Oops, I spoke to soon - I've been made to eat my words!

Horse_Mad!

Horse_Mad!

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19 December 2010
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After my moaning post yesterday or the day before about there being no loaners I've been made to eat my words!!! Just spoke to a lovely lady on the phone about her gelding, who sounds great (both the lady and the horse!) and I'm going to meet them in the Easter holidays! Just gotta hope that noone else gets in there first...

Any tips or advice on what to ask/find out at the first viewing?
 
Where he's from? What's his breeding like? How was he to break? Was he bred for a particular purpose and does he excel at that now? What has he done competition wise with them/before them?

Does he have any bad habits, does he have any good habits? How is he to clip? To shoe? Etc all the usuals....Does he keep his shoes/what are his feet like? What are his teeth like?

Does he require any special treatments etc IE is he allergic to anything. What's his health history like? Any past injuries likely to cause future problems ie arthritis. Has he ever had laminitis. Has he ever had colic? Has he ever had back problems?

And then general things, the things you would need to consider for his livery etc: is he a good/bad doer? Does he like/prefer living indoors/outdoors? What's he like to groom/tack up/load/rug/be in the stable with? Can you muck out whilst he eats? Is he known to pull away if tied up? Can he be turned out with other horses IE is he a bully/does he often get bullied? How did his past loaners get on with him? Is there anything he finds difficult in hand (bargy etc) or ridden (opening gates on hacks etc)?

I realize a few of these are 'if the current owners know', in the sense that they might have not had owned him from birth etc. Hope I've given you a fairly extensive list of what to look for/ask about :) Expecting reports after you've been to see him!
 
Just read the list of what to ask, and it made me chuckle!!! my sister has a horse that I now know is totally un-loanable!!!(If thats even a word). Now, before i start, she loves him!! He's well bred, for eventing, but so doesnt excel at it, he hates water jumps, or anything spooky, has really bad feet, is a totall softy, if he sneezes, he thinks he has the flu, and behaves accordingly, he is allergic to bee-stings, anafalactic shock type stuff, is quite hot to ride, but no bucking or rearing, thank god. Is 17.1hh and needs alot of food to keep condition on him, but if he's on form will win an event, if he's not, will make you look like it's your first time. Sorry for diverting but it just made me laugh reading the list of what to ask, but, eh, it takes all sorts and she wouldnt have it any other way!!
 
Haha!!! I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect horse by my list no! Bruce is unsellable by this list! He can take thwacking in the shoulder by another horse, but will suddenly turn mysteriously lame when he's been stabled overnight... He's totally fine with flies when he's standing surrounded in the field by them, but as soon as you get on he near enough breaks your nose by headshaking...but he is a fatty so cheap to feed :D

Most of them are aimed at what you're looking for in a horse, and also what you want to pay in the future for a horse and all the little things that you don't consider when viewing but often think b*gger I should've asked about that!
 
fitzaud2 said:
Just read the list of what to ask, and it made me chuckle!!! my sister has a horse that I now know is totally un-loanable!!!(If thats even a word). Now, before i start, she loves him!! He's well bred, for eventing, but so doesnt excel at it, he hates water jumps, or anything spooky, has really bad feet, is a totall softy, if he sneezes, he thinks he has the flu, and behaves accordingly, he is allergic to bee-stings, anafalactic shock type stuff, is quite hot to ride, but no bucking or rearing, thank god. Is 17.1hh and needs alot of food to keep condition on him, but if he's on form will win an event, if he's not, will make you look like it's your first time. Sorry for diverting but it just made me laugh reading the list of what to ask, but, eh, it takes all sorts and she wouldnt have it any other way!!
Click to expand...

Sounds like a lot of men I know! ;)
 
Wow, thank you for such an extensive list!!! Will definitely be reporting back on how it all goes! Trying not to get excited though because it's a few weeks away, and someone else may well get in there first!!
 
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