Help needed, new to buying a horse!!!!

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sarahcozens

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I am currently looking to buy a horse 15-15.2 for my daughter. She has been riding for 7 years and we have loaned for the past 18 months. She has proved extreemly deadecated so we started the look out for a horse. Noone told me it would prove so difficult... We thought we had found the right one but it failed the 5 stage vetting. Very dissapointing and costly. After talking to various people I am told that I will be lucky to find a horse that will pass a 5 stage vetting as vets cover themselves (which I understand). Am I being too careful or should I vet everything we like. My budget is £2,500 and I am looking for something up to the age of 10. I understand that all will come with some kind of problem/history. Struggling at the moment can anyone give advice. Thanks
 
I would probs raise my age to 12 as you've probs still got another 10 years of ridden work depending on the horse. Also the 5 stage isn't black and white. If a horse fails always ask what he failed on and if it would affect intended use. Some failers are technicalities or something that would only flair up at international eventing! Still I would always get a 5 stage on a horse thats up to it, your not spending a small amount of money!
 
Hang on in there!! It will happen, but only when you least expect it too! £2500 should get you a lovely horse in the current climate, and something without many "problems". Have you looked at Loans with Views to Buy? that way you get the option to try before you buy? What about some GOOD dealers? Some of them will come with "guarantees" so if something goes completely wrong, you should be able to exchange for something else.
What about a WANTED advert? Thats how I found my mare. Put an ad on Stabletalk (google it) and put down everything you are looking for and how much you have to spend, and best of all its free of charge!

Good luck with the search!

PS - where are you based?
 
Buying a horse is a minefield. Has you daughter got a riding instructor or someone she knows that knows a lot about horses as they would be ideal for you to take with you to view. Additionally they would be good to ride a horse for you & give an impartial opinion on it as your daughter's thoughts & views may be over shadowed by the potential thrill of buying the horse. Some horses can be ruled out without the need for having a vet examine them & incur that expense.

Additionally don't be too rigid on the age you want. Many people only seem to want up to a certain age when there is no real foundation behind it but some horses are a little cheaper when they get to double figures & they will be sound & have a good foundation in their trtaining. They also know their job & don't normally have the issues that a youngster often has. Don' fall into the trap of buying a youngster so that your " daughter & the horse will grow & learn together", they won't & it will end up in tears.

Don't be afraid to go & see horses that are over your budget, there is often room for considerable negociation on the price, specially in the current climate.

Both my horses passed 5 stage vetting but even if there is a slight issue the vet will give you an opinion on it & wether it will cause lasting problems so don't dispair.

Take your time & be sure before committing yourself as an unsound horse or one with problems will cost you the same if not more than a sound one to keep.

Good Luck, there will be the ideal horse out there for you.
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It is a minefield, so dont let anyone convince you otherwise.

Be as cautious as you like as it will hopefully prevent you going through the agonies of struggling with the wrong purchase and then having to re-sell.

Do everything that you want to do with the horse. Jump it, school it, hack it, tack it up, groom it. Go back a second time if you arent sure.
The right one is out there but may take a while to find. We have all looked at umpteen horses the length and breadth of the country that were unsuitable, irrespective of experience it happens to us all.

Of course you have to be pragmatic about vettings. What one person will accept another wont, but there is no reason at all that you wont find one with a clean bill of health.

Ask people you know to keep their ears open, personal recommendation or a horse you already know can help.
Good luck.
 
Hi Ya

I have not bought many horses in my time and recently bought two sold as seen. I personally wouldnt bother getting a 5 stage done on a horse as i have seen first hand 5 staged vetted horses which may pass vetting but the underlyeing problems that occur i.e cancer, vices (which obviously had never been seen before!). My friend paid £40k for a horse and 5 staged it and then a week later it dropped dead due to brain tumor this was not covered on vetting.

A basic vetting should give you a rough idea and lets face it a 18year old will not pass a vetting realistically you have to gage the horse, the owner and the situation. I have always been upfront and if they have something to hide then that maybe the time to vet.

I havent vetted any of mine but i have some good friends who check them out but then i never spend a vast amount ( Cant afford to!) Given the market i would imagine you will get a nice horse problem free at this time as many are giving them away!! But be careful check the age, passport and documents are all valid and up to date there are some crocks around unfortunatly try a view to buy over some months!

Hope this helps xx
 
I think that is quite silly advice when people are new to buying horses - yes if you are experienced and know what you are looking at then a vetting isn't always a nececity (sp). Vettings cover specifics and are only valid for the time the vet spends with the horse, but are good groundings. Speak to the vet if it fails - its not generally black and white.


At the moment there are plenty of lovely horses out there for not silly money - see the post below by DWI - ISH_lover found some super horses. Like said before does your daughter have an instructor? If so speak to them and maybe take them with you.

Good luck xx
 
I have been a horse owner for 30 years and I would always have a horse vetted before loaning/buying it.

You will be very lucky to find that the first horse you like is passed at the vetting stage.

On average I would suggest that you will need to find three horses that you like and have them vetted to find one that passes the vet.

Unfortunately even if the owner believes that the horse is o.k. the vet may still find something let alone sellers that know but do not disclose a problem.

I am afraid finding a horse is a bit of a minefield!
 
I think def have it vetted esp as you're new to the buying game. If you are spending £2500 then I think a £250 vetting (approx) is worth having. I reckon i could see things that may potentially cause a problem and I am confident feeling swellings or odd lumps and bums etc BUT I would always get a vetting done as I could not necessarily see things like bony disorders/degenerative issues etc that a vet would. The only time I would ever consider not having something vetted is if I was buying a youngster and not spending much more than a cost of vetting on it. I would be prepared to take the risk then!

As others say, not all 5 stage vettings haver to be 100% clean as it were and vets will prefer to air on the side of caution. Discuss things with the vet. If they advise against a horse then, no matter how much you may like it I would suggest sticking with the vets advice. There are plenty of horses out there so just keep looking, I am sure you'll find "the one!"
 
I'd also advise getting a vetting, its not a guarantee the horse won't be problem free, but it does cover a lot of common problems and you should do all you can to minimize the risk of getting a duff horse!

I know many won't agree with me, but £2.5k is not a lot of money for a horse over 15 hands, it costs more than that for a breeder to breed it, raise it, for its breaking and training etc. If its only being sold for that much its a horse with limitations. You need to make sure you find the horse whose faults are not important to you. Only experience can help judge this so I second the suggestion to enlist the help of a trusted trainer, it would be money well spent.

It is normal to have to view many horses, I saw about 35 the last time I was looking and I also had one fail the vet. Just don't get impatient and settle for something that isn't really what you're looking for.
smile.gif
 
I agree - £2.5k is not a lot of money for something over 15hh unless it is young/green (arguably not suitable for your daughter's first horse) or older, late teens which would be better given your description.

I would get it 5 stage vetted but be aware that not everything can show up in a vetting. However, if a horse cannot pass the basic flexion tests then I would walk away as in the long run it is going to cause a lot of heartache. Even if you know a lot about horses, I would still get it 5 stage vetted. The vet will listen to heart rate etc before and after exercise, look at conformation and gaits etc.

I would definitely enlist the help of someone more experienced - they will be able to weed out the potential candidates for you to have vetted and save you money in the long run. Also, a seller can spot a novice parent a mile away and quite frankly a lot of people will tell you any old BS to get rid of a horse.
 
Definately get a 5stage.
No, they are not foolproof - but they will also pick out lots which an inexperienced buyer has know way of knowing.

Only time I wouldn't would be if I was buying from a dealer at time of sale - we bought from a dealer, had subsequent lameness issue and were told by trading standards we had a lesser position for comeback due to a clean vetting - I'd have one done when I got the horse back home by a local vet I trusted.

You should be able to get a nice horse for her -
http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM853O5...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM853O0...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM901CE...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM901C9...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM853O0...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM901BG...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM901BA...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM853OB...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM853OE...HorseDetail.asp

http://horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM853P0...HorseDetail.asp
 
Lame on front right fore. Showed up when trotted on hard ground on circle. Failed flextion test. Box rest for 1 week then another vet took another look and showed same lamness. We wanted to do pony club activities with this pony.
 
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