Buyer Beware

I know everyone already knows this but I really encourage you to do some research on farms/barns/ranches before buying a horse.

A girl I know was looking into buying a horse from this stable, http://whistlinwillowsfarm.0catch.com/ and then just did a simple search for the barn name thru google and yahoo and found this information, http://www.newenglandequinerescues.c...sbadpeople.htm

Please research the barn or will be potentially buying a horse from!

A couple months after buying Gem and Vega, we looked for reviews for our barn. One came up that said the horse they bought was drugged when they went there to look at it! Definitely go and look at the horse a couple times before you buy it to make sure everything's ok.

That's gotta be scary FGR.

Wow that is scary... Yeah, you always gotta check everything out. Anyone can just lie right to your face!

That's so true, and the fact that the horse market is so low right now and there are SO many horses for sale, I think anyone is willing to say everything positive and "forget" all the negative stuff just to get the money.

That is the truth! I've never had an issues with my horses yet...but I'm lucky because some of them I haven't done alot of research on...

I kinda wish I would have done research on my current barn. I mean, I love Gem and Vega, BUT everything else there just plain old stinks!

You definitely want to research the farm/ranch/breeder. I'll add that I would prefer someone that has been in the business a long time, helps match you to a horse based on what you want/skills/etc, and allows you riding time as you need to feel comfortable with the horse. The ranch/breeder we buy from has 35+ years in the business and insists that you ride a prospect in the ring, on the trail, solo and in a group to see all the aspects of the horse before buying. I know too many people that have fallen in love with the looks of a horse and made an emotional decision only to be unhappy with the match a few weeks later, or found a 'good deal' that winds up being too much horse or a hard keeper or has to be sent off for lots of expensive training.

I know that feeling. I love our horses but the lady we bought them from never got our mares certified to breed with the Rocky mountain horse association. The were certified with the Kentucky horse association. When the foals were born I found out that because she never sent in the paper work for the Rocky people I can never register them as Rockys, just as Kentucky's. Its not that big a deal but still.... The Mares are duel registered but the fillys can only be single registered. I don't plan on selling them but it is a good selling point to have them registered with both if the day ever comes.
I know its not an abuse case but still. Check out your registration/breeding requirements before you buy too.

Vidaloco, excellent point...indeed, if registration is involved, the papers should change hands when the $$s and bill of sale do, and you need to be familiar with the bloodline and any potential registration problems e.g. HYPP in QHs..

Just a thought...

Whenever I buy a horse (or help someone else buy one) I always, always, always ask for references - from their farrier, from their vet, from previous clients, current/past boarders - references are definitely worth the time.

Same thing with moving my horses into a barn...I take a look around and notice the little things - talk to people who are there - and take a good, honest evaluation of the horses that are there. I ask for references, too.