Because Saddlebred barns are busy places, courtesy dictates to call for an appointment. Be as specific as possible about the sort of horse you are looking for and your price range. A pre-purchase veterinary examination for soundness is common practice. A sound horse is one that is free form defects in form or function that may interfere with its usefulness. The veterinarian of your choice should be given some background on what will be expected of the animal to determine how detailed the examination should be.
Reputable auctions employ a veterinarian to examine all the horses, and require health papers.
Purchasers do have 24 hours in which to reject a horse found not to be as represented. Again, the inexperienced buyer should seek advice. If the sale is private, both buyer and seller may wish to have a purchase contract drawn up by an attorney, especially if term payments are involved. The registration certificate is not legal title to the horse but is an important document to be kept in a safe place. Before you purchase a horse privately, make sure you see the certificate and verify that the seller's name is the same as the recorded owner's name.