Thanks again, these are not only good questions but some good ways to approach them. Much appreciated.
If you ever intend to have this be a family horse, ask, up front, if it has ever been ridden by beginners. Beginner adults, and beginner children - when, where, how. One pony ride with the nephew does not make a family horse. “He really likes kids” can mean “he really likes kids who feed carrots from the barn aisle” not “he wins all the walk-trot classes with my 9-year-old niece.”
I wish I had asked if he bucks or rears. The answer to the second part for one of my past horses would have been, “YES…quite a bit actually.”
What does he eat?
What kind of a program is he in now?
I just purchased a horse a few months ago…and went to see quite a few…and DID walk away from a few thinking “gosh i should have asked…”
Ultimately there are questions you might get the most honest answer to…here are a few I always asked:
-
Why are you selling?
-
Shots? Wormed? Vetted recently? Here’s an article on summary of shots:
http://practicalhorsemanmag.com/article/shots-21447 -
Papers? Registered?
-
Are you first owner?
-
Shod? Even if they have no shoes when you see the horse
-
How does the horse do when trailered? Prefer to jump up or slanted trailer? Get to see the horse trailered if possible.
-
When last time teeth floated? Does horse crib?
-
Ask for copy of more recent health check?
-
Copy of coggins test (esp if you are planning to show)
-
Feed Type and Schedule? Turn out schedule?
-
Arrange a few visits to see horses ground manners (probably the most important!!!) and ride horse…more than one time!
Ultimately you should always do a prepurchase.
Does he rear and flip over backwards? (I know people who have sold horses that did this to unsuspecting buyers. Horses that had been bred and started by the sellers.)
Does he kick people/other horses/dogs?
Does he bite?
Go through a list of all the vices of horses.
One woman who owns a big barn here will tell you the truth IF you ask the specific question, but not if you ask a general question. She told one woman that the horse had had an abscess. The horse had navicular syndrome already diagnosed. Buyer has given away that horse several times and he’s been returned.
In addition to those questions, I’d ask:
- Does he require special handling on the ground or can anyone handle him? A friend bought a horse that turned out to be a terror on the ground. Reared and struck at you when you tried to bring him in! Charged my husband and son once. Had to carry a whip with you at all times when you were near him.
- Can he be left alone in barn or pasture? My OTTB cannot be left alone. He suffers from extreme separation anxiety. He’s gotten better over the years but I really worried he’d hurt himself running or trying to jump out of a stall.
- Does the horse have any vices? Some sellers will gloss over stall walking, weaving, etc. unless you ask specifically.
I’d ask if they can think of anything unusual that scares the horse.
I had a mare that was initially anxious around anything on wheels (strollers, bikes etc…) she was bombproof with everything else so it was surprising. We worked on it and she got over it ( I think she just hadn’t seen any before I bought her), but I still disclosed it to her buyer bc it s good to know.
In terms of the PPE, I wish I 'd been as focused on the neurological assessment as I was on making sure the xrays were good. Ahhh the joys of hindsight!
You said the horse has never had any health or soundness issue. Has your horse ever seen a vet in its life to confirm that?
Learned the hard way when I found out the 15 year old horse I bought that had been with its seller since it was 2 had never actually seen a vet in its life because the seller “didn’t think he needs one.”
Whoops, meant to put quotes around that first part. As in, that’s what I’d say to the owner.
What medications and supplements does he take? What injuries has he had in the past? How is he for injections? When were his teeth last checked? Does he need any special shoeing? What competition experience does he have? Who was his rider in those competitions (e.g., beginner, pro, pro who specializes in difficult horses, owner)?
Hauling is huge, as a previous poster mentioned. And just because Fluffy hauls well in a double stall in a semi, does not mean he wants to travel in a 2 horse. Be specific.
