~Tennessee Walking Horses - The Bewares

If you are buying a horse through the Internet, request from the seller, a copy of the registration papers and a video showing the horses gaits. Request to view the horse moving freely as well as being ridden. If you are seeing the horse in person, do not let your enthusiasm get the better of you. Look at the horse for what it is, back line, legs to straight, tail set etc.

Pick up each hoof.
Does it clip and bathe?
Does it stand quietly for the farrier?
Does it load and ride quietly in the trailer?
Ride the horse if it is billed as a "trained" horse.
Ask if you can tack the horse up, before you ride?
Is it doing the gaits you require?

In all probability, you have set up this appointment in advance. Eagle Ridge Farm, recommends, you (the buyer) return unannounced for a second visit to view the horse. If the sellers stand by their word they will not mind your extra visit.

When buying a gaited horse, we at Eagle Ridge Farm urge you to educate yourself for the gait you desire. NOT ALL TENNESSEE WALKING HORSES are created equal! Check out our links page for an excellent gait tape for purchase by Eldon Eadie.

With all sincerity, Eagle Ridge Farm has observed many Walkers doing many different gaits, and not all walkers do the running walk! We had a mare for sale once that we knew could not do a running walk due to an injury she sustained as a yearling. We had quite a few people come to look at her AND because she was so sweet, they really wanted her to do the running walk. After being told several times she would never be able to do it. They still wondered if with "training" she'd be able to do it! Although a horse can be trained to carry itself in a more collected, smoother way of going, if the horse isn't born able to do it no amount of training can put it there! Our point being, those buyers, wanted us to lie to them and say "Yes, with training she'll do the running walk!" Honest owners are few and far between. Some owners claim their horses do the running walk and (the horse) does not. We have requested many videos of potential breeding prospects for our girls. You are familiar with the scenario. You anxiously await the arrival of the coveted tape. Upon firing up your trusty VCR your heart falls as this gorgeous piece of horse flesh racks, paces or even trots his way across your television screen. It therefore falls upon you, the buying public, to educate yourself. If nothing more than the basics, so you, the buyer, will not be at a disadvantage when a smooth talking "horse trader" prevaricates. Believe me they exist in all breeds.... If you are unsure of the how the gaits should look bring a knowledgeable person, one having knowledge of the gaits. An owner should never be upset, if he/she is being truthful about what he/she is selling.

Pace, Fox-trot, Rack, Steppin' Pace, Trot, Flat Walk and the Running Walk.

Vet checks are also a good tool for accessing if the animal is capable of fulfilling the need you require of it.

The vet will check for soundness.

And determine if the horse will make a good breeding prospect.

We admit, that we have not always gotten a vet check, but there was ONE time we wished we had. If you are interested in breeding and are buying an older mare, we recommend getting a biopsy along with your routine vet check She may be beautiful and have the best bloodlines in the land. If you can't settle her because of an undiagnosed infection or tumor she's not worth a hill of beans in any breeding program and you might have a potential "pasture ornament" in the making.

One last but very important issue! Someone might have found the horse of your dreams for you be it trainer, friend or horse finder. If you remember nothing else from this article remember this!
Never pay the "finder" for the horse! Always pay the owner of the horse and let them divide up the finders fees. We know of several instances where friends and acquaintances have ignore this advice and they have learned the hard way. If you are buying a horse to show, papers in your name are required, period. If by chance you pay the "finder" and he/she never pays the owner you are flat out of luck! You may end of paying for that horse again. I'll give you a scenario... A trainer finds a horse for you in a barn. You live in one state, the horse is in a different state and the owner lives in a third state. On the pretense of the sale the owner lets the trainer ship you the horse. The trainer says send me the check and I'll forward it to the owner on my way home and get you the papers. You send him/her the check, it goes through his/her account....and its overdrawn and your money is held to cover his/her overdraw. He/She gets her commission, but the owners money is gone! As he was never paid he withholds your papers. You can't show without them what do you do now? Hopefully one would hope that the trainer would "pony up" pardon the pun. Months can go by.....unless the trainer does the pay the owner the money he is due, you may be liable to pay the owner his portion again just to get the papers. Get my drift! PAY THE OWNER DIRECTLY and save the hassle. Some people might never pay the owner and you are screwed! So buyer beware............

In conclusion, we say this. Know what you want and look until you find it. Buying a good horse takes time, but is well worth the wait when you find it.

Seller Beware

Just as in buying a horse there are things you should know and beware of and ask... . So it goes with selling horses.

As both buyers and sellers of horses we at Eagle Ridge Farm have learned lessons both good and bad. Some people just instinctively learn more from making mistakes and we are no different.

When advertising a horse for sale, please be as accurate as possible when advertising the horse in question. How many of us have driven miles only to be frustrated by what we find? Remember you are not doing the horse any favors by inflating his abilities. If you think the family or individuals are not paying attention to what you are saying, repeat yourself.

As in selling anything start with a price that is reasonable and can be negotiated. Above all keep in mind you rarely recoup what you have in a horse, start with a price that is reasonable and go from there. Also keep in mind a horse is only worth what a person is willing to pay. DON'T ASK FOR THE MOON! Remember you might have paid a little too much to begin with, add on top of that board, feed, farrier and vet costs. How quickly do you need to see the horse? This may help you decide quickly the price you should ask!

This brings me to another point of contention, please ask enough! Depending on the area in which you live please, please check the local slaughterhouse prices before you place your ad in the local paper. There have been many times I have seen ads in the "for sale" paper in our area with prices that just invite unscrupulous individuals to call. Yes, this happens! Please don't fool yourself and think it won't happen to you, because it could. Hopefully, you think more of "Otis" then that over whelming urge to make that quick sale.

Always, always write up a contract, the details are there on paper to protect both parties and to ensure everyone is on the same page. Write every detail no matter how inconsequential you might be glad you did. Include penalties in the event the deal falls through to protect yourself and pay yourself for the time you kept the animal off the market. A penalty of 10% of the down payment is usual.

If the new buyers intend on keeping "Otis" at home, if at all possible go and preview his potential home. Trust me you'll feel better know the surroundings he'll be living in. If for some reason they do not meet the minimum standards, call off the deal! It usually does not improve after the deal is done. No matter how much they say it will.

Trainer Beware

This next section can make or break the relationship you have with your horse; the relationship you'd like to have with your horse or the relationship you wished you could have with your horse!

KNOW YOUR TRAINER! Your horse will never have a more important relationship than the one he/she establishes with a trainer. As an owner and advocate for your horses well being, ask questions and ask often! Here are a few preliminary questions you may want to ask yourself before you start looking.

1. What kind of training am I looking for?

Ground work and the riding for a young horse?
Show conditioning and the refinement of gaits for the show ring?
Saddle time and exposure for trail riding?

2. Does the trainer in question have any credentials?

Do they need any for the training you have in mind?

3. How long have they been doing it?

4. Do past and present customers seem pleased with their horses?

5. What kind of reputation do they have amongst their peers?

6. Do you like what you see happening when you visit their facilities?

7. Have you observed their decorum at shows?

The warning signs of what I like to call "trainers syndrome"; or when you realize it's time to take "Otis" home. This malady affects trainers in all breeds and disciplines and is not exclusive to the Tennessee Walking Horse breed alone. Everybody gets busy but if repeated phone calls go unanswered for days on end get concerned. When you come to see your horse worked at a designated time, were they already ridden that morning? Did you schedule a lesson and the trainer is no where to be found? Does the trainer let you ride your horse or do they think it is theirs? When you ride your horse does he gait for you or only your trainer? Has your trainer stopped listening to you, in general? Are your wants and concerns being ignored? Have you noticed your horses attitude changing...for the worse?

Then it's time to take "Otis" home and start looking for another trainer!

How to go about finding a suitable trainer.

1.   Go to breed shows and really watch what goes on, not just in the show ring but all
      around you. Walk through the aisle ways and observe the interaction between clients
      and trainers and between horses and trainer. Let's face it, horse people are born
      talkers, good, bad or indifferent you'll hear it all in a show environment.

2. Word of mouth can be your best friend or your worst enemy... Ask friends,
acquaintances, boarders and breeders. Everyone always has an opinion!

3. Make sure you communicate with the trainer you have chosen.

Get together and make a plan for your horse. They should include the basic goals you wish to achieve during your time in training. Agree on a way to judge the ongoing progress towards these goals. Be it daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly reports or "eyeball progress".

Above all else always be watchful; never be an absent owner. Don't depend on the trainer to always keep your best interests at heart, that will always be your job! Always voice your concerns. Remember "Otis" belongs to you and he's depending on you to be his advocate, don't let him down!

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