I sent you a PM!
The best advice.
The words they write about a horse they are wanting to sell is dependent on so many things. THEIR quality as a horseman, their ability to ride and train and understand a horse. Trust no one. Make up your own mind based on what you see.
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Well, there are cases when a trial can benefit a seller. Selling a tricky horse, or one with some environmental needs, etc can be easier if you’re willing to do a trial.
But generally, if you’re selling a pretty, bay, 17h wb gelding with a good attitude and a good video - a trial is not to the seller’s advantage and it is almost entirely their risk.
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One other thing about looking at videos: the seller has put together the best possible video of the horse that they can. So really pay attention to everything. If that horse takes a misstep going around the turn or doesn’t look like it is really forward, or if they’re clearly not performing at the level that the ad would lead you to expect, then either ask some questions (for some small issue) or keep looking.
Especially with sellers who haven’t sold a lot of horses, there can be some inadvertent misrepresentation even if they’re trying to be open and truthful.
Also, definitely, ask direct questions about whether the horse has ever had a serious veterinary issue, what supplements and meds the horse might be on, any special shoeing, etc. It’s worth asking these questions before you go to see the horse to get a sense of whether the risk or maintenance is something you would want to take on.
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Very good advice. The difference between my wonderful mare, and gelding, is about $500/month, between special shoeing and supplements.
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I also have read good advice on COTH to vet the seller as well as the horse. Folks who have done much more buying than I have 
saying that they have a few contacts like breeders who have proven to be absolutely honest over time, and they will now buy sight unseen and be happy with the horse.
On the other hand, I would say be very wary at any sales barn or commission sales outfit. Look at all their ads. See if they say the same things about every horse. Realize that they really don’t know the full history of any horse in their care.
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My horses aren’t for sale, but if they were here is how I would describe them/what it means:
My older mare, a 12 year old Trakehner (pretending we weren’t dealing with a lingering injury):
“12 year old schooling FEI, 8 energy, sensitive but safe ride. Born to piaffe and uses her energy to focus on working harder, sensitive rider needed to prevent her overworking herself. Must live in turnout situation.”
She hadajor hear cycle pain when younger, and it made her lose any sort of confidence on the ground. I can’t walk away from her when grooming without her panicking, and she has to be with herd friends for confidence on her own. Her injury is from a stall, and she paces and gets frantic in stalls. For years she thought some unknown was attacking her, so that makes sense. Under saddle, she is my favorite horse ever. Her general response to something scary is to halt. I think she bucked a tiny bit once other than her first ride where she bucked twice. I think about what I want her to do, and she does it. The side effect of that is I do something wrong, and she treats it as an aid and has made up all kinds of strange crab walk when I did something wrong asking for lateral work. She has never in her life said “no” to being asked to work, and I always have to stop when she is still happy to go. She is a piaffe, pirouette and lead change machine who will easily be a GP horse if I can get her to calm down enough to stop reinjuring herself.
My younger mare:
Amateur friendly doll. 4-5 temperament, more forward and energetic when ridden to be. Wants to be ridden by one person, and wants to have her person. Started late after having one foal, so behind the young horse timeline but extremely talented. Very rideable large gaits. Can be brought up the levels by a confident amateur, or win with a pro.
This horse is the quality horse I never thought I’d have. Once I figure out how to ride her in public we should regularly score in the 70s, since we had what I thought were unacceptable rides and scored high 60s with three different judges. She could probably score in the 80s with the right rider. But her temperament is better than her talent. She is internally spooky, but because I’m confident she basically flips an ear, maybe tightens and lifts her head most of the time. With a fearful rider, I think she would feel justified protecting them by fleeing the scene. Her biggest quirk is she doesn’t like adjusting between riders. Before we lost my trainer, she got cranky whenever whichever of us hadn’t been riding her got on. Since I’m her only rider now, she is much happier with the situation. She is also the total sweetheart in your pocket type who just wants to be loved on constantly. She loves everyone, but especially me, as I’m her person. She’s the most absolutely normal, low drama, chill horse I’ve ever known. I was afraid she would be too low energy for me, but she is getting more and more responsive and high energy under saddle because she wants to please and knows I want her energetic. It also doesn’t hurt that she is gorgeous.
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I love your examples - thank you. And your younger girl is indeed beautiful! I’m envious! What a wonderful story of how the two of you are ‘clicking’ together.
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