Rule #1 of going to view a horse...

Rule #2 ask for a recent video. After travelling to see one that was lame and another where the videos were a year old and it had filled out somewhat so was too heavy weight for my requirements.
 
Rule #3 - if you want a happy hacker plod & only ever want to trot over teeny jumps don't go and see one advertised as a competitive horse. (spoken from a sellers point of view )
 
Don't go to view a full up 14.2 Welsh Sec D and then say 'I don't want a cob and he's not very big' ( Head slap!), there was a pic in the ad too!
 
#5 HH is a metric that changes based on who you ask!!! My 14.2hh is VERY different from some people's 14.2hh. Be aware that if the pony looks 13hh in the pics, but seller is adamant it's 14.2hh...it's 13hh.
 
Ask for videos both on the flat and jumping, and in all three paces. I went to see one that didn't have a great walk and I wanted a good walk for Dressage, would have saved me a lot of heartache
 
Go ready to NOT like it, unlike me who went with the deposit in pocket and was basically just going to check that it had four legs and looked just as pretty as in the pictures. Worked out ok but it could have gone horribly wrong!
 
Shadowdancing said:
Go ready to NOT like it, unlike me who went with the deposit in pocket and was basically just going to check that it had four legs and looked just as pretty as in the pictures. Worked out ok but it could have gone horribly wrong!
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And me, rang up, agreed price over phone if I took away next day, drove 100 miles, looked, rode, paid, took it away... worked out but could well have gone other way hehe
 
Shadowdancing said:
Go ready to NOT like it, unlike me who went with the deposit in pocket and was basically just going to check that it had four legs and looked just as pretty as in the pictures. Worked out ok but it could have gone horribly wrong!
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Exactly what I did with Sam. Unless he'd had only had three legs or had bucked me off and kicked me in the head would I have not had him. I was in love from the second I saw his ad. He's worked out wonderfully and I worship the ground he walks on :)
 
Always videotape the vendors answers to your questions "does the horse (name the horse) have any vices or issues"? This is achievable by asking someone to film you riding the horse whilst stood next to the vendor and them asking the vendor these questions (better to ask about each vice than say the word 'vices'. Sneaky I know but well worth it. At least then you cover yourself should you find out your horse won't be clipped, shod or is a confirmed rearer after you have bought it!
 
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If you want a totally laid back trundle round the lanes bombproof/spookproof horse then ask the seller to ride it by itself down a nice busy road for you to establish this.
 
Ask if the person is a dealer, and if they are, check how long they have had the horse. I drove a couple of hours to see a horse which sounded as if he was a much loved pet, only to find that the dealer had only had him 2 weeks and knew nothing about him. Including the fact that he'd never seen poles before......when I wanted an all-rounder.
 
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