To buy a horse without viewing it?

[Clipityclopity]

I’ve never bought unseen before, but we live fairly remotely and there’s not many horses for sale within 100 miles of us.

I’ve seen some lovely showjumping/eventing prospects being sold down in the very south of England- i could drive down but it would be a 1000 mile + round trip and honestly I don’t want to do that

would you risk buying unseen? I will be viewing videos, getting a full 5 stage vetting and possibly X-rays. I’ve always liked to ride at viewings to get a feel for the horse and I know it’s risky not doing this, but it would be so, so much easier.

AIBU to consider taking the plunge and buying unseen? Have you ever done it?

@oakleaffy based in Essex by any chance?

Hard no from me & I've bought houses sight unseen.

I've been told stories about horses drugged up for the vetting.

Yes I would. There's a dealer in Ireland (Irish sport equine) who sells unseen. They have an excellent reputation and I would trust them.

I would not buy unseen from a private seller.

Very wise!
heck, I even went overseas to look an antique rocking horse - The seller wouldn’t give me a height or body length, when I saw a massive object under a tarp in an outbuilding, I assumed the horse was standing on a table

it wasn’t
It was huge and beautiful with a fabulous head
I bought it immediately.
From a well known Irish family.
A rocking horse can have “soundness ‘issues- hence travelling to see it. ( the images gave no idea of scale)
After work, and all through the night to get the ferry.

A real horse is much more important .
Travel down.

No I wouldn't. It might turn out to be the perfect horse but it's a massive risk.

You must be psychic- I was just reading about them on FB! 🙂

Absolute madness, unless you can afford (and are prepared to) re-market the horse through sales livery, or have it euthanised / retired when it turns out to be bonkers / not as described / major issues.

Some dealers might be reliable, but many aren't, and finding a good dealer is difficult. A private sale - not in a million years.

Yes I would however I've been doing it a long time. I also have a very strict criteria for details of a horse before I'd even go and view it. I need to see from the front photo including hooves and head, from each side of the whole horse and then from the back. I then want to see a video of it being walk and trotted up properly and then finally moving loosely so I can see how it moves through it's body. By the time I've decided I'm going to go look I know what I'm getting bar personality. I sell/breed/produce sport horses and I do this for every prospective client too. Because I have youngsters I don't like to let just anyone view so it helps me weed out the tyre kickers and the unsuitables. Works both ways as the last 4 horses I've sold have gone to the first person to view them. Actually I've also just realised I wouldn't sell to someone who wouldn't view and do regularly turn them down so maybe not a great example. Lots of people do it!

Obviously it's a ridiculous thing to do...but we did!
Bought him from a dealer, as a project but we did have 6 weeks to try him.
5 years later we still have him, he is literally 1 in a million, a very special horse that has won countless competitions & I don't anyone realised just how fabulous he was.
I do think we were very lucky, though & wouldn't do it again.

It's a no from me, I like to know the personality of what I'm buying and it's something no matter how well described you can't truly get a feel for without viewing.
Good luck op, horse shopping is a nightmare at times!

They do not have an excellent reputation.

Oh wow! That’s really interesting, I’ve always admired antique rocking horses! Very jealous 🙂

You’re right, it’s important to get this right. I’m actually selling a horse at the moment as well, and I don’t want to sell him unseen because I want to make sure he goes to the right home and that whoever buys him gets to see him. It’s as much of an opportunity for me to assess his buyers as it is for them to assess him. So I guess I’m hypocritical for even thinking of buying unseen in the first place!

If considering Irish sports equine
Check out horse and hound forum before parting with your money
Just saying

Will do - thanks!!

I wouldn’t, it’s too risky.

Not a chance. If I didn't have time to go, I'd be sending my trainer in my stead.
Vetting gives you soundness & a view of potential issues. Even the most 5* vetting isn't a replacement for whether that horse is actually going to be a good fit for you. Health isn't everything.

Good luck - the transfer of ownership on my latest should be complete tomorrow, so I understand the excitement!

Nope. I viewed one Irish hunter who was brilliant on paper and in vetting... 18hh, fabulous build, great all round experience, so light on his feet. Anyway, he was a dream to ride until I asked him to try a simple cross pole and he took a bitch fit, dumped me off then stood looking down his flank on me lying in the sand behind him (propped on my elbows) and he kicked me square in the head. Thank God for helmets. Said it to the owner (who disappeared while we were trying him funnily enough... 🚩) who then said "ah yeah, he can be a bit tetchy sometimes..."

Don't risk it OP.

@secrethedgehog

same here. On occasion, in specific circumstances. A 2 year old Welsh off the mountain from a good stud, a cheap 4 year failed racer from a well known name.

not for what you’re describing, absolutely not.

I wouldn't buy myself a used car without driving it. They wear differently and drive differently and handle the road differently depending on the care, knowledge and propensity to spend of the owner. I know nothing of horses but can only imagine the variation to be far greater

no way, huge unnecessary risk

I bought a 3yo Connie unseen last year from a lady that I was able to research, I did two live video viewings where I asked her to do things with him to see his reaction but he was unbroken and a bit of a gamble anyway. The horse you are looking at will have a BE/BS record you can check, get a 5 stage vetting, speak to the Vet and get a sense of behaviour/demeanour during the vetting-I would consider it from your description of where you live/circumstances etc. You will have a feel for the seller/situation and sound experienced.

Making a faster payment is like handing over cash. You’re very, very unlikely to get any of your money back if the horse advert is a scam or there’s a problem with the horse.

The best horse I ever owned I bought without meeting him in person first.

Best decision I ever made. He was lovely as a two year old stallion and lovely until the day he died as an old boy.

If it's a dealer you are buying from, I would suggest joining the group 'dodgy horse dealers and sellers ' on FB, and searching for them on there, even if you view it. I would always view for myself though...

FB equestrian groups are FULL of people with problems having bought unseen. Not a chance