Buying a Horse
For most riders, buying a horse is one of the biggest thrills of
their lives - for many, it is the culmination of childhood fantasy. It can be a wonderful
experience, but one which can also turn badly sour. We all know about unscrupulous
vendors, who pass unsuitable mounts on whilst swearing their granny hacks it along a
motorway every day! We know also that there can be illnesses and lamenesses which are not
apparent at the time of purchase, but which leave the horse standing in the field for the
rest of its life. Buying a horse is far from a straightforward transaction, and many have
lost good friends over the deal.
Let's have a quick look at the most popular methods of finding a
new partner, and the pro's and pitfalls of each:
Through local knowledge:
Buying direct from the previous owner, having seen the horse or pony compete can be
a good way to find a new mount. The big advantage is that you have seen the horse working
in a variety of settings, and know intimately what it can and can't do. What people often
forget, though, is to take their own standard of riding into account - the horse might go
brilliantly for its present owner, but soon realise you are not as forceful and start to
play up. The big minus about buying a horse this way is that the fortunes of a friendship
can often vary according to how well the horse turns out - and remember, you will have all
those locals comparing how the horse is now compared to before.
Through a local riding school:
This can be an excellent way to find a first horse or pony - a school mount often
has few ambitions beyond a quiet life, and is likely to have seen and done most things you
will require of it. However, you may run into the same difficulties as above. Also, take
into consideration that when the workload drops, the personality can often change - you
may find yourself with a little terror who has an indepth knowledge of every trick in the
book and is prepared to use them to get his way. These horses tend to be very astute
judges of rider ability, and will know if you are not able to sort them out! Therefore it
may be a good idea to keep the animal on livery at the school for a while, or to attend
regular lessons with someone who knows the animal well in order to give you a little back
up.
Through a Dealer:
Dealers are people whose knowledge of horses is sufficiently good that they are
able to buy sound, sane animals whose new homes will be so pleased that the dealer's
reputation grows. That's the theory. Dealers get caught with unsuitable animals just like
the rest of us, and can't afford to not sell it on - it's their living. So the first
rule when dealing with Dealers is to talk to people who have bought from them in the past.
Ask particularly before you buy what the Dealer's terms are if this horse doesn't work out
- will you get your money back, or must you choose another horse from their yard? The
advantage of dealing with a professional dealer of good reputation is that they will
likely have a range of suitable animals for you to choose from, and you will usually have
some come-back if the horse doesn't suit. But bear in mind that the dealer always sells at
a profit - therefore you are guaranteed to be paying a damn sight more than the last owner
received for the animal.
Through Public Auction:
These are usually monthly affairs held in marts which are built for cattle and
other livestock, and hence there is nowhere to see the horse work. You normally buy what
you see standing in front of you, with no guarantees, and no comeback if the horse turns
out to be other than you supposed. Astute judges have found excellent bargains at such
sales, but always ask yourself why the animal has ended up here in the first place. Beware
also of false bidding around the ring - even the auctioneers themselves have been known to
take fictitious bids if they think you will go higher. So have a hard look at what other
similar animals are making, and stick to your guns - go no higher. If you're really keen,
find the new owner - more deals are done outside the ring afterwards. Dealers especially
are happy to take a quick £100 on their purchase.
Through Performance Sales
If you want a wide number of horses to choose from, you prefer to cut out the
'mark-up' the dealer will add, and you like the assurance of a veterinary certificate,
then this is the way for you. Performance sales are usually held at equestrian facilities,
the idea being that the horse is put through its paces before it goes through the ring.
Most sales operate a 15 day return policy should the horse turn out to exhibit certain
vices etc. within that time (details are laid out in the catalogue), and all horses at the
sale have been vetted not more than 10 days prior to the sale - the cert is available for
inspection, and is also read out as the horse enters the ring. Normally, catalogues are
available some weeks prior to the sale, giving each Lot's breeding, experience etc. This
allows you to shortlist the horses you are interested in viewing before you travel.
Vendors are usually happy to pull a horse out of its stable, and often will allow you to
try the horse yourself.
The only caution on this way of choosing a horse is that you only
have what the horse does on the day to judge by - it may have almost killed its jockey the
day before! Schemes such as the Equine MOT Test should greatly reduce this risk.
At the two top Irish performance sales venues,
a government scheme is in operation which offers you your fare back
if you purchase at the sale. The larger horse transport firms are usually also in
evidence, and will usually deliver to your yard within a few days. And don't forget the
great value the Irish punt is against Sterling at the moment!
