Rate the Response

Using a hands-on method of evaluating a horse's response, Shannon Pigott can identify a good prospect from one that will present challenges.

- SHANNON PIGOTT

Today’s horse-buying marketplace is filled with imagery to delight horse lovers of all kinds: shining, fat horses in good light standing in conformation shots and snazzy music accompany perfected performances on video. It’s enough to blind a buyer from any flaw a horse may or may not have before buying. When riders consider buying a new horse, most people look at color, pedigree, sex, previous training, and health as top priorities but rarely does the buyer investigate the general trainability or mental aptitude of their perspective partner. That’s a risky practice which can lead to mismatched people and horses, and frustration for them both.

Nothing beats putting hands on a horse before buying and giving him a quick three-step test to gauge how responsive he is to you before deciding to open your pocketbook. Doing that, it doesn’t take long to sort out the ones willing to learn and those dead set in their ways.

One of the best pre-purchase practices a buyer can do is to assess the curiosity, confidence, and trainability of a horse. No one likes a new employee who comes to the new job unwilling to learn, is disrespectful, and only willing to do things their way. Same with horses. Like a job interview where an employer seeks to uncover the true personality of a candidate before offing a position regardless of education or work experience, horse people need to consider the mentality of the horse. Just because the horse is pretty, has had training, or is well-bred doesn’t mean they are eager to be your partner.

The number one thing potential buyers should investigate is how willing the horse is to learn something new and how much respect he pays to people. How do you do it? These hands-on steps that help rate the horse’s response.

Test 1: Fight, Flight, or Friendly