Oh wise HHOers... Questions to ask prior to viewing

[Cloball]

So I'm not supposed to be looking yet but just seen an advert that ticks all the boxes and is just up the road. You lot are enablers so ... Hypothetically speaking what questions would you ask, be prepared to answer before viewing?
Also how far in advance should I have the livery yard locked down ??

 

[splashgirl45]

Hacking alone. / with others/ traffic
load in lorry/trailer
good to shoe/trim
clip
catch from field
how kept now
up to date with vaccinations
why selling
laminitis or any other problems sweet itch Cushings etc

 

[Patterdale]

Whatever is important to you. But remember they’ll tell you anything.
Before I actually get in my car I want to know what history they can tell me, what it’s done, is it level headed.
Competing name and the seller’s full name so I can do my own research.
Then I want side on conformation pictures, pictures of its feet, and a recent video of it trotting up on hard ground.

This process weeds out 99% of those advertised and means that usually if I go and view a horse, I buy it!

I’m not so bothered with the traditional questions because if it’s not good to catch etc they’ll just lie and tell you it is anyway.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Remember your A B C

A: Accept nothing you're told as being true; B: Believe nothing you're told; C: Check everything you're told; and add-on a 'D' which is Don't under any circumstances get on it till you've seen it ridden first. Whatever the excuse.

Always take someone with you; another set of eyes is vital as they'll pick up things you could miss - and also may stop you making a rash decision.

If viewing I always tend to rock-up at least 15 mins early; you might just see it being lunged if you get there early....... or you might see it having a bit of a sponge-down to get any sweat off without making it wet (which would make it obvious it had been worked).

I went to see one once where the seller declared that "it hadn't done anything today". Trouble was she'd forgotten to brush the sand from the school off its feet.......... a friend of mine then went to see the horse later the same day and she told them the same story - they (like me) were dead canny and also noticed it had sand all over it's feet. She was obviously too bone idle to groom it in between potential buyers.

Also be savvy if horse is ridden/lunged on a circle for you; if it is stiff or a bit lame on one side they will show you twice as much on the "good" side as the "bad". An old trick, and can be very subtle when it happens if you're not properly watching.

If the farrier is there when you visit then sneak up and have a little chat; it's surprising what you get told sometimes, especially if seller declares it is "good to shoe"........ also if the feet of it are awful yet everything else in the yard isn't, it just might not be good to shoe and farrier just thinks OK so let's just get in and out with this one PDQ.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

How much of the history do they know?

But as above take anything they say with a pinch of salt.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

In addition to all the usual questions, once I meet the vendor face to face I ask 2 or 3 more.
1. Obviously you are selling, but what one thing about Neddy really makes you smile?
2. Give me 1 annoying thing that Neddy does, no horse is perfect.
3. When you first purchased/backed etc Neddy, what little worries/irritations did he have to start with that he doesnt do now? Just so I can help understand him if he reverts back when moving home.
Often the above will be responded to by something you hadn't thought of....

Add to the usual vices list: fence walking and gate guarding (horrible to find you have a horse that wrecks fields or 'has' to come in 1st)

Good luck!

 

[shortstuff99]

Don't want to repeat, but I like to see the horse in the field and ask the seller to catch and bring the horse in and see everything from there. Helps to give a feel of the horse more. I also ask them to trot the horse up for me in hand first before riding too. If you're not used to trying horses I would also take a long an experienced friend who can sit on it first for you and say if you should get on or not. I've done that for more novice riders before and it has saved them getting on some that would be too sharp etc.

 

[minesadouble]

How long have they owned, reason for sale, any vices/health issues or quirks.

I usually then tell them what I'm looking for and what jobs I want it to do and ask if they think it fits the bill.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Vetting history, can you have access to the horses veterinary history, if not why not. Is he easy to catch in the paddock, does he have any stable vices (weaving, wind sucking, door kicking) how is he with the farrier & vet. Does he load well, does he travel on his own. Hacking, does he go out alone, prefer company. Do not ride the horse first, insist that some ride him before you, see him ridden in walk, trot & canter any issues will show out while you are on the ground watching. If he shows something irregular & seller says 'he's a 'bit footy' at the moment due to the hard ground. That means the horse is lame and walk away or arrange to view at a later date. Has the horse been groomed, feet picked out, does he look well kept. If you are looking at a competition horse ask to see his record. When sellers try to impress they say 'he's got potential. The horse is 14 years old so he should have reached his potential by now. Don't let yourself be pressured by the seller with 'there's someone who is very keen & seems to want him' if you have any doubt then do not buy. Someone earlier said 'don't believe what the seller says unless proved. Ask why they are selling him, don't believe the reason again until proved. Remember it is better to walk away without the horse but with money in your pocket than buy the horse & have doubts in your mind & the horse in your trailer. Good Luck

 

[Peglo]

If you know the name of the seller go and have a look on FB and Instagram and see what they’ve been doing with the horse.

ask them what the weekly routine is of the horse. In at night, out through the day, ridden 6 days a week, feeding routine and see how that would compare to how you would keep them. If possible I might want to see the stable to check for teeth marks anywhere.

 

[Glitter's fun]

What is it doing right now, this week; not used to be good at or has the potential to do.
Are you the legal owner, or are you selling for someone else?
Will someone be there to ride him first before I ride him?
Is his passport there with him? - i.e. not lost, being replaced, to be sent on later etc?
How long have you owned him?
Who is his vet & can i have access to his records? *
Who is that riding him in the video, will I meet them tomorrow? **
When I come can I watch you catch him & tack him up please?


*Bear in mind if re-sale was always the intention, they might use 2 vets, one for vaccines & worming & the other for lameness or illness that they are not intending to tell you about.
** It might be a five year old video that shows the previous owner doing what he used to do before the lameness.

 

[Glitter's fun]

I’m not so bothered with the traditional questions because if it’s not good to catch etc they’ll just lie and tell you it is anyway.

This!
If you can, try to get into a conversation rather than asking a list of questions. It's very rare to see an advert without "hacks alone & in company; good to catch, box, shoe " in it. It's like a mantra that's said without being conscious of the meaning. There was one recently that "hacked alone and in company" but when you got chatting, actually it reared quite a bit when you hacked alone. So yes, I suppose technically it did hack alone but you wouldn't want to.

 

[millitiger]

I like to get full name for horse and seller and then I thoroughly internet stalk them, google, Facebook, Instagram etc.

Otherwise I don't ask a huge amount except any vet history, as I don't trust anything that anyone says and would rather just see the horse.

I, like most people, like the horse to be in the field when I arrive and then I can see/ try the horse with everything that is important to me.

 

[SantaVera]

Firstly acertain if they actually own the horse. I traveled for 3 hours to view a horse,arranged to buy it subject to it passing the vet,asked to see its passport and registration papers,noticed the name on those documents were not that of the seller. They came up with the excuse it belongs to a relative whoes traveling abroad and can't be contacted. What a waste of a day! Obviously the horse was on loan or even stolen and they were just trying to cash it in.

 

[webble]

Have a look what tack it is currently in, if its anything more complicated than a simple snaffle and cavesson ask why
Depending on the yard you will be at ask what it is like going out first/ coming in last

 

[Melody Grey]

Does the vendor have any exclusions on their insurance or any treatment within last 12 months that may lead to them?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I wrote 2 full A4 pages of questions. The one question I did ask was is he OK turned out in winter!! Never a Question I would think to ask!! The answer is no as I have subsequently found out!! Hope all goes well!!

 

[Orangehorse]

Selling horses makes even the Vicar unreliable.

The most important is what you want it for and does the vendor think that it will be suitable for you.
Does it have any health problems, dust allergy, etc. No horse is perfect, so what is its drawback, or quirk.
If "quiet in traffic" what sort of traffic. That which passes down the lane twice a day or going along the village main road with lorries and cars, plus tractors, etc.

Someone bought a horse to take hacking. Lovely horse,a saint, an older hunter. But it wouldn't go out the end of the drive by itself.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I wrote 2 full A4 pages of questions. The one question I did ask was is he OK turned out in winter!! Never a Question I would think to ask!! The answer is no as I have subsequently found out!! Hope all goes well!!

I have a 2 page document that I occasionally pass on to friends when they are looking, it covers the basic questions.
We are all human and can forget one small thing to ask, which can turn into a massive issue down the line.

 

[Cloball]

Stand down the horse has gone and no stables available. Does mean I need to do a bit more hunting around for a prospective yard....
Thank you for all the fantastic advice it is all noted and stored for later ... Hopefully not to much later ?

 

[Jellymoon]

In addition to all the usual questions, once I meet the vendor face to face I ask 2 or 3 more.
1. Obviously you are selling, but what one thing about Neddy really makes you smile?
2. Give me 1 annoying thing that Neddy does, no horse is perfect.
3. When you first purchased/backed etc Neddy, what little worries/irritations did he have to start with that he doesnt do now? Just so I can help understand him if he reverts back when moving home.
Often the above will be responded to by something you hadn't thought of....

Add to the usual vices list: fence walking and gate guarding (horrible to find you have a horse that wrecks fields or 'has' to come in 1st)

Good luck!

I ask these questions too, they can be most revealing! And 8/9 yr olds that I’ve sold have def reverted to their 4 yr olds selves when moving to a new home. Luckily, the buyers communicated with me and I was on hand for reassurance and once the horses trusted their new owners, they have been fine.

 

[Cloball]

Right mission back on if anyone would like to help me pony shop ??

 

[splashgirl45]

Love pony shopping , what is your ideal.?

 

[Cloball]

14.2 -15.2 safe first horse for a some low level endurance, trec, and dressage north west/North Wales area.

 

[splashgirl45]

Sounds like the type I would like and few and far between, the safe bit is the problem??

 

[splashgirl45]

Had a quick look on horse quest. Prices really vary, lovely palomino age 13 but £10,000?ref 287665
coloured cob, quite stocky, 9 years, £9,750 290862
cob type 12 years £3,500 owned since a year old, nice type 288082
tb. cross only 5years £3,000… 289138. if you have help at yard might be worth a look, but for a first horse may not be a good idea as a 5 year old has not reached his full strength

These are all in Wales. If it was me I would look at 288082. The first 2 are rather a lot of money for what you want to do, unless you are loaded?

or horsemart ref.HM2426F16 , age 15 but sounds ideal, 14.2 coloured mare... if you are only intending to do low level stuff she might be ok for a good few years

or HM23655E4. age 14

 

[Cloball]

Oh I quite like the look of 2880882 the only problem with South Wales is it takes longer to get to than Scotland does ?

 

[splashgirl45]

as im down south ive no idea about travelling out of my area.

did you look at the horsemart ones, i know they are older and if they were 17 hands i wouldnt have suggested them but pony types can quite often go on for a very long time. my friend bought an 18 year old, 15 hands mare and she did lots of long distance rides, loads of hacking etc and only stopped riding her when she was 27, she was an ideal first horse and was sound until she injured her hind leg, she was field sound so was fretired and she was PTS age 29

 

[Cloball]

The first one has gone but the second is quite close so I will look into thanks ?

 

[Kaylum]

Video you riding and the owner riding and stalk. FInd out everything you can. Ask on Facebook. My friend was a day away of getting a horse vetted. Never had any injuries oh the owner had forgot the horse had been out of action for 3 months with an injury just a few months ago. Found out by stalking.