Ok I really need help.....about horses......?

Question

My daughter & son-in-law have found these people that are selling horses for 75.00.....I know...too good to be true...that's why I need help....They want me to go with them to look at the horses this weekend, I grew up with horses, but it's been a while, so I need to know some things to look for.
This is what I know, they are about 2-3 yrs old, and basically wild, (not broke or halter trained), and they are Paint...that's about all I know at this point.
Any suggestions?????

Answer 1

As someone else said, I would pay an extra $75 to have a vet go with.

You getting what paying for it seems. Extremly green broke, which means lots of training of time, patience and lots of money into the horse to do so. Especially if your him and her don't have training ability. (Not sure their status skills upon training).

I would also recommend her messing with the horses that are for sell prior to buying. Make sure contract is made of buyer and seller, plus any medical back ground (has been recently sick? Where these horses come from? Papers? etc).

Before I buy a horse, I do a 30 day trail with the horse to see if the horse suits and fits. We have bought horses in the past, almost same price as these ones, and either we found they were extremly lame, infested or even worse, sick that spreads to other horses when transferring environments. We loved each one no matter what, but our pockets and our emotions were drained.

Answer 2

A two or three year old that is not even halter broke???
You may only give $75.00 for the horse but it is going to cost you a TON of money for a trainer to get the horse to the point that it can be saddled and riddeen. And it will a a year or so in the process. Then you hae the issues of the horse only being green broke for a few more years and spooky of all sorts of things on trails.
Unless your daughter and son in law are experiienced riders and horse owners look at spending more up front for a horse and you will really spend less in the long run.

Also it is no fun to own a horse that has no trust in humans and that you can not even groom or get close to.

Answer 3

Kinda sounds like they may be horses from BLM or something similar. If you are not a horse person then you should check into it and find out where the horses came from.

A novice person cannot handle a wild horse. Professionals need to be called in to do the checking for the things that may be wrong with the horses. Height, coat, eyes, hooves, hips, back, legs.................... A wild horse? is that what they really want? It will take some time before they can even be handled.

If they are really set on these wild horses get a Farrier to go with you. He will know almost anything you would want to know about horses and will be able to give you experienced knowledge.

Why not just buy a couple of horses that are rideable. They would probably pay more in training than they would if they just two rideable horses.

Answer 4

Sounds like they just want to get rid of them. With not even being halter broke at 2-3, you are going to need a very very experienced person to train them. They have no respect or basic behaviors set with humans.
Unless your daughter and son-in-law have ALOT of experience with horses, I would suggest not going for it. Training basics to an older horse can be disasterous and very dangerous if you don't know exactly what you are doing.
If the horses look like they are being abused, call a shelter or adoption facility. You may be able to donate the horses (or they would pay) to get them out of that situation.
Also, if the horse is $75, if you work with them every day, it probably will be about 1-2 yrs before you may be able to ride them safely, and that is with an experienced trainer.

Answer 5

That is not too good to be true. Horse prices are way low, and $75 for an unbroken horse that is wild is not so unusual. You can get a good broke horse at a sale for $200!! Hay is scarce and people are selling cheap.
You need someone who is knowledgeable and can train them. If they are stallions, GELD THEM! Check for lameness or illness, bring a vet if possible, and be prepared for a hard time loading them if you buy them. But with time, patience, and a little love, you can make good horses out of them ... providing you know what you are doing. No offense, but growing up with horses doesn't necessarily mean you can handle an unbroken colt or filly.
I'd find someone who is trustworthy and knows horses to go with you, so they will know what to look out for (bad conformation faults, signs of illness, etc.)

Answer 6

ok first of all if they are selling them for $75.00 each then you will have to pay more to train them. with them not being halter broke, or even broke for that matter then you will have to fork out more to get a trainer to do the breaking with them. for $75.00 i wouldn't even think of buying them because why give yourself more work and headaches then you need. i have had horses for 25yrs and i bought one like this about 15yrs ago and i ended up spending more then i wanted to on this horse and i had to sell him, because with a horse that is not broke at all, is going to be more expensive to get then if they were to get one that is already broke. the best thing to do is to suggest t them to look around like the paper, online, they might find one that is already broke and looking for a new home. you can also tell them to call their local humane society, because sometimes they get neglected horse that way and now they need to put them up for adoption. well finally i would let them know that they shouldn't get this horse, but if they want to then it will cost them more in the long run if they do, they will spend more then they want to on this horse. good luck

Answer 7

First, test ride the horse before you buy him. Just to be safe. It is good if the horse is current on all. BUT DONT GET A THREE YEAR OLD!! I am 11 have been riding my whole life, do, barrels, jumping, Cutting, every thing you can think of & i train, pleasure & under saddle. When I start 2 year olds, I get bucked off & all. Now I have a 6 year old I have been training for only two weeks & he is a but at points! 2000 means the horse is not trained a WHOLE LOT. try at least a 15 year old horse that has done it all. 2000 is a great price for ANY horse at all. trained or not. but please, take my advice for your safty, dont get this horse. How about you try, www.dreamhorse.com & www.agdirect.com
I found a few of mine on those sites! oh, and before buying ANY horse, get a vet check done. & you need to try to ride at a trot.
Dont try a horse that is not halter broke or under saddle trained.

PLEASE!!

Answer 8

well you can always have a vet go with you to look at the horses... but i would say look at their feet and legs really well.. make sure there is no lameness or anything like that. kinda push around the whithers and back to make sure there is not pressure points from saddles or things... and of coarse check there coat teeth and eyes and ears your basic stuff... if the horse is not broke at all make sure that you are care full approaching it also... take a hoof pick with you to make sure there is not thrush or spots in the hooves.... good luck.... it there 75.00 maybe you should pay another 75.00 to have a licensed vet to go with you.....

Answer 9

if you are considering getting one you should only do so if you have a quiet TAME one at home already.... or have a small secure pen to put the new one(s) in becuase you will not be able to halter break them easily at this age.. or tame them if they are wild and distrusting of people - there is a reason they are $75...

pick the friendliest one...and be prepared to invest in a trainer unless you can do it yourself...
look at their feet - if they are not halter broke they wouldnt have had their feet trimmed and could have some serious issues which a farrier will not deal with until you have tamed them

Answer 10

i just read in a local paper about this man that takes abused horses and helps them get back on their feet and then he puts them up for adoption but that is in indiana you would have to get someone to train the ones you are looking at they have to be broke before you could ever ride it maybe you know of an amish fellow who would break it in their are alot around our town who do that