Share your seller red flags!

[NotInTheKnow]

We all know there are a LOT of bad apples out there, can you share the biggest icks and red flags you've come across when buying a horse?

I'm now actively looking for my first ever horse and just a month in and I may already have a few. My favourite one is the seller straight up lied that the PPE vet I said I might use only deals with small animals (the business name of that vet has the word equine in it!). And everything was going well during viewing, I could have almost put down a deposit. No wonder his face looked the way it looked when I mentioned the vet's name! By some stroke of luck I only chose the vet from a random google search based on location and good reviews. The vet eventually emailed me back to say they don't deal with this particular seller and cannot disclose their reason.

 

[AthenesOwl]

Wow, thank goodness for the honesty of the vet!

I’m interested in this too, as I hope to be horse hunting early next year. It almost seems an impossible dream though, with all the dodgy sellers out there.

Good luck with your hunt!

 

[nutjob]

Dodgy dealers on facebook is the place to go. There are also some dealers who get recommended time and time again so clearly are genuine. My top tips are to be very very careful with any type of agent, sales livery, selling on behalf of a friend/client. These people know little about the horse, can say what they want and take no responsibility if things go wrong. Also, always get a vetting, don't rely on the sellers 'recent' vetting and also don't rely on their xrays. They don't have the horse's microchip no. on the images and a dealer can literally have one set of good xrays that they use for every horse they sell. I had a dealer decline for me to have a horse xrayed which they claimed they had already done themselves .

 

[cold_feet]

A poorly shod horse. If it’s lame at vetting, it’s because he needs shoeing. If he gets shod before vetting at your insistence (on advice of vet) and is lame it’s because he was recently shod and you are a time waster.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Don't buy a horse in November and find out its a headshaker in April!!

 

[asmp]

Make sure you can use a vet of your choosing before putting down a deposit. An RDA group I know lost their deposit this way with a dealer in Essex

 

[poiuytrewq]

Don't buy a horse in November and find out its a headshaker in April!!

Same applies to December…. As I found out

 

[nutjob]

Don't buy a horse in November and find out its a headshaker in April!!

Same applies to December…. As I found out

Me too

 

[ycbm]

Think twice if the horse is under lights or has sweat marks from recent exercise when you arrive unless you are told that the horse has already been viewed by another purchaser today.

Walk away if a blood test is refused no matter how good the excuse sounds.

Don't take bagged food they give you "to make the changeover slowly".

Ask to tack up the horse yourself.

Never get on before seeing someone else get on.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’d also say if you just think for some reason there’s something not right, believe yourself and walk away.
Twice I’ve had niggly doubts, told myself not to be stupid and later regretted it.

 

[Kaylum]

Take someone with you to video. Also do plenty of stalking and asking about the horse to others.

My friend was 2 days away from getting a horse vetted. She sent the video of her riding it to a friend and it just didnt look right. She had asked a few times if the horse had ever been lame and then found out it had been out of work for 6 months due to an injury.

Red flags are no food or water in the stable.
No rider available to ride that day.
Deposit needed before viewing.
Lost passport will forward on when replacement arrives. Never get passport.
Check the saddle fits.
If it's already tacked up untack and retack up. Some have terrible ear problems and it makes tacking up very hard. Look for possible ulcer problems and sacroids under the girth area that might be covered up.

Yes dodgy dealers site is a great place to ask. You see the same horse advertised time and time again. Different age different name, different dealer.

 

[starbucker]

My Red Flags Viewing:
- Pushing to buy without viewing (pushiness in general, via message or in person)
- Discouraging using vet
- 'Ive got a viewing later so you have to decide now'
- No passport
- Discouraging from riding in arena or out (should have time to do a little of both)
- Lots of people hovering around in stable / grouchiness in stable ( this one swung and kicked when I went for 2nd viewing and was left a bit more to it)
- Badly fitting tack / 'cant get tack to fit'
- desperate need of farrier
- Not riding it first I cant get on because .... x excuse
- Deposit before viewing
- Where they are kept - rocked up to view one in a standing stall all day no turn out

Red Flags in ad:
- 'absolutely bombproof' goes on to describe unicorn
- Not for novice - make sure you ask why
- hacks in company - will not hack alone
- Prefers not to jump - likely lame in some way
- Doesnt like the arena - some kind of schooling issue / lameness
- Photos / videos stood on horse
- 'Typical mare in stable' Potentially suffering from ulcers or some other pain
- Never bucks or bolts - (but rears ) exchange for whatever bad behaviour missed out
- Sellers kicking off about asking on dodgey dealers
- Inquiring about a horse and the response is 'which one'
- 'up again due to absoiute timewasters'
- Been in current home less than a year (someone has massively overhorsed themselves or theres some bad behaviour they are sick of)

- Any gut feeling that something is 'off' you're probs right
- Height minus a few inches from the listing or add if on the larger end

Boy Im so glad Im not horse hunting anymore !!
Good luck

 

[Gloi]

Don't buy a horse in November and find out its a headshaker in April!!

Or that it has sweet itch.

 

[ycbm]

Or that it has sweet itch.

Or an out of season mare to find she turns into a witch every 3 weeks from April to October.
.

 

[Xmasha]

always ask the vet to check the teeth with a gag. I saved myself £££ doing this, poor little thing at only 5 had multiple diastemas ( approx 5) . Seller said they didnt know.. but before id asked for this to be included in the vetting had said the teeth had just been done.

Ask to see horse away from home ( assuming its a ridden horse)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My friend rang a private seller about one and they said they need a quick sale, so would she like to pay for the horse now and collect the same day no mention of would you like to view the horse

 

[honetpot]

The passport being a replacement or not available, and check its the right horse.
I have a pony that is twenty four and the passport alone tells me the amount of homes he has had, I have new owners ring me to ask about a pony I had sold which they have bought from someone else.
You can also google the registered name and previous owners names to see if their are any comments on social media, competition results,or old ads. I have a few pictures of the old pony with various owners. It fills in the picture.

 

[ycbm]

Learn the skin pinch test. Dehydration covers a lot of problems!
.

 

[Equi]

One who says come now or it’ll be gone (or send £ to secure a viewing)

I won’t rush buying a horse and won’t be swayed by pressure.

 

[poiuytrewq]

So on the plus side OP, if you’ve not been totally put off buying! From the above your buying at the right time of year, all these seasonal issues should be pretty obvious now and through summer so that’s a good few less to worry about!

 

[NotInTheKnow]

Don't buy a horse in November and find out its a headshaker in April!!

this is new information to me, thank you!

 

[NotInTheKnow]

Make sure you can use a vet of your choosing before putting down a deposit. An RDA group I know lost their deposit this way with a dealer in Essex

It seems logical to anyone that you have to choose your own vet as a buyer, one would think this was a given ... even the slightest hint of objection and obfuscation is surely a dead give away that something is dodgy? So why do some sellers do it?

 

[NotInTheKnow]

A poorly shod horse. If it’s lame at vetting, it’s because he needs shoeing. If he gets shod before vetting at your insistence (on advice of vet) and is lame it’s because he was recently shod and you are a time waster.

thank you! Yes, I have read that it has to recently shod, but how recent are we talking about? What's the cut off?

This vet's website explains it so well, I just love the candour - https://www.anvil-vets.co.uk/5stagevettings.html

 

[NotInTheKnow]

Think twice if the horse is under lights or has sweat marks from recent exercise when you arrive unless you are told that the horse has already been viewed by another purchaser today.

Walk away if a blood test is refused no matter how good the excuse sounds.

Don't take bagged food they give you "to make the changeover slowly".

Ask to tack up the horse yourself.

Never get on before seeing someone else get on.

the first horse I ever viewed was under the solarium and all tacked up. Even when I asked days before that I prefer, if possible, to see him caught from the field and pre-groom.. didn't think much of it but now I know so thank you!

 

[NotInTheKnow]

Or that it has sweet itch.

Take someone with you to video. Also do plenty of stalking and asking about the horse to others.

My friend was 2 days away from getting a horse vetted. She sent the video of her riding it to a friend and it just didnt look right. She had asked a few times if the horse had ever been lame and then found out it had been out of work for 6 months due to an injury.

Red flags are no food or water in the stable.
No rider available to ride that day.
Deposit needed before viewing.
Lost passport will forward on when replacement arrives. Never get passport.
Check the saddle fits.
If it's already tacked up untack and retack up. Some have terrible ear problems and it makes tacking up very hard. Look for possible ulcer problems and sacroids under the girth area that might be covered up.

Yes dodgy dealers site is a great place to ask. You see the same horse advertised time and time again. Different age different name, different dealer.

deposit before viewing seems beyond off and unthinkable for anyone to agree on. what position would a buyer be in to even entertain this?!?

 

[NotInTheKnow]

One who says come now or it’ll be gone (or send £ to secure a viewing)

I won’t rush buying a horse and won’t be swayed by pressure.

wow the mind boggles ...the seller might as well put 'i am dodgy' on their advert.

 

[NotInTheKnow]

My friend rang a private seller about one and they said they need a quick sale, so would she like to pay for the horse now and collect the same day no mention of would you like to view the horse

wow, just wow! This seems unreal but after reading everyone's comments, I can believe anything the lengths people will go to.

 

[NotInTheKnow]

My Red Flags Viewing:
- Pushing to buy without viewing (pushiness in general, via message or in person)
- Discouraging using vet
- 'Ive got a viewing later so you have to decide now'
- No passport
- Discouraging from riding in arena or out (should have time to do a little of both)
- Lots of people hovering around in stable / grouchiness in stable ( this one swung and kicked when I went for 2nd viewing and was left a bit more to it)
- Badly fitting tack / 'cant get tack to fit'
- desperate need of farrier
- Not riding it first I cant get on because .... x excuse
- Deposit before viewing
- Where they are kept - rocked up to view one in a standing stall all day no turn out

Red Flags in ad:
- 'absolutely bombproof' goes on to describe unicorn
- Not for novice - make sure you ask why
- hacks in company - will not hack alone
- Prefers not to jump - likely lame in some way
- Doesnt like the arena - some kind of schooling issue / lameness
- Photos / videos stood on horse
- 'Typical mare in stable' Potentially suffering from ulcers or some other pain
- Never bucks or bolts - (but rears ) exchange for whatever bad behaviour missed out
- Sellers kicking off about asking on dodgey dealers
- Inquiring about a horse and the response is 'which one'
- 'up again due to absoiute timewasters'
- Been in current home less than a year (someone has massively overhorsed themselves or theres some bad behaviour they are sick of)

- Any gut feeling that something is 'off' you're probs right
- Height minus a few inches from the listing or add if on the larger end

Boy Im so glad Im not horse hunting anymore !!
Good luck

thank you for translating! There's so much to read between the lines..... please keep em' coming.

I've seen way too many 'bombproof' in descriptions, are people really buying this???? surely this is 'unclaim-able' as horses are by nature unpredictable???

Also I find the word 'safe' used quite often. So from your drift, I won't just take it at face value. I'll ask, why is he safe/ what makes him safe? I'm learning... !

Confidence giver is another one...

 

[SilverLinings]

Ignore anything the seller says/does to put you under pressure. Whilst I was viewing a horse a couple of years ago the seller kept taking phone calls from other potential buyers ringing to ask about him. Unbeknownst to the seller's husband my mother (who was with me) had nipped back to the car for my hat, and she saw him hiding in the garden phoning his wife pretending to be other people!

Run a mile if the seller won't let you take bloods. I would always take bloods; I have never needed to test them but I knew they were there if needed. Even if for some reason I was unable to legally pursue the seller (if the horse turned out to be lame or nuts) I would still like to know what was going on drug-wise at the point I bought the horse.

If height is important (e.g. to compete in certain competition classes) then take your own stick with you, or ask the vet to bring one to the vetting. Even if the horse looks 'about right' don't take chances, particularly if they need to measure in under a limit. Tell the seller when you ring to arrange the viewing that you will be measuring the horse, it is surprising how often this makes them admit that either they've never actually measured it, or that they *accidentally* put the wrong height in the advert- at least if you know at that point you won't have wasted a trip.

Good luck OP, there are some lovely horses and sellers out there so hopefully you find the right horse soon.

 

[NotInTheKnow]

Wow, thank goodness for the honesty of the vet!

I’m interested in this too, as I hope to be horse hunting early next year. It almost seems an impossible dream though, with all the dodgy sellers out there.

Good luck with your hunt!

I've been seeking advice both online and offline from various professionals and judging by the amount of warning and cautionary tales I've been given one would think how does anyone ever get to buy one !!!