BUYING A HORSE
Please ask yourself: Do you have the time for the horse? Especially in the winter when the weather is bad, the day is much shorter and changes of rug may be necessary.
Horses can be expensive to keep, do you have enough money to keep a horse? There will be costs such as bedding, hay feed, a regular worming programme, regular farrier visits, vets fees, schooling fees at least annual vaccinations and tack.
If you have your own place do you have enough land? Will the horse have company? Horses are very sociable animals and generally like the company of other horses.
What kind of stabling will there be? How much of the day will the horse be stabled? Don’t buy a young or inexperienced horse unless you are sure that you have the time and ability to train him.
Don’t be tempted to “over horse” yourself, i.e. one that is too big and strong for you. Buy a horse that is suitable for your height and weight, and that suits your level of riding.
Buy a horse that suits your temperament, one that complements you and has a good attitude to the work which you are asking of him.
Please only visit us if you are looking to purchase a horse within weeks.
YOUR VISIT
You will be asked which type of horse you are looking for and for which activities you wish to use the horse. Our staff will show you any which may fit your description or may be suitable for your needs.
If the horse you need is generally a driving horse or hacker - then the trial will focus on this. If the horse is a schooling/jumping horse or an all rounder then the trial will focus on these areas.
- If the horse is currently turned out you will be asked to catch the horse from the field or to watch us do this.
- You may wish to Tack up the horse yourself or watch us do this.
- Watch the horse being ridden by one of our riders in a school environment or on a hack, you or your representatives may then ride the horse.
- If you are a nervous rider, nerves are often exaggerated on a new horse and our staff will lead you on a lead rein initially. It probably goes without saying that you will only be shown and riding a horse which is suitable for a nervous rider.
- You are advised to school the horse in a school environment and hack out both alone and in company. You are welcome to do this in the fields or on the adjacent roads.
- If the horse jumps, you are welcome to jump the horse, either in our school or on a cross country course.
- You are welcome to groom the horse a little before putting him away, to assess his temperament to this.
- Please pick up the horses feet and hold them or pick them out if you wish.
DO NOT BE EMBARRESSED TO TRY ALL THESE TESTS OUT, BUYING A HORSE IS A BIG AND COSTLY COMMITMENT.
IF YOU LIKE A HORSE AND WISH TO RESERVE HIM
You may leave a 10% holding deposit on a horse. Please note this is non refundable.
You are welcome to vet any horse.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE:
How does the horse behave with other horses, (we have many horses and each of our horses are kept in separate fields to avoid a herd situation and injury, please ask with reference to a horses compatibility with others).
PRESSURE SELLING
We never use selling techniques. It is our sincere aim to help YOU choose the horse that suits YOU. Whilst we offer to demonstrate the horse for you, you must take some responsibility on your purchase yourselves. We of course enjoy helping in your choice and this part of the job is extremely rewarding for us. However if the horse you need is not here then please do not buy. Our horses suit different types of riders and they will most certainly not all suit you. We would genuinely prefer that you did not buy unless you are absolutely sure. Dealers do sometimes receive bad press, from our point and another perspective, we feel we are better than a private sale. We are governed by the sale of goods act which offers consumer protection to you. A private seller is not. A private seller has only one horse and they are often willing to sell the horse to anyone who waves the money first. For this reason not many private sellers could or would offer you a 14 day horse exchange. Legally they are not obliged to offer you anything and BUYER BEWARE is their only parting gesture.