I absolutly would not buy a horse with...

[jump4it]

a bad tail:) Anyone else have something that would be a deal breaker?

[kellyb]

I am the ultimate queen of tail fixing, so that would not bother me. Bring me your ratty, your thin, your short tails....me and my trusty tail bag & tail growing plan will take care of it. ;)

I personally will not buy another cribber.

[War Admiral]

Ringbone.

I loff HRH Avery dearly and am very proud that he has more or less beaten the odds and had a great life, but no, I'd not go through this again with another horse.

[zagafi]

A crappy disposition. I don't care how beautiful the exterior may be, if the horse isn't kind I don't want it.

[Ridinwyoming]

I'm with zagafi. Also, anthing close to having navicular problems. Been there, done that and not a good outcome. Oh and one more - no more witchey mares!:lol:

[wasagroom]

A REARING PROBLEM!

I also think kicking issues are ridiculously disrespectful and not worth my time to mess with.

[DLee]

Shivers. :(:no:

[eggbutt]

A cribber. Nope, not gonna even look at it.

[jetandmegs4]

Cribber, rearer, or a bad spook/buck in them. Yep, i'm a little bit of a wimp!

[cholmberg]

Cribber (I HATE watching them do that)
Rearer (BTDT will -never- do it again)
Bolt/spook (BTDT too and not eager to try to fix another one)
Biter/kicker (don't care why they are doing it, I want nothing to do with it at this when looking for a horse to buy)
White Line Disease (no way)
Bad attitude (too many nice horses out there to waste my time on ones with nasty dispositions, I don't care if they are brilliant performers)


I don't care about appearance. I don't care if the horse is so ugly he makes kids cry. Attitude and temperment are paramount for me. With healthy feet coming in second. . conformation third. The rest count, but those are the biggest things.

[Orn1218]

The propensity to throw a good buck from nowhere when agitated about not getting his/her way. I had to sell her and get a confidence builder to get back on track.

[pharmgirl]

A rearer
One that is known to be difficult to catch (mine lives in a 70 acre field- this would be a definite problem)

I am the ultimate queen of tail fixing, so that would not bother me. Bring me your ratty, your thin, your short tails....me and my trusty tail bag & tail growing plan will take care of it. ;)

kellyb- could you share some of your tips? My guy's tail is virtually non-existant, and has the appy genes working against us, so any help is appreciated! :)

[imapepper]

I will not deal with something that is sulky about the leg. And I am cautious about QHs due to the navicular thing. Anything else is negotiable for the right horse.

[caffeinated]

Pretty much my only real dealbreaker is a rearing problem.

Bad bucking is up there too, though it doesn't reduce me to a quivering mass of fear quite like rearing does.

On the ground attitude stuff- has to be pretty bad before it would break the deal. Or if the horse was one with just a mean and sneaky sort of temperament. I don't think I'd go for that.

[Tamara in TN]

spots


Tamara in TN

[wasagroom]

LOL Tamara.

Agree about the rearing... especially on the ground. There are a lot of *little* behaviour issues that I can handle and "tweak", but I find rearing and striking out unprovoked to be THE MOST RUDE, disrespectful thing a horse can do and you know what? There are plenty of other horses out there a little more gracious and respectful that will easily outclass the rearer.

Cribbers I don't mind because I can reduce their cribbing to pretty much nil via diet and turnout. :-D No cribstraps required!

[Luckydonkey]

A horse that will not tie is the only deal breaker for me. Just about anything else I will put up with , but not being able or willing to stand tied for long periods is the worst.

[Bluey]

I would absolutely not have a horse with a "rescue" contract attached to it.
Not worth the aggravation and why not own outright?

Every horse we took in as a true rescue was here for our vet and us to care for best we know how.:yes:

[Petstorejunkie]

alot of white (with the exception of a leopard appy mini)
pig or cow eye
long or upright pasterns

personality and disposition can be remedied.
hoof issues I can fix.
fugly eyes, wonkey legs, and white.... well nope.

[Bliss92]

Bad feet. I can not have a horse with bad feet. I don't mind fixing a problem (a horse in desparate need of a farrier, for example). However, I don't want to deal with chronic thrush, white line disease, throwing shoes every 2 weeks, thin walls, etc. Unfortunately, you usually don't notice the bad feet until you've fallen head over heels for the horse. *sigh*

Cribbers annoy the heck out of me, but I have been known to keep them in a paddock with electric (so they can't grab the wood), and feed them on a lead line in the aisle, so they can't crib in their stalls (and then throw them right back outside!). So, while I don't want a cribber, I've been known to go out of my way to keep them from cribbing...

Of course, ditto to everyone else, not wanting bucker/rearer/spooker. To be honest, some of those things I don't mind, depending on why the horse is doing it, how bad they do it, how often they do it, and how easy it is to sit... LOL Out of all of those, I hate spooking the most. I can stay on with forward and back troubles. But my darn legs are so short, when that horse scoots to the side, I have nothing to grab on with! ;) lol

[shireluver]

I would absolutely not have a horse with a "rescue" contract attached to it.
Not worth the aggravation and why not own outright?

Every horse we took in as a true rescue was here for our vet and us to care for best we know how.:yes:


After watching rescues online the last couple of years, I would have to say I agree 100%.

I will donate to a rescue and maybe even volunteer, but never foster or adopt.

[Rancher]

Shoes.

[Rebe]

I won't even consider a gray horse, or anything with lots of white - can't stand the upkeep!

And I won't consider a horse that isn't a huggy-body, loves-to-be-groomed, in-your-face, "oooh-scritch-me-right-there-that's-so-gooooooood" kinda guy.

[kellyb]

kellyb- could you share some of your tips? My guy's tail is virtually non-existant, and has the appy genes working against us, so any help is appreciated! :)

is that him in your profile pic?? Very cute :)

Keeping a good tail is all about dedication and restraint. Dedication - keeping your tail bag on at all times...and restraint, from brushing the tail!

My mare had a so-so tail this spring. Not really long or full. I washed it really well, a touch of show sheen, and put it up in a regular nylon tail bag. I like nylon better than the 'slinky' fabric, holds up better and doesn't let the tail get too dirty. Keep the tail bag on for about 3 weeks at a time. Every 3-4 weeks I will take it down, finger-comb it, wash if necessary, and put it back up in the bag. I saw results in just a few months. Now it's been 8 months and her tail is very pretty!!

My tail bag is always on unless I am showing.

A friend at my barn bought a horse who was blessed with a thick, long tail. Unfortunately he brushes it out fully almost every day...it got super thin really fast!! :(

[Guin]

over 15.3 hands. :D

[texang73]

Cribber (I HATE watching them do that)
Rearer (BTDT will -never- do it again)
Bolt/spook (BTDT too and not eager to try to fix another one)
Biter/kicker (don't care why they are doing it, I want nothing to do with it at this when looking for a horse to buy)
White Line Disease (no way)
Bad attitude (too many nice horses out there to waste my time on ones with nasty dispositions, I don't care if they are brilliant performers)


I don't care about appearance. I don't care if the horse is so ugly he makes kids cry. Attitude and temperment are paramount for me. With healthy feet coming in second. . conformation third. The rest count, but those are the biggest things.

I second that whole post! Well said! :winkgrin:

[onelanerode]

No crooked legs/poor conformation. No rearing. No striking. No nasty attitude (unless you're sore and I think I can fix it, in which case, maybe). No dirty stoppers. No really hot horses (i.e., no pro-only rides). No slugs.

Bucking and spooking would have to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Cribbers ... well, I don't HATE them, but if I had my choice I'd rather not buy one.

And *embarrassed look* ... no Appys. I know it's silly, but I just don't like the way they look. I think they're ugly. I know, I know! A good horse comes in any color ... :(

[ExJumper]

A friend at my barn bought a horse who was blessed with a thick, long tail. Unfortunately he brushes it out fully almost every day...it got super thin really fast!! :(

I'll see you and raise you the guy at my barn who brushes out his horse's tail not only every day, but also while wet after bathing and/or hosing.

It's hock length and heinous now...

[MandyVA]

a uterus or testicles.

[TheJenners]

I don't care about appearance. I don't care if the horse is so ugly he makes kids cry. Attitude and temperment are paramount for me. With healthy feet coming in second. . conformation third. The rest count, but those are the biggest things.

Pretty much sums it up. But to be nit-picky, which I think is the fun part of the thread, I'd never buy a horse with:

Conformation flaw that would limit ability or lead to possible lameness issues
A known lameness issue
A known neurological issue
A peaky croup, just can't STAND the look
A cribber or windsucker
An untrustworthy tie-er (is that a real word?)
If I could find out beforehand, I'd definitely pass on a stall walker

[AnotherRound]

Under 15.3hh.

[Phaxxton]

I'm not answering this. The way my luck goes, whatever I write down on this thread will be an attribute of my very next horse... so I'm not falling for this again. :lol:

"I hate Arabians" and "I guess STBs are okay, but they're so not for me" -are very famous last words for me. :yes:

[AnotherRound]

Oh. Actually. With my ex-husband. Phleh.

[kcmel]

A chestnut. Been there, done that;).

[nwrider]

"fugly eyes, wonkey legs, and white.... well nope."

Hee hee, me too!

Also:
Joint problems (even future ones surfaced in vet check)
A featherbrain
Ridiculous "issues" such as random spooking (see featherbrain comment above).

The most important one, I would not buy a horse that does not want to work with me. I love a horse that wants to please and will return my love and patience with 100% effort.

[rescuemom]

A weaver/stall walker. Drives me nuts. A Cushingoid equine. An incorrigible cribber would be unlikely. I am adopting a cribber but she is atypical in that she only cribs briefly after eating. She doesn't tie either. There's a damned good reason for that and I simply don't see it as a problem but an occasional minor inconvenience. If someone else wants to interpret that as the horse being a problem I'm sure the horse is better off with a different owner and the potential owner with a different horse. That's the beauty of this listing. What is intolerable to one is workable for someone else. A less experienced horseperson reading this has food for thought on what she/he could or could not live with.


Originally Posted by Bluey http://chronicleforums.com/Forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=2767572#post2767572)
I would absolutely not have a horse with a "rescue" contract attached to it.
Not worth the aggravation and why not own outright?


Thanks so much for sharing.:mad: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10

[Purrkat]

Hooves that haven't been trimmmed in months.
Cribber.
Biter.
Kicker.
Rearer.

[sublimequine]

-Cribbing (air sucking I can handle, actual cribbing, nope)

-the halter arab look. Sorry, the 'holy crap that horse's eyes are popping out of its skull' look is just not doin it for me.

-balls. No stallions, please. :D

[caffeinated]

rescuemom, mine doesn't tie well either. He'll stand at a trailer if there's food, and crossties for grooming and shoeing, but tacking him up tied can be an adventure.

My fault, since I had him from babyhood. :)

It's funny, I love my horse to death but he has several issues that would probably be "no deals" for other people, LOL (hoof issues, weird back end lameness, random explosive behavior every once in a while that's way worse when you tack him up on crossties... heh)

[pharmgirl]

Thanks, kellyb. Here is the guy with the tail (if you want to call it that) in question: http://tinyurl.com/26vy27

The one in my profile is a very draftie mare that I first evented with. While I don't own her, she will always be my mare (or, as how she probably sees it, I will always be HER person! ;)). She has a lovely tail. I have always been a bit of a minimalist about tails. I would usually only mess with her tail while prepping for a show, or to get out a huge clump of burs that she had managed to entangle in it.

The new guy will just not be prone to growing much, I think. He lives out 24/7- is a tail bag doable/safe? Right now, I am just massaging in some MTG a couple times a week, and otherwise trying to simply leave it alone. I just hope he has at least a little something by next summer to swat the flies with!

I actually never thought I would get an appy, but as you can see that changed! :D

[Trot Left]

I have ... an appy and so what if he had no tail... he was beautiful too!

[BuddyRoo]

I've never really had the opportunity to horse shop for myself..but I've been involved in a lot of horse shopping for others....so perhaps my list is quite picky. But that may also be due in part to the fact that every horse I've ended up with (not shopped for but ended up with) had most of these issues. I'd like a trouble-free mount for my next one.

I would never buy a horse with wonky confo, lameness, arthritis, other medical issues. Why not start out with at least a snowballs chance in hell of actually being physically up to the task?

I would never buy something younger than 3 that has been jumped already.

I would steer clear of any contract that required me to offer first buyback at the original purchase price or prohibited me from doing as I wished with the horse. I've seen people get royally screwed on those.

I would not buy something with emotional issues. There is nothing more frustrating than having to tiptoe through the first year + with a horse due to previous abuse.

CAVEAT: I'm talking about horses I would go out actively shopping for. Not rescues. Different deal.

[MistyBlue]

Hmmm...there are things I really don't care for but if the horse was otherwise perfect I'd not pass it up. I'm not a fan of any pale colored horse...greys, palominos, cremellos, etc. So if those colors the horse would have to be the Next Coming for really cheap to get me interested enough to write a check.

But things I will not compromise on:
Falling apart/shelly feet
Founder/white line
Leg conformation that carries too much risk of unsoundess (a bit over at the knee doesn't bother me though)
History of lameness
History of colic (chronic, seasonal, has had surgery...a single colic for something obvious like bad diet or getting into the grain isn't an issue though)
Has idiosyncracies such as not a big drinker, always been extremely herd bound...stuff that will affect my use and enjoyment and peace of mind wiith the horse.
Straight shoulder...if I liked that feeling I'd ride a typewriter.
And I'll probably get flamed for this too: I wouldn't buy a horse from a rescue either. I do donate to the well run and non-insane rescues around here on a regular basis. I'd rather donate than purchase...because I don't view every horse I'll ever own as forever horses. I've had a few over time...have one of those now too. But I don't want to be stuck with every horse as a lifer. Time changes circumstances and wants and needs...if I need to sell or rehome a horse I'm already picker than a rescue and can do it without someone looking over my shoulder.

[Blacktree]

- Chronic spookers or bolters, they drive me nuts
- Any mean spirited horse, they have to enjoy being around their humans :)
- Weaving - makes me feel nervous/neurotic, too, w/ that constantly going
on in the backgound!
- Bald face coloring (just a personal dislike)
- A long back, a low set neck or built downhill

(Cribbing wouldn't keep me from buying a horse.)

[Bearhunter]

only my head and not my heart.

[Blacktree]

only my head and not my heart.

That's a good one! :)

[sublimequine]

- Chronic spookers or bolters, they drive me nuts
- Any mean spirited horse, they have to enjoy being around their humans :)
- Weaving - makes me feel nervous/neurotic, too, w/ that constantly going
on in the backgound!
- Bald face coloring (just a personal dislike)
- A long back, a low set neck or built downhill

(Cribbing wouldn't keep me from buying a horse.)


My horse was a chronic spooker and bolter, is downhill, has a low set neck, and a long back!!!!!! She is a horrendous stall weaver too, but I pasture board her. :lol::lol::lol:

(I love baldface horses too. :D )

[asb2517]

Crooked tail or a low back.

[sublimequine]

Crooked tail or a low back.

That's kinda funny because 99% of the horses I see with those two things are ASBs. :lol:

[snbess]

a horse who bolts - reduces me to a quivering mass of jelly
or cribs

I'm sure there are lots of other "no way" issues, but those are the 2 big ones for me. Give me a nice mellow horse who likes to do a lot of different things and has a good attitude about things pretty much no matter what.

[kellyb]

I'll see you and raise you the guy at my barn who brushes out his horse's tail not only every day, but also while wet after bathing and/or hosing.

It's hock length and heinous now...

Hmm, something in common with both situations... a man??? :lol:

[LongLeaf]

...with only my HEART and not my HEAD. I'm great at falling in love with a pretty face or a sad situation and get myself into trouble with a horse I can't ride due to training or physical issues. BTDT ...don't want to do it again, and again, and again. You would think that I would have learned after the first set of broken ribs and cracked sternum!

I try to leave my heart behind when I go horse shopping now.

[hundredacres]

"Sound with shoes" - it means so many other things now for me. And I just can't go there again....it was heart wrenching. I want a horse with rock hard, healthy feet. Period. It can have horns and fangs...but if it has good feet I'll consider it ;).

[Blacktree]

My horse was a chronic spooker and bolter, is downhill, has a low set neck, and a long back!!!!!! She is a horrendous stall weaver too, but I pasture board her. :lol::lol::lol:

(I love baldface horses too. :D )

How did I get that one so exactly do you suppose? :lol::lol:

[hitchinmygetalong]

A history of colic or laminitis.

[sublimequine]

How did I get that one so exactly do you suppose? :lol::lol:

You spying on my horse? :lol:

[zagafi]

I thought of another one--blue eyes. ***shudder***

[asb2517]

That's kinda funny because 99% of the horses I see with those two things are ASBs. :lol:

Not in my barn you won't! ;) Low back horses are just disgusting looking IMO, and there are so many out there showing and winning it just makes me ill. The horse could be a world beater and $500, but if it has a low back, NO WAY! :no:

And a crooked tail would probably be a deal breaker for me too! That's just me of course, I know there are 1000's of useful horses with crooked tails, but I'm not going to buy one - at least not to show.

[RiddleMeThis]

I wont buy A stopper, Had one hated it not going there again.
I WONT buy anything less than 16.1 again! I want a big horse. Only 5'5" so dont need it but I want it.
It would have to be a good hrose for me to buy a mare again.
Rearing if its chronic no but pain sure I'll give it a go if the price is right.
Bucker I'll buy if everything else is good.

[platinm]

a pinto/ appaloosa/ bald face/ weird color

[sublimequine]

Not in my barn you won't! ;) Low back horses are just disgusting looking IMO, and there are so many out there showing and winning it just makes me ill. The horse could be a world beater and $500, but if it has a low back, NO WAY! :no:

And a crooked tail would probably be a deal breaker for me too! That's just me of course, I know there are 1000's of useful horses with crooked tails, but I'm not going to buy one - at least not to show.

I hate crooked tails myself. Even if it's from an injury, or a 'wry tail' (some genetic thing where only the tail is effected, but not the backbone). There's an Arab at my barn with a crooked tail, and it drives me NUTS just seeing him get ridden, because as an Arab he lifts his tail when he goes, making it even MORE obvious. I just wanna run into the arena and straighten it out! :lol:

[asb2517]

We are really lucky because all of ours have really straight tails. I just think it ruins the entire picture when the tail is crooked. But the low backs...that just drives me nuts. You'll see a horse in the ring from a distance and be like "WOW...LOOK at that one!!" Then they take off the saddle and there is like 14 pads under it and I could swing my fat leg right over its sway back! Yuck!!

[JoZ]

You're going to shake your head at me over this one...

I will never again take a horse about which the owner says "the vet says it can be fixed, I just can't afford it".

Did it once... shame on the seller.
Did it twice... shame on me.
I've done it twice... :(
Neither one was fixable, for any price.

[Wigwag]

- No cribbing.
- No bad attitude that seems to just be the horses nature, and not because of mistreatment
- Sorry, horse has gotta be somewhat pleasing to the eye. Ugly - no. Expressive and honest face is a must.
- If the horse is over 2 yrs old and is a biter or kicker - no. Bad baby manners and disrespect, lack of training, etc..I can work with. But an adult - no toleration.
- No rearing; no big buckers.
- No bolters if they spook and then bolt, even worse if they buck and bolt.
- Difficult, if not impossible, to catch in a large, open field.
- No medical issues such as chronic colic history, navicular, etc..
- No grey's. EVER.
- If the person brags that the horse was started under saddle at 18 months old, I walk away. Same goes for pictures of 2 nad 3 year olds being jumped, even if it's a freejump. Makes me wonder what else they're doing too soon, too fast, with an unprepared mind and body on the baby.

I have BTDT on all of the above (leased, trained, etc..) and I would never actually pay money to purchase and support a horse that displayed any of the above traits. Yeah, I suppose I'm "picky" by some standards, but I have to board (city liver) and I spend a ton of money, so it's one horse for me. And it's absolutely gotta be the right one. IMHO, most of the above criteria shouldn't even have to be mentioned. Sad that so many horses are like that. Aside from the "no greys" rule, most of that is common sense and training, coupled with a well built horse.

Basically, I want what I have. :D A baby who had bad manners, but a sweet and loving personality and just needed to learn the rules of human/horse interaction. He's 5 now, has his spazzy moments once in awhile, but 99% of the time he's a dream to ride. I would never buy one knowing it had any of the above problems, and more. Why bother? There are too many nice horses out there looking for homes.

[hundredacres]

I thought of another one--blue eyes. ***shudder***

You're crazy! You gotta love a blue-eyed pony! We have a blue eyed pinto (Thellwell) pony and he's not only the cutest thing in the world, he's a SUPER great pony that everyone loves when they meet him. The eye color means nothing.

[Westlaw]

Marital funds. :D

[BigRedHorse]

An ugly head or badly set neck.

Just can't do it.

[citabobita]

um....I am too old to deal with any crap, so pretty much ANYTHING unsavory about a horse...see ya! It's shortcomings could only be as bad as princess citabobita's, which means the worst problem it could have is that it doesn't like it's ears clipped. I can toooooootally handle that LOL!!!

[Huntertwo]

A cribber! Akkk

[Sing Mia Song]

a foal at its side. I am just not a baby person. Cute from afar, not what I want for keeps.

[Bearx2]

A horse that is bad for the farrier and or the vet! I had to be there for every farrier and vet appointment because the mare I used to have was a nightmare for these things !

[TheCoppertop]

I won't ever buy another hard keeper.. after exhausting medical and grocery options we've come to the conclusion that my TB is not meant to look warmblood-ish.

[KZ4Horses]

I would not buy another horse who stall-walked/weaved.

My sister and I had a horrible experience with this type of vice (with our first horse). It did not end well :no:

Other than that, I don't know yet if there are any other "deal breakers" for me, but alas, I am still young...

[zagafi]

You're crazy! You gotta love a blue-eyed pony! We have a blue eyed pinto (Thellwell) pony and he's not only the cutest thing in the world, he's a SUPER great pony that everyone loves when they meet him. The eye color means nothing.

They look like demon spawn. Blue eyes are of the devil. I'm convinced of it.

[I'm EBO]

If he's over a year old, balls would be a no-sale to me.

[zinnniaz]

Cushings, COPD. Any chronic health condition that is going to break my heart.

Lack of interest in being forward. I want to ride a horse that likes to MOVE.

[blackstallion]

I won't ever buy another hard keeper..

Ditto on that and laminitic easy keepers.

[Sue from Auckland]

Basically, I wouldn't buy a horse with soundness issues, major (esp expensive) health issues or temperament issues (buck, bolt, bite, rear, etc). Don't have a problem with crib/windsuck personally, but might factor it in depending on whether others did (and therefore finding grazing was a problem). Couldn't care less about colour, gender, etc although size is a bit of a factor as I'm a shorta*** so generally would shy away from anything much over 15hh (too high to get my foot in the stirrup LOL). Would just want to "click" with it. Have to say that when I WAS looking, my criteria were generally for a 10yo cold blooded or cross-bred gelding - ended up with a rising 6 arabx mare - didn't match the theoretical criteria but was just the right horse temperament-wise for me.

[Blugal]

All the horses I've had in my short life have had one thing or another that I wouldn't *choose* to have (in some cases, swore I wouldn't have!). But almost every one has turned out to be so good in so many other ways.

Although temperament is a deal breaker for me, it's usually a deal-breaker after the fact. It's so hard to tell what the temperament is *really* like until you've had them for a while-- I've bought 3 without enough interaction to tell... two have turned out FAR better than they seemed when I looked at them, and one turned out nuts after she was properly fed.


Absolutes:
-lameness, period.
-known rearing, period.
-cribbing (if for resale)
-Between 14.3-16hh (if for resale)
-mare (if for resale) - learned this the hard way

Other than that, I'm with Phaxxton... if I list any more, they'll be part & parcel of the next horse I own. (Currently, it's a chestnut... I kept saying I didn't want one.)

[sublimequine]

All the horses I've had in my short life have had one thing or another that I wouldn't *choose* to have (in some cases, swore I wouldn't have!). But almost every one has turned out to be so good in so many other ways.

Although temperament is a deal breaker for me, it's usually a deal-breaker after the fact. It's so hard to tell what the temperament is *really* like until you've had them for a while-- I've bought 3 without enough interaction to tell... two have turned out FAR better than they seemed when I looked at them, and one turned out nuts after she was properly fed.


Absolutes:
-lameness, period.
-known rearing, period.
-cribbing (if for resale)
-Between 14.3-16hh (if for resale)
-mare (if for resale) - learned this the hard way

Other than that, I'm with Phaxxton... if I list any more, they'll be part & parcel of the next horse I own. (Currently, it's a chestnut... I kept saying I didn't want one.)

That's a pretty big range.. :o

[In The Gate]

Three legs. :D Anything else would depend on the individual horse.

[Tiempo]

Most of the above, except for the WLD, I can treat it, and the tail (I'd hire Kellyb to take care of it! :winkgrin:

I don't care for blue eyes either, and I used to be anti chestnut, but then I ended up with Tiempo the wonderhorse (pic in my profile) and I'm converted :D

[Blugal]

That's [14.3-16hh] a pretty big range.. :o

You bet. But I'm not all the buyers out there who insist on "at least 16hh" or "must be a pony so I can show it in the hunter/jumpers/dressage/PPG". I'm a student, so I have to buy the best quality for the cheapest price (usually means young & barely broke). I can't tell if they're going to be exactly what I want 2 or 3 years down the road. So I take the risk that they won't be, so I want to maximize the chance they will be perfect for someone else - for the greatest marketability, they need to be either ponies or 16hh+.

[Aristeia]

ringbone, navicular, nasty attitude ... oh wait I already have one of those haha but never again ... he did however pass his pre-purchase exam so maybe its unavoidable

[Lambie Boat]

deal breaker:
chestnut mare
grey
blue eyes
cribber
unsoundness
naturally sluggish or slab sided
out behind
long backed
roarer
bolts
no bad vet or hoof issues

[Tory Relic]

I would never buy a horse with wonky confo, lameness, arthritis, other medical issues. Why not start out with at least a snowballs chance in hell of actually being physically up to the task?

I would steer clear of any contract that required me to offer first buyback at the original purchase price or prohibited me from doing as I wished with the horse. I've seen people get royally screwed on those.

I would not buy something with emotional issues. There is nothing more frustrating than having to tiptoe through the first year + with a horse due to previous abuse.

CAVEAT: I'm talking about horses I would go out actively shopping for. Not rescues. Different deal.

I agree with these.

[Shiaway]

I'll NEVER own a grey horse.

http://www.geocities.com/orgleoso/beach.html

Seriously, though the melanoma problem is worry for me and if I actually had had a choice in the matter I wouldn't have gotten a grey horse. But my heart fell for him and I was done for. I'm just lucky he has four legs and can stand upright. :)

PS. He actually doesn't have little pig eyes. He was just squinting a lot that day because of the splashing I think. IRL he has a very large, kind eye that mirrors his super wonderful disposition.

[Dazednconfused]

Small, piggy eyes. Nope, never, not on your life. :dead:

[Kitari]

Has foundered or developed lamanitis at some point in their life, Cribbers, bitters, kickers, horses that paw from boredom or otherwise, bad attitude, navicular or other hoof problems, upright pasturns, can you say fence post? None that have long pasturns either, No horse that coes with a contract that says i have to do this, and that, or let owner know this and that. etc

[FancyFree]

Ugly face and/or grey.

[LookinSouth]

I'll never buy a horse :

~ First and foremost..........W/O a PPE!!!!!!
~ horse w/ ringbone OR Navicular (BTDT)
~white or very light gray horse. I just would go insane attempting to keep them clean :D
~ A horse with Bad feet
~ Habitual bucker,rearer or bolter
~ Dirty stopper
~ Built downhill
~ Very narrow or very wide
~ Straight shouldered
~ General poor conformation

Lastly w/o a kind, soft eye.

[Kcisawesome]

A horse who is unwilling to learn. Whenever I try out a horse, I always give it a simple test. I ask it somthing it has never been asked before (I end up in inventing my own cues to insure the horse has NOT ever been asked it) And I see how they react.

I look for a horse who "trys" to do the right thing, when I put my left leg on, he moves towards my leg, forward, back, nods his head, sniffs my leg, moves right...Bing. Then when he gets it right, I look for him to be just a tiny bit quicker to get it right the secound time.

I refuse to buy the horse who doesn't care or is mean about it. I.E. I put my left leg on and he just sits there and ignores it OR he starts bucking, kicking, rearing, etc.

By doing this, I have managed to get horses who are super cheap (1-2k) who I can turn into fabulous showing/riding horses in just a few months.

[TropicalStorm]

I would absolutely not buy a horse with small piggy eyes or a history of bolting.

[Catalina]

No ways:

-downhill build and/or straight shoulder
-lameness issues (esp. joints)
-bad attitude
-nasty stopper
-under 16 h

[cleartheoxer]

a horse that constantly weaves, ALL DAY! Some weaving is fine but not all day!

ETA!!! A horse that bites and makes rude faces. NO WAY!!

[Madaketmomma]

I would never buy a horse:

who had peepers!

I don't like when more white of the eye shows than actual color. It creeps me out when a horse looks at me and all I see is the white peeping at me.

[mzpeepers]

I would absolutely not have a horse with a "rescue" contract attached to it.
Not worth the aggravation and why not own outright?

Every horse we took in as a true rescue was here for our vet and us to care for best we know how.:yes:


Amen to that!

[springer]

would not look at a horse that cribs. No way

[SleepyFox]

Admittedly, I've dealt with all of these problems way more times than I would like. But, if I'm being sensible about it, I wouldn't pay good money for the priviledge of dealing with any of these again.

A bucking problem.
A high rearer/flipper.
Wood chewer.
Difficult to load.
Unsafe to tie.
Kicks at people on the ground.
Afraid of water.
Hard to catch.
Striker.
Needle-phobic.
Barn sour/herd-bound.
Chronic lameness issues.
Chronic colic, choke, etc.
If it cribs, it would have to be an amazing horse.

[DeeThbd]

no flippers, no bolters.
Dee

[asb_own_me]

I will never again own a rearer. I will keep my mare until the day she dies, and I love her dearly. But I will never again deal with that particular vice.

[Manes&Tails]

NO CRIBBERS!!:no:Drives me nuts!:eek:

[Leah A]

I am the ultimate queen of tail fixing, so that would not bother me. Bring me your ratty, your thin, your short tails....me and my trusty tail bag & tail growing plan will take care of it. ;)

I personally will not buy another cribber.

Are you willing to share that tail growing plan with a desperate owner of a rat tail horse??!!! lol

[allicolls Aefvue Farms Deep South]

HYPP - those attacks are way too unpredictable and usually violent. I don't want to see my horse go down that way and don't want to be riding it when it happens.

[JohnDeere]

It depends on the horse. I have to feel safe on it so I guesst hat means no rearing/bucking/funny stuff. Of course Dobbin sometimes does the Arab sideways jump when exsited, but thats getting better. I can cure pretty much any bad ground behavour given time so I dont care about that either. SHould be pretty but Dobbin isnt always cute (though is mostly) to look at either depending on the angle. Im lucky enough not to deal with hoof, teeth, or leg problems. Dealt with a colic, though, impaction in 95+ weather. I think its a fluke and wont worry about it unless it repeasts itself.
I guess if youve had to deal with it you dont want it. If you never had it it doesnt matter (within reason).
Oneof the best hroses I had had a low back. Not horrible but low. Never bothered him with 1 pad to bridge the gap. Ive seena lot worse than his! I wouldnt breed for it nor would I buy particularly for it but he happened to come with it.

[sidepasser]

I would not buy a horse that:

rears or flips
will not stand tied
kicks or bites
weaves
cribs
has no work ethic or no try about him/her
will not load
will not stand for farrier and vet,
bolter
has hoof problems or leg problems

Life's too short. Too many nice, well mannered horses that just need an education under saddle..too many nice horses that are educated on the ground and under saddle.

no use taking on something that is inclined to:

1. get me killed,
2. piss off the farrier and vet after all - it's hard to find good ones
3. Increase my vet bills above normal.

[GansMyMan]

Looking out in the field I see cribbers, spookers, rearers, buckers, bad conformation, ring bone, lameness, bad ankles, bad stifles... so I guess we'll take any horse. Except for horses who are mean to other horses. Herd animals have to go out in a herd. They don't have to hang out w/ the herd, but can't hurt anyone in the herd. As for adoptions, I have one from CANTER and have to say, never have had issues. I always recommend them. But, I don't sell my guys, ever.

[May07Bride]

I'll see you and raise you the guy at my barn who brushes out his horse's tail not only every day, but also while wet after bathing and/or hosing.

It's hock length and heinous now...


hmm I do this all the time and my horse's tail is thick, long, and healthy.

[Carley2]

A cribber or weaver. Both things drive me absolutely wild !

No crazy legs or rotten attitudes need apply either !

[Pocket Pony]

Looking out in the field I see cribbers, spookers, rearers, buckers, bad conformation, ring bone, lameness, bad ankles, bad stifles... so I guess we'll take any horse. Except for horses who are mean to other horses. Herd animals have to go out in a herd. They don't have to hang out w/ the herd, but can't hurt anyone in the herd. As for adoptions, I have one from CANTER and have to say, never have had issues. I always recommend them. But, I don't sell my guys, ever.

Hee hee, me too! I have a mixture of various "problems" in my four horses: small, crappy feet, pissy attitude, hates arena work, one who can get hot, hot, hot while jumping, pigeon-toes, roarer, white eye (sclera), tongue hanger-outer, attached to herd mate, ringbone, I'm sure there's more!

But I also look out and see: wonderful attitude, amazingly versatile (bareback, galloping on trails, dressage, eventing, kid-friendly), great attitude, mostly unflappable, patient, kind, well-mannered, good for vet/farrier, non-rearer, bolter, bucker, nice mover, good trailer-loader, sound, beginner safe, and so much more.

I look at each horse and wouldn't trade them for anything - none of them is 100% perfect, but they all have a purpose (even if it is to be a pasture-pet) and a home with me!

[kcmel]

Shark fin withers. Oh, the saddle fitting woes that I have had...

[freshman]

I'd never knowingly take one that has any history of laminitis. Or one that is confirmed or looks like a sure thing for IR, Cushings, or EMD, whatever. I can't deal with the constant micromanagement of environment and feed that it takes for these guys, living in fear every day that the horse will relapse. Especially since many horses deteriorate despite the best efforts made to manage them. Can't stand to see a horse in so much pain as it is when in an acute episode, nor the chronic pain that comes after it.

I wouldn't sign up for this one.

[cholmberg]

With Roman I compromised and took a horse with features I'd normally not take. He's an appy, and my experiences with appy's have run a few very good and quite a few that were very, very bad and I never thought I'd own one but I had to make myself color blind for this deal. He doesn't have the mottling at all, and has a really pretty head, and none of the personality traits I did not like in the 'bad' experiences appy's I'd met. And that leg. Normally I'd not have touched a horse with a leg like that. . .but his sweetness, patience, and overall suitability for a small child caused me to accept his leg issue. For a tiny tot horse, you almost always have to make some sort of compromise. One thing I know, unless a bomb goes off or bears jump out of the woods. . I do not think I have to worry about him spooking. He's one of those that ain't going faster than a plod unless you learn how to gather him up and make him. . .which is just what I wanted. As my daughter's balance and ability improves, she'll be able to get him to do a faster walk, trot, etc. He'll do it he's just lazy.

Ditto the laminitis, freshman. I went through that for several years with my old man, ultimately ending in him being put down. Total heartbreak to watch him deteriorate and be forced to decide he was better off dead. I hope I don't have to do anything like that again, at least not anytime soon.

[Walk_N_Gal88]

No cribbers! Ever ever again..ugh..Ben was bad enough!

Bad conformation, bad hooves, bad attitude.

No more hard keepers, I love Maddy but it's a major pain to put & keep weight on her.

Tying problems can be fixed fairly easily so that doesn't bother me, but flipping and bucking just annoys the heck outta me.

[Trot Left]

Humm.. My dear horse is:

A biter
Use to be a rearer
A Bully
A Cow hopper
Will turn his self around on the cross ties - (he loves doing this)
Does not stand while I mount.
Will not load on those crappy Trail-et trailers
I would not trade him for Perin! ;)

On the other hand
I will never own a weaver.
A Cribber, not that I mind people who do own them.
A kicker. I hate kickers. The horse could be worth a million in every way but If I cannot walk past him on the cross ties without a cow kick I don't want em.

[petitefilly]

A chestnut. Been there, done that;).

LOL You took my answer!

Barring any unsoundness, I would not take a cribber, a weaver, a windsucker, or one with two colored eyes. Unsoundness has a whole lot in the category, everything from ringbone to navicular, to moonblindness included.

But Chestnut tops the list! :)

[diffuse01]

:lol: Clyde meets most of the 'I'll never own THAT' qualities. I was just talking about this thread at the barn today and was saying 'What can I say that I won't own?!'

He spooks. Cribs. Paces the fence if he sees alot of activity (which is why he's kept in the freakin back forty!). Doesn't tie WELL (he ties.. but he's flipped before, so now he's a little freaky in the cross ties). Bad feet. High maintenance. Will rear on the ground if he freaks out. Squeals at you when he's mad (though that can be rather comical). Eh, I could go on.

BUT, when he's awesome, he's awesome. And he has the most amazing personality. Not a mean bone in his body (toward people anyway).

I will never again own a horse who is just a 'jerk' on the ground. I owned one like that, for all of 9 months then decided that he was just a JERK and I was done. I'll take Clyde's quirkiness over a meany any day. Life's too short to deal with mean, and sometimes dangerously aggressive horses.
I'll never own a biter/kicker. EVER.

[goeslikestink]

four legs

[hundredacres]

four legs

I was waiting for that...or the Dreaded Hind Leg Syndrome.

;)

[Snork]

A horse that has not been in consistent work, for whatever reason, for at least 6 consecutive months before the purchase. BTDT, broke the heart of everyone involved.

[CaseysWhiskey]

I am the ultimate queen of tail fixing, so that would not bother me. Bring me your ratty, your thin, your short tails....me and my trusty tail bag & tail growing plan will take care of it. ;)

I personally will not buy another cribber.

Kellyb....HELP ME?!?!? how do you do it!?!?!? My horses tail and thin and dose not hang straight has a wave in it. When combed out it looks good, but once done riding goes back to looking like crap!

[Ride'emCO]

A nervous personality - leads to all kinds of fun stuff like spookiness, bad stall habits, ulcers, etc...
No trust - I want a willing personality, a brave horse.

[ChocoMare]

Thanks, kellyb. Here is the guy with the tail (if you want to call it that) in question: http://tinyurl.com/26vy27...
The new guy will just not be prone to growing much, I think. He lives out 24/7- is a tail bag doable/safe? Right now, I am just massaging in some MTG a couple times a week, and otherwise trying to simply leave it alone. I just hope he has at least a little something by next summer to swat the flies with!

I actually never thought I would get an appy, but as you can see that changed! :D

Alas, Pharmgirl, with a foundation appy, there ain't nuthin' you can do to make them grow a tail. That's just the way they are. Genetically pre-programmed for no mane, no forelock and a wimpy broomtail. My late mare, Star, was the same way. And, yes, I tried everything. :sigh:

I'm in the no buck/rear/bolt category. I'm too old for that crap and don't bounce like I used to. Also no cribber/wind sucker. OMDB! And while I love my Percheron, Tank, with all my heart, I won't do another horse that has metabolic/IR issues. Just too heart wrenching :cry:

[goeslikestink]

that cost 20 or 30k with no proven history or background

[Candle]

I will never buy another horse who doesn't have a good cowboy foundation on them. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "broke"

[TB or not TB?]

I don't want one that I can't take out on trails, or that doesn't like riding outside. I have had a few "near death experiences" because one of my TBs was NOT a trail horse... and I rode him a mile each way to lessons in the summer.

Plus, I love hitting the trails, for conditioning and for pleasure, so it was an absolute bummer that he could not get over this. He was fine if we were doing XC or something focused, but a leisurely walk through the field or down the road? Nope. I owned him for 6 years and he never got better. :no:

[Trails]

— small feet :no:

[Renn/aissance]

A rearing problem. I have no time for that.

A confirmed, historical bolting problem. If it's a young horse, I don't mind so much- if it wants to run, it can damned well run until I say stop, and usually they get the idea that bolting isn't fun. But if it's an older horse and it's been a problem for awhile... no thank you.

X-rays indicative of upcoming problems- big navicular changes being one of them.

A lousy disposition. I tried an otherwise phenomenal horse (OK, so he was also the ugliest animal I've ever seen, but he was incredibly talented and well-schooled) that had an attitude to match his face. No ground manners. Lovely under saddle, but I couldn't deal with his attitude in the barn and sent him home.

And finally, no absolutelys here, but I don't go out of my way looking for a light gray. Too anal-retentive about grooming! :lol: