What NOT to do when buying a horse

[analise]

Potential buyers out there, take heed from my story and don't do what I did!

So, I finally decided I was ready to start looking at horses and I start by scouring various horse-selling websites looking for likely candidates. I don't need (or want) anything too fancy, was just looking for something like this: draft/draft cross, not too big, 8-15 yrs, mare or gelding, color not important, capable of doing w/t/c several times a week, quiet, does trails, maybe some schooling-show level dressage, preferably not more than $2K.

So I find this adorable-looking mare, TB/Perch, gray, ~15hh, 15 yrs old, advertised as extremely quiet and used for foxhunting (hilltopping, I think, really) and trails and pleasure riding. The price is right and so I call up the seller. We talk a bit about the horse, seller says she bought the horse to go foxhunting/trail riding with but they don't have a trailer so they ended up never going so she's selling the horse. Whatever. Anyway, I make an appointment to see her and mention her to the barn owner I'm friends with. BO can't go the first time but says if I like the horse, she'll go with me for the second visit and give me her opinion. Cool, I think. I'm really excited. I am, of course, getting my hopes up because the horse sounds perfect for me. This is my downfall.

A nice Friday morning (a week ago, actually), I show up (with my non-horsey mom in tow to presumably keep me from whipping out my checkbook on the spot.). I go out with seller to catch horse from field, no problems there. I lead horse in with seller and stand with her while the horse is brushed (I forget to ask her to pick up all of horse's feet, but figure I can do that after). Horse appears to be falling asleep, no problems there. Horse is tacked up and a little tail-swishy about the girth getting tightened, but no big deal and doesn't really make a fuss. Seller takes her back into the field to ride (the field with a pony and two goats) because their pasture doubles as their riding ring. Seller takes her walk/trot and still things look okay. I ask about cantering which seller says mare can do but, remember lazy? And she doesn't end up taking the mare for a canter before I get on.

This is my big mistake. Everything's looked fine so far so I figure, "Oh, it'll be fine." I didn't make the seller show me everything I wanted the horse to do before I got on.

I get on. Saddle is uncomfortable (it's very wide and not well-made and feels kind of unstable to me) but I don't really have a choice in the matter so...we walk around, we trot. I have little difficulty getting her to trot which kind of surprises me because: see lazy. Of course, seller rode with a crop in hand (not that she had to use it) and she gave it to me when I got on so I figure this is a horse that just needs that there as a reminder. I've certainly ridden horses who suddenly got a bit perkier when the rider had a crop so it's not that surprising.

One time as we're trotting around, mare breaks into a very smooth canter, and I bring her back down. Turns out, that pony who was pastured with her had been following us about and had started cantering, so mare did. Seller says: "oh, that's never happened before. Maybe we better hold pony over here by the gate."

This also turns out to be a problem.

I take mare back out again. I end up asking her to canter again, to see if she'll do it when I ask and not just whenever she feels like.

Buck, buck, buck! I lose my seat and half-fall, half-throw myself off of her and as I land I am momentarily in fear she's going to trample over me on her way back to where both humans and pony are standing. She does not but... (and yes, seller said "she's never done THAT" before about the bucking too which...maybe if seller never asked her to canter away from her buddy, she hadn't. *facepalm*)

My left foot/ankle took the force of my landing and though I managed to hobble out of the field (obviously I did not buy the horse). It all ends up swelling up pretty impressively and I end up having to go into the doctor for x-rays. Doctor sends me to orthopedist who says: "You have very bad sprain (at least it's not a fracture!), here, have a walking boot air cast thing, come back and see me in two weeks."

So now I'm hobbling around on crutches in an aircast boot thing and off horses for the forseeable couple of weeks at least.

So moral? Always get the seller to do everything on the horse they tell you it can do before you ever get on the horse.

Possibly also, if you have that gut feeling that says this is a bad idea, you should listen to it.

Possibly also also, you shouldn't ride the horse in a pasture with the horse's buddies.

So there you have it. Learn from my idiocy! (and it was idiocy, I knew better than to do that and did it anyway.)

[fanfayre]

As a seller that just had a deal not go through- I showed the looker everything she wanted and more- pony is trained to the hilt. Schedule a time and date to go for trail ride so she can see how he is. Pony doesn't put a foot wrong, even though my two, who we've brought so I can lead on the trail and her coach can see how he goes on trail, are being absolute wingnuts. Looker is pi***ing her pants on trail whole time- obviously not ready to go out of ring.
Comes back one more time, in rain and windstorm, and as she's watching him, he stamps foot to get rid of fly. Looker puts him away and emails to say we have completely misrepresented this pony:mad:. This is the pony that a completely timid new 9-year-old can tack up, lunge and mount all on her own. Glad it fell through; he's way to nice to fall into the clutches of a wingnut like that.
Point is, as sellers we can only do so much, and we're not mindreaders- make sure you're explicit, and honest about what you want.

[analise]

Well yes, I'm down with that. I'm pretty sure I was explicit. And I was told this horse was extremely quiet, a bit lazy, and kids could ride her. I never expected to have her start bucking when I asked her to go faster than a trot!

(that said, even that wasn't precisely my point. It was just, everyone told me "make sure you ask the seller to ride it before you do. See it do all the gaits you want." And I did not do that and now I'm paying for it.)

[SmartAlex]

Well at least it wasn't your neck! Lesson learned.

I hope your ankle feels better soon so you can get back to horse shopping ;)

[Druid Acres]

I've heard these sorts of tales before, but it's always good to be reminded. You were not an idiot - just a normal, enthusiastic horse shopper! I'm glad that you weren't hurt any worse than you were.

Many years ago I was horse shopping and tried a very attractive warmblood who was balky. My trainer kept saying "Make him go, make him go!" My intuition told me to GET OFF THE HORSE RIGHT NOW! so I did. I thanked the seller and told her politely that the horse wasn't what I was looking for. I got called a weenie by my trainer all the way home in the car.

The following week, the horse flipped over when another potential buyer was looking at him (I don't think anybody was on him at the time, thank goodness) and the seller (an ethical person) had him put down.

Lesson learned - listen to your intuition!

[tbracer65]

At least you're lucky it was just a sprain :yes:...but I know those hurt just as bad!!

But just something to keep in mind...horses are horses. I sold a really nice well-broke horse that we used on the track ponying -- team-penned -- shown by kids 4-H western & english pleasure, etc... been there done that type of horse. Lady came out twice to see him. First time by herself -- horse rode perfect. I did ride him first, of course, & then she rode. Second time she came out she brought a friend with her. I rode the horse first, again, and then instead of her riding him she had her friend hop on. Everything was fine walking/trotting but when she asked the little guy (15.0 qh) to canter -- he exploded into a bucking bronc...drilled her to the ground & took off bucking for 5 more minutes. Have no clue what set him off as I had owned this horse for the past 5 years & he NEVER offered to even crow hop. No clue. I hopped back on & it was like nothing had ever happened. She also got back on (didn't get hurt, thankfully!!) and he was back to himself. Also -- surprisingly -- the lady still bought the horse as she had actually seen him shown the year before & knew it was out of character for him. He's never had a repeat & they love the little horse...was just an out-of-the blue thing.

My point -- horses are horses & sometimes things just happen for no reason.

[ReSomething]

Sorry about the accident. I imagine you are kicking yourself pretty hard, or would be if your foot wasn't wrapped up!

Horses aren't automatons. Sometimes they really never have done that before and they just take advantage of a changed situation to test their wings, so to speak. I've found that if a horse has a great personality he's less likely to be impolite to a 'new to him' rider, or if he's been made to know that he's expected to be flexible. Sellers sometimes just don't remember that horses are like kids and can behave differently if you take them for granted.

I've gone to buy cars before and the thing wouldn't start - well, it starts for me, there's just a trick to it says the owner. Uh huh, thanks but I'll pass.

I hope you heal well and I'll remember your story, thanks for sharing it.

[Roan]

Even having them get on and do everything is no guarantee that the horse will behave in a similar fashion with you.

A couple of years ago I was out looking for a "nice, safe, family horse, around 15 hands high". I was adamant that s/he be safe on the ground and in the saddle. I wanted something my kids (then 5 and 8) and my non-horsey hubby could learn on.

Found a horse. He seemed awesome. He was a SAINT on the ground with my kids and loved to nuzzle them. Seller assured me over and over again that this boy was bomb-proof, kid-safe and could be ridden English and Western. Seller's trainer got on and rode him w/t/c, English saddle. I had just started learning dressage after a 20 year hiatus from Western riding. He seemed quiet enough, so I got on.

I trotted around the ring a couple of times. Did not feel comfortable. I asked them if they had a western saddle they could slap on -- just "in case". They did.

Now let me tell you about that arena and caution people to be CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE! I was an IDIOT that day! This was a big indoor that was directly attached to the barn. Across the barn end of the arena were chairs -- in rows. Four across and three deep. You had to go around them to get to the arena door. In the middle of the arena was a metal stall -- temp for a foundered horse. All over the arena were JUMPS. All down the left and ride sides were bales and bales of hay, stacked to the ceiling. There was barely enough room to ride.

Did I say I was an IDIOT that day?

So I'm riding this horse around in this terrible western saddle. So far, so good. I asked him to canter and as we came around the far end, I tried to push him into the outside rein (snaffle bridle) with my leg to stop him from dropping his shoulder. Suddenly he bolted. I lost my inside stirrup and started sliding off. All I could see were the chairs coming up real fast.

To make a long story short, I was hanging off the side and thought it wisest to stay that way instead of trying to get myself upright. I managed to get him turned and let go as we came around the long side with the bales of hay. I landed HARD, but on the bales. Lucky me. I hurt for weeks after that.

THEN the seller tells me, "he doesn't like the feel of legs on him."

WHAT THE??? How the HAY can you say that a horse is kid-friendly if it won't tolerate leg pressure? OMG! I got out of there as fast as I could.

So, yes, trust your instincts. Instead of having that saddle put on him, I should have just said, "no thanks". Watch where you ride. If I had hit the chairs it would have gotten REAL messy.

Eileen

[indygirl2560]

I've never gone out to look at a horse to buy but I have to lease, and I always have the seller ride(w/t/c and jump if that's what the horse is trained for) before I get on. I haven't come across any extremely deceitful sellers/leasers yet, but I'm always well aware of how the horse reacts to things. Last year, I went to look at any OTTB that was said to have been a great 3ft+ jumper, easy to turn, but I saw and rode a completely different animal than what was advertised! The horse could collect at the trot for a step or two, had a god awful canter(cross cantered on the left lead), and was a horrible jumper that took down baby x-rails! I decided to train the horse anyways(good experience for me and free riding time for horse crazy tween and obvious plus for the owner). The owner also failed to mention that the horse did not cross-tie....Overall, I learned a lot from training that horse(until a couple months later it tried to kill its chiropractor, hurt its back, and had to be retired to a light ride/trail horse), but I definitely know what to ask to see from the horse now. I'm actually friends with the owner, (it turns out she was just naive and the horse's "trainer" put up the add) and I ride her new horse(who is wonderful!) for her when she's out of town or can't ride.

[SmartAlex]

Doesn't like the feel of legs on him? If that bucking spree was a typical result, dontcha think that might have been an important secret to share? Are some sellers really so anxious to make a sale they might risk killing someone?

[rhymeswithfizz]

And I was told this horse was extremely quiet, a bit lazy, and kids could ride her. I never expected to have her start bucking when I asked her to go faster than a trot!


This happened to me, but I was the seller. My horse WAS extremely quiet, kids rode him all the time, he was quite lazy (I rode with spurs and crop), and he had never, never, never bucked anyone off IN HIS LIFE. NEVER. I know this because I had owned him all his life.

My trainer was brokering the sale, but I hopped on to show the buyer what he could do. I put him through his paces and he was his typical angelic self. Buyer then puts her saddle on and gives it a go, and they look lovely. They canter around, do his changes, do some jumps, all is well. Then another horse canters by in the field outside the ring (which is unfenced) as my horse is cantering around the corner, and my horse tosses his head and puts in a playful buck. Rider loses her balance and tips forward, horse puts in a bigger buck, and rider comes off. I was of course mortified. (Rider was OK but obviously did not buy the horse!)

Moral to the story, the buyer may have been being completely honest with you. Horses will be horses, and even angelic horses can do a silly buck, I don't care how mellow they are. I DID do everything the rider did before she got on. I can't explain why that happened to that rider that day. That had never happened before and hasn't happened since. These things just happen sometimes.

[hellerkm]

ok you can all smack me in the head as I am shipping in a pony from WI ( we are in PA) sight unseen for my 5yr old!!!! at least we have her on trial for 2mos and my older kids will ride her first!! but to the OP I could be just as big an idiot I will let you know in a few weeks!! wish me luck!

[Lori B]

analise, I think in this case the key was that the owner seems to have lost interest / motivation, which means the horse was out in the field getting more and more herd-bound. While anyone can get dumped by a horse that is honestly advertised, making sure to see the owner do what you want to do on the horse is completely sensible and correct.

The one time I went out w/ a friend to try horses, I remember that the arena was just chock full of junk, and that the 'quiet' mare was not particularly quiet.

People seem not to be able to resist the temptation to store crap in an arena.... human packratitude seems not to be able to tolerate a vacuum......

[HuntJumpSC]

LOL~ I can relate! Here's a little story for everyone's amusement:

Right before I got serious about finding a new horse, my husband called me at work one day. He had found a registered Paint mare locally on CL for $800 that he wanted me to look at, just for S&G's. He's your typical non-horsey hubby who sees color first & nothing else...LOL ;) The ad said 15.2, good on trails, too many horses, must sell to good home, yada yada, you know the drill. So I call the guy, keep in mind I'm humoring my hubby, who thinks he's found me a nice little fun horse. I'm told she's very sweet, but can be hard to make leave the barn (hmmm), she hasn't been ridden much lately because he has another horse he rides. OK. Why not? I haven't ridden in a couple of years & this could be fun.

So we go that afternoon, finally finding the place late as the sun is setting. We talk a few minutes, the guy is eager to show me her papers (papers don't impress me, of course). So I throw my Pessoa on all 14.1 of her, and he puts her bridle & tie down on (good ol' tom thumb & some kind of breastcollar contraption). He suggests that he lead me on her across the road down to his neighbor's round pen. I go along with it, since he obviously thinks I'm inexperienced. So I'm thinking to myself "Why isn't this guy volunteering to ride her first? I gotta funny feeling about this..."

We get to the round pen. He closes the gate and I put my leg on to make her walk. *Pins ears, balks, buck buck buck* Hmmm. OK. Let's try again. And again. Guy just stands there yapping with my husband while I proceed to give his nasty little spoiled mare a free 30 minute training session. We end with walking forward on a loose rein and going where I tell her to go.

I get off, thank him, and say "I think she's a bit small for me." (Keeping my mouth shut about him wasting our time & grossly misrepresenting the horse) He tells my husband, "It sure is nice to see someone get on her that can make her do." and proceeds to still try and sell me the horse. LMAO! Then he tells me I'm free to come out and ride her anytime until I find what I'm looking for. Umm. OK. :lol: She's still for sale 3 months later. ;)

[vacation1]

Brave OP, for sharing an unflattering story! I love threads like this because, while I'm not looking to buy a horse now, I will someday, and I can always use some pointers on what is or isn't reasonable to be assertive about, and concrete reasons why. Poor ankle, I hope you heal fast!

[analise]

Brave OP, for sharing an unflattering story! I love threads like this because, while I'm not looking to buy a horse now, I will someday, and I can always use some pointers on what is or isn't reasonable to be assertive about, and concrete reasons why. Poor ankle, I hope you heal fast!

It's unflattering but I'd hate for something like it to happen to someone else. I'm looking at it as a pretty tough object lesson to keep in mind later on in life. :)

[rainechyldes]

I sell horses.. I buy horses.

My main fault when selling, is I'm too honest:) I've lost sales more times then I can count, because I relate the abosolute 'worst' behaviour I've seen said horse exhibit even if they are being dolls while being shown. (needless to say-sometimes I don't sell to many quickly:)

My main fault when I buy, is sometimes I buy with emotion, rather then practical objectivity.

[LuvMyTB]

Totally agree with "If you are uncomfortable GET OFF" :yes:

A few weeks ago, I went to look at a young OTTB. I emailed back and forth with the seller, describing exactly what I was looking for (on the farm for a few months, started in basic w/t/c etc), my skill/comfort level, etc. Seller thought it might be a match so I went out to see him.

The horse acted like he was JUST off the track--pawing, dancing around etc. Wouldn't stand still for the owner to get on so I held him for her--and got a really nice bite on the arm for my trouble.

Right then and there I started to feel really nervous, but I didn't want to wuss out so I watched her ride (went well enough for her) and then got on myself.

We walked maybe 1/4 away around the arena, with him bowing to the outside and dragging my leg on the fence. I was asking him to turn off the fence and then when that didn't work, started bumping him with my leg. He stopped, started kicking at my leg, sucked his butt under him and then flipped his head up. It was a really weird thing and I jumped off immediately.

Seller walked towards me with the mounting block. I swallowed my pride and said, "I'm going to be honest with you, he is a really nice horse but he's just not what I'm looking for." And it was true--he was GORGEOUS and a beautiful mover, and will make someone a great eventer or foxhunter--but it's gonna be someone who's a WAY more aggressive rider than I.

I was so glad I got off....but I wish I hadn't gotten on in the first place.

[analise]

LuvMyTB,

Good on you for following your instincts!

[LuvMyTB]

LuvMyTB,

Good on you for following your instincts!

Thanks....would you believe I had to do the same thing AGAIN on another horse last week?

This was the 2nd time I tried this horse. First time hacked about 20 mins in indoor, everything was fine.

This time we went to the outdoor. Horse was turning in circles while I was tightening girth, wouldn't stand still for mounting etc. Finally get on and he starts flinging his head/yanking on my hands and pulling for the gate. I think I can feel a hump under the saddle. Hmmm, not in the mood to fight with this horse--get off and head for the indoor. Sellers mention they rarely ride him outside.

Get to indoor, go to the mounting block--again won't stand still and his eyes are rolling like crazy--I can see the whites. Start to get a weird feeling about the horse and decide not to get on. I was trying him in a different bit and I thought maybe that was the problem, so we go back to change bridles. Discover a big swelling (probably bee sting) right where the girth goes.

I just feel bad for my poor non-horsey mom, who happened to be with me on both occasions. She hadn't seen me ride in years and then THIS is what she gets to watch....LOL.

[lilblackhorse]

i for one would never ride a horse in a pasture with loose horses running around--asking for trouble, especially on a horse you don't know. I've had loose pasture horses scare the bejesus out of me when I've been on foot, no telling what would happen if you were mounted.

lesson learned it sounds like, amongst others.

[rhymeswithfizz]

i for one would never ride a horse in a pasture with loose horses running around--asking for trouble, especially on a horse you don't know. I've had loose pasture horses scare the bejesus out of me when I've been on foot, no telling what would happen if you were mounted.


Agreed!! I should clarify that in my particular situation, the horse cantering by outside the arena that spooked my horse did actually have a rider on him. (not very clear in my post!)

[goeslikestink]

get the sellar to take it outside its comfort zone that means let them show you the horse in a different area hes been used - then see how the horse re-acts if its a quiet horse it remain quiet if not it wont

here if i mbuying a horse i like to see it on the roads and also out on a hack

[JohnDeere]

Horses cant be constant.

My boy is really quiet. Ive had to cluck to him to gt him to speed up enough to stop. :winkgrin: Yes hes young and that will change but for right now you need a very long whip. And smaLL spurs.

So I took him outside one day for a trail ride. I walked him to the start, asked him totrot, and landed on the ground. :eek: 3 bucks was all it took. I wasnt expecteing it or I would have stayed on. If Id been selling him Id say hes never going to buck you off esp at a trot!

Gravel even in the full seat breeches hurts. :mad:

[twofatponies]

God bless my trainer at the time - when I was looking at my Morgan mare, I had her on trial for a week. She was broke to drive, but green under saddle - i.e. probably had been ridden over to the neighbors now and then, but no real training at all. But a very tolerant horse due to the driving training.

My trainer got on her, walked and trotted her around no problem, and then tested for "buttons". He asked her to walk sideways, turn in little circles, stop by the gate and then leave it again, etc. to see if she had a temper or was the type that would get aggravated easily and buck or rear. She just tolerated it all, and even when she was frustrated and a little confused (walking sideways, for example), she did as best she could.

I thought that was a great thing to do, and not something I would have been qualified to do then myself, because lord knows a lot of horses have secret "buttons" that no one tells you about! And it sucks to discover the buttons accidentally later on!

[Kate66]

Sorry you went through that - that sucks! Thanks for reminding us all though!!

Once I went to try out a huge TB. The trainer rode him around a little bit and then I got on. I can't put my finger on it, but right from the get go I just did not like him. I walked a trotted him, felt embarrassed but just got off after literally 3 mins and said "I'm sorry for wasting your time. I can't put my finger on it, but I just don't feel comfortable on him". No idea if she sold him but I've never regretted following my gut.

[katarine]

It's always a crazy journey, isn't it?

Went to see a TWH mare. "Well broke, excellent gait, experienced trail horse. Just completed a 60 day tune up with a professional". or something like that.

Owner rode first as I always insist must happen- them, or someone, is riding while I watch. Had to leave her tied to get up there, then lean up and unsnap lead. Mare slams in reverse toward the barn, he gets her-somehow- into first -then third -then DRIVE gear. We become one with the mobile home when they skin past us, I mean I literally molded myself to the house to avoid getting pancaked. Did I mention I think they dumped their cat boxes under said mobile home? Pee EWW.

They proceed to make a few frantic, hard pacing passes to and fro and finally he reels her in. Did I want to ride her? You know, no. Not really. I can't see as anyone would want to ride her, to be frank with you. She's not an excellent trail horse, she's dangerous.

Ya know what? He came clean. That mare broke his back several months earlier, running off with him, sideways down the trail toward home, resulting in her slamming him into a tree and throwing him. He said he was scared to death of her but needed her sold and gone and down the road.

Yeah, well, good luck. I felt bad for the guy, but she was grown, spoiled, sour, and NOT worth a dime.

[Flash44]

I know someone who sold a nice local hunter; and I lessoned with her occasionally. Horse never did anything wrong. When he got to his new home, he started bucking people off. She went to ride him for them, and he bucked her off too. He had never ever bucked before.

I have a lovely horse on the market and I am terrified that she will misbehave in her new home once she is sold. She really is a great horse to ride, but occasionally has a nervous TB day. Not a big deal to me, but buyers seem to want a guarantee that the horse will never ever misbehave, and I don't know what to say other than to get a rocking horse.

[Bogie]

A few years ago I was looking at horses. Drove an hour to see a warmblood and found that his owner had just finished lunging him.

My rule is I want to see the horses without having the edge off them but he was cute and the girl was very enthusiastic. So, she gets on him tells me how she rides him bareback and with a halter, etc.

But, he's spooky when she rides him, even in his own ring.

I know I shouldn't have gotten on him but I did and he gave me three or four really big spooks and I realize that this is, indeed a stupid thing to do. I made my excuses and left.

She must have called me half a dozen times telling me how well he went for me and that he'd be the perfect horse for me. I guess he was worse most of the time :lol:.

Never again. I will stick to my guns. I will NOT ride a horse that's been lunged before I arrive. I will NOT ride horses that are not sound. I will NOT ride horses that are certifiable nut jobs!

[adelmo95]

The OTTB stories got me thinking of my OTTB shopping experiences and the lessons I learned. I tried a couple thoroughbreds, one fresh off the track the other after a month or so off. I tried the one right off the track first and it took all the strength and skill that me and a hunter/jumper trainer had just to get the mare somewhat groomed and tacked up, had to put the bridle over the halter as we were not sure we could get the halter off and the bridle on fast enough to remain in control. After she was tacked up and the reins and stirrups were tied up so that they could not get caught up in anything we figured it might be an idea to free lunge her in the round pen for a couple minutes to see how she would react. Well as soon as I let go she went into a flat out gallop and kept this up for a good 10 min or so. Once she slowed down being the stubborn person I am I decided to still get on which took some skill as she would not stand still for an instant, but eventually I managed to get on. We basically managed to jig and prance around the round pen for a few minutes before I came to my senses and realized that this mare was not for me as she was getting more and more worked up rather than showing any sign of beginning to relax. There was one problem though when I went to stop her to get off she kept on threatening to rear, in the end I had to jump off of her while she was walking to avoid having her go up.

Horse #2 that I tried quietly came in from the pasture alert but well behaved. I was able to tie her up while I groomed and tacked her up (was able to do this without help) and quietly went into the round pen. My biggest challenge with her free longing was getting her to go forward so after a few minutes I figured I might as well give it a try and get on. I got on and she quietly walked and trotted around the arena, she even stood quietly on a loose rein while I talked to the trainer. I didn't want to do much with her as she badly needed her feet done so I did not end up cantering her which was a big mistake. I also figured it was a no brainer why she failed on the track so didn't bother asking, vetted the mare and purchased her. Well let me tell you I have never sat on such a fast horse when I picked up the canter, she had absolutely NO brakes, a year later she still needed a strong bit or a wall to run into in order to stop her once she got cantering. As it turns out she failed as a race horse not because she was lazy but because the jockeys could not rate her speed. On the bright side she has ended up turning into a lovely broodmare, as she has a lovely temperment on the ground, good breeding and conformation the decision was made to breed her and see whether she mellows.

Anyway enough of my rambling, the moral of that story is ask WHY a horse did not make it on the track...

[jengersnap]

A few weeks ago, I went to look at a young OTTB. I emailed back and forth with the seller, describing exactly what I was looking for (on the farm for a few months, started in basic w/t/c etc), my skill/comfort level, etc. Seller thought it might be a match so I went out to see him.


Too bad you're in IL. I have your dream horse here.

Anyway, on summer I was shopping for a family who had children with learning disabilities and of course a small budget. I had been a volunteer working with them at a therapeudic riding center and had a good idea what they would need. I scoured ad after ad looking for that kid safe, broke to death, have to convince it it wants to trot horse for the young boy with ADD. A moderate sized stock type who'd seen the world and could stand all day the tote the grandkids around would be perfect. Horses were all he dreamed about, and the family got the funds together to make the dream come true for him.

I talked extensively to a young lady about 2 hours away regarding a middle aged standardbred who was "kid safe, extensively road hacked, bombproof, quiet, gentle" and so on and so forth. When I called her to talk further before making the long drive, I stressed how important it is the horse be safe, controllable, slow and almost to the point of lazy. The horse we ended up seeing was probably bombproof, but that's where the similarities between him and kid safe ended. He was a giant first of all, and thin. He rode like a rail and the movement was very bumpy. I've a standardbred of my own with calcified ankles and he could give her a run for the money on bad movers. He could not collect to save his life, and part of it could have been that he wanted to chug forward like a locomotive in the fastest version of whatever gear you asked for. Just getting on him, I had to embarrassingly ask the seller to hold him for me as I didn't want to combine climbing up that high from the ground (mounting block? what's that?) with scaling a moving target. He just did not stand still!

Needless to say, I knew before I'd climbed up that this couldn't be the horse for him. I only got on for one reason. The poor kid had ridden 2 hours in the car to see this horse, and I wanted to see if the horse was okay enough to at least put him on and lead line him. We did get to do that much after I felt it was safe, but what a bummer. I never understood where the miscommunication could have been on that one. I couldn't have been more clear on how babysitterish we needed the horse to be.

We found the kid a kid broke paint not long after that. A true gem of a little guy who would be any boy's best friend and happy to mosey along all day :)

[ItchyRichie]

that sucks! I feel your pain!
at least it's a funny story to tell people :)

[partlycloudy]

Was looking for a draft cross or similar to develop into a field hunter. Contact a lady about a 16hh belgian x, w/t/c will jump little fences been used for riding lessons etc,well broke quiet. Perfect right?

I get there and she proceeds to tell me about her life threatening illness that prevents her from EVER sitting on a horse again,that is why he is for sale. OK, fair enough.

So I break my #1 rule for trying horses, which is what the OP is trying to get across,never get on a horse I haven't seen being ridden with my own eyes and she saddles this sucker up for me. (whoops, got that wrong. I'm the sucker here)

She tells me that the kids have all kinds of pet names for him, poopykins and bunnykins or some such thing.

I proceed to take him across her lumpy field (no ring of course) with bunnykins being a bit of a pita, but nothing really intense. Did I mention that I had forgotten my helmet and was wearing one she provided that was way too big and it kept falling over my eyes? (stupid ,I know)

Ask for canter...well bunnykins goes into a bucking fit and dumps me! Bunnykins had a few new names, none the kids would like!

Of course I hear the prerequsite 'He's NEVER done that before!' Yeah, right.
Lesson learned but really sore butt.

[thatmoody]

I was just thinking back - I don't think I've ever bought a broke horse, and that really surprised me - I don't have any horrific horse buying stories to share! Of course I have plenty of young horse stories to share, though :D. I am glad to read this, as I would have made ALL these mistakes! The last mare I bought (oh so many years ago - I've been riding my trainer's horses since I got back into riding 2 years ago) I got off a ranch as a two year old. She hadn't even been handled so we drove her onto the trailer through the cattle chute. She was the easiest horse to break I ever had - no bad habits, and sweet as pie. She wasn't really wild, just didn't know anything :).

Of course, this weekend, I'm going to look at a horse - a 3 year old filly who hasn't been started. I'm too old for this!

[horsegirl123]

From the seller's point of view I tell the potential buyer everything. From the buyer's point of view I ask to many questions. I also understand the creatures can act differently on any given day. Some horses like certain riders. I do make sure when trying a horse that the owner shows me everything I need to see before putting a rider up. I always like to see the horse go in company and alone. I like to see the horse in a stall by itself to see how it behaves. I would do everything to the horse that I would do at home on a daily basis. I also give the buyer the same option because I won't them to see everything. No sale is that important to me to ruin my reputation.

We tried a horse yesterday that I was told had not been riden in two years but could should have no problems jumping up to 3'. She had a soft tissue injury but all of the xrays showed that she was fine. We rode her in 2 different rings all is good. We jumped her over a small X twice and the third time was not a charm. She reared up and almost over before the rider came off and was stepped on. Obviuosly she didn't come home with us but this is one of those times where horses are unpredictable. I would rather see the good, the bad, and the ugly before I make a commitment to them.

I am glad you are ok and it is better it happened then and not later.

[Mali]

ok you can all smack me in the head as I am shipping in a pony from WI ( we are in PA) sight unseen for my 5yr old!!!! at least we have her on trial for 2mos and my older kids will ride her first!! but to the OP I could be just as big an idiot I will let you know in a few weeks!! wish me luck!

If it's any consolation, I picked up a little OTTB in Feb - sight unseen (not even a photo). I soley trusted the trainer's comments and thought the little gelding sounded perfect for me. Well guess what - he is utterly amazing! I wouldn't trade him for anything! It was definately a one in a million shot, but thankfully I hit that lottery...now if hubby would just hit the $$$ lottery!

[dexhol]

I had the same thing as a seller too. Have an OTTB that I'm selling, TRYING to. The mare is LAZY with me. I ride her bareback in a halter and lead rope all the time, has evented through novice and has been ridden by kids without a problem. Main problem with the mare are that the brakes tend to work too well, ask too hard and she'll stop fast enough that you'd go over her head if you weren't expecting it. Girl came out to try her (I W/T/C and jumped her first for them, she was lazy as usual) and was walking her around. Then my lazy mare breaks into a trot, then a canter, and is suddenly galloping breakneck around the ring. Girl sits there and lets her go around and around, no attempt to circle or stop. Parents are standing there going "what should she do?", and I'm standing there wide eyed going, "I have no idea, she's never done this before, maybe CIRCLE or something instead of going around and around?" The gal finally bailed/fell and the mare took off through the gate and into the woods. I made sure the girl was ok, and ran off after the mare.
I felt terrible but really had NO clue what had happened. I take this mare cross country in a happy mouth mullen loose ring snaffle, she just doesn't GO that much. I caught the mare, gave the gal her saddle back and jumped on the mare bareback and was W/T/C around the field for them (to show she really wasn't batty) before they left. I guess sometimes they surprise you!

[Flash44]

Don't mislead the seller about your intended use for the horse!

[LisaB]

Yeah, don't come looking at a draft wearing flip flops
Don't come to try a horse that is being ridden english and expect a western saddle to suddenly appear for you. Bring your western saddle!
Don't call and immediately want to come look at the horse and show up 2 hours later, in the dark.

[TrueColours]

Are some sellers really so anxious to make a sale they might risk killing someone?

Ugh. I just hate reading stories like this ... :(

I used to buy and sell a whack of horses, when I was younger ... ;) About 40-50 a year on average and my one hard and fast rule was that if ANY of them exhibited unfavorable ingrained dangerous behaviour, I lost money on them and sent them to a dealer that I knew with full disclosure as to what I found wrong with them so they could make the decision what to do with them from that point onwards. Never ever in a million years did I want to get a phone call from some parent telling me the horse I sold them for their daughter hurt her and she was lying in a hospital somewhere.

I wanted to be able to face any lawsuit (if it ever came about which it never did) with every single person in the barn that I boarded at, with them willing to testify that they never saw that particular horse buck, rear, bolt in a dangerous manner so the fact the girl got hurt was a freak accident rather than me selling a knowingly dangerous animal to them. I would never have it any other way ...

Probably the very strangest scenario I ever came across in my life was when we were going to look at a "kid safe" horse for a client/friend of mine. The girl would have been about 12-14 that we were looking for a horse for. Seller gets up on the horse which appears to be totally pissed that it has been dragged in from the field and is being ridden at all and it refuses to move. Pins its ears, kicks out at the leg that is kicking at it to make it go forward and starts running backwards with the rider yelling and kicking and whaling away on it from up on its back. Horse flips itself over, lays down and refuses to get up. Rider gets off, starts jerking and kicking and yelling at it to make it get up. When its standing again, he turns to me and asks "Would she like to try riding him now?" Uh - dont be surprised by this, but "NO thank you!!!"

Its one thing if the seller is legtimately stupid and doesnt know any better but to knowingly sell a dangerous horse to someone without disclosing that fact? Totally and completely nuts IMO ...

[Mali]

Ugh. I just hate reading stories like this ... :(

I used to buy and sell a whack of horses, when I was younger ... ;) About 40-50 a year on average and my one hard and fast rule was that if ANY of them exhibited unfavorable ingrained dangerous behaviour, I lost money on them and sent them to a dealer that I knew with full disclosure as to what I found wrong with them so they could make the decision what to do with them from that point onwards. Never ever in a million years did I want to get a phone call from some parent telling me the horse I sold them for their daughter hurt her and she was lying in a hospital somewhere.

I wanted to be able to face any lawsuit (if it ever came about which it never did) with every single person in the barn that I boarded at, with them willing to testify that they never saw that particular horse buck, rear, bolt in a dangerous manner so the fact the girl got hurt was a freak accident rather than me selling a knowingly dangerous animal to them. I would never have it any other way ...

Probably the very strangest scenario I ever came across in my life was when we were going to look at a "kid safe" horse for a client/friend of mine. The girl would have been about 12-14 that we were looking for a horse for. Seller gets up on the horse which appears to be totally pissed that it has been dragged in from the field and is being ridden at all and it refuses to move. Pins its ears, kicks out at the leg that is kicking at it to make it go forward and starts running backwards with the rider yelling and kicking and whaling away on it from up on its back. Horse flips itself over, lays down and refuses to get up. Rider gets off, starts jerking and kicking and yelling at it to make it get up. When its standing again, he turns to me and asks "Would she like to try riding him now?" Uh - dont be surprised by this, but "NO thank you!!!"

Its one thing if the seller is legtimately stupid and doesnt know any better but to knowingly sell a dangerous horse to someone without disclosing that fact? Totally and completely nuts IMO ...


You should have said "Hey, why don't you ride him ONE more time so we can really see him go" :D