general protocol/sequence of events when viewing a horse?

vallin

vallin

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So am going to view a horse tomorrow and am just wondering about the normal course of events when one views a horse. Experienced friend will come with on second viewing if I like it but wasn't about to come to first viewing. Any advice welcome! Have just trawled through all the questions to ask threads!
Taa
V
 
Turn up with a coach party, couple of screaming kids on pink bikes with tassels and balloons - smoke in the stable, drop litter all over the floor - wonder off all around the yard, pull the horse to pieces, if it is allowed treats, frown and tut, if it isnt allowe treats - give him armfulls of it. Let everyone with you, walk trot canter jump horse, and hack it for an hour or so. Offer 60% of the asking price and the tack to be thrown in for free - and the rugs too. Promise to let them know tomorrow, have a wee in the stable and never phone back.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Turn up with a coach party, couple of screaming kids on pink bikes with tassels and balloons - smoke in the stable, drop litter all over the floor - wonder off all around the yard, pull the horse to pieces, if it is allowed treats, frown and tut, if it isnt allowe treats - give him armfulls of it. Let everyone with you, walk trot canter jump horse, and hack it for an hour or so. Offer 60% of the asking price and the tack to be thrown in for free - and the rugs too. Promise to let them know tomorrow, have a wee in the stable and never phone back.
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LOL
 
I like to see them loose in the stable, get a general impression of temperament, look at bedding, hay to assess management and ask any relevant questions, then see them with a headcollar on, feel legs and run hands over once rug come off, see them out and trotted in hand.
If I like what I have seen watch it being tacked up and ridden through all paces and if able see it jump before getting on if still interested.
I try not to ask random questions just those that apply to what is happening at the time, ie the stage of training while on the flat or jumping experience while it is jumping so to keep it fresh in my head, most questions would have been asked prior to viewing anyway so I can concentrate on what is in front of me.
What you actually do ridden depends on the level of the horse, I like to spend time on a long rein at start and finish, ideally potter down a road at some point but if going back a second time that would be for a more in depth try to push a few buttons and make sure it really is the one to take home at any point if I feel it is not right I will stop rather than waste my time trying to make it right.
 
I like to see it loose in the stable so I can run my hands over limbs and body to check for any nasties that would instantly make me walk away. Then ask to see it walked and trotted in hand. If all ok, ask to see it ridden. I ask the vendor as many questions as possible, particularly when they're riding as they tend to let the guard down a bit more then!
Don't let them exhaust it, wtc both reins, pop a fence if a jumper then get on yourself. So long as it looks safe you're best riding it as feeling is so much more valuable than watching. Some vendors are surprised by this and get offended that they cant show it off doing its party tricks!
If all good it depends what the horse is as to what I do next- older horses I'll ask if I can take it for a walk down the road to test for nappyness. Younger ones I'd be more inclined to ask to come back and try it hacking, probably with another horse.
See it go back in the stable, ask any last questions and probably go view again, this time getting straight on, not bothering getting the vendor to ride
 
Gingerwitch said:
Turn up with a coach party, couple of screaming kids on pink bikes with tassels and balloons - smoke in the stable, drop litter all over the floor - wonder off all around the yard, pull the horse to pieces, if it is allowed treats, frown and tut, if it isnt allowe treats - give him armfulls of it. Let everyone with you, walk trot canter jump horse, and hack it for an hour or so. Offer 60% of the asking price and the tack to be thrown in for free - and the rugs too. Promise to let them know tomorrow, have a wee in the stable and never phone back.
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It sounds as if you have had some bad experiences when selling, I have 2 being tried tomorrow and hope they do not act like this.
 
I look in the stable, then get them trotted up on a hard surface. I have walked away from dozens just doing this. Then get them ridden and then get on myself. I build the fences for the rider so I can change them especially if all set out for you. I always hang a coat or make it spooky to see how rider and horse react. Then I get on and over the first fence sit like a lemon with a loose rein and no leg to see what happens. If all good I build up the fences to however confident I feel as want to know what scope and attitude they have. Finally I offer them water to check they have not been dehydrated. Oh and I make sure I am slightly early and always go early in the morning so they cannot have the arse lunged or ridden off them.
 
Brill. Thanks for the outline. Will be going for a general plan of:
-loose in stable, good feel all over
-walk and trotted up
-tacked up and ridden by vendor
-sit on wtc and quick jump

Ask questions throughout and then if I like go back and take for walk up the road etc.

Sound ok?

Thanks :)
 
Make a note of what's important to you & ask questions accordingly. I like to see horse being brought in & turned out too, to see that it's mannerly. Might be strange to some people but you are the one parting with hard earned cash!......don't be afraid to ask lots of Qs & follow gut instinct :) good luck
 
I always walk past the yard entrance 3 or 4 times to see if it will nap. Walk past twice normally then trot past.
 
I like to see them caught too and have all their feet picked up.

Look out for things like dry sweat or tack marks where the horse may have had some energy worked off before you arrived.

Just keep your eyes peeled and don't be afraid to walk away at any point. An do not get on it if you don't feel happy too.

Enjoy the experience and good luck!
 
el_Snowflakes said:
Make a note of what's important to you & ask questions accordingly. I like to see horse being brought in & turned out too, to see that it's mannerly. Might be strange to some people but you are the one parting with hard earned cash!......don't be afraid to ask lots of Qs & follow gut instinct :) good luck
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If the people coming to see mine in the morning want it turned out in the mud so they can see it caught they can get back in the car and drive home I have not got time to spend scraping mud off after it has rolled so they can ride it, I may possibly do this on second viewing but for the first I present a clean horse ready to ride.

Op don't be too quick with your ride, take time to let the horse and yourself settle, you are not being judged, well hopefully not, on your riding, you are assessing the horse treat it as such, all too often people get on and rush off into trot without feeling relaxed, you are not a timewaster if you are genuinely looking to purchase.
 
Just treat the horse as if it were your own. Could you imagine doing everyday things with it.

Don't waste people's time if you don't like it say thanks and walk away

Trust your gut feeling a big one for me!!
 
Thanks for the help, viewing went well but they wouldn't hack her down the road (they have offered to box her somewhere) and there were sweat marks so looks like she'd already been ridden that morning so a couple of alarm bells ringing. Did seem sweet though. Am going to try and get to see a couple of other horses this week and then possibly go back for a second viewing (really feel I need something to compare her with). Also forgot to ask some of the question I had which was annoying. Oh-hum!
Thanks again and any more suggestions of things I should be doing/looking out for would be great :)
 
Lots of good advice but goodness me, some of you are fussy! Not sure how many of mine would walk four times past the yard without a backwards glance :p and if I am looking at a supposedly schoolmaster horse for someone inexperienced I might do the "come to a fence with no leg and no contact" approach, but if I am buying for myself I ride it as I normally would! I might try to leave it alone to find its own take off spot a bit to see if it could use its brain, but not just dump it with no leg on which seems a bit unfair to me if you are trying a young horse...

I do agree about trying something spooky and moving the fences around, but wouldn't necessarily be put off by a stop or a spook at a coat on a rail. My personal idiosyncrasy is I like to see them over a bounce - even a young horse, provided it is popping a few small fences, I will put up a tiny bounce: I think it is a good test of their athleticism, their brain and their bravery - again I wouldn't necessarily be put off by a baby stop or mistake the first time, I just want to see how they cope. Because I do it with nearly every horse I have a lot of data points stored up so I find it really helps me make up my mind :)
 
TableDancer said:
Lots of good advice but goodness me, some of you are fussy! Not sure how many of mine would walk four times past the yard without a backwards glance :p and if I am looking at a supposedly schoolmaster horse for someone inexperienced I might do the "come to a fence with no leg and no contact" approach, but if I am buying for myself I ride it as I normally would! I might try to leave it alone to find its own take off spot a bit to see if it could use its brain, but not just dump it with no leg on which seems a bit unfair to me if you are trying a young horse...
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Thank goodness - I thought I was perhaps a bit remiss when viewing horses! I'm fairly sure both of my (reasonably well schooled and fairly experienced) horses would be a bit miffed if someone did that to them!

I wonder how some people ever manage to find a horse sometimes! :p
 
I would do everything with the horse that you'd like tp do when you get home, not all in one viewing - I agree for first I'd expect the horse in and clean, maybe second I'd ask them to leave him out for me to catch. I (sorry) don't believe anything a seller tells me unless I can see it for myself or there is third party proof (DC reference or afiliated comp record)

Did they explain why you couldn't hack? If the horse is nappy then they could be fine on a hack from a box in a strange place and a nightmare leaving the yard.

I went with a friend recently for a second viewing of a pony that "didn't hack on it's own" we tacked up and I hopped on and walked out of the yard, he was clearly not 100% happy and a bit looky but he went, past a water van with flashing lights digging up the road and past the entrance to the yard on the way back and up the road in the other direction - he wasn't a dobbin about it but he listerned and went (honest and willing) - perfect

When I do all this stuff I don't expect perfection - just want to see what the reaction is - having a go and genuine mistakes are absolutely fine
 
I did too, mm!

I think the other thing is you have to LIKE the horse. Not go, 'Oooh, my friends are going to be jealous!' (Generally a bad sign, actually.) But 'I would enjoy having and riding this horse on a daily basis, right now, and I think it will do the things I want to do.' I see too many people disappointed because they buy the horse they think they should have or that someone else would choose, rather than buying the horse that will do the job for them.
 
Let's see...the Spooky Pony, I didn't really go view to buy. I was supposed to be helping someone out by hacking with her. So first, we had to trick him into getting a head collar on him (he'd been going sort of feral for a year...), and then I had a wee sit on him (his then-owner was a bit big for him), where he immediately had a spook at what I think was a dead rabbit, dumped me in a mud puddle, and ran back to his field (checking either way carefully when he got to the road). After this auspicious start, I took him to a yard closer to me so that I could take him to my instructor, and then he became available to buy, so I bought him... :o

The Ballerina Mare, I had seen her ridden both by her previous owner and by a friend some months before. So when I went, I tacked her up in the stable, and went for an hour-long hack with another horse along. I was grinning hugely by the time we came back, and then I took her in the school for about 15--20 minutes, WTC on both reins, ask for medium trot and a few leg yields, and then we shook hands on it. :)
 
TableDancer said:
Lots of good advice but goodness me, some of you are fussy! Not sure how many of mine would walk four times past the yard without a backwards glance :p and if I am looking at a supposedly schoolmaster horse for someone inexperienced I might do the "come to a fence with no leg and no contact" approach, but if I am buying for myself I ride it as I normally would! I might try to leave it alone to find its own take off spot a bit to see if it could use its brain, but not just dump it with no leg on which seems a bit unfair to me if you are trying a young horse...

I do agree about trying something spooky and moving the fences around, but wouldn't necessarily be put off by a stop or a spook at a coat on a rail. My personal idiosyncrasy is I like to see them over a bounce - even a young horse, provided it is popping a few small fences, I will put up a tiny bounce: I think it is a good test of their athleticism, their brain and their bravery - again I wouldn't necessarily be put off by a baby stop or mistake the first time, I just want to see how they cope. Because I do it with nearly every horse I have a lot of data points stored up so I find it really helps me make up my mind :)
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You make good points! I'm generally on the selling end (I usually buy either unbroken or very green, which is a different ballgame altogether). I'm happy for people to do the things that TD mentions as long as it's in the spirit of an assessment, not a test. I'd be disappointed if someone asked one of my horses to do something unusual then walked away just because they didn't get it first time.

Is the 'second viewing' thing new? I hadn't come across it until a couple of years ago. I've certainly never been to see a horse more than once, but can see that some people can take a bit of time to think before parting with a lot of money. It actually seems to happen more when I sell lower priced horses than more expensive ones.
 
Gamebird said:
You make good points! I'm generally on the selling end (I usually buy either unbroken or very green, which is a different ballgame altogether). I'm happy for people to do the things that TD mentions as long as it's in the spirit of an assessment, not a test. I'd be disappointed if someone asked one of my horses to do something unusual then walked away just because they didn't get it first time.

Is the 'second viewing' thing new? I hadn't come across it until a couple of years ago. I've certainly never been to see a horse more than once, but can see that some people can take a bit of time to think before parting with a lot of money. It actually seems to happen more when I sell lower priced horses than more expensive ones.
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Re tests, the other issue, especially if the horse is young, is the simple unfairness of pushing and pushing until the horse gets in trouble. You do have to remember you won't be the only person trying the horse. You can tell what you need to know doing ordinary things and reading the horse's reactions. (If you're not sure if you can, take a specialist with you as it's money well spent.) I'm not worried if the horse makes a mistake or misreads me a bit, I want to know what happens next, how it reacts and what it does faced with the question again. I want to see lots of "real world" stuff but I don't see the point of riding intentionally badly - in my experience that usually takes care of itself on a strange horse. ;)

Re second viewing, maybe it's an import? I'd say it's standard practice in North America, although usually with a trainer and possibly even in concert with a vetting the second time, since the vet is probably going to want to see the horse ridden and the potential buyer will want to be there for the vetting. It is true though, that a single viewing only is more likely for a high end horse. I think with expensive horses they are usually being bought to do a very specific job and they either tick the boxes or they don't, with most of the info available before the viewing is even set up. If you're buying a horse jumping 1.30s the only real question is can YOU ride it.
 
Gamebird said:
You make good points! I'm generally on the selling end (I usually buy either unbroken or very green, which is a different ballgame altogether). I'm happy for people to do the things that TD mentions as long as it's in the spirit of an assessment, not a test. I'd be disappointed if someone asked one of my horses to do something unusual then walked away just because they didn't get it first time.

Is the 'second viewing' thing new? I hadn't come across it until a couple of years ago. I've certainly never been to see a horse more than once, but can see that some people can take a bit of time to think before parting with a lot of money. It actually seems to happen more when I sell lower priced horses than more expensive ones.
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I see both sides, I sell a few and help clients find horses not many but enough to keep my eye in, if buying an established schoolmaster type for a client usually paying sensible money I do like to go back for a second try so the purchaser can get on the horse without it being set up, have a chance to do a little more jumping that at the first try may have been limited due to not wanting to do too much, bearing in mind the owner will have usually shown it fairly extensively, I also like to go for a wander down the road at some point.
Most sellers will accommodate second viewings if you are obviously serious, if you lose out it was not meant to be and I will not be pushed into making an instant decision on an expensive purchase, my clients are always encouraged to "chat on the way home", I am the same when selling, serious viewers are welcome to come back to do a bit more than they might feel they can first time and I never pressurise for a decision while they are here, they can go home and think about it, which also gives me time to make sure I am happy selling to them, it works both ways.
 
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be positive said:
I see both sides, I sell a few and help clients find horses not many but enough to keep my eye in, if buying an established schoolmaster type for a client usually paying sensible money I do like to go back for a second try so the purchaser can get on the horse without it being set up, have a chance to do a little more jumping that at the first try may have been limited due to not wanting to do too much, bearing in mind the owner will have usually shown it fairly extensively, I also like to go for a wander down the road at some point.
Most sellers will accommodate second viewings if you are obviously serious, if you lose out it was not meant to be and I will not be pushed into making an instant decision on an expensive purchase, my clients are always encouraged to "chat on the way home", I am the same when selling, serious viewers are welcome to come back to do a bit more than they might feel they can first time and I never pressurise for a decision while they are here, they can go home and think about it, which also gives me time to make sure I am happy selling to them, it works both ways.
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I would agree. I would never challenge the need for a second visit and I would not expect to be denied one. In fact, if I was pressured to make a decision on the basis of one look I would consider it a red flag and as above, if the we lost out, so be it. It's safer - and cheaper - to lose out on a horse that could work than buy the wrong one for the wrong reasons.
 
be positive said:
I see both sides, I sell a few and help clients find horses not many but enough to keep my eye in, if buying an established schoolmaster type for a client usually paying sensible money I do like to go back for a second try so the purchaser can get on the horse without it being set up, have a chance to do a little more jumping that at the first try may have been limited due to not wanting to do too much, bearing in mind the owner will have usually shown it fairly extensively, I also like to go for a wander down the road at some point.
Most sellers will accommodate second viewings if you are obviously serious, if you lose out it was not meant to be and I will not be pushed into making an instant decision on an expensive purchase, my clients are always encouraged to "chat on the way home", I am the same when selling, serious viewers are welcome to come back to do a bit more than they might feel they can first time and I never pressurise for a decision while they are here, they can go home and think about it, which also gives me time to make sure I am happy selling to them, it works both ways.
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I agree with all of this. I do expect people wanting a second viewing to get sorted out and come back promptly, ideally within the next couple of weeks and while I'm happy to accommodate most requests (eg meeting them somewhere at a venue where they can try a proper course of jumps) some people want you to trek the horse round the country at your expense so they can try it 4 or 5 times in different situations. At some point you just have to make your mind up and either buy the horse or not.
 
TarrSteps said:
I would agree. I would never challenge the need for a second visit and I would not expect to be denied one. In fact, if I was pressured to make a decision on the basis of one look I would consider it a red flag and as above, if the we lost out, so be it. It's safer - and cheaper - to lose out on a horse that could work than buy the wrong one for the wrong reasons.
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I am surprised at how many people seem to feel the need to leave a deposit on first viewing and how often they are advised to do so , I have on occasion but only if it is either a youngster when there really is nothing more to be seen or a project that I expect to put work into so no point in testing further until it comes home, I cannot think of ever losing a purchase through taking time to think but have been very pleased to miss out on some when that thinking time brings up reservations.
 
Gamebird said:
I agree with all of this. I do expect people wanting a second viewing to get sorted out and come back promptly, ideally within the next couple of weeks and while I'm happy to accommodate most requests (eg meeting them somewhere at a venue where they can try a proper course of jumps) some people want you to trek the horse round the country at your expense so they can try it 4 or 5 times in different situations. At some point you just have to make your mind up and either buy the horse or not.
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Expecting 4 or 5 tries is taking the p*** and I agree that the second try should be within a reasonable time a week or so, I will keep the horse on the market until they have committed and arranged the vetting, if they miss out due to taking too long to get back then tough as long as I have not been difficult fitting it in, usually the second try, if at home, is less hassle as I tend to let them get on with things while I do my own work, watching out of the corner of my eye just in case they do anything stupid.
 
be positive said:
I am surprised at how many people seem to feel the need to leave a deposit on first viewing and how often they are advised to do so , I have on occasion but only if it is either a youngster when there really is nothing more to be seen or a project that I expect to put work into so no point in testing further until it comes home, I cannot think of ever losing a purchase through taking time to think but have been very pleased to miss out on some when that thinking time brings up reservations.
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I have never asked for a deposit, and if I did it would only be once the price was agreed and the deal shaken on. I bought an unbroken horse last week and did leave a deposit, at the vendor's request. I had no problem with that.

I hope no one thinks I'm anti second viewings. I'm perfectly happy to accommodate them and the same applies for people going home to think about it. I was just reflecting on the fact that they seemed a lot more common now.
 
Sometimes the advice given on viewing horses can be easily be renamed "how to p*ss off a genuine seller with a genuine horse"! I had it done to me, potential buyers turning up 30 minutes early. They were asked to wait in their car until the specified time or go up the road for a coffee. It might sound harsh but its a working yard, we were in the middle of moving yearlings from one field to another and I'd no intention of dropping everything to accomodate someone who thought they might "catch" me doing something underhand before they arrived. Neither were they going to be allowed to wander around until I was ready to show the horse to them.

I'd also stop a viewing if I thought the rider was deliberately dropping the horse or if they were missing the horse in front of a fence even if it was accidental. I'd have no problem with a second viewing even at a different venue but after that I'd expect them to make an offer or walk away. As regards seeing the horse being turned out or brought in, well come back in the evening/morning when thats happening...
 
vallin said:
Out of interest, how many people have walked away on second viewing?
Thanks
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I have, I tried the horse in a school and jumped it and it was fine and for some reason could not take it out for a short hack so went back the next day and rode it out with one of her grooms, except it turned out to be seriously nappy - I guess they hoped by me riding it with something else it would have been fine. With hindsight the reason I wasn't able to hack it the first day was because it was by itself and nappy and would never have left the farm.

Generally I know after the first time if I want it, the only time I have gone back for a 2nd viewing is when the people have no facilities to try it out and I would want to try it over a fence. But I probably only get on 30% of the horses I go to see as they never seem to be as described! My current horse I sat on for 30 seconds and bought her at a sale, after looking for 8 months for a horse.

I found the sales really good as I saw about 500 horses in 2 days and you got your eye in as to what you liked and you were able to make snap decisions without upsetting any owners.
 
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