|
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
 
Location: Northwest Florida | I bought a horse that I did very little homework on last fall, and he has turned out to be the best one we've owned (though he's no rodeo horse) I bought him from a girl I knew from high school. We weren't close and I didn't know the horse, but I did know who she was. She did not sell horses very often, but just took on a two year old and wanted to let her old solid 3D/4D mount go, and I snatched him up for my husband. He's been absolutely perfect.. a baby sitter that will go whatever speed asked and they are starting to get in the placings lately. (husband had never raced prior to owning him)
If you can find one that you have seen compete locally or buy from someone you know or someone with a reputation to uphold that is definitely your best bet. Your match is out there! Wish you luck! | |
| | |
Expert
Posts: 1561
 
Location: North of where I want to be | I agree completely ...RESEARCH!RESEARCH! RESEARCH!
Know who works with who.
As I have aged and grown in experience and knowledge it seems to me that the definitions of "sane" and "sound" are very subjective to who you talk to and how badly they would like to buy or sell a horse. In my area it also seems to apply to to the vet /seller(trainer) relationship as well(only certain cases)
If you can watch the horse locally watch it at the races in the pen out of the pen, in the warm up is a HUGE deal for me. I very rarely put one thru the pattern when I go try it as by the time I have gone to try it I have watched it enough to know what is horse and what is rider error. I like to take them and slow work them. You find out real quick if they do indeed have a solid foundatioun or huge gaps.
Also know what you will accept and what you will not and prepare for the unexpected.
In the last 8 years I have made 2 stand out purchases. Both geldings, the first oneI had known and watched for 2 yrs. He had some minor navicular changes and the seller was completely upfront with me as we run the same circuit. He was worth every penny. I sold him....which I deeply regret. The second one I also bought from a trainer who runs the same ciruit. I rode a few times before I bought him,I did see a few of the issues, but there were way more to be found. I love the horse. He is wicked fast and perhaps the most athletic thing I have ever ridden. I did however spend way more for a "finished' project than I would have liked, and it has taken a year just to get to where we can stand in the alley let alone go up it.
Next one is a completely clean slate. I have watched his sibilings, I know several people who own and run them, I spoke to them and the breeder. If there are issues this time....I will be the only one to blame.
I do believe this, the industry needs reset button as there are a boat load of over priced, so called sane and sound horses out there. | |
| | |
 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| FLITASTIC - 2016-06-22 3:49 PM
hotpaints - 2016-06-22 1:15 PM
stayceem - 2016-06-22 11:38 AM I would be more curious to know what people's price limit is on a sane, sound, competitive barrel horse? I also think soundness is a big part. A friend of mine has a 1D/2D barrel mare who is as sweet and automatic as they come. She gets hocks injected, no issues but she just seemed to work better with them done. BUT she was pre-purchased once and the vet told the buyer, she could get navicular. No signs or changes in her navicular bone but COULD. Horse has never been sore a day in her life. But sale fell through anyway.
I HATE PPE.........I know they are part of selling but lets face it, a vet can find something wrong with every horse they look at. Just like your friend's horse.........Every horse COULD get navicular but that doesn't mean that they are going to.
I will never let one of mine have a PPE done with out me standing right there. I had two bad experiences a number of years ago, just like your friend went through and of course the sale fell through. Finally sold the horses several years later for much less and you know what? They are still going with no problems! UGH
Or better yet, how about buyers sending a deposit and the check is no good!! Then they get all upset because I called their bank to verify that the check was good first then called them about it. I got an ear full, WTF
I could go on and on...........
Vets are just trying to cover their A$$. My vet flat said she will not "Pass" a horse as sound during a vet check. She will look for obvious current lameness but also tell buyer all about the " COULD" as they say. Barrel horses COULD get navicular. Cutting horses COULD have hock issues etc. lol Really you need an educated BUYER AND SELLER. And a buyer that understands how vets work and legalities of it.
Personally I would find someone who is in the " Business" you trust. FOr me in CA last time I bought one I absolutely TRUST TRUST TRUST Danyelle Campbell. If I were looking for a high dollar horse I would get in touch with her and tell her what I wanted and my budget. THat way if she recommends one that fits the bill, half the work is done. Find a trainer you TRUST who sees and is around lots of horses.
I understand where the Vet is coming from but it is frustrating people don't do their research. My friend since then has really started hauling her, she just had too many which is why shes selling and shes been getting faster and faster. And no lameness or "navicular" to date. | |
| | |
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 628
Location: Missouri | I guess I have been very lucky. Both mares I have purchased have been sound and are both still sound. They are sane enough for barrel horses and I can ride them daily and work cows with no issues. They don't have gate issues and I credit any issues they have had to me not riding them correctly, which has proved correct.
I agree with the research. But having just sold a horse it is CRAZY the amount of stupid people I had to deal with. I don't mind the obvious questions and will entertain anything, but I had one person ask me if they could do payments and I said I would but I required half down. They then asked how much half down was....I just figured they forgot the price... They then asked if I could send more videos, I obliged, they then said "Oh, I remember that horse, I really liked him." Excuse me? Why do you have to make it a point of remembering a horse.... They were simply going around asking everyone if they would do payments. I'm sorry, if you don't have the money right then and there, don't be shopping. Don't tell me that you have to sell a horse to look at mine, to me that is saying hey, if I win the lottery. In the year I had my horse for sale, one person came and actually tried him out to buy, and you know what, he passed the vet check and she bought him. Not once did I lie about anything he did. Even if it was once I still tell them. If it means not selling a horse then fine. I am willing to be honest to make sure my horse is going to the absolute best home. I am willing to reject a sale if I don't like the buyer.
Buyers and sellers are both to blame. Don't lie about the horse you have for sale, be honest, even on the smallest things, and as a buyer, make sure you have the money up front. Don't lie to the seller about wanting to try the horse and then never showing up. | |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | I think we are finally seeing the decline in breeding as people are looking for younger horses, there are just not as many out there so it is driving up the cost of all horses including the finished ones. Everyone wants to find a deal, me included so people are shopping around. But I do believe you get what you pay for. Now I have a 14yo mare I have considered selling, I prefer a more free running horse. Youth safe, top of the 3D at bigger shows, if you can really hustle one you can get her into the 2D. Can work cattle, trail ride her but she has PSSM and needs to be maintained. I don't think I will even bother listing her cause I don't want to deal with people who won't do the reaseach to find out what it means to have a horse like her. Even though she is worth her weight in gold people don't want to deal with it even to have a SAFE, SANE horse. I go into this that every horse that is competative is going to need some kind of maintenance. | |
| | |
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | We're lucky in this area the vets will tell you if the horse is suitable (in terms of soundness) for what you are buying them for. If the horse appears to require maintenance they will outline the potential costs so you as a buyer are aware of the post purchase costs.
| |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634
| When my vet does a pre-purchase exam, he typically gives me a "risk on a 1-10 scale" as to whether the horse will have issues in the future. As with most performance horses, they can always find something wrong with any horse that has been and will continue competing.
When I bought my 8 year old mare, he told me she will probably need her hocks injected at some point and put her on a scale of 3 (lower side of risk). I like this method. No horse is absolutely perfect and they can typically find something, even if it's a small issue, if thorough enough. | |
| | |
Regular
Posts: 68
| It takes a lot of effort and a smart owner with money to maintain a sound minded and bodied competitive finished barre horse. To me that means when you look to buy with sound body and mind its far and few between. There are lots of good horse folks out there, but many bad. I don't know what you are shopping for but digging DEEP on the sellers and the horses they sell is critical to prevent wasting your precious time and energy. Talk to people who run in their district, find out the truth about the horse, you would be surprised what people will share with you. Make social media work for you. Good luck!
Edited by Reester 2016-06-23 10:50 AM
| |
| | |
Regular
Posts: 68
| One other thing, be cautious of what name people enter a horse under, especially in the associations that dont have name requirements. So, if someone who buys and sells a lot and enters 3 horses at a time, "good times" and "no times" might not ad up. | |
| | |
| stayceem - 2016-06-22 12:38 PM
I would be more curious to know what people's price limit is on a sane, sound, competitive barrel horse? I also think soundness is a big part. A friend of mine has a 1D/2D barrel mare who is as sweet and automatic as they come. She gets hocks injected, no issues but she just seemed to work better with them done. BUT she was pre-purchased once and the vet told the buyer, she could get navicular. No signs or changes in her navicular bone but COULD. Horse has never been sore a day in her life. But sale fell through anyway.
I had the same thing happen to a horse I was selling. Nice little mare who ANYONE could ride. Vet said she possibly could be navicular. Buyer passed. A friend bought her and she has never took a bad step or had any issues with navicular. | |
| | |
 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | spitzh - 2016-06-22 10:49 AM
I agree, finding a sane barrel horse is hard. 
I have 5 and they're all sane. | |
| | |
 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| LAC - 2016-06-23 11:59 AM
stayceem - 2016-06-22 12:38 PM
I would be more curious to know what people's price limit is on a sane, sound, competitive barrel horse? I also think soundness is a big part. A friend of mine has a 1D/2D barrel mare who is as sweet and automatic as they come. She gets hocks injected, no issues but she just seemed to work better with them done. BUT she was pre-purchased once and the vet told the buyer, she could get navicular. No signs or changes in her navicular bone but COULD. Horse has never been sore a day in her life. But sale fell through anyway.
I had the same thing happen to a horse I was selling. Nice little mare who ANYONE could ride. Vet said she possibly could be navicular. Buyer passed. A friend bought her and she has never took a bad step or had any issues with navicular.
I bought one that minor changes to his front right. He was everything I was looking for, I knew his owner, knew his whole history so it did not stop me from making the deal. He has never taken a lame step and is a blast to ride :). | |
| | |
 Did I miss the party?
Posts: 3864
| FLITASTIC - 2016-06-22 1:49 PM hotpaints - 2016-06-22 1:15 PM stayceem - 2016-06-22 11:38 AM I would be more curious to know what people's price limit is on a sane, sound, competitive barrel horse? I also think soundness is a big part. A friend of mine has a 1D/2D barrel mare who is as sweet and automatic as they come. She gets hocks injected, no issues but she just seemed to work better with them done. BUT she was pre-purchased once and the vet told the buyer, she could get navicular. No signs or changes in her navicular bone but COULD. Horse has never been sore a day in her life. But sale fell through anyway. I HATE PPE.........I know they are part of selling but lets face it, a vet can find something wrong with every horse they look at. Just like your friend's horse.........Every horse COULD get navicular but that doesn't mean that they are going to.
I will never let one of mine have a PPE done with out me standing right there. I had two bad experiences a number of years ago, just like your friend went through and of course the sale fell through. Finally sold the horses several years later for much less and you know what? They are still going with no problems! UGH
Or better yet, how about buyers sending a deposit and the check is no good!! Then they get all upset because I called their bank to verify that the check was good first then called them about it. I got an ear full, WTF
I could go on and on...........
Vets are just trying to cover their A$$. My vet flat said she will not "Pass" a horse as sound during a vet check. She will look for obvious current lameness but also tell buyer all about the " COULD" as they say. Barrel horses COULD get navicular. Cutting horses COULD have hock issues etc. lol Really you need an educated BUYER AND SELLER. And a buyer that understands how vets work and legalities of it. Personally I would find someone who is in the " Business" you trust. FOr me in CA last time I bought one I absolutely TRUST TRUST TRUST Danyelle Campbell. If I were looking for a high dollar horse I would get in touch with her and tell her what I wanted and my budget. THat way if she recommends one that fits the bill, half the work is done. Find a trainer you TRUST who sees and is around lots of horses.
To me, the cool thing about Danyelle is that she does make and SELL "winners". And I know there's others out there that do the same but, you mentioned Danyelle. I'm not gonna lie though, when I see a few other people in the industry with a high dollar horse for sale, I think to myself "if it was any good you'd be keeping it".  | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line