when buying a horse

When I bought Castle I had him on trial for 3 weeks. Yes, that's quite a long time but as he was my first pony my parents wanted to be sure that he was "the one". When I first went to view him I knew he was "the one" though
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When I went to view Ali I rode him once for about half an hour and I knew he was "the one". He was vetted a few days later and we bought him that day
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I try and get them on trial wherever possible, though understandably not everybody is keen to offer this. Otherwise i view at least twice before getting vetted.
 
When I bought Ella, I rode her for about 10 mins and bought her on the spot. Just knew she was the one for me and 18 months later, I was definitely right
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I tried one of mine twice, one once. I didn't ride my filly as she was still a baby but looked at her twice but the latest one I had only seen pics and just went to collect him!!!!!!
 
I tried my boy twice, the second time I had a lesson with the seller's instructor. This was a really good idea as I didn't get the best tune out of him straight away and this helped me make the decision. I loved his personality and manners from the first moment though! He was 2 hours away and I went to his yard a total of 4 times. I probably tried 9 or 10 horses before I bought him as well.
 
The last two we bought were for my daughter and we tried them only once. Both of them were just right for the job we bought them for.
 
I tried Chilli twice before I agreed to buy him then went & rode him again the week before he was vetted just to make sure.
First time I went to see him I walked in the stable & nearly walked straight back out (thought he was an ugly shape as he's got quite high withers & he looked a bit boring
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). The seller said she'd tack up & ride him on the flat for me to see then I could get on & if I liked him then we'd take him outside to the jumping arena. I was thinking 'I don't even want to bother getting on' but I did anyway & he was fab so I jumped him too. I think I knew I wanted him after about 5mins of getting in the saddle! Second time I was going to hack him but it was so foggy it wasn't safe so I rode in the school instead & the third time I'd arranged the vetting & knew I wanted him so just went to have another look & a last ride before the vetting.
I am definatley an advert for not being too quick to judge. I no longer think he's ugly!
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I viewed Maiden twice, first with just my mum then I took my instructor (after she watched the video from the first time). Then I went to watch her being vetted, then we took her home with us the next time!
I hadn't ridden her before I decided to buy her though
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I would always view twice at least, unless there were very exceptional circumstances.
 
My first pony... 10years trial! Ok not exactly true but I rode him since I was a baby and was finally bought him from the riding school when I was 12
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My friend recently got a pony, and this worked out well for the owners. Because they needed someone to look after for a week and my friend was veiwing her so they asked her to do it as a kind of trial period
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Ill get murdered for saying this but the horse industry is so much like the secondhand car industry its untrue.
To be sure the horse is right I would advise you get it on trial for a few weeks. Dealers have been know to dope horses to give them an air of calm or to hide injuries the horse may have that may not be detected by a vet.
A lady at the yard my wife is at has found that a 10,000 pound horse she was sold a year ago has got problems with three of its legs, shes had to retire it. The problems were caused by 'older' injuries that have been agrivated.
I dont ride but having visited various dealers and owners who are selling when buying a horse it has been a potential minefield. Fortunatly weve always had someone with us who can spot potential issues.
 
Generally know in one viewing and pretty quickly too.
Sometimes will go back a 2nd time, more often to see it xc/ over a set of diff sjs than to just have another sit on.
 
went to see jack twice first time he was lame second time took him on a hack for a 4 year old he was too quite ! only bought him cos when i asked him for canter he woke up and sent me flying !!! didnt have him vetted or on trial i was lucky that nothing went wrong wouldn't do it again without trail and vetting..
 
I saw Thumper twice. Once when I went to try him and the second time the day of the vetting. He was then loaded up and brought home!
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I generally know on the first viewing, I will only go back to try over xc in general. With my big lad, spent around 2-3hrs, wasn't sure to begin with and then loved him
 
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