Re: buying without riding

["Karen Sullivan" <greymare@jps.net>]

> Dear RC,
>
> I know people will buy young or unbroke horses that they can't ride before
> purchasing.  If you are one of these people, why do you buy those horses?

Mentally deficient?  Brain cramp?  It IS more of a gamble; you are not
looking at a
finished product as far as size and confomation, and perhaps more likely a
youngster will do something stupid to injure itself.  Bad idea; and can't
even tell if you like their gaits if you can't ride them.
But I HAVE done it, and there are TONS of ways to rationalize it...........
>
> Also, for everybody, would you ever buy a horse you went to see in person,
> that could be ridden, but didn't ride?

Another bad idea, make the owner ride it first!  Naturally.  But, you can
bypass that is y ou don't care what the horse does when you get on, or if
you get a really good price!!!

 Preferring to start your own
> training *as if* the horse had never been ridden?  Or do you always ride?
> If you don't ride, what other things do you look at to help you decide to
> buy the horse or not?

I have been guilty of buying one that I liked because of the color! (but
liked the conformation and breeding); a baby because I had always wanted a
tall buckskin half arab (bought as a weanling), and a rescue unbroke arab.
How about the horse followed you around and put it's head on your shoulder?

I AM having fun working with the babies.  I can direct their exercise and
feeding and early experiences.
I will also have the fun, worry and stress of riding them for the first
time, or finding a good trainer.

BUT best deals I have ever seen as far as good, using, sound horses for
sale, are the majority of the horses listed under market in endurance.net.
You often see well broke, experienced and sound endurance horses
for $2500 or less.......if you can find a sound, conformationally correct,
well trained Arab for THAT price, it makes MUCH MORE SENSE than gambling on
a youngster......

You have to look at taking on a youngster, or green broke horse just becuase
 you WANT to.........it will take far more money or time and more
risks......and to buy a horse becuase of bloodlines..........you might do
just as well with the Arab with no papers you got for $1500-again, it has to
be becuase you WANT to own those specific bloodlines.

With weanlings, greenies, or experienced pricey horses, its ALL a gamble!
  Similar to the distance buying thread that just came

Karen
> through about watching attitude and movement and conformation?
>
> Thanks in advance for your advice.
>
> April (dreaming of my hunt for my next horse when I return to the States)
> adlee@bigfoot.com
> Phnom Penh
> CAMBODIA
>
>
>
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