they have tucked away in the back of the tack room!); ideally be there in time to see it being tacked up etc. If they do not want to let it go out on trial, you need to go and see it at least twice - if you want it to hack out, try and get the opporunity to try in on the road too.

 

[Booboos]

Ask everything you can think of!!!!

Start with:
- who owns this horse, who rides this horse, how long have they had it, who did they buy it from and why, why are they selling it and how long has it been up for sale, where is it kept, etc.

- what is it like in the stable, in the field, with other horses, to lead in/turn out, to tack up, to load, farrier, dentist, etc.

- what is it like ridden, competition record (check it), hacking alone/company/traffic/open spaces, loading/travelling, will it lunge, etc.

- medical history, time off work, has it needed the vet and why, vices (ask for all four vices specifically), when was the last time owner fell off it, does it buck/rear/take off, etc.

If you ask the question and the owner lies you actually have more of a comeback after the sale than if you don't ask the question at all.

Good luck and enjoy horse hunting!!

 

[Pony_Puzz]

Start by asking the essentials such as has it seen a vet within the last year excluding jabs, ask will it do this or that and if possible for them to show you. I personally like to see them hack the horse out first time due to being told one horse was a fantastic hack and then it bolted down an icy road with me on it..

Check its feet, nose, eyes (sometimes if they look a bit runny ask if they have noticed it) etc

As for bargaining like others have said start at a lower price and work your way up, also ask if the deposit will be refunded should the horse fail the vetting. Don't start with a disadvantage (like medical problems) if you don't think you can handle them in the long run.

Hope this helps! Plus always more fish in the sea

 

[RolyPolyPony]

if i were to look at a potential horse i would ask questions like:

... About the horse:
Age? can it be confirmed?
Height? Can it be confirmed?
What is his personality? Quiet? Feisty? Lazy?
Does he have or has he had any medical problems/injuries/allergies?
Is he registered with any societies? which ones?

... About the horse's behaviour:
Is he good to... catch? shoe? load? lead? clip?
How is he to handle? in the stable? outside the stable? in a diffierent atmosphere (e.g. competition)?
Does he have any behavioural problems? biting? kicking? chewing?
Does he have any stable vices? if so what started them? what is done to reduce them?
If a mare, is she particularly marish?
Is he scared of anything in particular? does he have any phobias? how is he with hose pipes, etc?
Whats he like with the vet/farrier/dentist/people/other horses/other animals?

... About the horse's care:
What bedding is he stabled on? why?
What is he fed? why? any supplements? why? how much hay/haylage per day?
How long is he turned out per day? Is he kept on his own or with others? Is he more happy turned out or stabled?
How well does he travel? How well does he adjust to new people/surroundings?
Is he up-to-date on vaccinations and worming?
What shoes does he wear? Why?

... About riding the horse:
Is he an easy/difficult ride? Is he suitable for a novice or experienced rider? Who is he normally ridden by?
Is he good to hack? alone? in-company? on roads?
Is he particularly spooky? at what? where? when?
Can he be ridden both indoors and outdoors safely?
What disciplines does he participate in? does he compete?
Does he have any behavioural problems? rearing? bucking? napping? bolting?
What is his current level of fitness?
Does he lunge?
Does he enjoy jumping?
Does he jump coloured fences? Does he jump natural fences?
Whats he like at shows/in stressful circumstances?

... About the horse's tack:
What tack is he ridden in? why?
What bit is used? why?
What boots is he ridden in? why?

... About the horse's history:
What is the horses breeding? can it be confirmed?
What did he do before the current owners had him?
How long have the current owners had him? (be suspicious if its only a couple of months)
What has he done with the current owners?
What types of competitions has he done? at what level? with how much success?
Has he had any medical conditions/injuries in the past?

... About the sale:
Why is he being sold?
How much is he being sold for? is it open to offers?
Can you have a vetting?
Is tack included in the price? if not, can it be bought seperately? for how much?
Does he come with any rides for competitions? which ones?
Is there a possibility of a trial period? how long?
When can the horse be collected? or can you transport him to me?

Hope this helps