Horse Talk

[ShrekDawg]

This horse is older...21. He is a quarter horse arabian mix. I can see if I can post some pics. His swayback isn't TOO horrible though.

If he's already older then his swayback is only going to get worse and more uncomfortable so I would say to just avoid him.

I know you've been looking for a while and it sucks when you think the right anything, animal or not, and have to pass but you're just going to end up heartbroken if you get him and you can't ride him! Or you might get lucky and be able to ride him for a while but it's definitely a risk and it will eventually get worse.

I would say to just pass and try to find another horse.

It's hard to not go for the first possible fit but he might be a problem later.

OR.

If you really love him you could always get him as a companion for another horse, since horses need friends, and/or maybe just do light work with him

 

[BridebelieverDD]

ok so now that I have different suggestions...if I were to get him are there some exercises to help the swayback?

 

[Kusanar]

ok so now that I have different suggestions...if I were to get him are there some exercises to help the swayback?

There is one that I know of. The swayback is caused by the muscles in the belly sagging over time, you can make them "suck in their gut" by putting your hand under their belly and poking them close to the mid line, they will typically make a gasping noise and lift up to avoid the poke. They will get desensitized to it though so it makes it harder and harder to get them to suck up, I have one that I now have to poke (gently) with a hoof pick because I can't poke hard enough with a finger to get a reaction.

 

[BridebelieverDD]

There is one that I know of. The swayback is caused by the muscles in the belly sagging over time, you can make them "suck in their gut" by putting your hand under their belly and poking them close to the mid line, they will typically make a gasping noise and lift up to avoid the poke. They will get desensitized to it though so it makes it harder and harder to get them to suck up, I have one that I now have to poke (gently) with a hoof pick because I can't poke hard enough with a finger to get a reaction.

Cool! I will see if that helps.

 

[chicknmania]

WE are getting ready to buy our first horse. She's a 14 year old QH mare who seems like she's bomb-proof. My son will eventually use her (maybe) as his horse if he gets a mounted deputy position with the department he's on...which is why we're buying her. The owner says she has no vet records, won't sell on contingency, won't do much. If we do a deposit til we can get a vet check, she wants 350.00.. non refundable From the videos, the horse looks wonderful, but i am very nervous because i think the price is a bit low and i don't know why. Does any one have any tips for me on buying her, what to say, what to look for, what to do? I feel like if we don't make an offer on her by this weekend, we will lose her. Then, we have to figure out how to get her to the stable where we ride, and how to get someone to transport her for us. It's turning into a major big deal. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've ridden all my life but have never owned my own and don't want to get stuck.

 

[Kusanar]

WE are getting ready to buy our first horse. She's a 14 year old QH mare who seems like she's bomb-proof. My son will eventually use her (maybe) as his horse if he gets a mounted deputy position with the department he's on...which is why we're buying her. The owner says she has no vet records, won't sell on contingency, won't do much. If we do a deposit til we can get a vet check, she wants 350.00.. non refundable From the videos, the horse looks wonderful, but i am very nervous because i think the price is a bit low and i don't know why. Does any one have any tips for me on buying her, what to say, what to look for, what to do? I feel like if we don't make an offer on her by this weekend, we will lose her. Then, we have to figure out how to get her to the stable where we ride, and how to get someone to transport her for us. It's turning into a major big deal. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've ridden all my life but have never owned my own and don't want to get stuck.

Honestly, if she is 14 years old with no vet records I would pass... That's pretty shady... There are professional haulers that will move horses for you, so that's not an issue (they're not even that expensive, I priced hauling a big gelding from VA to Colorado and it was only going to be about $1,000).

If you really like her, tell the owner that you would like to get her, but that you want a vet check first, if you don't put down a deposit then you risk losing her, but, do you want to gamble with $350? I mean, the vet could find that the mare isn't 14 after all and is actually in her 20's with limited riding time left or has something funky going on, you wouldn't want to buy her then.

 

[Eggsoteric]

WE are getting ready to buy our first horse. She's a 14 year old QH mare who seems like she's bomb-proof. My son will eventually use her (maybe) as his horse if he gets a mounted deputy position with the department he's on...which is why we're buying her. The owner says she has no vet records, won't sell on contingency, won't do much. If we do a deposit til we can get a vet check, she wants 350.00.. non refundable From the videos, the horse looks wonderful, but i am very nervous because i think the price is a bit low and i don't know why. Does any one have any tips for me on buying her, what to say, what to look for, what to do? I feel like if we don't make an offer on her by this weekend, we will lose her. Then, we have to figure out how to get her to the stable where we ride, and how to get someone to transport her for us. It's turning into a major big deal. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've ridden all my life but have never owned my own and don't want to get stuck.

Too many red flags. I'd pass.

 

[chicknmania]

Thank you. Our trainer at the stable where we ride texted me this morning and said she will go with me on Sunday to look at her. In addition to owning the stable, she is also a lawyer, so I feel a lot safer now. I honestly don't think there's anything shady, I think the people that have her now are just trying to flip horses quickly, and they aren't looking at those details, like vet records, but yes, I would like to get her vet checked first, and in past deals where I was in a horse buying situation, it was not a problem to get a vet check. But, this horse is not local, so hard to do, as I want to use our regular vet. I'll see what our trainer thinks. Thanks for the input, everyone.

 

[chicknmania]

I'm wondering about getting a vet down there to check her out...but then, I wouldn't know that vet...gaaah, this is so stressing me out!!!

 

[BridebelieverDD]

I'm wondering about getting a vet down there to check her out...but then, I wouldn't know that vet...gaaah, this is so stressing me out!!!

I know exactly what you mean! But good luck with her and I hope it turns out for you.