An Instructor's Guide to Evaluating Sale Videos BEFORE You Visit
Throughout 2024, I reviewed over 450 videos of horses for sale on behalf of clients and friends. I attended numerous viewings, and helped with a handful of trials. These experiences inspired me to write this guide, which is designed for anyone searching for a long-term equine partner—not for dealers, buy-to-sell transactions, or semi-professionals.
Buying a horse is a deeply personal and significant investment, both financially and emotionally. To make the best decision, it’s crucial to gather as much information as possible before committing to an in-person visit. If a seller is unwilling to provide detailed materials like the ones outlined here, I’d advise saving your time and moving on.
This guide offers a structured approach to help you thoroughly assess a potential match, ensuring the horse you consider has the potential to become a cherished companion for many years to come.
Prepare Yourself First: Understand Your Personality as a Rider
Begin with self-awareness. Evaluate your physical, mental, and emotional traits as a rider. While riding skills, physical limitations, and confidence levels are often considered, don’t overlook qualities like frustration tolerance, patience, and adaptability.
A strong match in riding skill may still lead to clashes if your emotional or mental approach doesn’t align with the horse’s temperament. For instance, some horses are brilliant but slow learners. Without patience and time to process, they might become defensive or shut down.
Physical skills also matter. Horses trained by “quiet,” organised riders might struggle with inconsistent aids. If you have a wobbly lower leg, a collapsing hip, or unsteady hands, observe the horse ridden by a less polished rider to assess their tolerance.
Every rider influences a horse’s movement and mindset. Consider whether your skill set will support or hinder the horse’s development. Matching yourself to a horse is about finding harmony in every area—not just the saddle.
Videos to Request Before Viewing
1. "Might You Be My Match?"
These videos should help you determine whether the horse aligns with your intended purpose and goals:
Clips of the horse performing activities you intend to pursue.
Footage showing their natural way of going—rhythm, balance, and coordination.
2. "How Sound Are You?"
To evaluate the horse’s soundness and movement, request:
Straight-line movement in-hand: Videos of the horse walking and trotting on a flat surface, filmed directly from the front and back. This gives insight into:
How the horse uses their body and joints.
Symmetry and swing of the hips (a regular figure-eight pattern in the pelvis is ideal).
Regularity of gait and signs of unsoundness.
Circle or oval movement: Videos of the horse walking, trotting and cantering on a large circle to the left and right, ideally in a headcollar on a lunge line. Look for:
Natural balance, coordination, and any training influences (how is the handler helping the horse find most functional posture on the circle; is the horse left to own crookedness with no assistance or are they being helped (and how they respond to this help).
Whether schooling has constructively addressed weaknesses and/or enhanced strengths. Free movement with no tack is one of the best ways to determine how well a horse feels in own body & mind.
The horse’s response to lunging—calm understanding or signs of anxiety, tension, or shutdown (99% of the time, broncing, bucking, charging off etc are NOT signs of well-being or joy of movement).
3. "What do you stand on?" aka Photos of Feet
Clear, good-quality photos (not half covered by sand or grass) of all four hooves are non-negotiable. Hoof health is a window into a horse’s overall soundness and wellbeing.
Examine:
Heel shape (look out for contracted or sheared heels). If you aren't sure what you are looking for, ask your instructor, a farrier or a podiatrist to give the photos a quick look over.
Event lines, high-low syndrome, underrun heels, or lack of sole depth.
If you aren't sure what you are looking for, ask your instructor, a farrier, a vet or a podiatrist to give the photos a quick look over. Most of these issues will be mentioned on a vetting certificate and might affect your future insurance claims.
These details can reveal potential issues with tendons, ligaments, joints, nutrition, and overall care. For horses under five years old, consider prioritising those that have not been shod. Early shoeing can stifle hoof development—a critical factor for long-term soundness.
I firmly believe that as buyers grow wiser and more informed about what to look for in a horse, their expectations around foundational hoof care and health will naturally rise. This increased awareness and demand will, in turn, put constructive pressure on horse producers, sellers, and keepers to prioritise proper hoof care as a cornerstone of a horse’s longevity and overall well-being. The more we value and advocate for this, the more likely it is that the industry as a whole will shift toward practices that ensure healthier, sounder horses.
Evaluating Behaviour and Education
Tack and Mounting
Request videos of the horse being tacked up and mounted. Observe:
Their reaction to the tack—do they stay relaxed?
Their behaviour during tacking and leading to the mounting block.
Responses to mounting:
Calm expression with a relaxed neck and back.
Standing still at the mounting block.
Patience before moving off.
Red flags include jaw crossing, chomping on the bit or straining against noseband, head shaking, neck twisting, biting/cribbing on nearby objects like a fence, pulling on the reins, swinging hindquarters, or other signs of anxiety like fidgeting or stomping.
Ridden Behaviour
Look for:
Freedom of movement versus restriction caused by tack or aids.
Mouth activity (excessive chomping, foaming, or opening indicates tension or discomfort - warn yourself against dismissing mental discomfort...).
Balance in corners and turns—do they fall in or out through the shoulders? Do they tense, speed up, or resist after a turn?
Don’t dismiss concerning behaviours as "quirks" or “play.” While some behaviours may stem from excitement, they often signal gaps in training or discomfort. Assess whether the horse demonstrates an understanding of work appropriate for their stage of education.
Calming Signals
Take note of calming signals during handling or ridden work, such as yawning, licking, or turning their head away. These can provide valuable insights into the horse’s state of mind and how they handle stress.
By gathering and analysing these materials, you’ll gain a clear picture of the horse’s suitability before committing to a visit. This preparation saves time (including the seller's time in the long run), energy, and money—ensuring you make an informed and confident decision.
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