Viewing a youngster

[PStarfish]

In a bit of a rush (damn work getting in the way!)
Need a bit of advice for viewing a youngster. I am going to see a 2 year old this evening for sale. What questions would you ask the owner and what would you check – will be checking limbs, trot up, lunge, all over body check for lumps, sarcoids etc etc and if successful the horse will be vetted.
Have discussed him over the phone quite a bit and he sounds lovely. But my previous purchases have been ridden horses. Any obvious questions I should ask other than the obvious ‘any injuries, illness etc’

 

[Meowy Catkin]

You will want to do all the normal 'from the ground checks' (catching, hoof picking, leading, tying up etc...). If possible look at and check out the confo and temperament of the sire and dam as I found this really helpful when I was buying a youngster.

* Is the youngster good with the farrier for hoof trims and how often are they trimmed?
* Vaccination history
* Does he happily leave his fieldmates?
* Is he bitted?
* What traffic has he been exposed to? (Tractors on the farm, field by main road, led down quiet lane?)
* Has he ever been stabled?
* Has he ever been travelled?
* Worming history
* conformation
* temperament
* has he ever been rugged?
* any past injuries or illnesses?
* why did they breed from the mare?

 

[Alexart]

Handle him yourself a bit - make sure you see him out with the others and then caught and brought in, will give you a better idea of his temperament. He shouldn't be being lunged at all at his age, it will cause a lot of wear and tear on his joints - if he has been lunged a lot personally I wouldn't touch him.
Other than what you and Faracat have said above there isn't a great deal else you can ask really as he is still a baby and should have just been left to be a horse. You could ask to see his dam if he was bred by the sellers. Obviously do check him for injuries but a vetting will show up any problems, so I'd be just looking to see if you get on with his personality and he is suitable for what you are aiming for.

 

[ladyt25]

I just did this a few weeks ago - had never bought an unbroken horse before but went to see a 15 mth old at the end of July.

I did basically what faracat said, we got there a bit early so saw him caught and brought in, tied up, we groomed in chatted to the owner, picked out his feet, basically put our hands all over him really to see how he was. Picked his feet out etc.

We saw him walk up the lane and trotted in an arena in hand. Mainly we were looking to see how straight he moved, what his natural paces were like etc.

Didn't do an awful lot really but took a lot of notice of his general temperament as well as his overall conformation.

I did also have a basic vetting done. Probably didn't need to but i trust my vet so wanted him to have the once over.

We've had him 6 weeks now and I am looking forward to the next few years of bringing him on!