Purchase deal breakers, what are yours?

SatansLittleHelper

SatansLittleHelper

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As I'm on a pretty tight budget alot of the horses I'm looking at have one issue or another and I wondered what people would consider to be deal breakers?
A selection of the things I've come across are:
* Sarcoids...so many horses with these!!
* Mild OCD (young heavy breed horse)
* Arthritic changes in hock (8 year old )
* Rising 6 yr old backed then turned away, not done anything since? Supposedly lack of time
* Post OP surgery for OCD

Any thoughts? Anything else that would make you walk?
I'm looking for a happy hacker to do the odd fun ride and some jumping, maybe x country but nothing competitive.
 
Well one of my homebreds has had sarcoids which were treated with Liverpool cream and he is now competing st PSG. Another horse I bought as a foal had OCD chips removed from his fetlocks and is about to do his first PSG. In answer to your question though I probably wouldn’t have bought a horse with either of these before but now it wouldn’t worry me as long as they were back in work and I liked them.
 
SatansLittleHelper said:
As I'm on a pretty tight budget alot of the horses I'm looking at have one issue or another and I wondered what people would consider to be deal breakers?
A selection of the things I've come across are:
* Sarcoids...so many horses with these!!
* Mild OCD (young heavy breed horse)
* Arthritic changes in hock (8 year old )
* Rising 6 yr old backed then turned away, not done anything since? Supposedly lack of time
* Post OP surgery for OCD

Any thoughts? Anything else that would make you walk?
I'm looking for a happy hacker to do the odd fun ride and some jumping, maybe x country but nothing competitive.
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I'd walk away from all of those except the sarcoids, which I'd take as long as it was only one or two and nowhere near tack, eyes, or moving parts (groin, elbow). I would accept the ball type in those places if there is enough loose skin to get a lamb elastrator band on.

If they were prepared to stick some tack on the 6 year old, and it looked calm, I might buy it if the price was right, they released their vet record, they said yes to a vetting including back and joint x rays. I wouldn't actually do the vetting or x rays, though.
 
Sweet itch
Hock issues in younger horses
Napping
Bad in traffic
Bad to catch

Weaving/cribbing/sarcoidosis/melanomas/mareish/strong/bad loader wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me
 
The only one of those examples that wouldn't be a deal breaker is the sarcoids. I wouldn't go for any of the others personally.

My primary deal breaker though is not liking the horse ;)
 
I don't mind certain types of sarcoids so that wouldn't necessarily put me off of a horse for what you want it for. I also wouldn't mind backed late depending on the horse. Our Welsh D wasn't broken til he was 5yo as he was too immature physically, he is now 10yo and has done absolutely nothing since as I really don't have the time! But I know his circumstances which is why it wouldn't put me off. I also know his personality so it's not a bother. I wouldn't touch young horses with arthritis.
 
all of them have problems but if the 6 year old was my type(and i was 30 years younger) and seemed like a nice person i would take a chance if i was capable of sorting out any issues or had someone experienced who could help me, i would also make sure i had it vetted to rule out any health issues and would want its back checked thoroughly...just in case they have tried to back him and failed...
 
I suppose it would come down to what you thought of the seller/horse/story? I know of a couple of 6/7yr old horses that were supposed backed then turned away and not re started. Both of them turned out to be injury/extremely tricky.
What is your gut reaction re not having time??
 
looked on horsemart and searched for 16 to 16,3 bet £1000 & £2000 and the 3rd one down looks possible , 16.3 clyde/tb 15 years old, £2000 o,n.o, may be worth a call if 15 isnt too old for you, they may take a low offer as they have said its due to house move.... the first one may suit but not sure from the ad if she only drives....worth looking at the ad though

found one of horsequest, look at the ads for under £1000 and there is a 12 yr old ,shire/tb 16.2 mare price says £1500..... i am trying to find you something:):)
 
Am surprised sarcoids not big problem for a lot of people. There is a nice Connie gelding for sale near me that is advertised at £4K priced according to having 2 flat sarcoids, not sure where. My own mare had one on her inside of hind leg but it dropped off 13 years ago and none have reappeared. On a related note melanomas would put me off.
 
Myloubylou said:
Am surprised sarcoids not big problem for a lot of people. There is a nice Connie gelding for sale near me that is advertised at £4K priced according to having 2 flat sarcoids, not sure where. My own mare had one on her inside of hind leg but it dropped off 13 years ago and none have reappeared. On a related note melanomas would put me off.
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The thing is that sarcoids are not a problem for most horses which have them, just like your mare. . Professor Knottenbelt has built a career around specialising in them, in the process frightening people witless about them in the UK.

For those of us who aren't frightened off by them, it's a great way to get a horse half price.
 
splashgirl45 said:
found one of horsequest, look at the ads for under £1000 and there is a 12 yr old ,shire/tb 16.2 mare price says £1500..... i am trying to find you something:):)
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Thank you, I've sent them a message :)
This is really my upper age limit as I'd rather but unbroken than something much older. This girl sounds great :)
 
Any and all health issues would be a no go for me. The one time I took a punt, on a very mild head shaker who didn't require a net nose and was perfect in every other way, I ended up with a seven year old field ornament. Luckily for him, I love him insanely so he can stick around for as long as he likes, but had I known how bad it could get, I wouldn't have touched him with a bargepole. The same goes for any other injuries or illnesses. Enough can go wrong with healthy horses, without choosing ones who come with pre-existing problems.
 
I would be put off by bad loaders, horses that won’t stable well, stressy horses, ones that get stupidly attached to others and that can’t be alone for 5 seconds without melting down. Also wouldn’t fancy one that won’t hack alone. Oh and marish mares. All of these stem from bad experiences I don’t wish to repeat.

I also stay away from most health issues. Would cope with a tiny inactive sarcoid but that’s about it.

The above is why I end up with youngsters!
 
I brought, actually dad brought him with and told us on the car journey home we were having him, our spotty at just turned six been lunged, and lent over but they didnt have time for more as life got in the way.

We have known the breeders years and have a few othera from them. He spent six months learning how to be a livery yard horse and then went off to be backed.
 
The deal breakers for me are if I don’t like the horse (ie it’s pig ugly, put together like a camel, or rides like a plank of wood), it won’t fit into my system/set up, it’s dog lame or it’s likely to put me on the floor frequently.

Most other things are open to consideration depending on the job it’s for and the price.

If I were paying £1500 for a 16.2-17hh middleweight I would fully expect to buy imperfection. And if nothing was disclosed by seller I would wonder what hidden nasty I might find when I got home.
 
Sarcoids woudn't bother me as long as they weren't somewhere awkward. England seems much fussier than Ireland about them.
One that hasn't done much at a bit older wouldn't either, provided the reason was clear (such as a mare which had a foal as a 4yo, or something)

I wouldn't touch one with potential arthritis / chips / OCD (though so many have chips removed at a young age now that you might not know anyway!)
I don't mind the odd manageable vice either if it means I can get a good horse for a fraction of the price, depending on where you are going to keep it and whether it is allowed.
Behaviour wise- anything that naps / rears is a no no for me, I had one who was perfect in lots of ways but if you can't get out of the start box and over the first fence then its not much good..
Worth noting though that all the above obviously do cause problems if you ever need / want to sell, so you have to be prepared to take a chance.
 
JJS said:
Any and all health issues would be a no go for me. The one time I took a punt, on a very mild head shaker who didn't require a net nose and was perfect in every other way, I ended up with a seven year old field ornament. Luckily for him, I love him insanely so he can stick around for as long as he likes, but had I known how bad it could get, I wouldn't have touched him with a bargepole. The same goes for any other injuries or illnesses. Enough can go wrong with healthy horses, without choosing ones who come with pre-existing problems.
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I feel exactly the same.
 
I've only ever purchased one horse and his five stage vetting was very useful to us (he was only £2000 inc. rugs but with the 5 stage we found out he had a small cataract and a splint, both of which we've been able to keep an eye on as he got older).

My only dealbreakers are rearers (my opinion is there is usually something going on there, especially if the horse rears in the viewing), greys with melonomas (we loaned a pony who had two benign ones on his head, they unfortunately ended his life a few years later when they became malignant) nasty temperament to handle (even if they are my perfect horse to ride) and lastly, anything described as "cold-backed" by the seller.

In general, I'd say to go with your gut and if the seller feels dishonest, even in small ways, don't do it. Have some kind of vetting, if only for reassurance and so that blood can be tested for doping.





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