Buying A Horse-
The Ridden Assessment

Safety First!

Never ride a strange horse - no matter how quiet it seems, until you have seen the owner or their rider on board first.

We can recount numerous incidents where the owner makes an excuse as to why they can't ride the horse after assuring the buyer the horse is "perfectly safe and was only ridden last week". The worst experience we can recount involved 5 weeks hospital treatment for severe internal injuries caused when a buyer tried a horse that apparently was not even broken in.

Horses are unpredictable and you too are in unfamilar surroundings.

Ask the owner to put the horse through it's paces in a field or menage (walk, trot, canter and perhaps a small fence). Watch the horse's movement - your experienced friend should check for signs of lameness or awkwardness / reluctance to execute upward and downward transitions (walk to trot and vice versa).

If you are intending buying a horse to ride on public roads, ask the owner to ride the horse in traffic so you can see how it behaves.

Be wary of owners who will not let you see the horse in a traffic situation as it may be that the horse has issues with a particular vehicle or road hazard.

1, 2, 3...up!

Always wear your riding hat and, if possible, a body protector. Or, if you prefer, ask your friend or instructor to ride the horse on your behalf.

Walk the horse round for a few minutes until you are familiar with his movement and he is used to your height/weight/voice.

Your aim is to see how you and the horse gel together. Don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with, even if the owner says the horse can jump 4ft with ease and proceeds to set about building a Grand National style fence for your enjoyment!

Once you've tried the horse, thank the owner for their time and say that you would like some time to think it over. Ignore any pressure to leave a deposit - you don't have to part with your money yet.

So far, so good - the Ridden Assessment went well and you like the horse.

What about Vetting? Is a Pre-Purchase Exam necessary if everything looks ok? Click here to read our important information on why a Veterinary Inspection is essential prior to purchase and how much you can expect to pay for this.

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