Viewing a Horse at the weekend

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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Well the Horse/Pony search has started! :D

I am going to view a 14hh 9YO Standerd bredx on Sat morning, this will be my first viewing ever, so any tips would be greatly appreciated

I will be taking along my non Horsey mum, the owner of my share Horse (and soon to be YO) and her experienced mum.

I will be asking the owner of my share Horse to ride before I do as she is much more experienced then I am and knows exactly what type of Horses I like to ride. Only problem is there is no arena at this yard and knowone to hack out with either, so I was thinking to ride on the roads for the first time, If there is an open field my YO could canter, if I like him go back again and ask if we could hire out a school down the road (Ponys owner said she hires out a school for lessons) to school and pop over some jumps. Does that sound ok?

Any tips? Of course I will get a 5* vetting if I like him.

I'm so excited!
 
no adivce but im leaving in half an hour to view a lovely 4 year old :D im super exited so i know how your feeling. good luck!
 
I would be inclined to take one person with you only - the experienced mum. Otherwise it's overkill.

You are the person that should ride it - not the YO. So you will look it at prior to being ridden - then watch it being ridden and then (if you like the horse enough to do so) you will ride it. If you don't like the horse enough to sit on it - say thank you and leave.

Prior to visiting ask them what facillities you have to try the horse out in - so is it a school, a field etc. Ask them if you can take it out to see traffic (with company on foot).
 
The reason I was going to ask my friend to get on first, was because I am a nervy rider (had a big accident 2 years ago and have been building up confidence on friends Horse), If she felt Horse would be good for me then I would 100% get on myself and see how I felt. Also she is more more experienced then I am and would be able to feel more things then I could ( stiffness etc)

The Horses are at the ladys house, there is no menage (although she did mention that she hires a menage down the road for lessons) I would like to try him alone, on the roads. In company and in the menage. I will ride down the roads with my friend on foot to see how he is in traffic.

Good luck with your viewing :D
 
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Trust your own instincts too - if something doesn't feel right, walk away. Even if your experienced friend thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread.

Don't feel pressured into a decision there and then and def go back and try him again at the menage if you like him.

Don't be afraid to ring back and ask more questions after the first viewing.

Good luck!

(I bought a horse just over a week ago - I went to see him twice - first time I rode him out on a hack (walk trot and canter) with the owner and another horse, the second time the owner boxed him to a yard with a menage so I could try him again and I also took him out on his own for a short walk up an (unfamiliar) lane. Then he was vetted a few days later and came home the same day).
 
Try him in the situations that you will encounter when you ride out normally. She isn't going to expect a yes on no from you instantly, & don't give one. Take you time to think over things, discuss it with the others who viewed him see if they picked up the same things you did, & don't be afraid to ask for a second viewing. Maybe even take a video of you riding him to look at later calmly in your own home.

I have a list (in my head, but can be written), of what I want, in 2 sections, essentials & desirables. I then list the faults & good points of the horse. I check that all the essentials have been met. I then run through how many desirables have been met. Finally I run through each fault (every horse has them), & seee if I can live with them, if I need to do more research (such as a second viewing) to see if I can live with them, or if they are such that I don't want to buy the horse. As an example, my arab whom I bought aged 4 is pigeon toed. Not ideal in a propective endurance horse due to extra wear on joints. However, her sire, who also has this conformation (I could see from photos), is a prolific 100 mile race winner who was still getting placed at this distance aged 19 have done 1000's of miles over his career & in training & has no lameness issues. Result was yes it's a fault, but there good evidence it wont be a problem for her in an endurance career, so it was acceptable.

The other thing I listen to your gut instinct. I'm not talking soppy isn't he cute love at first sight kind of thing, but your overall impression of him. When I first saw the above horse she was going loopy in a stable (never been in one before & taken away from field buddies), but despite her faults & wildness, a bell rang in my head, ther was something about her that drew me to her. She isn't perfect, but 11 years on I have no regrets about buying her.

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Agree with pip6 re taking a vid - was really useful. Although I only had vids of the first two I tried as I was only able to take my OH to see the one I have bought.

When I first saw him, he would spin away from people in the stable and even ran off round the yard when the owner was trying to tack him up. But this didn't bother me as I knew he was nervy (said in advert) but there was no malice in him at all and I knew I could deal with it.

A genuine seller won't hide his bad points - ask outright what they are.
 
Thank you for the replys :)

I have written down a long list of questions, I have asked most of them over the phone already but I will ask again to see if answers are the same.

I would ideally like to try him in company but she has knowone to ride with, she did mention she had a friend she occasionly rides with so do you think its cheeky if I ask her to call him to arrange to meet me?

Thanks again for all your replys :) x
 
Ashtay thats one of my questions "what are his bad points" I don't mind if its bad things on the ground but must be an angel to ride to give me confidence.
 
It's not cheeky to ask! She can only say no. It might be short notice for saturday but you could arrange to go back at a mutually convenient time.

If it's important to you to know how he is in company then you def should ask.
 
I used to do the same, taking an experienced friend to ride first, resulting in our mare Breeze, who is NOT suitable for me ridden. (Dad and a friend now ride her)

I went to see my boy on my own with my dad and it was all totally my decision resulting in a horse that's perfect for ME, nobody else just me! :D

I would suggest if your nervy like I was when going to try horses, go with your gut instinct. If you don't think the horse is for you seeing it ridden by the owners first, just say he/she wasn't exactly what you where looking for and thank them for there time. :)
 
In this situation I woudl ask the owner to book the school that she uses for lessons. Go and look at the horse, get the owner to ride it to the school, and ride a little in the school. Then if you are happy, ride it in the school, and ride it home again. If all goes well, arrange a return visit to hack out in company.

I know what you mean about the friend riding first but it really is best if you do so yourself, only you know what you are happy with really.

Again agree with the person who said don;t feel pressured into anything, if you don't want to ride it for whatever reason, say so and go home.

Good luck and hope you find the right horse for you.
 
Thankyou all for your replys, I think I am just going to have to pluck up the courage and ride first! I'm just very nervy with Horses I don't know as I went to try a share out and the owner lied to me and I got on first and he bolted down a road with me and fell over. That is why I have lost all my confidence riding :(
 
Some nerves doing a first viewing are to be expected & no bad thing, it'll tell you how he reacts when you have them (such as going to a show), so don't be too hard on yourself & accept them as norrmal. I can appreciate a loss of confidence, but keep it in mind that what happened is a one off. You will see the owner ride first so have an idea what he may be like (hopefully very calm & generous). Make sure wherever it is you get on him first time, field or school, the gates are closed. That way you know in your mind there is no way he will bolt down a road with you. Whilst it wont cure your apprehension, it may help to keep it to a controlable level where you can cope. Get someone to hold him, so you know he can't go anywhere. Again, you will know in your mind there wont be a repeat incident.

With regard to company, ask the owner if it can be arranged. If not, try him, if you still like him ask to to arrange it. Don't worry about him being sold. If you are convinced bar this he is the one, you can leave a notional deposit that you can afford to loose (say £50), for you to buy him upon successful completion of the vetting & you riding him in company.

Note on the receipt the date, the agreed final sum, the amount left as deposit, name of horse, description of horse, name of seller, your name, that it is pending successful (as decided by you) hack in company & passing vetting. Get both you & the seller to sign & date it. Dot all i's & cross those t's!

What you are asking is reasonable (as safe hack in company is one of your essential requirements), & a genuine buyer will not mind you making sure he is the right horse for you as they will also want the horse to be suitable/happy in their new home with you.
 
LaurenBay said:
Thankyou all for your replys, I think I am just going to have to pluck up the courage and ride first! I'm just very nervy with Horses I don't know as I went to try a share out and the owner lied to me and I got on first and he bolted down a road with me and fell over. That is why I have lost all my confidence riding :(
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You don't have to ride first - let the horse owner ride first (unless there is an extremely valid reason why they can't). I agree that the nearby school should be hired and the owner should ride the horse down to the school and show it to you in the school in walk, trot and canter on both reins. Then you can get on and ride yourself. If you are happy then you can hack it back to the yard, perhaps riding on for a few hundreds metres past the yard entrance to see if it has any nappy tendencies.
 
Thankyou TGM, I think that is the best plan and if I like him I could arrange to go back next weekend to see if I could hack in company hopefully with her friend, or if he really can't I will see if my YO will box one of her Horses over. if I still like him offer a deposit subject to 5* vetting? does that sound ok? I'm so excited but not really sure of the proper way buying Horses is done! :o

I'm not sure if owner has booked school, I will ring her after I finish work. Should I offer to pay for use of school though? or atleast split the costs?
 
There is nothing wrong with getting your YO to ride before you do. I am an instructor and have gone "horse shopping" with several clients and I always ride the horse (after the owner has) before my client has got on. And several times, before a nervous/novice client, has got on I have said no it's not suitable and have left. No seller has ever been funny about this. Some horses are a lot sharper to ride than they look and I've even had one buck. Just because I have said it is suitable for the client doesn't mean the client would like it and they have to buy it..... I only confirmed it was suitable for them to consider.

In fact when I went to look for a new horse for me, I took a friend, and after I rode it I asked her to ride it for a 2nd opinion (which I'm glad I did because she loved her too!), because I know how she rides and found it useful to see how the horse went for her....

I think turning up with 4 people may be overkill.... could you no just go with your YO?
 
LaurenBay said:
Thankyou TGM, I think that is the best plan and if I like him I could arrange to go back next weekend to see if I could hack in company hopefully with her friend, or if he really can't I will see if my YO will box one of her Horses over. if I still like him offer a deposit subject to 5* vetting? does that sound ok? I'm so excited but not really sure of the proper way buying Horses is done! :o
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Sounds sensible to me!

I'm not sure if owner has booked school, I will ring her after I finish work. Should I offer to pay for use of school though? or atleast split the costs?
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I think you should offer to pay for the school, at least it proves you are serious and not a joy-rider. I know when we hired a XC course to try a horse out we paid for the course hire.
 
Just got off the phone with the owner, I am meeting her in the morning to bring him in, groom and tack up. She has booked a menage for me 30 mins up the road from hers, she will hack him there I will follow by car or on foot and then I will ride in the school once I have seen her ride him, if I feel comfortable I will hack him back (my mum can drive my car back) I will take money with me and offer it to her on the day to cover the use of the school.

I feel so much more relived now, I think I was working myself up into a panic because I wasn't sure what to expect as I've never done this before :o I feel tons better now!

Again thankyou so much for your advice :) xx
 
Don't do what I did!!

I travelled all the way to Pembrokeshire on my own to look at a show cob, but despite numerous telephone conversations with the current owner, he 'forgot' to mention that the horse had been turned away and not sat on for 6mnths!

The owner had had a bad quad accident and was in plaster, so couldn't ride him first, so I just got on without seeing him ridden first - the flatwork went fine but got bucked off when jumping a crosspole! I pulled a ligament in my knee and couldn't walk properly for 2 weeks!

I went home bruised and humiliated and initially decided not to purchase, but for some mad reason.....

I did buy him and so far has proven to be the perfect horse for me and my 'once in a lifetime' partner - after only 4 mnths of ownership we have hacked, hunted, won and placed at sj, and are attempting our first dressage test next weekend. We are also looking forward to entering the showing world over the summer before resuming hunting next season.

So moral of the story - go with your gut instinct but also know when to ignore it.......?!
 
Sidney- you say owner was in plaster from a quad bike accident!! Are you sure he too hadnt been bucked off the horse, hence possibly for sale!!
OP- I wouldn be in a rush to pay to hire a school its obviousley some thing she does herself on a regular basis- and after all she is trying to sell the horse, I personally wouldn offer to pay for it.
 
I wouldn't offer to pay for school either (and I didn't when owners of horses I was trying borrowed schools).
If you do decide to buy then just bear in mind the trouble the owner has gone to if you decide to haggle on the price.
 
Ouch that sounds painful! I'm glad it all worked out for you in the end though :D

I know he is being ridden at the moment as when I rung up owner had just got back form hacking him.

Ok then thankyou :), His actually under my budget so I won't have to haggle too much!
 
Even if its under your budget I would still haggle the price if you got £500 off its worth it and you can use that money for something else, if someone came to look at a horse of mine, didnt haggle the price I would think they were a walk in the park, EVERYONE haggles the price of a horse.
Iam proberbly the worlds worst, I start by offering less than half they are asking, but then again Iam a hassle free buyer. I go, I try, I offer and pick up next day with cash, no taking this person that person and tother. If I dont like it I walk away. You would be amazed how many people take alot less money for a horse for a quick easy sale, I would say 99% of the time I have bought horses for at least half the price they are advertised at.
 
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