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Are all horses like this, or have we just had some really bad apples? (It's long)

3K views 17 replies 15 participants last post by  Indyhorse 
#1 ·
I'm kind of new here, but not new to horses.
I started taking riding lessons with a friend-of-a-friend who lived on a ranch when I was 9. When I was 11, my dad bought a 17 year old grade. This horse was very, very sweet. I rode him alot as a little kid. We didnt ride him one winter, and my dad had me show my grandma i could ride. I could tell Jimmy was barn sour, and told my dad. He said, "Nonsense! Make him canter so Grandma can watch." Well..Jimmy cantered..then galloped..down the road, towards the barn. It was thanksgiving day, and I, the 11 year old, rode screaming down the road, with Jimmy's head back by my foot in the stirrup. I eventually got him stopped. But was very shaken. Didn't ride again for a very long time.
That horse died of cushings several years later.
For my 13 birthday, I got to pick out my own horse. The one I picked…was drugged when I test rode him. He became completely different, frequently bucking once we got home. A vet exam and opinion later it turned out it wasn’t his fault: He was proud cut which didn’t help. Sold that horse to a cowboy who could stay on him.
We began frequenting a horse auction not too far from where we lived.
We bought a paint pony for my little sister, mostly as a lawn ordament..Turns out she was a broodmare, and wasn’t terribly rideable.
We also bought a 4 year old paint gelding at the auction SWEET AS COULD BE, EASIEST HORSE TO RIDE. WE loved him..right up until the third time he coliced, and he had to be put down.
My dad bought another paint from a guy who was desperate to sell. This horse was 6 yrs old. And huge. He had a habit of bolting..and eventually bucked my dad in the middle of no where, and he couldn’t really walk for a week.
Those horses went back to an auction. At the same auction, we picked up a very old, sweet half dead mare for my sister. I got a 2 year old mustang filly out of insanity. I also bought at the same auction an 19 year old Arab mare (I had always, always wanted an Arab). She was broke, and really sweet. But soon after getting her she started dropping weight. Teeth floating and adding Equine senior to her diet didn’t help. She died of cancer in my lap 10 months later. The vet who did the euthanasia said she had probably had it longer than we’d had her, and the lady who sold her to me at auction just didn’t want to see her die.
I’m 19 now, and TO this day we still have the mustang filly, and Im thinking about getting another horse, as a project for the days I don’t have college classes. I really, really REALLY want another arab. I want a horse I can take in an arena and run around with…But Im also scared. Scared that it seems the only horses people sell are either sick, or problems no one wants to deal with.
Are all horses like this? DO ALL HORSES BOLT? Or have we just had some bad apples, and unhealthy ones?
 
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#2 ·
The problem is where you are getting your horses for one thing. Can you get a nice horse for an Auction? Maybe if you are very experienced in what to look for.

Go find a GOOD reputable trainer in your area and see what they have. If they do not have anything suitable for you then ask for their help. This might cost you a bit in commotions but in the end will be well worth the money paid.

Also think about a lease to buy. This way you can try the horse out first before buying.

I have owned a lot of horses over they years. Some I have bought some I have bred. I have yet to have a single horse with the problems you mentioned. Good horses are out there but they are not the cheap ones. Keep in mind that the horse is the cheapest part of buying a horse. Find a good one from a reputable sours and do not go for the cheapest thing you can find. In the end you will save a lot of money and be better off.
 
#3 ·
I totally agree with nrhareiner.... as much as you might be tempted to buy at auction cause they're cheaper....your asking for trouble one way or another. Stay away from them! My arab gelding that I had was cheap but he had many issues, but, none that a lot of time and good nutrition plan didn't fix. But, i chose that route cause I saw potential and 'life' in his eyes. And now he is a USDF national champion. But you really do need to be careful what you buy, and maybe next time, bring someone along that has a good eye for faults and such. Good luck!
 
#4 ·
I also agree. Buying at an auction is really risky. Not only in what you might get, but what it may bring home, if not properly quarantined.
Perhaps there is a rescue in your area? They are notoriously honest, since they want their horses to have good homes.
Other than that-yes, take your time.....look at lots-the more you try the more you learn, both about horses and yourself. Buying it really IS the least expensive part.
 
#5 ·
I'm sure some good horses go through auctions, but auctions are also where people dump their problems. At the very least find a private seller so you can test ride the horse. Maybe even get it on a trial period. I also like the idea of going through a rescue as someone mentioned because they want you and the horse to be a good match.

There are very good horses out there, but you can't just buy one at random. It would be like going to a bar and grabbing a member of the opposite sex at random and expecting them to be a good match for you. :lol:

I lucked out and have owned some awesome horses. But I also got two lemons like the ones you described. It takes careful shopping that's for sure.

Shame on the woman with the Arab if she knew it was sick. She should have been responsible and had him euthanized rather than send him to an auction. That is one of my pet peeves. People dumping their old or sick horses. How sad. :-(
 
#6 ·
The "motto" that I live by is that if you're going to buy a horse at auction, be prepared to turn right around and send it back to auction the next week. Auction rings are tricky-you may hit the jackpot, and you may-more likely- get the crazies that nobody else could handle and so are selling.

If you want a good one, try finding a local trainer who has a good reputation. It will make your horse experiences that much more enjoyable if you get a horse whose background and training you know.
 
#7 ·
Everyone else has a really good point, it can be extremely difficult to pick a good horse at the auction. Either find a good trainer, a good riding stable, talk to your vet, or your farrier. Be prepared to give the horse some time off when it comes home and do some groundwork to asses it's training before you hop on. Ride in a safe area for awhile too.

When you're looking at the horse assess their attitude under saddle, are they happy/tolerant/irritable/etc. Look to see if their tack fits and what kind of bit they're ridden in. Bring at least one other experienced horse person with you and spend some time with the horse. Is it happy to be with people? Watch the owners handle it and ride it. Then you and your friend take turns handling it and watching the other handle it.

Get a contract and at the very least a basic PPE on even the cheapest of horses. Make payment be contingent on passing the PPE with no lameness (or drugs if you go that far). I just got one done on my $450 pony and it was worth every penny. Think of it this way. You don't want to spend $100 on a $450 pony, so you don't. One week down the line the pony comes up lame and you spend $500 trying to figure out what's wrong, only to determine it's ringbone and you have a $950 pony in your backyard that can't be used for what you want it for.

There's a pretty handy website with some horse buying sheets on it. Use them to make sure that you're asking all the questions you should. All in all just be really thorough (to the point of being anal) when buying a horse. If someone gets pissy about a question you have, the horse probably isn't a good fit.
 
#8 ·
Let me say first, very good horses at the auctions do exist. I know number of people who bought and I tried auction horses myself. Some are totally awesome. I also know some trainers working with the horses and selling them there (with the low limit set, so it's not cheaper cheaper in 1st place). With that being said you have to be very experienced in horse business to get a right horse and even though you may be ripped off (just chances are much smaller).

Don't go after low $. I do understand that's #1 attracting people to the auctions (not talking about rescues here). In the end you get what you pay for (unless you are very lucky). Go to the reputable barns or horse dealers and look for the horse there. Or if you still wanna go auction road take someone with lots of experience and (preferably) a vet with you. Pay them for their time. More expensive - yes, but it's cheaper than emergency room after dealing with out of hands horse.
 
#9 ·
Hey there, it does sound like you have had some bad luck with horses, they are certainly NOT all like that! Here are some tips:

1.) If you are interested in buying a horse, with the horse market the way it is at the moment, always remember that YOU as the buyer hold a lot of power - they want to sell the horse whereas you have a multitude of options as to which horse you will buy. That means that you can see the horse more than once before you decide - go and ride the horse several times over the period of a couple weeks and see what it is like on different days, in different situations. NEVER let a seller put pressure on you to buy, you can walk away and look for something else.

2.) In the contract, stipulate that there is a 7-10 day 'cooling off period' whereby if the horse is wild and crazy when you bring it home you can send it straight back. This is harder to organize and will ususually involve some kind of non-refundable deposit which means that you may lose some of the money you paid, but not all.

3.) Unfortunately, horses end up at auctions for a reason. Sometimes it is simply because they are neglected as the owners couldn't afford/be bothered to pay for them. Even these horses will have a variety of behavioral problems, despite being perhaps the perfect horse once upon a time. Many of them have severe behavioural/health problems and they are bought on a 'you buy 'em you keep 'em basis which means you have no way to argue that you were sold a dud horse.

4.) If it is a low price you are after, do some searching on line, there are thousands of good cheap horses for sale that are in need of a home, at least you can try before you buy with the ones advertised! Just be patient, do some research, go and visit a few and see how you go. A friend of mine picked up a National Show horse a couple months ago for $300. He is 12yo, 15hh, registered, has a string of wins in the showring, is kid and husband safe, perfectly sound and a joy to ride and own so they are out there, you just have to look.

Good luck, I hope you don't give up on your search for the perfect horse, I assure you there will be one out there for you.
 
#10 ·
I hate to compare horses like this but its sorta true:::

Horse buying is like car buying...you can go to the police auction, but you run the risk of buying the car with the blown shocks and no breaks!

Or you can go to the dealership and get test drive the car! A lot of trainers who sell horses also let you do vet checks (well the reliable ones do!) so you know you are buying a sound horse as well!

Good horses are exspensive, but that too is like a car...you can buy the clunker for under a grand and pay ten times that much to fix it up, or just get the nice car and not have to worry about large problems for a little bit.


(IF only horses came iwth a warrenty as well...)
 
#11 ·
A lot of trainers who sell horses also let you do vet checks (well the reliable ones do!) so you know you are buying a sound horse as well!
No one can stop you from having a PPE done, and if the seller is reluctant to agree to one, run, don't walk away! :shock:

OP, you're obviously a newbie and newbies should never, ever, nuh-uh buy horses at auction. You don't have the experience to find a diamond in the rough, which is why you keep getting these awful horses.

Find a reputable breeder or trainer and buy an animal that's already trained and ready to go. Trying to cheap out and find a 'deal' is why you're getting all these bad horses. As someone already mentioned, most of these horses are at the auction for a reason.

The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing and hoping for different results. Stop the insanity and just go buy the right animal, instead of hoping to blunder into it by luck.
 
#13 ·
My minimum requirements for buying would be two trial rides on separate days (preferably at least three, and at least one of those in the environment I intend to do most of my riding - e.g. on the trails), and a vet check.
I know people who bring their trailers along on their first visit to a horse fully expecting to bring it home, and I know there are people who find good horses at auctions - but I can't do that, despite having been riding and around horses for 27 years.

But I can say that, other than the one time when I didn't follow my general rules, I've always found wonderful horses.
 
#14 ·
I am the rare exception here. I bought 2 very nice horses from our local auction. The horse in my avatar I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world. She is as broke as can be and has a great temperment.

Willow is a little spitfire when she wants to be but nothing dangerous. She's just fat and sassy.

With that being said, yes, I did see a LOT of problem horses ran through the auction. Thankfully Indy is knowledgable enough to know what we were looking for but I will admit that Rain surpassed the expectations I had. I agree with the others that said if you are going to buy from an auction to take someone knowledgable. Had I not had Indy with me, I probably would have ended up with a horse who was more high strung than what I needed/wanted.

Personally, I have come across more deceptive people on Craigslist than I did at the auction but I am aware that honest people at an auction can be few and far between.

Good luck on your search!
 
#15 ·
I got my Fox Trotter mare for $500 and she was slated to go to an auction, but a friend-of-a-friend told me she was for sale and I snagged her before she made it there. I really, really enjoy her and feel like I stole her at that price!

She also happened to be pregnant, which I didn't know when I bought her, but for me that was a blessing because I always dreamed of having a foal. For other people, it might have been an unwelcome surprise!

So I'm sure some nice horses pass through auctions, but I don't have the experience to separate them from the chaff, and I surely don't want a bad experience, so I just don't buy at auctions. I think, like someone else said, if you buy at auction you have to be willing to send it back if you bought a dud, because it is such a big gamble, there is a good chance of getting a dud. I am the kind of person that wants to keep my horses until they die, so I would have a hard time doing that, unless they were flat-out dangerous.
 
#16 ·
Whilst it is always good to hear that people have great success when buying at auctions, I think it would be good to bear in mind that these are the exceptions, not the rule. You take a gamble when you buy a horse at auction and just like gambling at the casino, you can win big or lose big. The real question is whether you can afford to lose big (i.e. be able to deal with a problematic horse) for the chance at winning big (i.e. finding a great bargain).
 
#17 ·
Agreed.

Auctions are not the best spots for horse shopping, for most people. If you can take someone reliable who knows their stuff with you, that helps. People can get great horses from auction, but the thing is -- these people know what to look for.

BUT, it really sounds as if you should be looking elsewhere. There is a lot of good advice here already so I won't reiterate everything except this -- if you are looking for cheap (i.e. auction), expect problems. If you have the ability to do right by a "fix'er up'er", then go for it. My horse was $100. He was in poor health, had some major behavioural issues. He's better now, but it took a lot of time and investment.

There's nothing "cheap" about a cheap horse. Best invest right away in something that a PPE will clear and whom you know for certain won't have any major issues!! You've been through the ringer already so I really think you owe it to yourself to do this. There ARE good horses out there that won't cost you an arm and a leg.
I bought my then 9 y/o mare for $1500, several thousands less than what her previous owner got her for, due to the economy. No vices, already trained, sound. There are countless such horses out there selling for $900-2000. which I think would suit you fine.

Good luck!
 
#18 ·
I just had to chime in here, in general, for a prospective inexperienced or timid horse owner, auctions are NOT the way to go. As trailhorserider put it, auctions are generally where people dump their problems. Not always, but often. Amarea got good horses at auction because she had someone knowledgeable and experienced with her (erm, and modest too :oops: lol). that being said, although Willow and Rain are both very good horses, they are not without problems themselves, either - Willow being dangerously obese and possibly IR, and Rain having clearly had a serious founder episode within the last 6 months. Both had trainwrecked feet. But the key is to know what to look for and what can be fixed, what can be dealt with, and what can't.

I wouldn't go to an auction expecting to bring home a horse without some potential problems, as I forewarned Amarea before we even headed out there. If you are willing to put some time, effort, and $$ into a little training, feeding, and care, then with the help of an experienced horseperson and auction-goer you CAN find a good horse at the auction house.

But if you are looking for a horse you can hop on and go from day one, without any other issues, your chances of finding that horse at an auction are slim to none. As others have suggested, find a reputable trainer in your area. Check references!! And don't fall in love with a horse's appearance!! Find a horse who's temperament suits you.
 
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