Sales catalogue explanation please

[FaldingwoodLivery]

Just been having a nosy at the catalogue for York horse sales this Friday, I'm a sales virgin and so need someone to explain a few things to me.

I noticed on a few entries that it was statedas for sale without warranty, I wasn't aware you got warranty from a sale as so wondered if anyone knew what the warranty covers and for what reason some horses are sold without it. Is it because they're known to have faults or just because the owners not prepared to take then back if they have to?

Also at a sales is there much oportunity to see the horses/ponies before hand, can you see them being ridden/ handled etc?

 

[bexwarren24]

Well, i have never been to York sales but I know how the local ones near to me work. No warranty means there is no come back on the horse what-so-ever. It is sold as seen. Can be that there's issues there. Could just be that the old owner cannot physically take it back. I bought one not under warranty once and he was a mild head shaker appart from that a complete novice ride to the point of being very boring for me and nearly passed a 5-stage vetting when i sold him (1/10th lame) so doesnt necessarely mean there are issuess with them.

There should be an explanation of what the warranties on the others cover. A general warranty normally means it has no lameness, etc. Some may be warranted good in traffic, good to hunt. If you get the horse home and it is not as they have warranted then you normally have a time scale to send it back in, norm 48hours, you will need a written note from a vet/other proffesional to do this.

Normally there is plenty of opportunity to see the horses in the pens before hand and most auctioneers allow you to take the horse out to trot up, etc. As far as ridden goes, thats uo to the individual seller, some are prepard to ride there horses around the car-parks to demonstrate safety, etc but these horse normally go for a bit more money IME.

 

[Cocoa]

Hi, I have been to york and bought a horse from there in the past. There is plenty of opportunity to look at the horses in the pens before hand, you can usually go in and have a good look at legs etc. and most will let you ride them if you ask. Some will ride them for you, some will let you ride. They have a small grass area out the back in which the horses are usually tried out, gives you chance to have a walk/trot/canter. There are usually a lot of people milling around and you may have to be quite pushy to get a chance to try stuff. Don't be afraid to ask about the horses. Oh and be prepared to see some sad sights (not necessarily poor animals just unfortunate cases). York are pretty good with welfare. Oh and if you take a box/trailer with you in case of purchase be ready to be jumped on by dealers the moment you drive through the gate (they want to know what you have in the back!) My advice would be, keep your eyes open, go with an open mind and trust your instincts.

 

[FaldingwoodLivery]

Thanks for your answers and advice guys, think I might go and have a look before I go to buy. I'm soon to be moving into my new horse where I can keep horses at home yay!!! (so excited!) I'm horseless at the minute and plan to get a pony for my 4yo daughter when we move in. So I want to get something for myself mainly to keep the pony company. It has to be something cheapish because I'm guessing most of my horse budget will be taken up by daughters safe, honest, 100% bombproof first pony. I have no idea what I fancy buying, so am open to anything. Don't know if a fancy a 1-2 yo, something ready to break in, something I can ride, horse, pony???? My mind is truly open to anything so I'm guessing the sales might ne a good place to look.

I'm guessing the horses without warranty are the cheaper ones, but also the riskier buys? I suppose it all depends on howuch money your able to justify loosing if that's the case.

Sorry if this posts a but rambled, laptops out of action at mo so on my iPhone, bit tricky to type a post when you can only see a small but of text.

 

[bexwarren24]

Yeah, un-warranted go for alot less then warranted horses as a general rule. I think if u go for a youngster you are less likely to run into problems. The most important thing to me is that a horse is sound with no obvious illness. You can always sell/re-home a problem horse but not so easy if they are ill/lame. Hope that makes sense.