Yeah, get your own vetting but…a thorough exam adds 1-2k to the sale price so why not just add that to your shopping budget instead of putting it into finding a reason for obvious problems? Let the seller find their own reasons for problems and fix them before selling…fat chance.
I am a mid 30s adult amateur who is very selective about what I swing my leg over these days. I have more skill than I sometimes give myself credit for, but the older I get, the more self preservation I have. I am past the point of trying to prove anything with the horses. I do it for enjoyment and enjoyment only. I also don’t have the budget to own a horse indefinitely who may or may not be riding sound in the very near future. I love horses with all my heart and I fall for nearly every one I work with. I just won’t spend 5 more minutes riding the wrong horse.
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I think when moving on in life to other locations may not be the best time to buy a new horse that may fit or not fit with what life in the new place will be for you?
If that was your horse you would make it work, but why take a chance on buying a questionable horse when you are not yet settled?
Pass. Even free he will be a heartbreaker. He is not for an amateur and not your obligation to “fix”.
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I leased then bought a quirky horse very much like this, and two years later after tons of diagnostics and injections, I had to retire her at 12 yo. It was really heartbreaking and I wouldn’t wish the situation on anyone.
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I leased a Saddlebred with some issues for a 3 years. He strangely was a confidence builder. I had a ball with him, but he was a lousy show horse and I wanted to show. He tried, he loved it, but he just sucked at it. I’ve got quite the collection of white ribbons (usually on 4 in a class). Finally decided I’d like a blue ribbon and ended the lease. That was why I leased him; he was a nice horse but not one that you really wanted to own.
Hard no! Don’t do that to yourself. If he hasn’t been fixed by now this is only going to continue to go downhill. Seen it so many times. Do yourself a favor and find another lease to buy situation. Your heart, mind, and pocket book will thank you later!
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I know people who have struggled with imported horses, and I thought this blog post was really illuminating. Horses are ridden so differently in Europe. There may be reason to hope.
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Those behaviors are indeed often caused by eye problems. If you don’t want to jump, this horse might be great for you. Otherwise, hard no. There are too many other horses that will work out for you.
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This is a no for me. My confidence is no longer robust enough to have this ride. And confidence is a very, very hard thing to get back once it’s shattered.
ETA: why are you even LEASING this horse? It sounds like you are paying for the privilege of someone else’s problems.
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NO. Hard Pass. Do not buy this heartbreak.
Is common to see someone leasing and training-retraining a horse for someone else and paying for the privilege, if that is a top horse they can’t afford otherwise, a fine line there who should be paying whom.
My guess with the little information we have is, since the OP is moving, I would think makes more sense to move first, then decide if to buy a horse and who knows, this one may still be for sale if it after all still fits the new situation.
Just a mere opinion with little to go by, worth as little, really, without knowing human and horse involved. 
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