I would ditto BooBoos. Would either think horse was lazy, or that I wasn't strong enough, but either way it wouldn't be for me - I like a forward thinking horse.
I agree with Sachak- being doped could be an option. I went to try a horse that I really struggled to get to move. Tbh, that's why we didn;t buy it. Saw it several months later with a new owner who had exactly the same experience trying the horse- but when she got the horse home it was completely different and a nice forward going ride!!!!
The only way to try and rule this one out is turn up un-announced and make sure nothing goes in its mouth! or have the horse on trial if you are seriously interested.
Did he go forward in hand and/or on lunge? if so, then not doped and i would lean towards it being a schooling problem.
I bough an ID 4yr old, would to the odd atride in canter if you really made him. Put it down to him being a baby and not knowing as much as I'd been told he knew.
4 months later he had a kick to a hind leg so we took his shoes off while he was off work. He was unsound in front within a week and never came right. £2500 later on corrective x rays, shoeing etc at Leahurst and very little difference in his soundness he was diagnosed as having pedalostitis. Made me feel horribly guilty for making him canter as it was more than likely it had been there all along.
Just my experience, they're not all non-forward going due to pain but I would never buy one again!
