What should I be asking??

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sexyspev

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So, I am going to look at my first potential horsie on Thursday next week... I am trying to be as sensible as possible, but i have never done this before... annoyingly I am having to go on my own, but I will be armed with a camera, and my best critical eye in, hehe...
I am trying to put together a list of things I should be asking/doing, so any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated...

Thankies
 
What do you know so far (breed, age, height etc) and what purpose are you buying? ie childs pony, happy hack, competing?

You always want as much history as you can. They may fib or say they don't know but you may find out something.
 
I know, its so annoying... I am pretty experinced with horses - I have just come back from working with 36 horses in SA doing horse safari and ridden since I was 4, i am now 19 - I have just never been lucky enough to own one myself...
I want to wait, but equally I dont want the person to think i am just wasting theyre time and them selling the horse... catch 22 methinks...
 
Some questions to ask could include:

... About the horse:
Age? can it be confirmed?
Height? Can it be confirmed?
What is his personality? Quiet? Feisty? Lazy?
Does he have or has he had any medical problems/injuries/allergies?

... About the horse's behaviour:
Is he good to... catch? shoe? load? lead? clip?
How is he to handle? in the stable? outside the stable? in a diffierent atmosphere (e.g. competition)?
Does he have any behavioural problems? biting? kicking? chewing?
Does he have any stable vices? if so what started them? what is done to reduce them?
If a mare, is she particularly marish?
Is he scared of anything in particular? does he have any phobias? how is he with hose pipes, etc?
Whats he like with the vet/farrier/dentist/people/other horses/other animals?

... About the horse's care:
What bedding is he stabled on? why?
What is he fed? why? any supplements? why? how much hay/haylage per day?
How long is he turned out per day? Is he kept on his own or with others? Is he more happy turned out or stabled?
How well does he travel? How well does he adjust to new people/surroundings?
Is he up-to-date on vaccinations and worming?
What shoes does he wear? Why?

... About riding the horse:
Is he an easy/difficult ride? Is he suitable for a novice or experienced rider? Who is he normally ridden by?
Is he good to hack? alone? in-company? on roads?
Is he particularly spooky? at what? where? when?
Can he be ridden both indoors and outdoors safely?
What disciplines does he participate in? does he compete?
Does he have any behavioural problems? rearing? bucking? napping? bolting?
What is his current level of fitness?
Does he lunge?
Does he enjoy jumping?
Does he jump coloured fences? Does he jump natural fences?
Whats he like at shows/in stressful circumstances?

... About the horse's tack:
What tack is he ridden in? why?
What bit is used? why?
What boots is he ridden in? why?
... About the horse's history:
What is the horses breeding? can it be confirmed?
What did he do before the current owners had him?
How long have the current owners had him? (be suspicious if its only a couple of months)
What has he done with the current owners?
What types of competitions has he done? at what level? with how much success?
Has he had any medical conditions/injuries in the past?

... About the sale:
Why is he being sold?
How much is he being sold for? is it open to offers?
Can you have a vetting?
Is tack included in the price? if not, can it be bought seperately? for how much?
Does he come with any rides for competitions? which ones?
Is there a possibility of a trial period? how long?
When can the horse be collected? or can you transport him to me?

Some of these may have been included in the advert so you may already have the answers!!

Good luck with viewing!
smile.gif
 
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