Thinking of buying him. What do you think?

I really like this horse and would like to buy him. According to the owner, he was bought from the auction where they thought he was a good horse but when they tried to ride him, he bucked them off. He has has a bad case of crow-hop and bucks if he so chooses. He is not well broke. He's about 8 years old. They are sending him back to the auction if no one takes him by the end of the month. I'm willing to give him the training he needs, should I buy him? I don't want him to go to an auction and be at risk of being bought by a slaughter house. He's at a cheap price of $275! Tell me what you think. I do not have any experience in breaking, I buy all my horses already broke but he is a different story. I really like him.

Are you going to have an experienced person to help you re-train him?
If not, I would pass.

He's a cutie, though.
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Yes I will be having a trainer help me re-train him so he can become a riding horse.

What would you be planning on doing with the horse? Its hard to look at the conformation but it looks pretty good:) if you like the horse and you have a trainer to help you re-train and you know what you want to do with the horse than go for it! Before you buy him though I would have a pre-purchase exam done on him, especially on his back to check for soreness which may cause the bucking. Good luck:)

I was hoping to make him just a simple trail horse or if we train him correctly, a horse to be used to give lessons.

Have the person who will help you train him go and evaluate him first. What if you go to the expense of a trainer and he still bucks? Sometimes there is a reason a horse goes to auction. Stop and think how much you will have invested in time and money. You can't ride pretty if it bucks you off and injures you. Just take all these things into consideration.

In my personal experience the proper handler, a correct fitting saddle, a light bit, a chiropractic adjustment and a teeth check is usually the cure for a mis-behaving horse. If you are financially ready to take on anything that he might need fixed (not just looking for a cheap buy) and you understand that he has these issues so thus will require training OR just figuring out what he is trying to say by mis-behaving, then I'd go for it. He looks nice. Very pretty, he has a kind eye.
While I agree with the "some horses go to an auction for a reason" line, in theory... I am also full well aware of the number of people afraid to deal with a horse so they dump them off. The next person buys, finds out the horse actually does buck like they were told, then dumps the horse off again. It isn't the horses fault the humans do not know what they are doing. That said, if you are un-prepared or do not know what to do with him it would be best to find him someone who does.

Thank you Macslady and New_Image. You've given me quality advice. I have dealt with problem horses before so he would be no different. If the trainer and I cannot help him from bucking and he still cannot be ridden, I'm thinking of just giving him a forever home in the pasture. At least there he wouldn't have to deal with getting passed around from place to place, and there is no risk of him being sold to a meat dealer.

I agree with the others, if you have a friend or trainer that can help you retrai him then maybe but otherwise I would pass. Did they say what he is breed wise? He looks like an Arabian.

I would go forward very carefully. Some horses always keep bucking as a option, especially if they have been "rewarded" in the past by people getting off and going home. I had a very nice paint that would come unglued when he felt like it, and those killer bucks were terrifying and painful. I put a ton of training into him over two years and he would win at the show on Sunday and then try to kill you on Monday - just because he didn't want to be ridden. Farriers, Vets, soundness exams, saddle fit - all examined and reexamined. Seems he was broke by a teenager who got dumped often and would put him away when he was bad. He never forgot that. He was the most frustrating horse I have ever owned, because when he was good he was a show-stopper. After my accomplished 18 year old had a particularly nasty fall we moved him down the road. He was never going to be a safe, easy ride. Due to his show record he sold quickly in spite of his problem (which I represented honestly with videos of his fits), but I saw him for sale again just a few months later. He will probably end up in a pasture or an auction, and for good reason - because I would put him down before I would get on him again. Just not worth getting disabled over a horse.

If you are buying him as a pasture pet, then that is great. But just be aware that sometimes you can rehab a confirmed bucker, and sometimes you can't.