JEFF: When buying, I make sure that someone will be getting on first before I even get on an airplane. I’ve seen people get seriously hurt making that mistake. I have a video of Sue with a client in Europe. No one was there to get on the horse. The bridle was moldy and the saddle was covered in dirt. Sue got on. The horse bolted and ran four times around the ring before the client could grab the bridle and stop him. The seller said the horse had never been ridden before that day. When I’m showing a horse to a potential buyer, Sue gets
on first. I don’t leave it to chance. I don’t know that profes- sional and I’m looking out for the horse.
Get On or Don’t Get On? HEIDI: If you don’t want to get on, don’t get on. Most profes- sionals appreciate that you don’t waste their time. Showing horses takes a lot of time. If I bring out a gray horse, and you are dead set against buying a gray horse, don’t make me ride it for a half hour. If the trainer gets bucked off, don’t get on. One of my highest goals as a professional is to not kill any of my clients! Clients need quality horses that are safe and today most professionals are straightforward about representing what their horses are. JEFF: If you see it’s not a match, don’t get on. Why give the horse a bad experience? Same if you get on and it’s not going well. The trainer may say, “I know she can ride this horse; she’s just tense.” I may say, “Then let’s try again tomorrow.” If you see something off or the horse isn’t quite regular, ask a question. But some people use that as a negotiating tool, even if it’s something no one else sees. I had people arrive two hours late because they stopped for lunch without calling. Sue rode the horse and the guy said, “We can’t pay full price because it’s lame.” So Sue got off and took the horse back to the barn. The guy said, “No, no, we want to ride the horse.”
Gut Feelings HEIDI: Are you comfortable or does the horse give you that uneasy feeling for the whole ride? Respect that. People think, “When I get the magic saddle, the magic footing and the magic shoer, it will be fine.” It probably won’t. Buying a horse is like finding the right boyfriend. You
think, “Okay, this is good, this will work.” And sometimes it takes a little time. Some people sell their old horse and are afraid they’ll lose the stall in the barn, so they buy something right away, and the new horse is not always suitable. Take your time; feel comfortable in your gut. And in case your gut is not good, ask your professional. JEFF: Is what you feel reflective of what you were being
told?
What to Ask of The Horse HEIDI: If you can improve a movement, for instance, then that is when you feel like you can work with the horse, and that the horse isn’t against you. That’s rideability and that’s the number one quality we want.
14 July/August 2016
JEFF: Don’t try to train the horse above the level he was advertised. We had a horse that was presented as Fourth Level. The rider was banging on it, and Sue asked what she was doing. The rider responded, “I’m going to teach it piaffe.” Sue said, “No, you aren’t.” I recommend that the person who knows the horse,
the trainer/seller, not sit on the side and let you figure it out. For the best test ride, the trainer/seller should be in the center of the ring talking you through the ride. Then the seller can see how you, the buyer, rides. He or she can evaluate your tenseness and help you relax. You should not be afraid to ask the seller for pointers to get the ride off to a good start while you transition from observer to rider. I’ve seen good horses passed over because the initial ride didn’t work, when we felt it could have worked with better communication.
How Long to Ride HEIDI: When I’m looking for an amateur and I feel the horse is safe, I’ll put my client on before me so my client isn’t riding a really tired spent horse. Then I’ll get on for a bit so I can see if the horse feels the way it looks. If you get on after 45 minutes, and the horse is used to 35 minutes, he might be tired. Young horses especially run out of gas quickly. JEFF: Our horses are in top condition, but let’s be fair to the horse. You’ve seen the training demonstrated. Expect that you probably won’t be able to do as well because your aids will be subtly different than the way he’s been trained.
Riding Out after The Arena HEIDI: If you’re the kind of person that likes to walk around the farm after a ride or go on trail rides, do that. If I have a horse that’s not good outside the arena, I tell the person, “You can try to take him out but it’s not going to be fun.” Some horses just aren’t good for that. It depends on what the buyer wants. Some just want to compete and train and not go on trails, and that’s okay. JEFF: If hacking out is one of your criteria, ask if you can ride back to the barn. You might do that the next day so you are more relaxed. Be aware if the horse is on high alert when you go from point A to point B. Is what you feel what you are being told?
Pre-purchase Exam Plans HEIDI: If you’re away from home, try to have a plan for who will do the vetting. If you’re in a hurry, you might use what- ever vet they tell you and that could be okay -- or not. The seller could connect you with the farm vet, but it puts the vet in a bad situation. My vet won’t do pre-purchases on our sale horses. And if something goes wrong later, you’ll be thinking you shouldn’t have used that vet. Tell your vet you’re going to look at a horse, let’s say
in Wyoming, and ask if he or she knows a good vet there, maybe someone from vet school or by reputation. It could happen really fast and you want to be ready. JEFF: I always ask if the buyer wants a vet on standby.
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