Other than the usual what questions do I ask....

[silverstar]

when horse viewing?

A few Ive got are...

any health probs i.e. breathing, when last shod/how often do you shoe, are the vaccs up to date, what work is he currently doing, vices/blemishes.

Any others please??

 

[dressedkez]

The issues you raise should be apparant from viewing or subsequent vetting. If the horse is abnormally cheap, than some health, blemishes, vices might have been declared up-front.
I would suggest that you might want to ask some more perceptive questions first off
1. How long have you had the horse?
2. Why are you selling?
3. Is there any 3rd party who would recommend the horse (PC / RC instructors / Judge / etc.)
4. Comp history

Then the obvious that will make your life easier in dealing with said horse
Good in traffic, catch, load, clip, in company, tie-up, on its own in field / stable - will it go first, or last? Good with hounds, hack out on its own etc.
What happens if you can't ride it everyday?
Does it need soaked hay, dust free bedding?
What do you feed it?
etc. etc.......

There are compromises to be had on any of these - but you need to know all the info from outset if possible

 

[silverstar]

bump

 

[Birker2020]

when horse viewing?

A few Ive got are...

any health probs i.e. breathing, when last shod/how often do you shoe, are the vaccs up to date, what work is he currently doing, vices/blemishes.

Any others please??

Whenever I have gone to see a horse for sale I have taken my Dad and the camcorder!! Very useful gadget. Whilst the owner is chatting to my Dad and Dad is filming me ride the horse in question my Dad will be asking the owner "is the horse good to shoe?", "does the horse buck or rear?" "does the horse have any health issues?". By asking these questions so that they are recorded on video at least we have something to fall back on in a court of law should the horse prove to kick the farriers head in prior to bucking and rearing with me and then dropping down dead!!!. It really could help your case if this conversation is recorded on video. This way the vendor doesn't realise you are doing it for this reason.

Seriously though never ask "has the horse any vices?" Ask about each vice separately, i.e. "does the horse kick?", "does the horse rear?", etc. This way the vendor can't say "you didn't ask me about ****" or "I forgot about that vice".

Also make sure you see the horse caught in the field if you can and make sure you see the horses OWN stable so you can check to see if stable edges have been chewed or worn down (indicating a windsucker/crib biter). Let the horse loose in the stable to check it doesn't weave or box walk. Also check that in the field or stable water has not been with held from the horse as this has the effect of making a horse dehydrated which in turn can make it very drowsy. Watch the horse carefully whilst tacked up, watching its face/ears as this will indicate if it resents being tacked up which could indicate an issue with pain.

I have been very lucky with my last five horses in so much as each was was vetted five stage with bloods and each was passed with flying colours and none of them I had any physical problems with immediately after purchase. My first horse, a mare was so nappy whilst loading into my friends trailer when we went to collect her following her vetting (which she passed)that she reared, bucked and threw herself about so much trying to load her that she eventually fell over. 3 months later after constant bucking/rearing/bolting everytime she was ridden we sold her to someone who knew of her problems. We found she had three vetebrae out in her back and she was never (to my knowledge) ridden again but instead ended her life extremely happy as a broodmareas she had excellent blood lines. We believe she did this injury when she was loaded in the trailer.

 

[tinkandlily]

Will it hack out alone and company, in traffic?
How does it travel.?
Has it got any behavioural issues, i.e bitting, kicking, rearing, bucking ect.?
When riding, is there anything in particular, it spooks at.?
Whats it like when turned out with others, is it aggresive?
Does it have any vices, some yards won't let horses on that weve mostly.

 

[Birker2020]

when horse viewing?

A few Ive got are...

any health probs i.e. breathing, when last shod/how often do you shoe, are the vaccs up to date, what work is he currently doing, vices/blemishes.

Any others please??

Oh, I meant to say, it would SOOOOO help new owners if the vendor made a little 'book' or even jotted down a few lines to say "Bailey likes mints, hates hifi light but loves readigrass, goes 7 weeks between shoeing, enjoys jumping, but hates roadwork, is funny about having forelock plaited, comes to call, is turned out by himself, has excellent stable manners, leans on r/h whilst picking out feet, loads happily in a trailer or lorry, will fidget without a haynet" etc etc. These are things that people wouldn't ask the vendor but would really help a new horse settle in to his new home so much quicker.