LowenKi
Well-Known Member
Anybody have any gems that they'd care to share? Trying to remember to ask everything is quite difficult, what questions have you asked that have paid off - or anything you wish you'd asked?! 
Checklist of Q's to ask when viewing a horse to purchase?
- Thread starter LowenKi
- Start date
Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
Write down a list of everything you want to do with the horse, & anything you might want to do with it in future. Not just stuff like comp records & hacking alone, stuff like handling too, does it wear different tack to xc, good to catch etc. Plus a list of stuff that you don't want it to do, whether that's a deal breaking issue or just something you want to be aware of. Then draw up a list of questions from your requirements. Sorry that's not too specific, but for me it depends on the horse & its intended purpose as to what I ask. And I never take a seller at face value, I want to see it all to believe it.
BigRed
Well-Known Member
Make sure you tell them to have the passport there so you can look at it. If they are advertising breeding, make sure it is confirmed in the passport. Check the owners name in the passport and the vaccination record - that may be a separate document for some horses. You can use this to confirm how long they really have owned it.
Ask if you can contact their vet to confirm it's health record.
if they are advertising a competition record, ask for proof of it.
Ask the farrier name, so you can call to confirm it really is good to shoe.
Ask to see it loaded.
Ask to arrive and catch it, brush it and tack it up. You do not want to arrive and be presented with a horse standing in cross ties.
Write a list of what is important to you. Make sure you get answers on all those items.
Ask if you can contact their vet to confirm it's health record.
if they are advertising a competition record, ask for proof of it.
Ask the farrier name, so you can call to confirm it really is good to shoe.
Ask to see it loaded.
Ask to arrive and catch it, brush it and tack it up. You do not want to arrive and be presented with a horse standing in cross ties.
Write a list of what is important to you. Make sure you get answers on all those items.
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
What is the horse's current workload?
What is the horse's previous history?
What is the horse currently fed?
- Forage?
- Hard feed?
- Supplements?
- Regular medication (e.g., Tildren, Navilox, etc. or other joint supports)?
Any allergies/intolerances?
Is the horse currently stabled - at night/during the day?
If not, why not?
If turned out, for how long?
If turned out - with others or on own - if on own, why?
If turned out, how is the horse rugged - in all seasons? Does horse suffer particularly from the flies/need a fly rug/mask?
If stabled, on what bedding - and why?
Who is the farrier? Can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Who is the vet? Can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Who is the dentist? Can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Does the horse currently see an equine physio/chiro, etc.? If so, can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Any vices? If so, how are they managed?
Any major/minor injuries of note? If so, how were they managed?
Is the horse regularly wormed/vacc'd - ask to see proof in passport?
Any particular quirks?
I'm sure others will come up with much more . . . but these are the things that immediately sprung to mind.
P
What is the horse's previous history?
What is the horse currently fed?
- Forage?
- Hard feed?
- Supplements?
- Regular medication (e.g., Tildren, Navilox, etc. or other joint supports)?
Any allergies/intolerances?
Is the horse currently stabled - at night/during the day?
If not, why not?
If turned out, for how long?
If turned out - with others or on own - if on own, why?
If turned out, how is the horse rugged - in all seasons? Does horse suffer particularly from the flies/need a fly rug/mask?
If stabled, on what bedding - and why?
Who is the farrier? Can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Who is the vet? Can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Who is the dentist? Can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Does the horse currently see an equine physio/chiro, etc.? If so, can you speak with him/her? If not, why not?
Any vices? If so, how are they managed?
Any major/minor injuries of note? If so, how were they managed?
Is the horse regularly wormed/vacc'd - ask to see proof in passport?
Any particular quirks?
I'm sure others will come up with much more . . . but these are the things that immediately sprung to mind.
P
AmyMay
Situation normal
Does the horse have any vices?
YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
Yes this ^^ very important one! Along with asking for disclosure of any phobias and strong dislikes/aversions.
Also check basics like can the horse be stabled? Is it happy being stabled?
I had a friend who bought a horse that would not be stabled - it jumped out and really cut itself - then she found it to be needle phobic and the vet could not administer anti biotics. It also would not stay in a paddock alone. She was on a livery yard so had to virtually give the horse away to a dealer to get rid of it as noone would take it on grass livery.
I would also ask about any previous operations/injuries etc. I know of someone who kept the fact that the horse had had quite a serious operation from the buyer, despite the fact that the vet practice that carried out the op did the vetting for the buyer. Disgusting it was not revealed.
You can still get taken though. I was with my WB - seller lied through their teeth and beyond and definately doped the horse! I could have sued but it wouldn't have helped my horse so I am glad I didn't.
I would ask which farrier they use and can you speak to him also. If a horse is difficult to trim or shoe it's a nightmare for the owner and a very costly regular overhead if the vet is needed to sedate the horse. You would be surprised how many horses are like this and sellers say nothing!
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