What to ask about when buying a horse?

[mindutopia]

I am looking to buy a young project horse. It’s been years since I last bought a horse and I’ve never bought in the UK before (only in my home country before moving here). I actually wasn’t planning to buy for several more months to a year, so it’s sort of happened faster than I expected as all just sort of clicked into place.

I’m going up on Monday to view him and for the vetting. Someone please remind me what I need to ask the breeder and/vet. My mind has just gone to mush. So far on my list:

To see/get copy of his passport
Vaccination/health records
How he’s currently kept - feed, etc
Bit more information about sire/dam

What else would be wise to put on my list to ask the breeder?

Also I’m having a 2 stage vetting (too young for 5 stage), but is there anything else I should ask the vet while they’re there?

Assuming unbacked?
How much handling have they had, especially RE picking feet up.
How are they in a herd
Has any groundwork been done, if so how much and how did they take to it.
Any signs of any vices when in.
Have they travelled as yet and if so how were they.

Why have you arranged a vetting if you haven't seen the horse yet?

@Sprig1 Because the breeder is 6 hours from me and I want to be there for it, so have to do it all in one day. He’s a yearling, so there’s only so much I can even do when I see him, other than a bit of handling and talking further with the breeder.

Thanks this is helpful. And yes, since he’s little still obviously unbacked, so so far only groundwork, feet trimming, a bit of loading, but I’d like to actually see how he is when I’m there.

Ah as a yearling I’d basically want to check he could be lead without being like flying a kite, pick his feet up and not a thug with other horses.

What LastQueen said ^ - depends a bit how young, are we talking weanling or yearling where realistically you wouldn't have expected them to do much at all, or a 3/4yo that's had some groundwork and is ready to back?

I think in addition to questions about sire/dam and the rationale for the mating (always very revealing the answer to that one I think) I'd be interested to know about any full/half siblings and what they're doing now, any issues and so on.

Would certainly want to know about how much handling he's had, groundwork, does he lead well, will he stand tied up on yard, is he OK being stabled, has he been bitted/worn a roller and so on or is he totally untouched? Assume he's had regular farrier visits, how are his feet? Has he ever travelled in a lorry/van and how was he?

Temperament of the sire and dam and competition results and also health history
as others have said, level of handling and temperament of the yearling, as well as health history
worming routine
vaccinations