Buying horses...have times changed?

[katiejaye]

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P.s Didn't realise you'd had Louis 10 years

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yup

The little man has been the sunshine in my life for a long time now

Spent a good few years trying to make him sane and then SJ'ed for a while then I saw the light and moved into dressage about 2 yrs ago

. I can't believe he's 15 this year...I can't bare to think if him gettin older

 

[Tia]

I wouldn't say anything has changed in the buying/selling horse market .... ever, LOL!!

In my experience it's always been the same - some folks are honest and some folks aren't. People who buy and sell all the time are possibly more able to spot those who aren't much more quickly than those who only buy once in a blue moon.

For example; when I go and look at a horse, the very first thing I check is to see whether it has been needled. If I am sure it hasn't, then onwards with the viewing. If it has then I walk away and don't even give it a moment more of my time.

I encourage my purchasers to spend as much time as they can with the horse they are planning to buy from me. My horses are all open to full vettings and I am happy for purchasers to come with their instructors to try out the horse. I am confident in the horses I sell and have nothing to hide. I don't even ask people to give me a time...all I need is the day to make sure I don't go out.

 

[Tia]

"Needled" is what we call it over here when a horse has been injection with a sedative pre-sale BTW.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

You don't really get trials any more. People are much more clued up about their rights etc.

I found buying to be very very emotionally draining. So many liars and time wasters.
But like everything, there are good sellers and bad. Those that are straight and tell you if there's a problem or if in their opinion the animal isnt suitable, and those that will quite happily smile and tell you it's lame because it stepped on a conker ("honest").

I think as long as you're honest and know what you can take on, and what you can't, you'll be fine. Dont go looking for the perfect horse, look for the horse most suitable for you.
We ended up with the opposite in breed type etc from what we originally wanted, but he's right for us in every other way.