buying a horse thats been out of work

debsflo

debsflo

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pros and cons please.typically a horse that ticks most boxes has been roughed off over winter.in the past she has been your classic allrounder and my daughter is smitten.my biggest concern is that despite a vetting its possible that in regular work there may be problems with soundness that dont show up as she is unfit and fat.thoughts please to help me decide.unfortunatley we could not do planned vetting today as she lost a shoe but there was also some swelling on her hock.this could just be a tweak but am thinking through all options.with a horse thats been out of work how do you know
 
I would be asking questions such as why the horse has been out of work, how long the people have had it, any vets bills etc.
Any vetting will only show how a horse is on a particular day at the time it is vetted.
Be cautious.
 
I'd be rather cautious, unless buying from someone I knew well. I have a horse at the moment that I am thinking of selling who has been turned out due to an injury and is 100% sound etc now, but I wouldn't be happy to advertise him until he is properly fit and I know for sure he doesn't have any problems.
 
I bought a horse that had been out of work 8 months and was in poor condition and it has worked out perfectly and she has managed my level of workload no problems. I think the pros are firstly cost - horses out of work tend to be cheaper than the same sort in full work. Another pro is that you can get to know the horse slowly and steadily gradually progessing with the horse. I think you do have to go careful and be sure that the seller is genuine with the reasons why the horse has been out of work, and i think its worth stressing to your vet that is doing the vetting that the horse has been out of work and to take this into account (ie really look for any issues with a fine toothpick). Also when you do get your horse just to take things really slowly and get them fit slowly. Ultimately you are not going to know for sure if an unfit horse is going to stay sound on your level of workload (just the same as if you buy a fit horse TBH), but as long as you have the horse vetted and the seller is genuine and the cost is fairly low considering then I think its worth the gamble....certianly was with my mare.
 
hi seller seems genuine they have had this mare for 10 years and i have spoken to all the family.not done much recently scince november due to lack of time and the weather.they have been upfront but i am just cautious due to past history ie buying a horse with low grade issues that werent picked up.vet is aware of this and thought she was lovley but woulnt have passed today if wed done it.
 
Iv literally (yesterday) just brought a horse thats been out of work for 6months and managed to knock the price..Luckily for me there was a man there that owned the mare before the woman whos just sold her to me told me all the truth - which in all honesty i believe, the horse was turned away due to being too much for the sellers child..
I did get on a ride, i trotted her up and did walk her out .. in all honesty - just because they have been out of work doesnt mean they cant do a little bit for you to see..
I didnt have her vetted due to her having already passed a 5*stage vetting 6months ago and she hasnt actually done anything but been at grass ..
Im really taking the mare has she comes, tbh, shes a mess an im 50/50whether she will or not

Guess, all id say is ... Do you want to take a chance and double check all over, dont let you heart rule your head and go well and truly eyes wide open
 
my daughter has tried her twice but not worked her fully as not fit and not fair.i am trying to think sensibly. whats reasonable for a 15.2,12 yr old mare allrounder that needs bringing back
 
I bought a horse at the end of October that had been out of work for the best part of year due to the owner not having time/ other commitments. She started working him prior to the vetting and he sailed through a five stage vetting. I have had no problems bringing him back into work - just took it very slowly and haven't pushed things too much and now fingers crossed we are aiming for our first BN in April.

But the other side to this is that he came from my instructors yard and was her daughter horse and she had had him for 11 years so I had the full history on what he had been doing.
 
You also have to bear in mind no matter what horse you buy quite significant changes/demands are placed upon your new horse. For example a horse which previously didnt have any lameness issues may go lame in a new home due to changes in how the rider rides, riders weight, how much they ride, what surfaces they are ridden on, what exercises they are doing, turnout.....etc

I guess what Im trying to say is that soundness/lameness is a complex issue and just because a horse is out of work dosnt mean it will neccessarly have low grade issues. But it may do..... i guess it just has a slightly higher risk than a fit horse
 
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my daughter has tried her twice but not worked her fully as not fit and not fair.i am trying to think sensibly. whats reasonable for a 15.2,12 yr old mare allrounder that needs bringing back

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I would make sure you have done all that you intend to do trying her before you buy her.... eg I did walk, trot canter and small cross poles for 25 mins on one occasion then another day I did a 30 min hack at walk and trot and and a small canter through the field. You do have to take the horses fitness into account to some degree but its more important that you do everything that would want to do on the horse to make sure its what you want and expect. Obviously I wouldnt expect the horse to do much more than what the owner thinks the horse is capable of...
 
hi prettybay we have.hacked her walk trot canter and small jump but only short period as not fit.definatley agree though want to see her action,behaviour etc
 
Could you have her on loan for a while first? I know its cheeky! I have just bought a lovely pony that had been out of work for nearly two years ( apart from the odd kid walking around school) due to pregnancy. I had him on loan for two months first, and just walked and walked and walked!! Just started some trot work and going in the school for half an hour a week. Its been brilliant for me as I have taken it really slowly and bonded with him well
BTW I didn't get him vetted at all
 
they had offered me a trial but i was more keen to buy as we already have one on loan and she would have to be returned.pros and cons to everything
 
Sorry but, I would be wary. It could well be geniune but, we got our boy from a friend and he had only ever hacked with them. Within 3 months of us owning him, he became very arsey when being asked to work.

He loves his jumping and tbh we were shocked at his stroppy behaviour as it just wasn't like him.

Within a year of owning him he has been diagnosed with navicular and sacroiliac pain. There is no way my friend knew about this and he passed a 5 stage vetting when we got him.

I feel that it reared it's ugly head when we started working him. Although he had become stroppy, he didn't actually go lame until a year after we got him.

I now have a dilemma as he won't be able to compete with my daughter but vet says he would make a very posh hack as he has been treated with Tildren and is now 100% sound. I cannot afford to keep 2 but, when he is sound and happy, I am not ready to make that decision.

I would like to loan him out or sell him for a very small amount. I will lose a lot of money but, if he can be a hack it would be nice to give him a bit longer as he is only young.

I am going to be 100% honest about his problems but have had people suggest that I just say we not had time to work him/daughters exams etc. I can't do that as he will suffer but I suggest you actually ask if it's ever been lame, had hocks injected etc etc.

It's very hard for someone to lie to your face and if there is another reason for it being out of work, you may just tell when you ask the questions.
 
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