Can you buy horse ribbons?

Should i buy this horse?

• Hi I have been looking at buying a Western Horse and went and saw an Australian Stock horse today. His 10 years old, 15.3hh, Chestnut and is parelli trained! He rode great and is steady and not too forward (which is what i want as i am a begginer and dont want a too head strong horse)! This horse is happy to just walk! Eventually i want to get into Barrel racing and also use the horse on property as a stock horse mustering cattle! He doesnt get spooked easily and would suit this area! However,......he has a big hard lump on the side of his front leg. The owner said that when he was 2 years old that he slipped and hurt his leg and that the lump is just scar tissue! Im unsure whether this injury is healed (even though it has been 8 yrs since the injury) as i will eventually want to do hard work with him. I also noticed he seeed to be breathing heavily whilst riding him! I know the owner had not riden him for over 4 weeks so maybe the horse is just out of shape and un-fit? ALhough i only rode him around the arena once when i noticed the heavy breathing! ANy advice will help! Please look at the photo of his leg on the link below!! Thanks http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=501792558578&set=a.458490093578.246559.516123578

• Answer:

  That link doesn't work. I've seen horses with lumps of scar tissue on the leg before, so the owner is probably telling the truth. Have the vet do a thorough pre purchase exam to see if that old injury, or anything else, might come up to make you change your mind about him. It's better to know what you're getting into before rather than after. I'm not sure if he will be able to do everything you want him to. If he is just happy to walk and bum around, he might not have the speed to do barrels competitively. As far as the cattle go, ask the owner if he has ever done cattle work. If he hasn't, ask if you can try him on cattle before you buy him. Some horses love cows, and some are terrified of them, so you will want to know that before you buy him. He was probably breathing heavy because he is out of shape, but that is something else to have the vet look at.