buying horses

[rjr]

Im looking inot buying another horse in the new year. I have an idea in mind of what im looking for and a budget. I am however worried that no matter how many times I might go to look at something and try it out-it will end up not something im looking for. Ive had this problem in the past as I know you cant really try everything when you go to look at something. So I am thinking of a trial period, like a with view to buy but cannot seem to find these anywhere. where is the best place to look and what are the usual contract terms for one of these????

 

[I_A_P]

to be honest i think people are very reluctant-unless maybe a reputable delaer that may accept exchanges. I can understand where these people are coming from as their horse could be injured etc etc

normally *i think* you pay the full amount and have the horse vetted and they do not cash the money-then if their horse is injured they can keep that money...or you can keep the horse...in basic term,s

 

[galaxy]

I would strongly not recomend having a horse on trial at your own yard...

Someone I know did this and the horse got kicked in the field and had an operation. Luckily they had rung the owners the day before saying they didn't want him, but it got really messy, lawyers involved.... everything. It didn't get very far and the owner paid in the end. He was still insured by his owners.

You always have to take a risk. Go and see it as many times as possible and always look at it in if it's not the right one you can sell it. You're not signing a contract saying you have to keep it forever. And get some 2nd opinions from some knowledgeable friends.

 

[vhf]

Take your time, don't be pressured, take a knowledgable friend, go back for a second look, and a third if you have to. Be completely up front with the people selling about what you want to do and what you are honestly capable of doing.
Write a list of important questions you need to get answers for.
Do your homework - a lot can be found out about a person or a horse through a quick "google"! (And be creative - e.g. google their phone number and be amazed how many times it pops up selling the oddest selection of horses from a "private home".)
And then hope you find that rare thing, an honest seller!

 

[Thistle]

As a seller I would let a person come back a few times to try a horse, I would not let it go out on trial though.

 

[alicedove]

I'm also looking to buy and went to see one on wed (lame) and one on thu, jsut not for me, a bit wonky badly schooled etc, took hours to get to each.

I have decided to search nearer to home, perhaps within the hour. That way I will definitely be making several visits to one I like.

 

[Starbucks]

I think I'm different to everyone because I always seem to buy one of the first I go and look at!

 

[Happytohack]

Very few people would let a horse go on trial (I certainly wouldn't) as the horse could easily get injured. Also, most horses take some time to settle into a new home - quite often longer than any trial period. The best thing is to be patient, if you really like a horse that you see, try it several times (a genuine seller is going to want their horse to go to the right home and won't mind you coming back several times). Have the horse vetted and buy it. Give the horse some time to settle into its new home and if it really doesn't work out, then sell it. I have bought a couple in the past that when I had had them a home for a while, they turned out not to be suitable for me - they both sold easily to super homes and I did find a horse that suited me perfectly.

 

[PennyJ]

I don't think any caring owner would seriously consider a trial until they had met you and seen how you and the horse had got on. I would never agree to a trial before I had met a prospective purchaser and even then I would think very very seriously about it first.

And if you did get a trial period, I think you would have to offer/agree to individual turnout. Of course, maybe it would be better to search locally and if necessary have a sort of trial where it's kept at the current owner's yard.

FWIW, I got a week's trial with the first pony we bought, not really long enough to sort everything out it, but long enough to discover that he was everything his owner had said he was, but then she was one of those rare creatures - totally honest! We got put through the mill with the second one I bought, travelling hundreds of miles in one instance to find out that the pony had splints the size of golfballs on both front legs...