Help- Want to buy a pony. What vetting should I do if buying fom horsemart?

[pinkyporker]

Or any of these websites.

Only ever bought horses from friends. Now looking for a particular all rounder.

Some adverts are buy from field. Im guessing dont touch with a barge pole.

Trying to get a list of all my questions together. Any wise mumsnetters out there?

I'm afraid I'm not much use as mum and I bought our boy without a vetting and kept our fingers crossed. However, we did go and see a few ponies before we got him and tried to follow the usual 'sensible' advice, like not getting on a strange horse until you've seen someone else ride it, seeing it caught, groomed and tacked up so you can see it's not a monster etc. Actually this one stood us in good stead as after we'd seen one horse require two people to get its saddle on, we declined to ride it!
Anyhow, hopefully someone more knowledgable will be along soon. Good luck .

Take a friend with you - 2 pairs of eyes/ears always better than one.

Ask for reason for sale,but be aware they may not tell you the truth.

See it caught, brought in, groomed, tacked up, walked away and trotted up then ridden at all paces before you get on.

Be very supsicious if you arrive & it's already tacked up!

Ask to see papers and make sure description tallies with the horse.

Check the feet, teeth etc. Make sure the teeth correspond to the age you are told.

You might want to get an actual vetting done, but again be aware people can be very unscrupulous and use drugs to get an animal through the vetting.

I know I sound very negative but you do need to be aware that these things happen.

If you still like it go back again a few days later.

Best of luck!

ask for a 2 or 4 week loan.

I have had a few ponies come on loan when buying.

Ask if you can tack it up etc..

Watch is being led and ridden, ride it yourself, ....and get a vetting done.

Ask for it to be loaded and unloaded.

Ask for a description of its personality.. a genuine owner/seller will chat at length about it, a dealer clearly won't

if you buy from horse sales you get a warrenty which means you can get a refund if it doesnt work out . I would second the idea about a trial though if buying privately , it means you get to find out how good it is to box,shoe ,stable manners etc before you commit to buy . Another thing to think of in these credit crunch times is getting a pony on full loan , ive noticed a definate increase in the number becoming available and you can save your cash for its upkeep or co-ordinated accessories

Definately get it vetted and get the vet to take a blood sample to check for doping.

Make sure you see someone else ride it first as you don't want to get on a complete nutter.

Loaning is a great idea. Apparently with the credit crunch ILPH are turning down loads of horses if they aren't cruelty cases as they don't have enough space for them.

Thank you so much for the advice.

I may think about going the full loan route as I need an all rounder OR i my just go for a pony that will help bring my daughter on from lead rein and also lead with my youngest children. Particuarly interested in a loan for the pony as may be able to get an older one.

I am in Essex if anyone knows of any.