Buying Advice??

M

Marchogaeth

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 June 2013
Messages
216
Location
Clwyd
Visit site
Looking to buy my first horse! (Exciting!!!) having only loaned for many years I've finally decided to take the plunge! :O I have a wonderful yard sorted out, just need to find the one!
I am going to see some over the next couple if weeks and I was planing to view on my own first then take my trainer to any I really like, what do you lot think if this? Would anyone do it differently?? Also I want to get him/her vetted before I buy, being cautious!
Would just like some general advise please? What sort of questions should I be asking? and how far would you travel? Also what's people's opinions/experiences with dealers?

Thanks in advance! and wish me luck! :) x
 
Spend a long time Internet shopping so you have a really strong idea of what you want and the market value. Google the sellers phone number to ensure if you are buying from a dealer or private person. If a dealer, then put a note on here asking for PM or go onto Facebook and look at Epona Stars. Take a friend who can video you on your phone. You should see the horse, untacked and loose in its box, not having been worked previously. If you like the look of it, see the horse trotted up, it needs to run up on a loose rein not someone hanging off its head (can disguise lameness). See it being tacked up, ridden and jumped by the owner, take a list of questions with you (good to shoe, load, clip, hack, traffic etc). If still interested, then ride. If at any point you think no, stop the viewing and go. Only fair not to waste the buyers time and I have done that on a couple of occasions myself!
 
If you are going to see a horse on your own make sure that you see it ridden by someone else before you try it. If they say there is nobody there to ride it, don't get on it, come back another time if you like it when somebody can ride it. Ideally don't ride it yourself until your experienced person has seen it.
I know this is perhaps very obvious but it's just a safety warning if you aren't used to viewing horses and listening to the bull**** that some owners will tell you.
 
Thank you both! Lots to think about! My trainer has offered to come with me to any viewings so will take him up on that, put my mind at ease just a tiny bit! Internet shopping as we speak! :(x
 
You're not being over cautious in wanting to get it vetted, that is standard practice nowadays with so many crooks around! Make sure you find out the name of the seller's vet and then organise another independent vet to do the examination. If it is a dealer then make sure you get bloods done, in case you get the horse home and it goes wild or lame. They only cost about £30 to get taken and then they charge you a bit more if you need to get them tested. I got my horse from a dealer and got bloods, but never had an issue so they didn't get tested.

Try riding the horse along a road if you can, and take it for a little ride by itself to make sure it is not a nappy sort!

Good luck :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top