How many times should you see a horse before buying it?

I would say twice is pretty standard but the more the better. It is so easy to get carried away the first time you see them and not check out the practical side of things.
I went to see mine 3 times and then during the vetting. I bought him from a dealer (happened to be a very good dealer) and on one occasion popped by pretty much unannounced. First time saw him ridden in school, then I rode, 2nd time I just popped by & saw him loose jump. 3rd time I rode, jumped and rode around some fields. I also got a chance to looked him over properly, see him in the stables, tack up ect.
 
another question about vetting: does it matter which vet does it? one horse i am looking at is over an hour away from where i live so to get the local vet to go could be expensive. could i just ask the owner which vet she uses & get them to do it for me even though they wont be the vet if i buy the horse? (hope this makes sense). surely all vets should be impartial so it shouldn't matter?
 
I think it depends a lot on the circumstances.

If you have some knowledge either of the horse or the seller it is easier to make a decision on the first viewing.

The only one we have liked enough to make an offer on we saw once, our instructor came with us and she rode, and I rode and hubby had a quick wander (he wasn't dressed for riding so didn't do much). We went away to think about it but phoned them and made an offer a day or two later as we really liked the horse and she seemed to tick the boxes. Our instructor knew of the seller and had seen some of her previous horses so we were reasonably confident that it wasn't going to be a nutter!

Since then, we have mainly gone for a first viewing just the two of us with the intention of taking our instructor back if we like the horse enough. There has only been one that we have liked that much, and I was glad we had a second viewing as the horse was far more on its toes the second time. And ultimitely we decided that it wasn't quite right following that second viewing.

However I think our situation is more difficult as we are looking for a share so more difficult to assess the horse, and we really need to be able to discuss our feelings afterwards rather than making a snap decision there and then. Also as it is our first purchase we are being quite cautious.
 
Two I went to see once and fell for instantly, (loved everything about mine and had fingers crossed for the kids' pony) and bought.

One I hated on first (and only) sight but daughter pestered, so I bought. Guess what? Love her!

One I was ambivalent about as she did nothing at all for me, but the girl wanted us to take her and do something (anything, please) with her with a view to selling her - she's not going anywhere, ever!

I am stuck with five keepers. I intended to say go and see lots of times, as you need to be sure - but as I now see, it's not so easy.

One or two I have liked and head has said yes but on second visit heart actually said no.

And I only had one fully vetted.
 
Only ever once often havnt ridden them but it depends on your experience and confidence, if i am selling and i like the person and think they are right for the horse i wouldnt object to you coming as many times as you wanted after all i would be riding the horse anyway so no different if you want to ride it again and if the seller is telling the truth they have nothing to hide.
What i would say if making several visits i would fit in to the sellers times and not take up excessive amounts of their time just dont be pressured and follow your gut.
 
I think it depends upon you, the horse and the circumstances.

When I was looking for my first horse, I watched her at a BS show, rode her in the warm up, jumped her the next day, had a flatwork lesson, XC'd her the day after. Caught her in from the field, literally everything we could think of. Lot's of travelling! I had my heart set on her, and then the vet advised us not to buy her, as her feet were quite flat for what we wanted her for. I was devastated. The horse I ended up buying I sat on for 1/2 an hour, jumped a X pole.

I quite literally sat on my 4y/o for about 5 mins. We had run out of time (were in Ireland), and I got on and went round a school a few times, over a X pole, and that was it.


We got them all fully vetted. However, the horse I tried but did not buy, was bought by a freind and is 100% sound, never been lame with any work, and the horse I bought who was foot perfect on the vetting has had 2 summers off, and hasn't been right for the past 9 monthes. My Mum and I went to every vetting, but my 4 y/o's as it was done the day after we flew out.
 
Berkeley said:
Once.....in the dark.....(she says looking up, whistling)
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PMSL-I would have done had some mates not demanded to come with me-in the light!

missparis said:
Wow - only £200 for a 5 stage vetting in your area? a 2 stage costs £280 and a 5 stage is £380 in my area! I was having a horse vetted about 2hrs away from London and it was still going to be over £300 for a 5 stage.
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Blimey, mine was about £200 (Herts, north London virtually)

I'd want to see a horse more than once and try it in as many situations as possible. I was fortunate enough to have mine on a weeks' trial.

Walk away if you have any doubts: there are tons out there. Have fun looking and try loads! :)
 
Twice. I have bought horses in the past first time but I really want to make sure Im not making the same mistake as before as Ive had a few horses that werent what I was sold.

On the vetting get a 5* and dont use their vet. Get your own locally.
 
I always knew after I'd sat on them for even five minutes, but I do think a second veiwing is sensible! With all of mine, I placed a deposit after the first veiwing and asked them not to show anybody else. If I didn't want to put down a deposit, I knew that they were not the horse for me!

We have four horses at the moment, and three of them we only tried once before buying on the spot! And all have turned out to be fantastic, and everything we wanted! (the two ridden ones are both now on the PC dressage and event teams!) However, all four of our horses cost under £3000, I think we would trial more intensively if we were paying more...
 
I always have a second viewing now because I bought a supposedly lovely mare after only one and I had to send her back after three weeks! She was actually a bit of a nutter :o I bought my cob two years ago and although I was fairly certain after one viewing, I went back anyway to hack him and to jump him a bit more.
 
First two I only viewed once. Micah I viewed him twice as the first time I thought he was not what I wanted but after I walked away saying no, my friend asked me why what did he do wrong. answer nothing, it made me go back and try him again the next day and bought him
 
One I bought at a sale - just saw it and bought it
One we bought from a friend, but still had my daughter try it several times and had a 5*vetting
Last one we bought from a very good dealer - it wasn't the one I wanted but daughter put her head over the door and fell in love. Seller insisted we have several visits to try her out and had a 5*vetting.

All three have been very good horses, albeit the last one is very accident prone - perhaps I have jsut been lucky.
 
I went to see Blue about 5 times and he was just turned two year old, so not even able to ride him!

I think the owner thought I was wasting her time, but I really liked him but him being a grey put me off.....I really didn't want a grey! Fell in love with the daft sod though :D

I have bought unseen before, I tend to go on instinct and have (fingers crossed) been lucky.
 
I've only ever viewed the once, then gone back to the vetting with the trailer and money! But then we've only ever bought from people we know, or horses that are known to be genuine - I'd like to think that I'd view twice, but I generally get a feel for the horse and once. Like, we bought one which turned out to be awful in that she didn't want to compete any more but taught me loads and would jump anything in a more relaxed/training/home session (like she'd school round the local open XC course but wouldn't cross the start to do the novice the next day) so was difficult but made me a more precise rider because I couldn't get away with mistakes (not the best buy but at the time she suited). Another mare I tried (didn't buy) was too quiet for me and hadn't the flair for jumping I wanted, so we walked away. I think it depends on whether you view alone, what you do at the viewing and whether you have any doubts at all - not that it makes much difference, once some friends were trying to sell a horse, the buyer viewed the horse 4 times + pick up and vetting (they hacked, jumped, XC, beach ride and went to a PC rally) but still tried to return the horse a month later saying that it was unsuitable - cheek!
 
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