Poodle Forum banner

Horse people, I need your help!

5K views 27 replies 10 participants last post by  Lepski110 
#1 ·
I am going to go check out an 11 year old paint mare tomorrow. She was originally trained for barrel racing (which I'm planning on doing with her) but hasn't done it since she's been with her current owner. She has had her for a couple years and used her mainly for pleasure riding, trails ect. She hasn't been ridden in about a year, aside from a little walk outside 2 weeks ago, because the owner has a back injury. So she will need a refresher. She sounds perfect and is BEAUTIFUL! I am soooooooo excited, I've been losing sleep lol. If things work out, which I'm hoping they do, this will be my first horse. I'm beyond excited!

What should I make sure to ask about the horse...
I've asked about her feet and she goes barefoot.
I've asked about her trailering and she doesn't mind it.
She isn't spooky...will walk over and under tarps and is not afraid of plastic bags.
She doesn't have any soundness issues.
She doesn't have any bad habits such as cribbing, bucking, kicking, biting, or rearing.
She gets along with other horses and animals.
She has put children on her and walked them around with no problem.
She is a little weary of going to far from the barn and other horses...but that isn't a huge problem for me.
I still have to ask about vaccines and coggins...it slipped my mind

Am I missing anything?
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I see soundness is probably not an issue, but having been around horses far longer than dogs, I would want her vetted. For example, a friend who took over a free lease on a very nice warmblood mare, knowing she had an old fetlock bone chip, now has to return her to the breeder because the old injury was actually more serious than had been previously diagnosed. Think major surgery which may or may not be successful. Thankfully the mare can live out her life at the breeder's farm.

Anyway, think about having her flexed and possibly xrayed for any possible hidden issues such as navicular syndrome. Do they have her papers? HyPP is a genetic issue for horses with Impressive bloodlines. Basically you want a baseline health assessment and know if there are issues you can live with (some arthritis) vs. those you can't.

Other than that, good luck and enjoy the journey!
 
#3 ·
2nd the getting her vetted - x-rays, the whole deal.

Don't take anyone's word on her temperament. I'm assuming you are going to ride her tomorrow. Get there early so you can watch them groom and tack her up. The groom's attitude around her may tell you a lot. Even better if you can convince them to let you groom and/or tack her up yourself.
 
#4 ·
Hi Michelle

Hi Michelle;

Thank you for your post! You've got a good list going.

I'm sure that you are a lot younger than I am...but when I buy a horse, I like to watch the owner groom, pick up their feet, tack up, and RIDE for me, before I get into the saddle. If they don't want to get on the horse, then I'm a little leery. At times, I've hired a trainer to go with me to ride and assess the horse.

I'm with stealthq---arrive early! I've even gone a few hours early, and want to take a halter out to the pasture or stall, myself, and see if I can catch the horse. A vet check, even with friends, is essential. It protects you both and your friendship. Does this horse have any papers? Does the owner own the horse free and clear? Bill of sale? Has this horse had shoes before? Can you pick up all four feet easily? How about bridling? Good with ears? How about the worming program? Can you talk to the barrel racing trainer and get a recommendation?

Just a few ideas. Best to you, Michelle!
HerdingStdPoodle
 
#9 ·
You have no idea.

I've run into the most crooked, deceitful people in the horse business. You would not believe some of the straight-up, bald-faced lies you get told with a smile that says that butter would not melt in the seller's (or their agent's) mouth. It's sometimes even worse if you act through agents because not infrequently they are working for their own benefit and care nothing for you. Then you have to watch for the agents making a deal under the table that cheats both buyer AND seller in addition to the usual crap that the buyers try to pull.

ETA: The ridiculous thing is that agents/trainers would sell so many more horses if they were honest and had a reputation for honesty. People would want to buy from them, and would be happy with their purchase because the horse would be as represented.
 
#11 ·
be careful with a barn sour horse and ex barrel horses bought one without x-raying feet and was sorry she had been nerved and had coffin bone remodeling and they said she was a little herd bound but you could not even get to arena without problems and I found barrel people and the trainers one of the worse sorry to sound to sor but have run into even more bad people looking for a new horse for my daughter so be careful and good luck
 
#12 ·
I went to visit and to sum it up, not what I hoped for.

An underweight horse who was not 15.2 hh, maybe 15hh at most...it was obvious the owners could not afford to feed her. The pictures posted must have been from late summer because she looked more filled out and healthy. I didn't even stay for 20 minutes. I asked my questions, stood in pasture with her for a bit and she had no interest in any human contact...she didn't even acknowledge us when we clucked, kissed and called her, she just stood there nibbling while I petted her. I hope she finds a home soon, she is a very sweet horse but is too small for me to ride even if I did bring her back to my barn and get her to a healthy weight.

On a happier note, I have found a 10 year old paint gelding that I will be taking a look at on Sunday. If all goes well I will be arranging for my barns vet to go out with me on the next visit to check him over for me.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Breaks My Heart

Hi Michelle,

An underweight horse that is depressed and apathetic just breaks my heart.

Is there any possibility of talking to a reputable horse rescue organization in your area or a vet? They are usually so very helpful in knowing just how to help equine. Sometimes they can provide donated feed or vet care.

Many people are without jobs and are suffering with drought conditions and the price of hay is extremely high. Lots of people just don't know where to turn because they list their horses for sale (or free) and no one responds.

?? I've seen horses that have not been wormed for a long time and they eat and eat and don't gain weight.

HerdingStdPoodle
 
#16 ·
This sounds promising. That's how I chose my first horse, we just clicked. Yeah, he had some health issues, but I learned so very much from him and he was bomb proof and sweet and fun - the best horse I've ever owned. I do hope this works out for you both, sounds like he liked you, too.
 
#17 ·
What a sweet face! Our current horse, a Tbred, was 6 when we got him, and all ribs and untrimmed feet. The only reason we looked twice, was his sweetness - he wanted to cuddle(as best as a horse can). He vetted sound, and after a year of love, good feed and training, he became an awesome little hunter. We retired him just for light pleasure riding a couple of years ago because he has some early signs of navicular, but,as expensive as it is to keep a horse,he has a forever home with us - he is such a love. He also has papers, and after looking up his tattoo, we discovered he was raced for only a year and actually did ok. I suspect an injury led him to where we found him. I shudder to think was his life was like before then, but am trying to make up for it now! Enjoy your beautiful boy!
 
#18 ·
He sounds great, but I learned the hard way not to trust what you have been told. Because of this , I only bought colts and broke them myself. I want adult dogs and baby horses...lol I had a mare that looked just like him when I was 16, my first colt. She was a great horse, hope you have the same luck.
 
#19 ·
So happy to hear it was a positive experience! That's the exciting part of looking for a horse, and he sounds absolutely adorable.

Couple of questions, has he just been backed/started? It sounds like he hasn't had much time with a saddle on his back, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Most horses with good stock horse (aka quarter horse) breeding are "bred broke", that is, they're easy to start under saddle and generally remain happy in their jobs. Howevs, some horses (I'm looking at you Debbie, aka mare I used to own), start off easy, then hit their teenaged years, for Deb that was when she was 5. They're like kids smoking behind the gym, skipping class, and TPing yards. With Deb, this last a couple of years until she matured a bit. Oh the stories I could tell...

So, do you have a trainer who likes to work with young horses? Because I truly believe with young horses, you need someone who'll work with you through issues you may not see from the saddle. Again, with Deb I didn't realize how my tension was causing her to feel anxious. So my trainer used to say things like, "Think of how your arms would feel if you just had a margarita." Bam! I relaxed, the mare relaxed, all was well.

Okay, enough from me. Can't wait to hear how this goes!
 
#20 · (Edited)
He is 10 years old now, and will be 11 in April and has only been started. The owner said he had the saddle on a couple times and decided to hop on one day and he took to it like nothing (this was a year ago). The fact that he is so calm, eager and willing, I don't think I will have a problem with training, everyone has to start out somewhere right? If I was dealing with a younger horse, or a different breed (TB for example) I would definately seek out training help. This is part of the reason I was looking for a quarter horse or paint, I love their easy going nature and eagerness to please. I've ridden TB's, warmbloods, arabians, appaloosas, QHs, paints ect and mixes of all of these and the ones I have worked best with are the quarter horses and paints. I've been wanting one as my first horse for as long as I can remember.

Once he figures out what you are asking of him he is more than willing to do it. I just need to do my part and make sure I am asking him clearly and correctly. I have some experience with green horses and worked with a 4 year old filly this summer (although no one is on her back yet...we've got a saddle on and lounge perfectly. she has injured herself in pasture and put training on hold).

Depending on what barn I decide to go to will determine if I will have a trainer to help me if I need. The barn I'm currently at has one, and I don't think the other one does.
 
#21 · (Edited)
The barn I have been at for 6 years decided they are mad at me for exploring my options as far as boarding goes, so I am not sure I will be staying there when I get my horse. They have been making rude comments about me, and I've heard them talking behind my back, plus they are charging a RIDICULOUS amount for boarding...and there is a barn 5 miles away that is charging $175 less (and includes a lot more with boarding) and my dad has known the owners since high school and my aunt used to board her horse there many, many years ago and it is a wonderful place. I mentioned to my current barn that the other barns in the area were charging $175 less and they said that their price is the average in our area...which its not, AND I have to bring my own grain on top of their ridiculous price. I understand hay is expensive and grain prices will be going up, so boarding everywhere is going to go up...but their price is just not right and I'm not going to let them take advantage of me like that. Plus their horses only go out a couple times a week, and I want mine out daily, sun up to sun down (new barn does this)...its not fair to keep them in a stall that much, I don't want him to develop bad habits.

Part of me does not want to leave because I have been there for so long, everyone there is like my family and I really love them all. I would also be able to ask for help if I encounter any problems during training (the barn owners daughter gave me lessons). Another part of me is saying its time to grow up and start over fresh somewhere else. I know I can do this...

I just can't make up my mind...and I don't have an extra $175+ laying around. This is all that determines if I get him or not. I'm more than happy with him, I just need to decide where he is going to stay.

I don't know where to go.
 
#22 ·
What an ugly situation. That awful of them to treat you that way. I'm going to suggest that you interview the other boading facility and hang around to see how the other boarders treat each other and the horses. (I had an experience years ago where everyone seemed to get along, but when no one was around, one of the ladies would chase the horses in the pasture with a whip to 'exercise' them. No one realized what was happening until someone was home unknown to her the day she accidentally put a horse through a fence. Made us all wonder how many of the other unexplained injuries were actually her fault.)

If they are being that ugly to you just for looking around for a more affordable option, they probably won't be there for you or your horse when you really need them. You, and your horse, deserve a calm, stable (no pun intended) supportive environment.

I wish you all the best with whatever you choose to do.
 
#23 ·
If they are being that ugly to you just for looking around for a more affordable option, they probably won't be there for you or your horse when you really need them. You, and your horse, deserve a calm, stable (no pun intended) supportive environment.
Exactly my thought. I went and visited the new barn and I really liked it. I met the owners and their daughter, but no other boarders were there. It seems like a very calm, family environment. My dad has known the owners since high school, and my aunt boarded her horse there many years ago, so they know my dads side of the family. I've also read about their barn online as well and there is nothing but nice things said about it and the people there...

I just need to grow up and move on, which is hard for me because I HATE change. I've been at my current barn for so long it is scary to leave.I need to stop thinking about what they are going to think of me and if I lose friends over this, I lose them...friends always come and go. I think I am going to board at the new barn and see how I like it. There's no avoiding dramatic horse people...they're everywhere, but at least I will have a fresh start with new people, my own horse, and a new barn that takes great care of their horses.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top