what do you look for when buying a horse??

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buckybee

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I was just wondering, do you go for looks, colour etc or is performance more important to you?

Also, We normally end up buying the first horse we go to look at! i'm not sure if we are good at sussing them out from the advert or we are just lucky (and not very picky!) but we haven't had any disasters yet. So how many horses do you normally view before you find one you want??
 
We loked at somany. But then I am a novice at horse buying, so took my time and learnt alot from many viewings.

I learnt that going by type / breed wasnt necessarily going to get you what you wanted. We ended up viewing a pony on the off chance as he was on our route to view an PUK veteran (he was stunning!) and ended up buying the shetty there and then. He was what we needed and fitted the bill. In hindsight, we'd probably not have had time to show something well bred etc, and it probably wouldnt have hunted like G does. So he suits us better.
 
Temperment....Ermm temperment....Oh and temperment... I'm not really that fussy but some temperments won't suit the job I'm planning on. Show some natural jumping ability. Have comfortable paces and good enough comfortmation to compete.
 
No I rarely look for pretty or nice coloured horses....I am a huge stickler for nice legs! I look at legs, legs and more legs. Once the legs show up clear then I concentrate on back and other physical features.

I don't generally go to view any horses which I have reservations over. I tend to pick up on any faults from photographs and conversations on email before I will even leave the house and go and view said animals. The majority of horses that I view, I buy.

My way works for me and I haven't viewed any horses which have turned out to be bum deals; although I have "bought blind" and I certainly would never advise doing that; rarely turns out good. So nowadays I just wouldn't consider buying blind.

These days, I also tend to stick to the breed lines I like, this does seem to have a bearing of what type of stock you end up with.
 
legs and more legs, how well put together, back , temp, and potential, dont mind attitute or unfit, dont do really nasty evil though
 
Well i just bought the first horse i saw!!! but i did ring about quite a few and didnt want to see them. My new horse is exactly what i was looking for and TBH i knew i wanted him before i even saw him. He has yet to arrive so time will tell whether he is a good or bad decision!!!! He is only 4 and although backed he has been turned away since so i havent actually ridden him. But he seems to be a nice uncomplicated sort so if we are not suited to each other i think he will make a tidy profit!

My mums pony was bought in exactly the same way, unbroken from the breeder, knowing nothing but well socialised with other horses. He was the only one we went to see and we have now had him for 3 years and he is the best buy we have ever had, there is not one thing that could make them better suited!
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If they are sound, good conformation, temperament etc for the rest i rely on gut feeling and it hasn't let me down so far.........
 
When I bought Alee I picked her out of a field of about 20 other youngsters the first thing that caught my eye about her was that out of all the horses that were unhandled she was the only one that came over for a pat! Then it went on size and looks and then we looked at her paces. I picked 2 others out and her paces stood out by miles, had she not moved nicely I wouldn't have bought her!! She also has good jumping lines so this also went in her favour.

ETS I also like a horse with a nice big head (don't ask me why) which is a good job really looking at the size of Alee's (bottom left in siggy)
 
good feet and legs is a must, then not too long in the back and finally not too lazy. everything else im not too bothered
 
Temperment, good in traffic and to shoe, and after Sunny, good hooves! and then it depends on what we are buying for, if it was for me then it would have to have the potentail and scope to go where i want, even if it is going to take alot of work (Sunny!) but for Rox we would look for a confidence giver. Mum like them with some white on them somwhere but im not really bothered about colour, Sunny only just passed her white on face thing with her few white hairs, so i was lucky as she is my perfect match!
 
Talent & attitude come first, then how they're put together & looks (always easier to sell on a prettier one than an ugly one!) and finally do they suit me.
 
Do I get on with it and will it do what I want. Doesn't matter what it looks like - but prettier ones are easier to sell if it goes pear shaped.
 
I go for confirmation, attitude and scope. If its confirmation is basically right you should not have too many problems long term. My real must haves are short coupled, good shoulder, uphill, short pasterns, good hocks and feet. Attitude they have to want to do the job and scope as there has to be ability/movement.
I also have to have them good with farrier as I would prefer to keep my farrier than the horse if it came to the choice as a really good farrier is harder to get.
 
Only buy babies, so Breeding/confirmation and bone. I must look at it and think Mmmmm I Like YOU. then its temparement. Don't mind what colour it is..
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Bourght this one at Builth Wells sales cause I had one a very simalar breeding (same sire/Dam half sisters) Yet they are chalk and cheese
My new pony Dabernon Grouse as a foal
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Taken last week
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Last pony Monaray Joe Thunder as a foal

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Sold/photo as a 7 year old
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I have also usually bought the first horse Ive seen! Have turned down 2 horses, thats it. I go for temperament and attitude above all else (obviously other things matter too) but without this then the horse is worthless to me. A horse can have all the ability in the world but if it doesnt have the attitude then your screwed!
 
Rang/emailed 100's of people, Fudgy was the 10th horse I tried and we just clicked, I wanted something safe, with a good attitude, that was healthy and that I clicked with. I had ideas abouts breeds, colours etc but the other factors were more important
 
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