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Selecting your shortlist

The most exciting part of any horse hunt is finding ‘the one’ for you. However, picking just a handful of horses to go and view can be hard work when faced with hundreds of adverts from potential sellers.

Likes and dislikes

To help you narrow down your search, start by jotting down all the things you’re looking for. Think about what type of horse will suit you best – are you looking for a show jumping star, a bold eventer, a dressage diva or a happy hacker. Do you want to be training a youngster or learning a few tricks yourself from an experienced schoolmaster? You’ll also need to think about the size and build of horse you need and have a good idea of your budget is.

Next, think about anything you definitely don’t want – for example, a horse that’s crabby in the stable, bad to load or difficult to hack out alone. These are the sorts of practicalities that make day-to-day ownership a drag rather than a joy.

Revisit your ads with a more critical eye. Although some things on your ‘want’ and ‘don’t want’ lists may be more flexible, others such as the horse’s temperament and ability should be set in stone.

Follow your head, not your heart

This is where it’s really important to think with your head and not with your heart - don’t let a handsome head sway you and if a horse doesn’t make the cut so be it. Be tough, think The Apprentice – ‘You’re fired’ — and only keep in the running the horses that truly meet your needs.

Read between the lines

When reading each ad, try to read between the lines. If it doesn’t mention the things you’d expect to see such as good to shoe, catch or bombproof, ask yourself why. If you have a query about anything that’s said, no matter how big or small, give the seller a call and ask them to clarify. This will allow you to either quickly dismiss the horse or add them to your shortlist.

Pick up the phone

Before you arrange a viewing call all the sellers on your shortlist and give each a good grilling. This isn’t a time to be shy; a horse is a huge investment so it’s vital you ask lots of questions. If the seller has the best interests of the horse at heart they’ll want to make sure they find the right home and will be happy to spend a few minutes on the phone with you.

Finally, if you still think the horse in question could be the one, ask if it’s possible to get some video footage sent over so your trainer can have a look and advise whether they think a viewing is worthwhile.

Other articles you may find interesting:
Understanding "ad" speak
Setting your budget
Buying at auction
Buying privately
How to assess a horse before buying
Agreeing a price

For more buying advice click here

(Posted on 14/10/2011)

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