LOL. A friend of mine had a rule basically that when you are buying a horse, assume everyone is selling you a bad horse, but never act like you know, LOL.
Number one assumption - if you say to a seller you want a quiet family horse or for a kid or if you sound like a beginner (no one ever fools anyone), the horse WILL have the tar worked out of it before you come, or it will be drugged, or both.
Normally what I do is try very, very hard to not say anything that would indicate I want a 'quiet' horse. I try to be totally neutral in everything I say. I try VERY hard to not sound like I am 'experienced', too. I try to keep it very neutral.
'Hi, I saw your ad for the spotted mare, do you have any time Saturday when I could come out and look at her?'
'Okay, I will see you Saturday at 1, Dr. Harris will be there at 1:30 to draw blood and go over the horse'.
There is a SLIGHTLY less chance then the horse will be drugged if you tell them there will be a blood draw, though if they have a bad one to get rid of, it will be done no matter what. A lot of people think the vet's blood test won't find the drug they use. Or they will just work the horse down. Though MOST people, when selling a horse, aren't keeping it in a 'program'. It's going to get the snot worked out of it for a couple days before you come regardless.
Well some people don't teach horses to longe, but it is a little fishy. If the horse is UNRESPONSIVE on the longe line. Rather than clueless. USUALLY if a horse is not TAUGHT to longe, they act like an idiot when you try to longe them, they are NOT UNRESPONSIVE. They are like 'freedom! no? WHAT?' and run around without turning and act stupid. Even a lot of very quiet older horses will, if they've never been longed. Or they try to just run around right next to you and won't go out to the end of the longe line and make a circle, but the key is they act untrained, not unresponsive.
Any time a horse is a little 'dead sided' or quiet you should assume it was drugged or worked down or both.
It MIGHT be a quiet horse, or a dull horse, sure, but remember that it might also NOT be a quiet horse or a dull horse. It is in your best interests, in any case, to assume it was drugged or worked down or both.
Definitely have a blood draw any time you ride a horse for sale. It is for your protection.
I can't even count the number of times people I know have bought doped up horses, gotten them home and found out they were crazy, unbroke, lame (sedatives ALSO hide lameness!!!!). If you think this is rare, think again. It happens ALL - THE - TIME.
Most likely a seller will not drug a horse for the vet check that occurs later!!! The only time the horse will be doped is when you are planning to RIDE it or them to show it to you.
A lot of people think if they show up early and stay around the horse, the seller won't be able to drug it, as some drugs are short acting and are given shortly before hand. Others think they can SEE the drug's effects. I wouldn't bet on it! A lot of the newer drugs don't make horses look sleepy. AND - a lot of drugs are long acting and some last for a month or more, so that bit of trying to show up a little early, doesn't really work. The blood test is the only really good way to handle it. Sure, what is CHEAP, what is easily available is ACE and that IS given shortly before but I would not count on that. Plus - a good many horses look sleepy for a MINUTE when the ACE takes effect, but right after that they look normal again.
I really like to have a vet check done right when I try the horse out, and include a blood draw.
If not right away, within a day, before the stuff is eliminated from their system.
It is pretty dang funny to see how some people's faces turn pale when you show up with a vet, LOL! If the vet doesn't have a lot of calls before my appt, I don't always bother to tell the seller the vet will be there, just get everything done right away and make a decision immediately(vets have portable xrays and flexions can be done on the spot). A lot less fussing over deposits and other buyers and the like. To me it's worth it to pay the vet to come out and know right away. But the chief reason for doing it is that it protects ME, THE BUYER.
If I tell them the vet is coming, it is always funny to hear the reaction. Then there is very often some real fast back-pedaling about how they can't show me the horse and someone else is about to buy it.
I always kinda find that funny, LOL.