How many horses did you view before buying one?

[SquishyPony2004]

When I bought my first horse - everything else sold or went lame before I got to view, so she was the only horse I tried. I consider it fate

14 years later I'm heading out to buy a new horse and have no idea how many I should try to see while I'm in the area this weekend?

Curious to know how many you guys saw before you found the one?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

When I bought my first horse - everything else sold or went lame before I got to view, so she was the only horse I tried. I consider it fate

14 years later I'm heading out to buy a new horse and have no idea how many I should try to see while I'm in the area this weekend?

Curious to know how many you guys saw before you found the one?

I have almost always narrowed down to a very short list at the reading the ad stage, then whittled that down a bit further through phone calls. Then, apart from when we were looking for a weight-carrier for a novice, I have only viewed one or at the most, 2. The novice weight-carrier, we travelled the length and breadth of the M62 corridor, to see horses that would never have been suitable, either too small, far too forward going, or both. We eventually found her by wom and hacked her home. She fitted the job spec perfectly.

 

[nagblagger]

My last horse I didn't view..bought sight unseen during lockdown! Wouldn't recommend as got a bogof, not as described, but was within my expectations of what to expect from certain types of sellers and reasonably priced. There was just something in the photos, and videos, I got sent that made me buy her.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Trawled through hundreds of adverts, contacted a fair few people (though a lot didn’t reply), ended up viewing about 8 in total (with 2 failed vettings)

 

[McFluff]

My first two found me - I wasn’t looking when both came up for sale. Was very lucky.

My current one I got on the open market. I viewed dozens of ads, then had phone discussions on about 6, and then videos. Arranged to see 2 (in one road trip) and one was cancelled (not by me) when I was on the road. Went to see the other, loved him and bought him. My third heart horse. Very, very lucky.

I found that videos (especially when viewed with my trainer) really helped spot which were worth (for all concerned) going to see in person.

Good luck on your search.

 

[Pippity]

Viewed five. I would have bought the first but she failed vetting. Second was a hand shorter than advertised and lame. Third was lame. Fourth, "novice ride," bogged off with the pro rider on board after the owner had refused to get on because he was scared. Bought the fifth.

 

[DressageCob]

I viewed horses called Rhubarb Crumble, Charlie, Tornado, Timmy and then bought Albert.

Toby found me; I wasn't really looking and he arrived at the yard, so I didn't try any ?

 

[Lady Jane]

30 years ago I viewed 20 plus - no video and limited photos. 5 years ago I viewed 3 - much easier as if requests for video were declined I didn't bother to view. Unfortunately my purchase of 5 years ago is now retired. My new boy and me found each other through word of mouth but I did view endless video of him on her daughters Instagram. The owner wouldn't sell until she was sure we were right for each so I had him on loan for 9 months. It's a match made in heaven

 

[LEC]

Usually two or 3. Don’t see many as know exactly what I want and videos discount a lot. I probably only sit on one and usually buy that one.

 

[Smoky 2022]

The first one I tried but I wasn’t looking for a horse. She just came up for sale at local yard. probably not the best idea since I outgrown her abilities very quickly.

 

[I'm Dun]

The last four,
1. first one I viewed
2. third one I viewed
3. bought from a friend by accident
4. bought unseen and unvetted on a whim

All have gone on to do the job I wanted them to do and exceeded all expectations

 

[Chippers1]

First pony I didn't view, i was on the yard when him and his owner arrived and when she got too tall for him (both younger and taller than me..) I then had him on loan until she gifted him to me.

Buzz, I viewed one horse in the morning and viewed him in the afternoon. First horse was in a terrible state and frightened of it's own shadow so I did not feel safe on it. Got on Buzz and happily cantered around a field whilst trains blasted past with not a sign of worry from him - instantly agreed to buy him!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have almost always narrowed down to a very short list at the reading the ad stage, then whittled that down a bit further through phone calls. Then, apart from when we were looking for a weight-carrier for a novice, I have only viewed one or at the most, 2. The novice weight-carrier, we travelled the length and breadth of the M62 corridor, to see horses that would never have been suitable, either too small, far too forward going, or both. We eventually found her by wom and hacked her home. She fitted the job spec perfectly.

Should have said, the first one was over 40 yrs ago when many ads didn't even have a photo, let alone a video. I have never viewed a video of a horse for sale.

 

[Widgeon]

we travelled the length and breadth of the M62 corridor, to see horses that would never have been suitable, either too small, far too forward going, or both. We eventually found her by wom and hacked her home. She fitted the job spec perfectly.

It's funny how that happens isn't it - we spent a few days trekking around the North of England viewing horses that were not as described (13.2hh nervous just backed pony, definitely not the 14.2hh sensible hack advertised; nice chunky cob that napped and reared when asked to leave the yard, etc) then found one half an hour away by WOM. I viewed him at 7pm on a Wednesday, said at 10pm that I'd buy him, decided not to vet (sellers were known to be genuine) and paid for him the next day. Sellers delivered him to us on the Saturday morning. He's delightful, and is exactly what they said he is.

I would add, the ones that were not as described - I had spoken to all the owners and asked all the right questions, their answers just turned out to be....not quite spot on.

 

[Equi]

One. But it was advertised as a 15.2 with slight wind suck. Pony was barely 14.1 and was sucking away within 10seconds of going into the stable so it was a short visit.

 

[poiuytrewq]

One. But it was advertised as a 15.2 with slight wind suck. Pony was barely 14.1 and was sucking away within 10seconds of going into the stable so it was a short visit.

? did you refrain from punching the seller gently on the nose before leaving?

 

[AntiPuck]

I just put a deposit down on the first one I viewed! I had a really good feeling about her before viewing, and it only grew when I met her, so I thought that was a pretty good sign. Hopefully I'll turn out to have been right about that!

 

[Goldenstar]

The last horse I bought was Blue the cob .
I had been searching for a year or so had seen an ad for one that had the right cv it was older than I wanted and it was in Cornwall we are in Northumberland I thought about for a couple of hours then went to ring and it had sold to someone who knew it in that time .
It was about eight weeks later I saw the Blue on fb on a Thursday morning ( he was in sales livery very locally ) I saw him at l.30 on the Friday he was vetted and in my stable by six that day .

 

[Maryann]

After a lot of advert reading I decided to view just one, because i couldn't get the advert out of my head, before asking a reputable local dealer to find me one. Bought him and love him to bits.

 

[webble]

Current one I viewed 2 others. It was at the height of covid panic buying and I had a tiny budget. Even with the way things are I would say don't rush or be pressured if you aren't sure

 

[Hallo2012]

one. the ones i bought!

neither were vetted and one we saw videos and pics and running loose in a lunge pen on the day,and the other i saw videos of him moving and just trotted up in hand on the day as no where dry to turn loose.

but both were raw un backed and green as grass, nothing much to see aside from 2 eyes, 2 balls and 4 legs!

my spec was specific down to colour and type within breed though so not 100's of them kicking around!

my now 7yo was very cheap so worth the punt.....the 4yo ironically is the most i've spent on a horse in nearly 15 years but was direct from the breeder who has a super rep and a very genuine reason for sale-i got good vibes and it all worked out well

they are both absolute gems and lovely kind easy going straightforward boys.

 

[Flame_]

Last time - I think five, IIRC. All ticked a very specific list of boxes. One, I decided, was a bit too small, one just wasn't my type in RL (too heavily built), two failed the vet and I bought my boy (from the field but vetted).

My record is about 35 once! I didn't know what I wanted, and decided to look at anything with a pretty open mind, and just bring one home when I took to it. I'm way choosier now before getting in the car.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I’ve bought three on impulse, had one given to me, bought another unseen. Probably not the right way to go about it.

 

[abbijay]

I phoned up after about 5 or 6 that were all sold before I could view and then my instructor put me onto one. I ended up going and trying it on a Saturday evening. Couldn't put my finger on why I didn't want her but I was on edge the whole time. At 9.30pm I decided I definitely wasn't interested, at 10pm I saw a just posted advert on FB messaged straight away and by 10.30pm I had abandoned my plans for the next day to go and see him 100 miles away. By the time I walked into his stable I knew he was coming home with me. I did get him vetted.
Tried 2, knew instantly when I found the one.

 

[ihatework]

Last purchase I viewed 4 and ended up buying 2 instead of 1 ?

Purchase prior to that I wasn’t really looking to buy but saw an advert that grabbed me and bought him. So 1.

Prior to that I bought from a wanted adverted and bought the first one I viewed.

Before that was buying for a syndicate and lost count of viewings, mileage, vettings and wasted £££. Think we must have viewed around 25 and vetted 5 before a successful purchase.

 

[humblepie]

Current one - I wasn’t looking but someone told me about him. Previous one had sort of been looking and tried a couple then did a u-turn on what I wanted when I realised no longer had the confidence to jump. So again really he was the first one.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Most of them I've bought the first one I've seen and never had any vetted. Always managed to get away with it!! This last one I viewed 12 I think it was before buying him. Had a 2 stage vetting but I knew he was fine.

 

[Wishfilly]

I think mine was about the 6th I viewed, but I honestly can't remember! I did vet one and ultimately decide against her before buying my boy. This was in 2020, though so a lot sold before I could arrange a viewing.

Ultimately, I think I ended up pretty lucky (more by luck that judgement!) so it definitely worked out well!

 

[[59668]]

First horse I bought: tried 4 (PTS age 8)
Second horse I bought: only tried him (retired age 12)
Third horse: only tried her (retired age 8)
Fourth horse : only tried her (sold)
Current horse: tried 15!!!!

 

[Birker2020]

When I bought my first horse - everything else sold or went lame before I got to view, so she was the only horse I tried. I consider it fate

14 years later I'm heading out to buy a new horse and have no idea how many I should try to see while I'm in the area this weekend?

Curious to know how many you guys saw before you found the one?

1st horse viewed and bought - big mistake - private home - no previous horses viewed
2nd horse viewed and bought - brilliant horse - dealer - saw four and bought him
3rd horse viewed and bought - not good - dealer - three previous horses viewed
4th horse viewed and bouhgt - brilliant horse - dealer - one previous horse viewed
5th horse viewed and bought - brilliant horse - dealer - no previous horses viewed
6th horse viewed and bought - jury still out - private home - three previous horses viewed