danastark
Posted : 7/28/2012 6:27:04 PM
If the horse isn't trained yet, I would first start by looking for a horse that would potentially suit my needs conformation, health and breed-wise. Start with a horse that is healthy and built to do what you want. Then I would go with past experiences and age. I would NOT be interested in a horse that has aggressive tendencies, is older than 5, hasn't had any handling or has baggage from past handling. By untrained do you mean wild or hasn't been ridden? I've also learned that it is much easier to train a horse that is a little fearful over one that has been spoiled and has no respect.
Ask all kinds of questions about how the horse has been handled, how it is with the vet, farrier, trailering, bathing, clipping, around other horses, what it requires feed-wise, what it's personality is like (friendly, fearful, aggressive, pushy, spooky, energetic, etc.) If they have the horse's parents, ask about them because that will give you an idea what this horse should turn out like.
Goodluck!