Purchase of a horse

Question
We are thinking of purchasing a horse for our 10 year old daughter who has been riding for 3 1/2 years, english.  The horse is 10 yrs old, quarter horse type (not sure what that means) but with bald face and stockings.  Is that something to worry about?  They are asking $800 for it.  Is that a good price?  Thank you for any assistance.

Kim

Answer
Dear Kim

10 years old sounds pretty right age wise -
Questions for you:
1. how does your daughter get along with this horse -- have you ridden it many times --- or just one time...
I'd make a final "unannounced ride" if this horse came from an advertisement...to make sure it wasn't drugged if you don't "know" the folks you're buying it from.
2.$800 depends.... is it sound... will it pass a vet check and drug screen?  Its more money to vet check a horse butttttttttttttt you won't have guarantees when you buy so its wise to ALWAYS vet check - especially if you don't know the seller.... and check for mind altering drugs...
Quarter horse type -- means a horse of unknown - pedigree - unregistered that perhaps LOOKS like a quarter horse...
$800 -- price is what someone will pay for it --- may be too much depending on the horse and its education level... since its a grade / unregistered horse...  market price on those horses is set by the price per pound ( forgive me but that's accurate) -- this price may be high at this time...
Bald face and stockings.... may sunburn on the nose depending on where you live and how strong the sun is...
guaranteed white footed horse - I've seen some with white feet be stronger than dark feet -- let the VET check out the feet legs etc..
shots - vaccination/worming records on the horse etc - vaccinated for West Nile - the Encephalitis groups?  -- Do you have a KNOWLEDGEABLE person you can pay to take with you to evaluate the horse?  Sounds like a lot of trouble for an $800 horse -- but trust me ----a horse is not always a horse...
Please email back with additional questions or answers to my questions -- you can buy many horses in your lifetime but you only have that 10 year daughter that CANNOT be replaced....  buying a childs horse is very serious business...

hugs
Dee