If you are intending to buy a horse at auction, you need to be able to tell the quality horses from the problem horses. Remember that most horses at auction are sold ‘as-is’, so you do not have a guarantee and have little legal protection, even if the horse has a serious problem. Consequently, you need to do your own research on the horses in advance to identify the ones that are worth bidding on and the ones which you should keep away from.
If possible, get a catalogue of the horses on offer (so you can make notes) and arrive a few hours before the auction do that you have time to carefully look over the horses. A horse is a big investment, so it is worth investing time in making the right choice. Look at the horses as they are unloaded, eliminating any that appear overly difficult or that look unhealthy. As they are walked to the pens, they should walk easily and without any sign of lameness. If the horse appears frightened, scratch it off the list. On the other hand, if it looks apathetic and uninterested in its surroundings, it is likely sick or drugged, so remove it from the list as well. You are looking for a horse that is alert, perhaps a bit nervous (which is understandable in the strange surroundings) but well behaved.
Look at how the people unloaded the horses treat them. If they are the owners and are gentle with it, if is likely a well treated and well behaved horse. However, if they are rough with the horse or hit it, then the horse may well have an abusive owner and resultant behavioral issues. Of course, one needs to know if the person handling the horse is the owner or not in order to decide how relevant this is.
Once the horses are unloaded, the next step is to go to where they are penned or stabled. Watch how the horses move and behave, eliminating any that have abnormal behavior. Look for any scars or blemishes, which can indicate previous injuries or mistreatment.
Through these various observations, you will normally have already eliminated most of the horses listed. With the remaining horses, try to find the owner so that you can ask about the horse. First ask the owner to tell you a bit about the horse. Once they have stopped talking, you can move to specific questions such as “What injuries and illnesses has the horse had?” and “What bad habits or problem behaviors does it have?”. Don’t forget to ask why the horse is being sold, particularly if the owner is full of nothing but praise for it.
If you are still interested in a horse at this stage, ask the owner if he can remove it from the pen so that you can examine it. It is much better to examine a horse on its own, as it allow you to concentrate on the horse without the distractions or possible accidents associated with being surrounded by strange horses. Start by closely looking over all parts of the horse. Then run your hands over the horse, feeling carefully for any bumps or other irregularities, with special attention to the legs. Carefully examine the hooves, especially underneath. Check that no teeth are missing and that there isn’t excessive wear or other issues (be careful of your fingers). With two fingers, press down on both sides of the spine, moving down the entire length of its back, watching if the horse displays any discomfort or pain at any point. During the entire examination the horse should be alert but should not be aggressive or fearful.
If you discover anything unsatisfactory during the examination, ask the owner to explain it. Unless that you are happy with the explanation and believe it, remove the horse from consideration. Remember that it is better to go home without a horse, than return with a problem horse that you later regret buying. Set a maximum price for each horse left on your short list, so that you don’t go over budget in the excitement of the bidding.
If you are intending to buy a horse, make sure that you have somewhere to keep the horse afterwards and transport to get it there. If you haven’t made arrangements, ask the auction staff if they have these facilities or can recommend someone.
The topic of Horse Health is Duber Stewart’s favorite subject and part of his Horses for Sale website.
