Questions To Ask The Seller

If you've heard about a horse that sounds good for you, next you should call and ask the seller questions. Here are some question you should be sure to ask, but if you're buying the horse that has to have special training, showing experience, ect., be sure to ask questions regarding that.

1. Mare or gelding?
2. Is he registered, and do you have the original papers?
3. What is the horse's age?
4. What condition is he in?
5. Does he have any special needs/health problems?
6. What is his personality like? Is he easy going, 'spirited', lazy, ect.
7. How tall is he?
8. What kind of training does the horse have?
9. Who trained it?
10. Is it trail/road safe?
11. What is the horse's background? What has it been doing?
12. Does it have any vices?
13. Does he load and trailer, stand tied, and behave when you bathe him?
14. Has he had any injuries in the past?
15. Has he been kept in a stall or pasture?
16. Does he get along well with other horses/animals?
17. Does he have a current coggins test? If not, will you get him tested if I like him?
18. Has he been vet checked? If not, will you pay a vet to check him if I like him?
19. Do you have someone there that will tack up and ride the horse?
20. Do you have an enclosed pasture/arena where I can ride the horse at? If not, will you trailer it to a public arena?

Now, here is what is best for the beginning horse person:

1. Mare or Gelding?
   Both are good choices for the beginner.

2. Is he registered, and do you have the original papers?
   The horse should be registered, with the papers in order. Also, it should be registered in the seller's name, so you know it isn't a stolen horse.

3. What is the horse's age?
   Over age 10 is probably what you will want, although younger horses may be good, too.

4. What condition is he in?
   The horse should be fit, but not thin. It should be well riden, and not just left out to pasture to become wild.

5. Does he have any special needs/ health problems?
   The answer should be no.

6. What is his personality like? Is he easy going, 'spirited', lazy, ect.
   Beware of 'spirited' horses. Many different people have different ideas of what 'spirited' means, some just call a wild, out of control horse 'spirited' instead of 'wild and out of control'. Overly lazy horses aren't good, either. You want a calm, but willing mount.

7. How tall is he?
   Height doesn't really matter, but you may not want an overly small or large horse.

8. What kind of training does the horse have?
   Get an experienced horse that has had alot of training.

9. Who trained it?
   This doesn't matter too much, as long as it is well trained. However, if the trainer isn't the owner (or owner's friend, relative, ect.), you may want to call the trainer and ask them what they thought of the horse.

10. Is it trail/road safe?
    The horse should have experience with traffic, trails, and riding with other horses.

11. What is the horse's background? What has it been doing?
    The horse should be used to taking kids, beginners, and all sorts of riders all sorts of places.

12. Does it have any vices?
    If it does, don't buy it!

13. Does he load and trailer, stand tied, and behave when you bathe him?
    He should do all of these things.

14. Has he had any injuries in the past?
    He shouldn't have had any seriouse injuries. Old injuries, although seemingly healed, could case problems.

15. Has he been kept in a stall or pasture?
    It doesn't really matter, but if it is a stalled horse, and you want to pasture it, it might need time to ajust.

16. Does he get along well with other horses/animals?
    If you are going to buy another horse, or already have a horse, and you will keep them together, then it must be able to stay with other horses. If you have dogs, cows, or any other animals, make sure the horse is used to them.

17. Does he have a current coggins test? If not, will you get him tested if I like him?
    Make sure the horse is Coggins Tested before you buy it! A Coggins Test will determine if the horse has EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia), or Swamp Fever. This is a rare, but extreamly contagiouse and deadly horse disease.

18. Has he been vet checked?
    Talk to the vet that checked him if you can and ask him about the horse's health. If the horse has not been vet checked, you or the owner can pay to have it checked, but make sure that you choose the vet. The owner might choose a vet he/she knows as a freind, and the vet may not tell you all he finds.

19. Do you have someone there that will tack up and ride the horse?
    Make sure you see the horse get tacked up and ridden before you buy it!

20. Do you have an enclosed pasture/arena where I can ride the horse at? If not, will you trailer it to a public arena?
    Also, be sure to ride and lead the horse to see how it behaves with you.

    If the horse sounds good, make arrangements to come and see the horse, watch it be tacked up/ ridden, then ride it yourself, and see how it behaves.

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