How long does it take you to view a horse

blitznbobs

blitznbobs

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I know everyone says go back 3 times with an expert in tow and spend hours with the horse etc etc but how long does it take you?

Over the years I've bought lots of horses and anyone I've been back to see twice I haven't bought - those I have bought I've bought within 1/2 an hour... The last horse I bought I only saw in the field when I fell in love and bought without even handling her more than a stroke of her ears... Now I am definitely not suggesting this is the right way to buy horses but does everyone else do the 6 visits, think about it for a month and then go back again?
 
It depends on what you are buying, I usually buy project types so have no need to try several times I know they require work so viewing more than once is pointless, buying with clients I like to go back a second time as they are usually more established horses so it is good to go back be the first on board, do anything you were unable to the first time and have a really good check over to see if anything was missed the first time that may need to be pointed out for the vetting or a reason to not bother with vetting.

Selling I am happy for people to come back several times, usually people like to bring an adviser but don't want to waste money bringing them the first time, the longest sale was of a young pony that on paper was not what they were looking for, they wanted a schoolmaster, they tried him here, at a competition, here again, took him for a lesson, then bought him, it was a brilliant home and he was well suited so I was more than happy to allow all the messing about, he proved to be the perfect pony for the child exceeding all expectations.
 
I generally buy after one viewing, partly because the yards have the facilities to show me what I want to see. I'm not a ditherer and if the horse isn't right from the start, further viewings won't make it any better.

With horses I've sold, some buyers have been disappointed because while they were making up their minds and arranging second/third viewings a week away, the horse sold to someone else. They've all told me a few months further on, that the horse was exactly as I said it was.
 
I think it depends what you're buying and what for. If you're being a schoolmaster then I guess you'd want to see it out competing etc. I normally buy young horses (ready to back) so I don't think I've ever seen a horse out competing that I was looking at. I normally take about an hour or two to see the horse and normally make a decision pretty much there and then. I don't see many horses when I go looking though, I tend to be quite strict about choosing which horses to go and see in the first place. I don't think I've ever gone back twice to see a horse. It's worked so far as only one horse have I vaguely regretted buying. I'm not picky though, a lot of people go out wanting something very exact - I'm pretty flexible when it comes to horses, I figure even if its not going to excel at what I want it for (say eventing) then I'll take it as far as I can and just have a bit of fun with it, then sell it on if it really doesn't suit. That's the fun in getting young ones though and it means less pressure for the horse.
 
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I bought my last one staight out of a field untouched( would only approach you if you had bread!).....I looked at him for ten minutes before ringing the number written on the field gate. Took him home the next day..........I do admit this was stupid but I fell in love.
 
With respect to rejecting horses, if I am not going to buy it, I probably wouldn't take it out of the stable, in one case I could see as it was coming out the field it was no use. I prefer to go in to the stable with the horse if it is young, to see its reaction.
I try not to be rude though, and if buyer seems honest, perhaps naive, I will look at horse and give reasons why it does not suit me.
If vendor is experienced and has mis-described the horse, I just make a brief comment and try to see if there is something else available, so as not to waste my journey.
If interested, I will ask for it to be trotted up and down a few times, viewing from side and fore and aft, obviously checking legs, check for any conformation defects, try to envisage what it will look like in work. Temperament, honest eye and not nervy. If at a dealers, I will have a look at anything else they have, then look again at the one I like.
Passport, check for injections, etc.
I have had people trying to sell me a schoolmaster family pony with arthritis, really that is sad, it has served them well and now they want shot of it to an uncertain future.
I think I have regretted not buying more horses than I have bought, in that when I was less experienced I did not have enough confidence to make the decision, and when experienced I was apt to buy a horse that looked as though it needed a good home!
Time wise, I would expect to spend 1-2 hours on site.
If I wanted something particular and paying a top whack, I might visit twice, with someone else in tow.
I tried to buy a pony for driving [travel involved ferry etc] which was ideal for me but too sharp for the riding school, they wanted twice its market value, and we never came to agreement .......... I don't really understand why people reject certain cash in hand, sold as seen, when I know that they will have made a nice profit anyway, and that has not sold after several months. I might have been prepared to negotiate but I wanted him delivered, perhaps that was a sticking point.
I know people always say to negotiate, but when I have done this, because I feel it is overpriced, it has never worked.
 
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If I like the horse I will go for another viewing asap. It's more to confirm that the horse is how I thought it was and that I wasn't just letting my heart run away with my head.
 
I only buy ponies under a year old so if they fill a box and are friendly then I will probably buy it. They have to have a good pedigree be well covered but not waddling and be good solid square in all directions after that it is pot luck how they turn out. I do like to see parents and older siblings if possible but sometimes they don't come from the stud
 
I spent about 3 hours looking at the horse i bought about a month ago. When I arrived the groom was there and told me all about him. Then the owner turned up and told me exactly the same as the groom. I saw groom ride, I then rode. We had coffee and chatted to a friend who has her horse on the yard so she knew the horse for sale well to. I said I would have him before leaving yard. Didn't see the point in travelling all the way back to see him again.
I liked the looked of my other horse straight away!! He was stabled at a dealers yard I was helping out at. Saw him, enquired about him. He was sold to someone and going that day. A week later he was back after being very naughty! So I bought him!! That was 10 years ago and I don't regret a day.

If I was selling I would want the perspective buyer to come as many times as they like to ensure I got the best possible home.
 
Have bought 4 over the years. 3 (2x ponies & a young horse) we bought after 1 viewing which were of a few hours - the usual check over on the ground, seen ridden then tried by the daughter. 2 of those were also 5* vetted. The other was a project pony that was owned by a friend. Never tried or viewed as such, just knew what she was so made an offer & bought her.All turned out to be perfect with a little work x

Just eta, when we sold the daughters pony last year he was viewed without the child he was intended for, just tried by an adult aunt (he was 13.3hh for a 12yr old girl). They loved him, agreed to purchase him subject to vetting & the first time the young girl even saw him was when he arrived at their house! I thought it was a bit of a risk (didn't doubt the pony at all but he wasn't everybody's ride) but they gelled straight away & were very quickly out winning together x
 
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Same here! The one I bought I only viewed once and was ready to put a deposit down there and then! OH made me go home and sleep on it! But you're right, the ones I've views twice, sometimes three times with someone experienced, I never bought or failed vetting. I think following your gut instinct is very important. My youngster was the only one I did not have sleepless nights before he arrived, whilst I was worrying over the ones I put a deposit on waiting for the vetting to be done!
 
The last pony I bought was found by my adviser,. She made the initial phone call and came with me to try him. We both rode him in a field and my adviser popped a few natural fences. I spent a little time in his stable and picked his feet up in there to see how he coped.

I went back a few days later and hacked him out on my own, on a very windy day, on lanes, tracks and fields.

He proved to be as described .

I bought him with no vetting. Didn't want him to fail!
 
Anything from 5 minutes while I think up a pleasant decline, to about 45 minutes if its a green/project type.
Only once have I done a second viewing and that was on a more expensive purchase
 
As a child in a non horsey family we part loaned my first pony , bought my Secon after two viewings and advised not to get her , got a third on loan after riding her for a month , got my first horse from a riding school after seeing lots of other horses that week , rode the school master Xc machine and she bucked , so opted for my nightmare horse ( coloured cob , white feet , hairy legs couldn't jump) turned her into my horse of a lifetime , she was mental but was all for me would of jumped the moon , sold her after 6 years as was a beast on the hunting field , got next pony after a months break and this was the first time I would be in sole charge of financing the buying , keep etc as was in college but worked as well , saw her drove off and said to mum ill have her home tomorrow , no put in vetting it. Se was good found her a bit boring as she was safe lol . Sold her to get married 7 years ago , other horses since then I have been working on for owners and got them for bargain prices ;) then my mare now was 15 months old saw her advertised on Facebook a few months befor for £800 didnt have the money to buy one ATM (new born baby etc ) moved house and saw her readvertised at £495 went and saw and paid a deposit , kept her at her yard for 3 weeks to make sure we liked each other and she was the fort baby of my own I'd buy , 3 weeks later I relived home wth a slightly wild 15 month old that had cost less than £500 including delivery ;) now 3 years on I have the perfect horse for me , got her for happy asking , she now a 4 year old that has been out sj at low levels since her 4th birthday , has done two days hunting and now am looking at our first baby Xc in pairs no water 1'6 course so she has exceeded my expectations :) so I. Answer to first question I now straight away if horse for me , and haven't ever had vetted , bt next horse would be vetted if an adult but doubt if go for an adult horse ever again . Daughters pony we got t 5 months old and he's perfect
 
I have never done a second viewing for myself, if its sold, its sold (to me), and I will get the vet. Not had one fail the vet yet, but if I did and it was something I would work with then I would offer a lesser amount. I really have to fall in love to buy, but that is usually as soon as I clap eyes on it, so no need for a second visit.

For a client, I like them to look first, even if they do not ride. We will then go together, I will ride and then the client, we will also hack out. I have not done more than that as we have always seen enough, but would always be prepared to go back again and try at a show / XC/ on a busy road. Either the owner is prepared to allow this or not, their choice. I always recommend a vetting, and it is best if the prospective owner is present.

I guess that would make 3 visits including the vetting.

I went to a dealer with a client this week, and the dealer did not even want to bother trotting up, as he would rather just ride as it was less tiring (?). I don't think it was too big an ask, and insisted.

I do find buying quite a stressful experience, even as a visiting pro, as the dealer will often tell you you "a know'a nothing" and try to show you up when you find a "fault" with a horse. For instance a horse with sarcoids may not bother some people, but if it does bother others there is no point making that person feel like a fool. It is though it is an affont that not only did you spot said sarcids, but that you dare suggest that this may be a problem. At the same time it is of course proper not to rubbish a horse you are viewing.
 
The last horse I bought, it was love at first sight. So he was purchased after one viewing - and around about an hour or so riding, chatting etc.

There were two rejects before that. The first I was there no longer than 20 mins and didn't ride him. The second I was there about an hour. Beautiful horse, just not for me.
 
Not very long! I unfortunately have never given a horse a full tryout. Either because Im not confident enough to do the whole thing in front of the owner, or because there are often no facilities for try out. One horse shown on a steep hill, and another in a field that looked as if it had been ploughed! Always had horses vetted though. Last one I fell in love with but has proved unsuitable, but as I have now given up riding is kept as a field ornament.
 
Last one for me I saw the groom ride, said no thanks, then just chatted to the owner for a while about general other stuff. The horse/groom combo looked much better pressure off, I changed my mind and had a sit on - still thought he was too much so said no. Went home, looked at a few more over the next week, all rubbish, so I went and picked up little Stan. He's def a project and probably I was right he is a little too much for me but we're having fun so that is all that counts IMHO.
 
blitznbobs said:
I know everyone says go back 3 times with an expert in tow and spend hours with the horse etc etc but how long does it take you?

Over the years I've bought lots of horses and anyone I've been back to see twice I haven't bought - those I have bought I've bought within 1/2 an hour... The last horse I bought I only saw in the field when I fell in love and bought without even handling her more than a stroke of her ears... Now I am definitely not suggesting this is the right way to buy horses but does everyone else do the 6 visits, think about it for a month and then go back again?
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I go once normally decide then and there, then organize a vet to do vetting.
 
Viewed first horse once, spent about an hour. Thought on it for two days, called and said I wanted him and that was it. Had he been more expensive I would have been more thorough but at £700 I took a chance, went on gut feeling and on the whole it paid off. The issues that came up with him later were not something that could have been picked up during vetting or a trial period. At that price I'd be prepared to decide that quickly again if a horse ticked all the boxes.

With my second I placed a carefully worded ad, got several responses. One fitted my requirements to a tee on paper. Budget was £3500 for this one so I knew I wanted to do the whole process properly.

For my first viewing I spent 8 hours in total and that included watching seller handling horse on ground and ridden, handling horse myself on ground and ridden, hacking out alone with horse while seller picked up kids(!) - though only after I had tried her out thoroughly in all paces with seller on ground. Also took her in and did grooming and feeding on my own (as per seller's instructions). Then spent a couple of hours chatting to seller and taking a good look at her carefully kept training diary, going through her previous history and owners, getting vet and farrier references etc.

On second viewing seller and I took the horse driving in a heavily populated area, in traffic etc. Had seen several pictures of horse in these situations between viewings but still wanted to come along and see for myself. Obviously since I was buying with the intent to do both riding and driving trying both before making my decision was paramount.

Then finally had vetting done. Horse passed with flying colours. Again, none of the issues that came up later could have been picked up at that point but at least I knew I had a healthy horse going in.

I think part of it will always be gut feeling and and part of it will depend on the circumstances of the situation. Sometimes you don't have the luxury of spending ages making your decision so it comes down to the risk you're willing to take and the money you are prepared to spend, both on the purchase and on unforeseen events.
 
About an hour, maybe a little longer if it gets past the initial look over and trot up if not about 15 mins to politely make my exit!

I'm a firm believer in just trusting my feelings and knowing when I've found 'the one' ... I know when I've found it because I will be afraid to leave the viewing without leaving a deposit in case somebody else comes to view whilst I think about it. If I have to ask somebody else's opinion or take time out to think about it then I pass it by.
 
I brought my 5 year old ISH after one viewing and luckily paid a deposit. As I was just about to leave the phone in the office rang and the lady who had tried him was ringing up to say she wanted him! I am so glad I got him first! He is a super horse and I had been looking for 10 months!
 
blitznbobs said:
I know everyone says go back 3 times with an expert in tow and spend hours with the horse etc etc but how long does it take you?

Over the years I've bought lots of horses and anyone I've been back to see twice I haven't bought - those I have bought I've bought within 1/2 an hour... The last horse I bought I only saw in the field when I fell in love and bought without even handling her more than a stroke of her ears... Now I am definitely not suggesting this is the right way to buy horses but does everyone else do the 6 visits, think about it for a month and then go back again?
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Not me! I do one visit of about an hour. I want to see the horse caught from the field, trotted up, groomed in the stable, I will bring it out and tack it up myself then want to see it ridden in all three paces and over a jump if its a riding horse fully broken in, next I'll do the same before riding it off the yard and down the road a short way continuing on past the yard entrance on return to gauge any tendency to nap. I'll ask any questions as we go along and if I return it will be to collect the horse. No fussing from me, I either want it or I don't.

If I was selling I couldnt be bothering with people coming back multiple times either. I'd expect them to bring any second opinion people with them for the first visit, I'd arrange with them in advance to "be needed somewhere else" later so they couldnt stay more than 3hrs, which should be plenty to ask all questions and for everyone to ride. If they wanted a vetting that would be fine but after that they should be collecting within a few days if they're buying. There's no way I'd tolerate all the faffing around and people treating it as a day out, that some do.
 
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