Would you buy the first horse you view?

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nic83

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If you have seen my previous posts, I have just viewed a horse to buy (my first horse, safe confidence giver needed but that can do a bit of everything) I have a few questions, and would like some unbiased advice (have received good advice on here so far so coming back for more if you don't mind!)

I found the ideal horse, which sort of fell into my lap really, and turns out my friend/instructor knows his owner and yard manager where he is kept.

He was as described (16h, ISH genuine safe and sound all rounder) He is grey (previous post) and a bit muddy but it didn't put me off, he needs a bit of muscle, as only been in light work recently and to be clipped as he was hairy beast, but that can be sorted.

My instructor rode him first, he went nicely for her and she said to get on a try him, I felt that safe I could canter after 5 mins (I normally ride a horse at least twice before considerng canter). It was windy and raining lightly at this point, and he didn't care. I asked if I could go back to hack him out/see him hacked, she said 'take him in this weather, you'll see what he is like with weather at its worst'. Friend/Instructor rode, I followed in car, he didn't put a foot wrong.

We are going back at the weekend, just to make sure, and to jump him. If all goes well, he is the ideal horse for me, but I haven't looked at any others - does this really matter?

One final question, he had an injury to his hoof which affects how it grows (slightly with a wonky/dent about 1-2 inches at the back of the hoof - but not obvious - she pointed it out before we had noticed). She said it does not affect him, he is fully shod though and has normal shoes, religiously every 6 weeks. She said if he goes longer he may lose the shoe. Would you be concerned about this? She says he has never been lame, and doesn't affect his movement.

He will be vetted anyway if I do buy, would this be a reason to fail?

Sorry its long, a lot to think about, it helps writing it down. Would appreciate any thoughts.
 
If you are having him vetted i would see what the vet says about the injury. I have never had a horse vetted so i don't know if it would fail. As for buying the first horse i view I just bought a new pony as my old girl is very sick. I went to see several but knew in my heart i wanted the first one i had seen so i bought him. You just know when it's right and you took your instructor with you i'm shore she would advise you if it was the wrong horse. If you looked at 10 more you may still feel the same about the first one but it maybe to late and it could be sold. Good luck with what ever you do and can we have some pics if you buy it please
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I would try and see at least one other horse before you see this one again, or maybe on the same day. I think wherever possible, you should try at least a couple of horses. However, the kind of horse you are looking for sells quicker than you can click your fingers 9 times out of 10, so it is a tricky one. I think maybe you should ask your instructor what they think.
As for the hoof, as the vet what they think if you get the horse vetted, however be aware that it is a pre-existing condition, therefore it would not be covered by insurance.
 
I bought the first horse I went to see back in 1997 loved him and still have him he is a tricky ride and very quirkey bought him cheap on the rebound someone had bought him and could not handle him so took him back have never looked back have had some fab times with him he took me back to affiliated eventing (int) and will have a home for life he also has a hoof injury had caught his coronet band which now stands proud from the rest of his hoof but has never bothered him trust your instincts and your vet good luck
 
I’m probably going to be going against the grain here, but both my horses were the first ones I saw (ok, so the cob did come out of a field of Gypsy cobs), and shock horror I didn’t even get them vetted.
Not sure about the foot thing but the vet would be able to tell you. If you really feel this is your perfect ned, don’t feel you have to see others.
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Maybe slated for this, but, over the years, 3 times I have bought the first horse/pony have viewed. Have always had advice from an instructor. As yet every purchase has been the right one.
As for the injury to the hoof speak to the vet before the vetting so they are aware of it.
 
The last two horses i have brought were the first ones i saw when looking. I did not hesitate on either of them - they were what i wanted and i knew it. I had one vetted - the other one i just brought home. I have both of them still and love them to bits.

Both have been or are perfect for what i wanted - although one of them Mr Schoolmaster changed from being a switched off lump of wood, to being a an absolute super star of a schoolmaster - whom has given me his share of problems but by jove he has taught me more about riding and determination than i could imagine.

As for the hoof - what do you mean a wonky dent at the back of the hoof? - can you get a farrier to take a look?

What vetting are you having a 2 star or 5 star? -
 
I think you know when a horse is right for you, you just click with it and it sounds like you have with this horse.
It's not wrong to buy the first one, if its the right one for you, you may have just got lucky !

I'd def see what the vet says about his hoof though, it may well be it doesn't affect his performance at all, and if that is the case, I see no reason why you shouldn't follow your gut instinct x
 
See I haven't identified any others to go and view as I wasn't going to look properly until after Xmas. However, saw this advert in local tack shop and couldn't not ring up. Owner has lost her job (only reason for sale) and so needs a quick sale.

Instructor says he is exactly what we are looking for and would be happy for me to buy him, but she doesn't want to influence me too much as its my decision at the end of the day.

I asked about insurance and she said he is fully insured with no exclusions - I think it is literally a slight imperfection but has never incurred any issues/vets fees (she has had him 4 years)
 
Oh well I'm sure current owner can show you his insurance papers to show this is the case, will put your mind at rest along with the vetting.

I buy from the heart, maybe not right in some peoples eyes, but I've lovely ponies through following my heart, they may have odd problems, but nothing I can't work around, u can't beat a nice nature on a horse, that can be hard to find x
 
Its good to hear these stories, makes me feel better.

Ginger witch - I'm not good at describing things, but it really was unnoticeable unless you looked for it. I guess his foot isn't completely flat to the foor because of the way it grows which was as the result of an injury) She happily told me her farrier (well known, reputable) not sure if I could get one down on saturday though.

It will be a 5 * vetting, and I will mention it to the vet beforehand - Is it best to be there for the vetting?

If I do buy him yes I will post pics if I can work out how! I'm afraid technology is beyond me, I struggle to post!
 
both my horses were the first ones i'd seen and although i got my instructors opinion after i'd seen them, they didn't come with me.

1st one (cob) was 5, was from a dealer basically pretending to be a riding school. BUT he's proved to be the most sane, sensible horse in the world and is truely bomb proof. i couldnt of found something more perfect if i'd looked at 1000 horses. but i took a risk! saying that, got him fully vetted and rode him so many times in every single condition.

2nd one, ex racer. had more experience by this point. was again 1st i'd look at, fell in love at first sight. rode a couple of times, took home and had on loan for 4 months.

don't regret either.

it sounds like you've done everything right and horse sounds amazing! I think you pretty much know when its the one. would still ride a couple of times and have 5 stafe vetting though
 
I did!
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My first horse, the first horse I ever bought, and it was nearly 13 years ago and she's still with us
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I love her to pieces
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Not being cheeky but i do not know who you are intending to insure with BUT if you have a vetting you have to "share" it with the insurance company - including NFU and they are the best IMO, but whaterver the vets write down will have the possibility of being excluded from the insurance - if you are not paying a lot i would seriously think of not having a vetting as you may end up spending £300 quid on a vetting, and then having a rather useless insurance policy.

I AM NOT SAYING DO NOT VET OR DO NOT INSURE I AM JUST STATING SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ACTIONS
 
I bought the first and only horse I saw. She was also the only one that grabbed my attention from all the adverts I'd scoured. I spent every waking moment reading and rereading her advert before I viewed, I still pull it out occasionally to pat myself on the back for making such a good choice. To me, she's the most wonderful horse. So, if you find the right one on the first viewing, grab it quick!

I did vet, 5 stage, which showed nothing untoward.
 
I Bought the first pony I viewed. I didnt rush it to it, she was perfect. A 14hh fell, hadnt been ridden regulary for a few years and was absolutly fine when we rode.
We went to see her at about 1ish and she was ours by about 4
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we probably should of got her vetted but we did it after and all was good.

when we sold her, the first person who viewed her also bought her and took her home within 24hours!
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[ QUOTE ]
Not being cheeky but i do not know who you are intending to insure with BUT if you have a vetting you have to "share" it with the insurance company - including NFU and they are the best IMO, but whaterver the vets write down will have the possibility of being excluded from the insurance - if you are not paying a lot i would seriously think of not having a vetting as you may end up spending £300 quid on a vetting, and then having a rather useless insurance policy.

I AM NOT SAYING DO NOT VET OR DO NOT INSURE I AM JUST STATING SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ACTIONS

[/ QUOTE ]

yup I ended up with such an insurance policy through vetting but don't regret it as I know what i'm dealing with and it brought up a lot of issues I knew nothing about, despite having him for 4 months on loan
 
the last 5 horses i have bought have been the first i saw and i don't regret any of them.

if the horser is right for you why bother wasting time and petrol (and other seller's time) viewing other horses?
and in this period someone may put an offer in on the first horse and you lose out?
 
When i got nettie he was the first one i saw and tbh i wasnt even meant to go see him! It was fate that led me to him and despite the fact when i went to see him, he was so underweight, no muscle or condition (looked like a hat rack) badly overgrown feet, didnt know what trot was let alone canter and had been fired on his front legs i still bought him with out a second though. I knew the moment i saw him he was my horse of a life time and never looked back.
 
Goddy was the first horse I'd seen, and he was perfect for me at the time
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My latest horse wasn't, but then it was by chance I went to see the horses on the yard (not even her specifically!) and liked her, so brought her. If you get that feeling, buy him! Otherwise you may be looking for months for something to match him, when it doesnt exist!
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Yes, I bought Toby this year without looking at anything else - I had sent a text to my friends/instructors/farrier etc saying I was 'thinking' of buying another horse and the first text back was from my instructor saying she knew of a lovely horse that was just being put up for sale!

I, like you, was worried that I was jumping the gun but rode him twice, loved him and just went for it! I'm so glad - he is everything they said he would be
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I would and I have. My only thought would be that I wouldn't buy an unfit horse ever again unless I knew that I could control it when fit (hence me downsizing to ponies)!
 
I've bought the first horse/pony I've seen when I've looked bar once (when it was the second horse I saw). And I've had about 12 horses/ponies so far, only one do I regret buying as it turned out we weren't suited - all others have been wonderful.

As long as you've made sure that you've asked every question under the sun and the answer is acceptable to you, and the horse has been exactly as you want then I don't see an issue with buying the first one you see.
 
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