Understanding Horse Adverts -
When I bought my first horses, I read through the ads eagerly and visited
every horse in the paper. I ended up buying a "Flashy, attractive TB, 16hh, free mover,
All offers considered" and an "Elegant TB, 16hh, Very quiet. In good condition, Must sell"
(see translations below).
Now I am older and wiser and I have learned to interpret horse ads.
Horse ads are very much like real estate ads (ie Wet season creek = swamp) or motor car ads.
Here's some meanings to help you avoid the pitfalls.
MEANING BEHIND THE ADS
Event Prospect.......................Big, Fast Horse
Dressage Prospect....................Big, Slow Horse
Hack Prospect........................Pretty Colour
Sporting Prospect....................Short, Fast Horse
Campdraft Prospect...................Horse which can turn fast
Endurance Prospect...................Fast Horse which will turn sometimes
Flashy...............................White Socks
Attractive...........................Bay
15.2hh...............................14.3hh
16.2hh...............................15.3hh
To Loving Home Only..................Expensive
To Show Home Only....................Very Expensive
Needs Experienced Rider..............Potentially Lethal
Elegant..............................Thin
In Good Condition....................Previously foundered
Free Moving..........................Bolts
Quiet................................Lame in Both Front Legs
Dead Quiet...........................Lame in All Four Legs
Good in Traffic(Bombproof)...........Deaf and Blind
Loves Children.......................Kicks and Bites
Pony Type............................Small and Hairy
Arab Type............................Looks Startled
TB Type..............................Looks Terrified
Quarter Horse Type...................Fat
Cob Type .....................Big and Hairy
Draught Type.........................Big and Exceedingly Hairy
Easy to Catch........................Very Old
Must Sell............................Eats 3 times as much as any other horse but is always lame.
Owner forced to give up…….. .. .. .. Bolts, bites and bucks
Able to take walls and timber .. …. .Crashes through fences,doors, sheds
A good stayer .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Won't budge from the stable
Sound feet .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Kicks the stable and float
All Offers Considered................I am in Traction
Just remember one final translation CAVEAT EMPTOR........BUYER BEWARE
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