Questions to ask?!

SarahX

SarahX

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...When ringing up someone about a horse?
1st horse, and having a non horsey family, i have no idea or past experience to know what type of questions to ask in the first phone call..

I really think that i might have found the perfect horse!
Dapple grey, gelding, 6 years old.. beautiful :')
And only 10 minutes away from my house..
And i was actually going to ring up about sharing him before i found Solomon about 8 months ago!
Fate!!

Sarah X
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Questions could include: how long they have had the horse and why it is for sale. Does it have any ridden or stable vices. Is the horse good to load, clip,catch, shoe and in traffic.What sort of activities they have done with the horse.Is the horse open to a 5 stage vetting. Good luck.
 

Depends what you want the animal for. I'm assuming you just want an all-rounder so you could ask these sorts of questions;

Does the horse have;

Any stable vices?

Any vices while being ridden such as napping/bolting/rearing etc.

Any known health problems?

Is he easy to load, catch, good with the farrier, easy to tack up etc.

Is he good in traffic?

Is the horse a strong ride or fizzy?

If you have pets or other horses, then what is he like with dogs & other horses?

There are lots of others but with the answers given to the above questions, you can then decide on whether you'd like to go & view him.

I know it's a bit 'Spanish Inquisition' but a few times I've gone to see horses that I would not have bothered to see if I'd asked in-depth questions over the phone.

Good luck
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How he is bred
When was he broken and by whom
How long have they had him
Why he is for sale
Where/how is he kept- management routine
Medical history
Special needs- diet, shoes, management, etc
What tack is he ridden in. Does it ever change
Level of training - flatwork (and jumping if relevant)
How he goes- forward going, straight, how balanced, rhythm, etc
Level of experience- roads/traffic, competitions if relevant,
What is he like to catch/travel/shoe/clip/hack on own/hack in company/at competitions
What is he fed
How much work is he in, how fit he is

And anything else that you can think of that is relevant to you and your personal circumstances
 
is he vaccinated up to date, regularly dewormed, does he have back and teeth done regularly, and, yes, I know this is a bit bizarre, but, do they actually have his passport.
Believe it or not, I have been met with a blank stare in answer to that question!
 
Six? Isn't that a bit young for a first horse?

Age
Stable vices (if you don't ask, they won't tell) - crib biting, box walking, head shaking, windsucking etc.
Experience - ideally the horse should have had at least two years experience at your level of competition/discipline
Medical history (can you ask for their vet's number and ask?)
Diet and why
What tack he's in and why (also bits)
Owner history
Other vices - napping, tricks and naughty things
Why up for sale?
Is he good to - box, shoe, clip, in traffic, groom, feed ETC.
...I could go on and on...

ASK ASK ASK
Don't get scared of being rude, if they've nothing to hide why would they care what you ask?
 
Lots!! As many as possible....if you don't ask you might not be told!! As the horse is not that far away from you you could ask the main questions on the phone to see if it fits the criteria you want and go and visit as you wont have wasted hours driving and you can get a much better "feel" of the seller and horse when you visit in person than over the phone. Dont be afraid if you do visit and after a few more questions you decide that the horse isn't for you, you do not have to ride it just because you are there, the seller will probably appreciate you not wasting their time.

But as a starting list:
how long have they had the horse?
why is it for sale?
age?
what have they done with the horse, education wise? (schooling/ hacking/ competitions?)
Does it have ANY vices (and list...weave/ crib/ roar/ nap/ buck/ rear/ windsuck?)
What sort of level rider currently rides the horse? (complete beginner/ instructor/ etc.)
Do they box?
Think about the sort of place you would keep them (livery/ on own/ with a few other horse, etc) Some horses like being on own/ some don't. Ask what the horse likes/ dislikes with regard to stabling/ turn out/ what they are like with other horses, etc.
What are they like to hack alone/ in company?
What are they like with traffic? (cars/ vans/ lorries/ bikes/ pedestrians/ tractors/ low flying helicopters)
Does the owner know the horses history/ previous owners?
Has the horse had teeth done/ back checked/ saddle checked/ vaccinated?
Has the vet ever had to visit horse other than for routine jabs?
Every taken any medication?
Are they a good doer?
Think about what your level of riding experience is, can you teach the horse or do you need a horse that will teach you? do you have access to instructors/ a school/ off road hacking?
How does horse react at shows/ in lessons?
Ask to see horse being caught from field, in the stable, being tacked up, hacked out/ in school, boxed, untacked, turned out, rugged up, fed, etc. This will help give you a general idea of how current owner handles the horse and if they are nice people and how easy/ quirky the horse is.
Dont ride the horse if they wont ride it before you!!! Ever! No excuses!
What is horse like if not ridden for a week? (a loon or the same!)

Having recently got my first horse I phoned round loads of people who's adverts sounded perfect, but under questioning the horse actually sounded like a complete nutter! or the owner sounded like their horse was just an accessory and not something they actually gave a monkeys about.

Keep looking, nice ones are out their, with nice owners too! Managed to find my boy after viewing just 2 others and phoning up about 20 or so, his previous owner is lovely, still in contact with her to give her up dates on his progress and if i ever want to sell they want him back!

Sorry, a long list, whoops! Well done if youve got this far!
 
All the above and also:

What does he come with: tack/rugs etc
Would you be able to have him on trial
Age/experience of person who normally rides him
 
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