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It is quite possible to buy a good horse for a low price at an auction, but there are often more problem horses than good horses so you need to be able to tell the difference. At most auctions, horses are sold ‘as-is’ and without guarantee, so if you find a problem afterwards you likely won’t be able to get your money back. Therefore, you need to do your homework in advance to pick out which ones meet your criteria, after eliminating the potential problems (e.g. injured, sick, bad habits, or behavioral issues).

The first step is to arrive well before the auction starts, so that you have sufficient time to look over the horses. Watch the horses are they are being unloaded and walked to their pens. The horses should display overall good condition and walk easily, without any sign of lameness. Given the noise and strange surroundings, it is normal for a horse to be alert and somewhat nervous; if they appear indifferent they may well be drugged or too sick to care.

If a person unloading a horse is its owner, their behavior will give you some useful hints about the horse. If they are gentle with it and appear sad to part with it, the horse has likely been well treated. However, if they are abrupt or rough with the horse, perhaps even hitting it, then it may well be an abused or neglected horse, with the associated issues.

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.

By now, if it is a typical general horse auction, you will probably have removed most of the horses from consideration and are left with a few possible candidates. Ask around for the owner of each of these and when you find him, ask him to tell you about the horse. Enquire what injuries or illnesses that the horse has had. Ask if it has any bad habits, behaviors or other problems. Ask what the horse has been fed, how it has been kept and what it is used for. Finally, politely ask why it is being sold.

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 at this point everything still looks good, add the horse to your short list. If you don’t see any horses that you are absolutely happy with, it is best not to bid at all. Although the sale price may not be that high, the cost of ownership is substantial, so you need to be sure before making a commitment. Once you have finished your short list, set a maximum price for each horses; it is easy to get carried away at an auction and pay too much so one should set a firm budget in advance.

Before bidding on a horse, make sure that you have a place to keep the horse and to transport it there. If you haven’t made arrangements in advance, discuss with the auction staff if they know of a reputable person that can do this for you. At this point you should be prepared for the bidding. Good luck!

Duber Stewart writes articles on various aspects of Horse Care and is the author of Horse Auctions

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