What to ask at a viewing?

No questions at all as if you are not going to believe what you are told why ask in the first place.
I too find it really hard to sell anything am totally honest and would never hide anything but those of you who dont trust anyone would be nightmare buyers who wouldnt believe how wonderful my ponies are anyway.
Horses and ponies are big unpredictable animals who may behave very differently in new surroundings. Mine have always been here either born here or from weaning age so I guess I am best placed to say what they are like with me not I may add what they would be like elsewhere. I can make a guess but not any guarantee.

So before I buy a foal I ask what its breeding is, how much it has been handled and if it had any problems neonatally.
Should I buy an older horse I would ask is it good to box, shoe, lead, and in traffic. I would also ask if it reared or bolted both a complete no in my mind
A competition history with evidence if it was important
Then I would ask for it to be ridden in the situation I wanted it for so a show jumper jumping the height I expected, a dressage horse in a school or a hack out and about in heavy varied traffic before even sitting on it. If I wanted an allrounder I would ask for all three
Then I would handle the horse myself, ride it and ask to see it turned out and re caught as that is often when the issue arises. See it standing in if it has to do so for any length of time or be prepared to teach it if it like mine has not been stabled much
 
Things I always think about .
Where is the horse when you get there in the stable lose with water great .
If its tied up or in a stable without water or tacked up when I get there I would ask them to put in a stable with water loose before I do any thing .
If at that stage it rushed and drank I would say thank you not for me and leave.
I then check it over in the stable that it will pick up feet let me fiddle on with it.
Then I always walk and trot up at this stage look for staightness of movement and and watch any muscle asymmetry have seen .
Then I get then to rien back and walk very small circles in each direction .
That all being well I get them ridden .
Watch everything how they handle it how they get on it ask why they do any thing in a slightly strange way it may be nothing sinister but they know this horse best and you can pick up little things that can make your life easier later , then them do the talking try not to talk to much ask your questions directly then give them space to answer and expand people talk more to fill space left in conversations.
Do the list traffic clipping catching etc etc
If its a horse that is to go XC I will always say does he go I to water ok what's he like about ditches .think about the key things you need to know before you go.
I always have a friend ( witness !)with me listening to all this .
Ask about medical issues they have had .
Always ask to see the passport and tell them before you go that you will want to see it ( I did not once and it was not at the yard so I always ask in advance now.
When I ride the horse I go on gut feeling do I feel safe and at home .
Would I want to get up on a wet Febuary morning and hack this horse out ? I hate hacking so if the answers yes it's a decider.
Think of the things about a horse that are important to you is he going to fit in .
Your friend can be getting all sorts of interesting stuff from them when you are on board one of my friends is great at this she has teased all sorts out of people while I am riding.
I leave the yard and make notes park up and make some notes straight after the viewing while it's all clear in my mind .
Good luck I don't enjoy it hope you do.
 
When I arrived at the owners I would prefer for them to have left it out in the paddock so I could see the whole process.
This is my checklist.....some answers, some tick box which I would have asked on the phone first before making arrangements to travel any distance....

Contact phone no.
Contact address.
Pony’s passported name. Other recorded names
Passport Issue Office No. of owners
Breed. Breeding
Height. Life height certificate
Registration with any societies
Age.
Colour/Markings. Eye colour.
Price/negotiable?.
Freezemarked.
Temperament.
Quiet to do/handle.
Quirks.
Vices, Buck Bolt. Rear. Nap. Crib. Windsuck. Boxwalk Weave.
Box/Trailer. Will it stand alone if two travelled to show?
Catch.
Shoe.Hot/cold
Clip./sedation
Lunge.
Hack alone/company In traffic
Aquired marks/bumps.
Veterinary Dental history. Osteopathy requirements
Insurance/exclusions
Allergies.
Feed requirements.
Live in/bedding Live out
Tack available. Saddle fit. Bit. Rug size.
Action./Movement
Schooling level.
Competed/ Dressage.
Jumps/ SJ aff winnings Non aff.
WHP/which height category
XC
Shown. (Classes/level)
Hunted.
Pony Club.
References.
 
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dressedkez said:
Oh for goodness sake - why are you assuming that everyone who is selling a horse is on the make - or trying to hide problems? maybe trust too a bit of intuition?
I sold over a 100 horses in a 10 year period - I got so fed up with private buyers - and thier friends, and their 100 point plans - that I sent V genuine horses to horse sales, and possibly made a little less, than I could have got privately - but on the bang on the gavel.....ponies I sold for £300 - made £3,000 two years later, because they were good ponies......arghhhh I hate this buyer beware thing.......
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My experience was different and on the whole I found a bunch of porkies ie my son tried a childs pony in sand school it had never bucked and off he came. Buckarrooo

I tried a horse never bucked and off I came on second viewing it had never bucked. Buckaroo

Both times these horses repeated with owners. Both times I got told "its never done that before". I have met very few honest owners and those I have are a blessing as they tell you ie that it is not good with a hose, it is not good in a stable etc as they have the horses interest at heart. So after a sore bum, a child that could have been seriously injured I am going to say my experiences are not as plain sailing. And as for the demeanour of a few sellers how they have a stroppy personality transplant when you say NO just reinforces that my decision was right to say NO. Oh I viewed one pony everything was going so well until the young girl refused to pick its back feet she called over a man who once he picked foot up could not let go and practically lifted the pony off the ground. Apparently it could be trained again if I spent time with it. Guess what my decision was............!
I have sold horses and never had a problem as we have been honest. But good luck I am wondering how you got on today? I hope it went ok?
 
Bobbly said:
When I arrived at the owners I would prefer for them to have left it out in the paddock so I could see the whole process.
This is my checklist.....some answers, some tick box which I would have asked on the phone first before making arrangements to travel any distance....

Contact phone no.
Contact address.
Pony’s passported name. Other recorded names
Passport Issue Office No. of owners
Breed. Breeding
Height. Life height certificate
Registration with any societies
Age.
Colour/Markings. Eye colour.
Price/negotiable?.
Freezemarked.
Temperament.
Quiet to do/handle.
Quirks.
Vices, Buck Bolt. Rear. Nap. Crib. Windsuck. Boxwalk Weave.
Box/Trailer. Will it stand alone if two travelled to show?
Catch.
Shoe.Hot/cold
Clip./sedation
Lunge.
Hack alone/company In traffic
Aquired marks/bumps.
Veterinary Dental history. Osteopathy requirements
Insurance/exclusions
Allergies.
Feed requirements.
Live in/bedding Live out
Tack available. Saddle fit. Bit. Rug size.
Action./Movement
Schooling level.
Competed/ Dressage.
Jumps/ SJ aff winnings Non aff.
WHP/which height category
XC
Shown. (Classes/level)
Hunted.
Pony Club.
References.
Click to expand...

Nice list to take along.I have done this before my money my questions.
 
Sorry on a roll (avoiding poo picking). The last horse I bought I knew as soon as I clapped eyes on it it was the ONE. And it was everything I wanted before I even got on. Just knew it. Owner was totally honest.
 
My experience was different and on the whole I found a bunch of porkies ie my son tried a childs pony in sand school it had never bucked and off he came. Buckarrooo

I tried a horse never bucked and off I came on second viewing it had never bucked. Buckaroo
Click to expand...

Made me smile... had just tried a horse for the second time, had 5 stage vetting, happy and about to hand over the cash, when I saw the registered name in his passport .... 'Buckaroo times Two'!!

I did buy him... so far so good :)
 
tobiano said:
Made me smile... had just tried a horse for the second time, had 5 stage vetting, happy and about to hand over the cash, when I saw the registered name in his passport .... 'Buckaroo times Two'!!

I did buy him... so far so good :)
Click to expand...

ha someone had a sense of humour. So no rodeo? Good luck glad to hear a happy buy.
 
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