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Going to view a horse this evening!

2K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  Druydess 
#1 ·
So, my search continues! As you may know, I recently decided not to buy a horse I was looking at due to the seller acting strangely regarding receipt...

Anyhow, today I had a phone call from another seller that I had emailed a while back. They invited me to come and view their horse this evening. All being well, they also said I am welcome to visit again this weekend to ride (they work days during the week).

So, I'm headed out this evening to view - if the light is good enough then the seller wants to trot the horse up and down on a hard surface. But at the very least I get to handle the horse and see what she's like on the ground and in the stable.

She's a 14.2 hh grey Arabian mare. Aged 10, and has been used for light riding/companion for younger horse for the past 5 years. Very sane when hacking out apparently; good with traffic, etc. Lives out but stabled at night.

Any advice welcome in the meantime, and I'll keep you all posted when I get back tonight! I've never seen an Arabian in the flesh before, so I really don't know what she will be like. I'm told she's very affectionate but that she did suffer from rain scald last winter.

Seller has all her paperwork and has no problem with vetting and giving receipt and transfer of ownership forms. She did say that she is very attached to the horse, and will only sell to someone she's comfortable with. Guess I'm getting vetted too! It's nice that she cares about where her horse is going to though:)
 
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#3 ·
Yes, photos would be cool! I love arabs :D
Just be sure to ask alot of questions and check everything with her;
-see how she catches (some people have the horse caught beforehand, which i dont generally like, but ask anyway)
-how she ties, if she stands, paws or pulls
-pick all 4 feet up
-check her teeth, meanwhile seeing how she likes her mouth being handled
-walk around her, touch her tail
-touch her nostrils, ears & eyes, this will help determine how well she is for bridling and such if she doesn't mind these parts being handled
-be sure to ask how she is in a herd with other horses & riding & when she's in heat!
-ask about loading and travelling
-has she been shod & how did she do?
-when was the last time she was trimmed and dewormed? If she's had any vaccinations..
-if she has ever foundered of coliced in the past
-is there anything they know of that makes her nervous or spooky?
-a lady who came to view my mare even asked if it was alright to shake her bag at her (she had her bareback pad wrapped in a plastic garbage bag). This is an idea, to see how well she handles something like that.

Just a few pointers ;) GOOD LUCK!
 
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#4 ·
A few things I look for, in addition to those above:

I want to see the horse from start to finish, so ask the owner to leave them in pasture until you come, mud and all. This way you SEE catching, tacking, grooming rituals, quirks and perks, and habits that the mare has. Ask the owner to tack and ride her as she normally would. Watch closely how the mare rides and responds. Then hop on yourself and test out those things she says the mare can do.

Good luck! Arabs are so cool! :)
 
#5 ·
:-p Very positive so far!
She was in her stable when we got there, but it was literally dark and stormy outside at the time. So I spent about half an hour hanging out in her box, along with her owner. Got to handle the horse and pick up her feet, etc. Very calm and accepting of being worked with. Very alert to her surroundings and interested in what we were doing.

I also saw her paperwork and it seems to be in order. Her jabs and worming are up to date. She's due to have her teeth done in a couple of months time. As to her hooves, they are in very good condition and have been well looked after.

She has a mild case of rain scald and a small mark on her flank where a non-slip numnah had rubbed. The vet has already checked this and it is almost completely healed up. Her owner is applying arnica gel to it daily. The horse doesn't mind the area being examined.

She is slightly sensitive with her ears; she dislikes sudden movement around them. But she doesn't spook or get nasty; she just raises her head a little and sort of looks at you then lowers her head again. She's very gentle and friendly.

I'm going to go back up at the weekend for a second viewing. This time will be in daylight, so I can see her out and about, have her trotted up, etc. It will also let me see her being caught and groomed, tacked up, etc. All being well, I will try her in the sand school after that.

If the weekend viewing goes well, then her owner wants to visit the yard I will be keeping her on and see the facilities, grazing etc. Provided she's happy with the yard, and I'm happy with the horse, we will proceed from there! She has said she will transport her for us, which is great since I have no trailer of my own.

So yeah, all good so far. I felt so at peace around this horse. Really nice attitude and great to work around. She's a solid sort of Arabian - nice bone and doesn't have the extreme sort of face that some of the show horses do. She's in her winter coat at the moment - it feels like silk.

Roll on the weekend!
 
#6 ·
Sounds great! I'm glad the lady cares where the horse is going. Always view a couple times and i tend to have the evil habit of stopping in unexpectedly. Gives me the upper hand and they have no time for tricks. Doesn't sound like you need to pull such stunts, but it is my little way of easing my mind and getting a raw look at the horse. I hope all goes well. sounds like it is so far!
 
#8 ·
:DWell, we bought her! I should probably start another thread with pictures at some point. Her name is Ali, short for her full registered name (NL ALHADIYE), which none of us can figure out how to pronounce yet:oops:
She isn't perfect, but she has a good, steady temperament and is sound. Just needs to be schooled a little and exercised more. She was pretty much out to grass for quite a while, it would seem.
She comes straight up to you in the field to be collared and walks well in hand. Good with traffic, including ignorant van drivers who drive past literally inches away:shock:
She doesn't like to have her feet picked up but will lift them as long as we are firm about it. And she hates the hose but is coming around to it a bit more each day. So...baby steps! She's a project; I have lots of groundwork and schooling to do with her. Hoping to have her ready to start basic dressage next June...that's if I'm ready for it myself! Two happy hackers together, lol!
Her old owner is staying in touch, we've become pretty good friends! She's planning on moving to another country, so was only selling out of necessity.
 
#13 ·
As you can see, at this point she was covered in shavings from rolling in her new bed, and still sporting bright pink stripes from where herheadcollar had run. She sweated up a bit en route.
Love her so much!:D
 
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