Video Shopping for horses

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Jonni <jonnij@earthlink.net>
For those who do shop for a horse by watching videos, here are a few things to look for.

Of course the conformation, looks etc. are the basics. If the seller is going to shoot video just for you, request the trotting away, trotting towards the camera shots, along with the side views. Then watch for eveness of gait, lameness etc. Does the front and rear diagonal feet land at the same time. (right front & left rear and vis-a versa) when the horse is trotting. If not, is it the same for each "side". If they turn the horse loose for "free work" in a ring, does it LIKE to trot, or always canter, even after it has bucked and played for awhile. When it stops, does it instantly rest a rear foot each time? point a front foot ahead of the other, or stand shifting its weight back and forth between feet? How does it carry its head naturally. like a giraffe? Or long and low. If the horse is ridden in the video, what is the equipment used. Now just because a certain piece of equipment is used, does not mean the horse NEEDS it, but something to make note of. 

Then, tricks sellers can do with the videos: Are there many, many edit points in the tape. Places it seems they have removed things they did not want you to see, or is it a fairly constant tape, showing everything. Do they crop the legs when the horse is moving?  Do they show the horse from odd views? Now sometimes these are just poor video skills, other times, they are trying to hide things.

The best thing is to request what you would like to see, and hope they will make a special tape as per your request. but this takes time, and you may not get that video for weeks. if they have a tape already done, ask to see it, then request more information, or video after you have viewed it.

Nothing beats seeing a horse in person, riding it, and really "Meeting" the horse. but a video can be a great way to weed out the horses you are not interested in, before taking the time (and the sellers time) to go see it in person.

We bought one horse from a video, and did not meet him until the day he was delivered. But it was a good deal, and I knew the horse could be resold if it did not work out.

Happy horse hunting,
Jonni