An older, retired horse arrives with a whole life already lived, and the person who knows that life is the keeper handing him over. The conversation you have before he loads onto your trailer is worth more than any sales advert, because it covers the two things that keep old horses comfortable: the maintenance routine his body now depends on, and the daily habits that make him feel at home. Ask warmly, write everything down, and do not be shy about details that sound small.
Why he was retired, and what he still enjoys
Start with the reason for retirement. A horse retired sound after a long career is a different prospect from one retired because of recurring lameness or an injury that still needs managing. Ask what gentle work he still does happily, if any: many retired horses enjoy short walks in hand, light hacking or simply being groomed and fussed over, while others are fully turned away. Ask how he behaves turned out, whether he needs company at all times, and whether he has ever been kept alone. His answer to herd life matters as much as his health, because a settled old horse is usually one living the social arrangement he is used to.
Feed, teeth and feet: the maintenance history
Old horses live or die by their mouths and their digestion, so ask exactly what he eats: which forage, which feed, soaked or dry, and how his weight runs through winter. Ask when his teeth were last checked, whether he has any known dental issues such as missing or loose teeth, and whether he quids his hay or struggles with short grass. Then cover his feet: shod or barefoot, his trimming cycle, and any history of thrush, abscesses or laminitis episodes the keeper has dealt with. Ask which vet and farrier he is registered with and whether they are happy for his records to be shared with you.
Health history and the professionals involved
Work through his medical past in plain terms: any colic episodes, breathing problems such as heaves in dusty stables, skin trouble in wet weather, or stiffness that comes and goes with the seasons. Ask what vaccinations he is up to date with and what worming routine he follows, and whether blood tests or scans form part of his file. None of this is about finding fault; it is about knowing which problems are old, managed and stable, and which signs should make you phone a vet quickly because they are new for him. Get the keeper's vet details with permission to transfer the file.
The daily details only the keeper knows
Finish with the texture of his ordinary day. What time is he used to being fed and turned out? Does he come to call, or does he need catching with a bucket? Is he settled in a stable overnight or happier living out with a rug? Which horses has he bonded with, and is there a type of companion, such as a bossy gelding or a youngster, that unsettles him? Ask about his quirks honestly: loading, clipping, sprays, tractors, dogs. When the answers come with the horse through KinsLe's Transferrable Profiles, his feeding routine, dental history and settled companions are preserved in his profile rather than lost in the move, so his new home starts from what he already knows.