I went to view a horse today, can I have some advice please

[NagNagN4g]

So, I went to view my first ever horse today (ridden nearly 30 years, had numerous loan horses just never my own).

Perfect in every way... height, colour, breed, price and location. He was a perfect gentleman on the ground, as his own said he was.

Got on and did some walking and trotting in a paddock, he’s forward going and a little bit strong (as he was advertised to be). But did lots of transitions and he listened nicely.

Thought I was ready to canter so went down to the bottom of the field to come back up again and disaster struck! I asked for canter, he put his head down, reared up slightly, went down again and as he went down I went over and fell off! His owner said he has never ever done that before, she was mortified and her immediate reaction made me believe it was completely out of the blue (I had a very knowledgeable friend with me as well).

She got straight on him, cantered around no problems. I got back on and trotted around then did a few steps of canter so I didn’t lose my nerve.

He hasn’t been in consistent work for months, this was the first time he’d been ridden properly in weeks.

So wise MNetters, what would you do? Suck it up as a ‘shit happens’ and get on with it and buy him (I fell for him the second I saw his ad), or leave it and find something else?

I feel like we could have a really good partnership, but in the back of my head I know he’s done that and wonder if he’d do it again. I do believe his owner when they said he’s never done it before. They’ve owned him 3 years.

I think you should make a point of not trying horses that haven't been in regular work. Perhaps your friend could ride for you?

Perhaps your friend doesn't need to pay the prices because she is used to bringing horses on. It doesn't sound like you're in the same place.

Thanks Mouse. Although upon thinking about it I don’t think I’m knowledgeable to take on something like that. I’d hate to get it wrong.

Yes I’ve been looking and discounting all ‘projects’ or ‘sold from field’ types.

Yes I agree about that, and us being in different places.

My friend could ride for me, but seems a little pointless as it’ll be my horse, and riding wise we’re on the same level. I’d be happy for her to ride though just to see what she thought of it, but not from a ‘you ride first and instead of me’ kind of thing.

I wouldn't touch the one with coffin bone issues for all the tea in China.

Given its low value, someone has taken the time and money to investigate lameness.

If it were genuinely not problematic they'd not be selling! This is probably a nod to the fact it will fail a vetting.

There will be nothing more soul-destroying for you than buying an unrideable money-pit.

Soundness is never guaranteed - this lit are admitting there are issues.

Fwiw I've dealt with arthritis in a young horse and tried all treatments except stem-cell. PTS young.

I wouldn't buy this one. It's just not a good start, and once you've got him home, if it turns out that he acts like this regularly, you may be stuck with him. If the owner is saying you could trial him, is that at your yard, without paying her anything upfront? I would say you'd need him for a month to allow him to settle and get to know him in this case. I doubt she'd be happy for you to have him for that long. I once bought a horse that was a bit of a handful but I was fully aware of how she was when I bought her, as it were she settled down over a few years and became really safe and predictable, but she could have been a minx her whole life! I think you should keep looking op!

To get to the paddock I rode in, we walked past a caravan which had a blue plastic sheet as it’s roof flapping around and blowing in the wind, it was huge and he didn’t even bat an eyelid at it!

He's probably used to it! Deffo walk away.

Don’t worry, I’m not touching it again!

The coffin joint one was for full loan, but I’ve decided against that too.

It's so hard I feel for you. Stay strong!!

Thank you

I think the general advice is to take someone more experienced with you to ride first. Otherwise you're taking a risk.

I’m an experienced rider, just not experienced at buying. Isn’t that why owners should always ride first though? She was supposed to in this instance but then decided not to when we were tacking up.

Yes, I always like to see it ridden first anyway.

I think that's fair enough.

Take a look at 194956 (again on Horsequest). Looks a decent chap who has been out in the world a bit.

I don’t know much about Andalusians? He’s beautiful but I feel like he’s a bit too much for me in terms of what he’s been there and done?

Where are you based OP?

I’m Home Counties.

Have you looked at preloved OP?

I think a horse that has competed is a good choice. Sounds like he can step down and do hacking/pleasure riding but you know that he's going to be reasonably bombproof if you want to do more.

No I haven’t looked at preloved. Not sure I’d trust looking on there? Or is that just the dog side?

EJC have just got in the perfect gent but he’s £3,500. If I had that right now then I’d happily pay it, but I’ve only got the £2k cash now so I’ll have to do some more saving.

Cobland still haven’t replied, I’m not going to call as they’ve been online since and I think it’s just rude not to reply! The horse I was looking at was Monty and it says he’d suit a teen, when I messaged I said a bit about myself and it’s obvious from the amount of time I’ve been riding that I’m not a teen! So maybe that’s why, I still think it’s rude not to reply

Yes possibly Mouse, I’ll look at his ad again. I just don’t feel drawn to him even though he’s a lovely fella.

Nagnag - I think they tend not to reply because it weeds out the "hoof kickers". Look at any FB for sale and and (especially if it's a looker) there will be a string of comments with "how much?".

Not "is he safe in traffic?" Or "how does he handle a Tesco carrier bag in the wind?".

Click through those profiles and more than half will be dreamer 16 year old girls who've had 20 lessons at the world's worst riding centre.

If you're interested, phone!

Maybe I’ll call tomorrow. I have phone anxiety unfortunately and it takes me ages to work up to calling someone, so I always just put it off and avoid it. I did call about the horse that I went to see last week, and it took me a lot to do it. I’m just being a wimp though

My cheapest and (currently) best horse was advertised on preloved. It was a really half-hearted, crap ad, with a rubbish photo (tiny, and rotated 90 degrees so it was even harder to get an idea of the horse). Sellers were totally genuine though (and I know that as they're friends of friends, coincidentally). I wouldn't rule out a horse on there, for sure!

It's really rubbish of them not to reply to your messages - you can usually tell if someone's serious or not via messages. I've never called to buy a horse - it's always been done by email, messages on websites, texts or whatsapp.

Thank you. Maybe I’ll check preloved out, I just always avoided due to the horror stories I hear about puppy farming etc.

It is rubbish isn’t it! Do they want to sell the horse or not?! Maybe someone has come to view it and put a deposit down, even so I’d still expect a courtesy message back.

I've bought three (good) horses advertised on preloved in the past and can think of four of my friends' horses who were bought via Preloved too. Go on OP! You can communicate via message, so no need to pick up the phone!

Haha, thanks .

I’ve found a perfect one on preloved but he’s nearly 4 hours away . I would travel, but it’s finding the time. It’s a very long drive and I’m a single parent with 3 children! And it’s a long way to go if he isn’t suitable. Then there’s getting him picked up as well. Argh, why is he so far away?!