What are your absolute "No" points, when buying a horse?

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Arizahn

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Just curious. What would make you decide that a horse wasn't worth buying, if money was not the issue? Bad habits? Health? Personality?

EG - I could live with difficult to load, but wouldn't want one that didn't pick up it's feet easily. Likewise, I don't mind slightly stiff when stood in, but will never ever consider another one that has a "lump", regardless of the vet's opinion:(

So what are your limits?
 
I don't want something I can't catch, nor do I want something that won't load. Besides that, I'm pretty easy assuming the horse is unbacked. I don't want anything over four either :D
 
Has to have a good personality, not be stubborn and throw tantrums, I like my horses to be keen and love their job. Definitely don't have that issue with my lad :p
 
I agree with a horse being easy to catch (having had a horse that was terrible I would never want to go back to that). Also must be OK travelling - I was offered a horse once very cheaply but it would never go in a trailer or lorry - he was very sweet, but I wanted to be able to take him out to shows, beach, etc, so had to say no to him.
 
Feet, catching, loading no worries, all that can be worked on.

My greatest No,No is a nappy, herd bound horse.
 
Has to load well and be catchable (although my mare can be a pain, particularly for other people!) as I've had too much time wasted in the past with these problems!

Don't like a proper rearer.

Not a TB - I'm not a tb myself and am better on a chunkier horse, plus our grass isn't good enough and its too cold here for most TBs!

Certain issues would put me off - shivers, navicular, laminitus... Most vices wouldn't, although box walking drives me mad!
 
Any thing thats out to hurt me.

Current boy is stubborn and we have had some major arguments but no matter how much of a strop he was in he never aimed to hurt me. Get in his way and he might but its not his aim.

Next horse will have to have a better attitude to work than he does but will also be much more of a blank canvas than he was as I dont want to take on other peoples problems. Dont mind the odd buck or rear but wouldnt want a major rearer that does without any consideration to whats arround them. Would also need to be relativly good on the ground because I want my mum to be comfortable arround them, nothing likley to intimidate her or that I would have to worry about her being round.
 
Yes, my issue with them not lifting their feet is that I have weak wrists and prefer not to have to struggle to pick out hooves properly...
 
NO loading problems for me, it stresses me out too much which isn't fair on the horse.
NO rearing for my daughter, she absolutely hates a rearer.

Everything else pretty much negotiable
 
Don't mind issues like bad to load etc if I feel its something I can work on but not a perfectly happy horse that's just a sod to catch or load. Nothing with major health problems that are likely to recur. Anything else I'd just judge on an individual basis & dependent on what I wanted the horse for.
 
Anything that doesn't want to want to be with me.

I don't want a horse that hates doing anything asked of it. No fun for either of us. I want one that connects with me and wants to work together.

I chose my last (totally inappropriate but led by my heart) horse because I had that feeling that she was the one. She shadows me everywhere and we have a great bond. She can be flat out terrified and will look to me to see that it's okay.

We have a very similar personality and both clumsy as each other, which makes leading interesting!

Even if she turned out unrideable for the next 30years I wouldn't get rid.

I think that it has to be a partnership with a horse

Pan
 
Most of your no no's are human caused problems. I totally agree with enfys. They can pretty much all be solved if the horse is good enough to warrant putting the time in. I do agree with the napping herd/friends bound one though. Absolute pain, and very rarely cured. My no no's would be poor conformation, bad temper, or any history of laminitis or sweet itch.
 
Interesting thread especially as i'm looking at the mo (but might have found ;) )

*most* behaveural (sp) problems can be worked on over a period of time and you *can* end up with a lovely horse at the end of it (sometimes) I have been there and done that, and had both outcomes.

This time however, I know exactly what I want and don't want.

* No sweetitch - it's too much work and stress
* No rearers
*must have a fabby Tempermant (sp)
*Be suitable for Novicy rider as well as experienced
*Hack alone and in Company
* excellent in traffic
* No pre-exsisting medical conditions

So why on earth am I leaning towards a just backed rising 4 yo Highland gelding????????????? who has a fabby tempermant and has been hacked alone and in company along roads., but also has a bit of attitude.??? I don't ride anything smaller than 15.2hh as a rule :eek:
 
No identified health problems that could lead to early retirement, other than that, it depends how much they want in regards to any issues the horse has.
Most behaviour/handling issues can be worked on
 
It's all about attitude for me. I don't mind handling/behaviour issues on the ground, provided I don't think the horse is genuinely trying to kill me. If I think I can convince it work with me, it will do.

If I'm buying a horse for me long term, I want young, unbacked, gelding and native blood. I would consider others as short term project / fun types though if I were in the market.
 
x-di-x said:
So why on earth am I leaning towards a just backed rising 4 yo Highland gelding????????????? who has a fabby tempermant and has been hacked alone and in company along roads., but also has a bit of attitude.??? I don't ride anything smaller than 15.2hh as a rule :eek:
Click to expand...

Because all sane people want highlands, obviously.
 
What an interesting thread!

It seems past horses of mine we clearly bought because no-one else would buy them ;)

When looking for a horse, they must have: (now, not based on past horses!)
-Good feet
-A brain!
-Willingness to learn/nosey
-Natural balance & no clumsy feet
 
Oh I've got loads now, but then I seem to forget to ask half of them/throw them out of the window pretty easily too. :D

No serious rearers, buckers or bolters.
No mounting/girthing/tacking up issues/ cold back type stuff.
No bad loaders.
Nothing bad in traffic.
No nappers.
Nothing with a pushy, obnoxious disposition.
No health or soundness ifs or buts.
No neurotics.
No wonky legs or feet.

:cool:

ETA They'll all have to be 3 - 5 year old arabs from now on too, if I've ever got to look again, so quite a lot of criteria to meet really.
 
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