Pony shopping - what to ask?

[Noisygirls]

Hello

Seeing a pony for my daughter tomorrow and unexpectedly the person coming with me who is the expert can’t make it. Now I’m horsey to a point but never bought a pony before so looking for pointers please. If we like the pony the lady helping us is going to go again with my daughter mid week so there’s no pressure on me making the decision tomorrow. I also know enough to not let my daughter ride first and only let her ride it if I think she will be safe. I’ve chatted to the owner a lot so understand why they are selling, background, what they have done with him, the facilities to try the pony (school and field). Have asked what the worst thing he’s ever done is so have that answer. Guess because our instructor will be coming back if we like him I don’t feel the pressure - I just don’t want to waste the visit. Any suggestions? Not looking for questions I could find through a google search as will do this before we go. More interested in the questions you’ve found most useful or wish you’d asked. Thank you

I ask everything I could think of, so think of everything you want to do with the pony and get chatting.

Who owns him? How long for? Who rides him? What do they do with him? Has he had any time off due to injury/illness? Is he up to date with vaccinations, teeth and worming?

Is he OK with living out? Is he Ok turned out with other horses or on his own? Does he respect electric fencing? Is he ok to catch? To lead?To groom?

What is he like to hack? Alone? With other horses? In open fields? In traffic? With cows, pigs and sheep? With tractors and trucks? Loose dogs?

Has he competed at all? Do they have results, sheets and photos?

Arrive early, you might find them lunging a lunatic or running round a field endlessly. See what he is like in the stable, touch him all over, check his legs. Ask to see him trot up, many a horse come up lame! The owner must ride first, do not accept any excuses. Beware of owners giving the horse a lead by walking in front of it.

If he seems good and your DD likes him in the school, ask the owner to pop back on and walk around the yard/down the lane. Ask the owner to go out and come back and go out again (this can set off the grumpy ones). Ask for a car to be started and driven near the pony.

Really helpful, thank you so much. I'd have asked a lot of this, but good to have it laid out so thank you.

Ask if it will go in a horse box or trailer.

I made the mistake of assuming a horse that went in (was delivered in) a horse box would also happily go in a trailer, which was very far from true.