Questions to ask before you buy a horse

It was actually my mom who found the Craigslist ad:

10 year old / paint mare with papers!!

14 and 1/2 hands tall

Up to date on all shots and de-worming

Great trail riding horse does western or english

Great with farrier and she loves to be groomed

Has a great temperament

I no longer have the time to care for her like she needs and deserves

Four small pictures accompanied the ad, and we studied them carefully, hoping to catch a glimpse of the horse’s personality. Her sweet face called to us, I admit!

When I first contacted the owner, I had a list of questions that helped us decide if Sky was a good candidate for us. I suggest asking any or all of them.

1. Why are you selling this horse, how long have you had it, and what can you tell me about its history?

This is a useful question for gathering tidbits about your potential horse’s experiences. It will also give you a good reading on the owner. Like it or not, horse people are notoriously unreliable about telling the truth. I know someone who was even purposely given the wrong registration papers on a horse she bought to make her horse look better, so always read any papers you are shown carefully.

When we asked this question of Sky’s previous owners, they shared about their own health issues that were keeping them from giving Sky the attention she deserved, as their ad also said. This rang true with us and showed they cared about the horse. We ended up asking more about her history when we went to see her, but in hindsight I would have liked to ask this question up front.

2. Has the horse ever had an episode of colic?

Colic is one of those dreaded words in the horse world that can refer to a number of issues. It basically means pain in the abdomen. According to the University of Liverpool, there are actually 70 different intestinal problems that can cause colic symptoms. A horse can colic from eating too much rich grass or from not drinking enough water in the summer or winter months (often called impaction colic.) This is an important question because a horse that has had a colic episode in the past is usually more prone to it in the future.

If your dream horse has had a colic, don’t write her off entirely, but make a careful note. Some horses cannot be turned out on lush grass, for example, which can make boarding more difficult, though not impossible.

3. Has he/she ever been lame?

Again, this is a question which just gives you a better picture of the horse. Any horse can become unsound for a number of reasons. Maybe their hoof was trimmed too short or they stepped on a nail out in the pasture. These sort of lameness issues are common, unfortunately, but they aren’t reason for concern. But if the horse has gone lame because of an underlying health problem like an old injury, you would want your vet to examine this carefully.

One of the horses we considered buying before we found Sky was another Paint mare who had been a teenage girl’s barrel racing horse. The mare got injured (it might’ve been a ligament injury, but I don’t recall.) The owner was up front about it and told us about the injury, saying the mare was now sound and healed, but we decided to pass on the horse anyway. 

4. How does she act when she goes into heat (for mares only, of course) and has she ever been bred before?

This is another information-gathering question that will be helpful down the road. Some mares have a terrible time dealing with their heat cycles, sometimes becoming unrideable for a few days out of the month due to the discomfort. There are many natural remedies and even hormone replacement therapies veterinarians offer to help these girls. If you know ahead of time, it will help you to be on the lookout for the signs to help your mare stay as comfortable as possible.

Sky’s owners didn’t think she had been bred, but they weren’t sure since they bought her when she was seven years old. They did tell us she had stolen a calf once and mothered it as if it was hers! 

5. What does he/she most like to do? (What makes him/her most happy as a horse?)

I like asking this question because it shows a prospective owner that you care about a horse beyond what they can do for you. I don’t believe a human/horse relationship should ever be one-sided. We need to be willing to give to the horse as much as we expect the horse to give to us.

When we asked Sky’s previous owner this one, the reply was, “Eating and carrots.” Ah, yes. The way to a horse’s heart is through their stomach!

6. Is there anything she/he doesn’t like?

Is your trail horse prospect afraid of water? Does that gelding absolutely hate his ears being touched? There are many behavioral issues that can be remedied through training and care, but it’s always good to know what you’re getting into. Many sellers will want you to know these sort of issues ahead of time so they can make sure their horse goes to the right home.

7. What level of rider do you recommend for this horse?

An honest seller will tell you up front if their horse needs an experienced rider, because they will want a good match if the horse is challenging.

8. What has been his/her turnout schedule?

All horses can adapt, but if you know what your horse is used to it will help you make the transition easier.

Sky lived outside 24/7 before we got her. She had a run-in shed, but she rarely used it. This is when we learned she was afraid of being in a stall. We were told she’d had a bad experience during a storm, and she preferred staying far away from small spaces. This proved to be true when we tried putting her in a stall after we bought her. She was desperate to get out. A frightened horse can be a dangerous horse, so we decided to pasture board her until we could help her through this issue. Luckily this was an option for us. It might not be for you, so try to find out everything you can about your horse before you bring them to their new home.

Slowly we helped Sky overcome her fear of stalls, and she can now spend the night in a stall during inclement weather (and actually enjoy it!) If we hadn’t known about her fear, it would’ve made things much more difficult, so always ask questions.

9. What is the horse currently eating? Is he/she on any medications or supplements?

Changing too much too soon can lead to distress and stomach issues (or colic). Find out what type of grain your horse eats, and if you can, continue to feed that during their transition. Gradually introduce new feed by mixing into their old. The same is true with hay. If you can get a bale or two of the hay your horse is currently eating to mix in with the new, it is always best. Sometimes this isn’t possible, so just be aware and watch the horse closely for signs of discomfort.

10. Has the horse ever been off the property?

Sky used to go out on trails with a buddy, and that was helpful to know. If a horse has never been trailered anywhere that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy him, but you might have to allow a little more time for them to acclimate to an entirely new environment. Some horses can become upset when taken to a strange place and will need some understanding.

11. Are they up to date on their yearly shots, deworming, and Coggins?

This information will be important for the barn you are going to take your horse to. Some barns quarantine any new horse for a period of time regardless.