Anyone used an agent to source horses in Ireland

[Tangaroo]

Im looking for a horse and just wondered if anyone has found someone in Ireland who can source horses for you to go and try from reputable people. If so, how much do you have to pay someone to do that?

 

[ihatework]

Yes, I purchased with a friend a just backed 4yo last year as a replacement to an event horse we sold on. Used an agent that friend had been put in touch with and used a couple of months earlier to buy another one.

We didn't pay the agent anything directly, he works at his own risk and takes a % from the seller. We obviously pay indirectly as the horses would be priced to take into account commissions and time etc.

For us it was convenience factor and also having someone who knew the locals so less chance of getting done over!

 

[Bernster]

No personal knowledge just seen various threads, but irishgal on here helps source horses from Ireland. Hmm or might be irishgirl, not sure of the spelling!

 

[Goldenstar]

I was in the process as using one some years ago when I was injured trying another horse before I got to make the trip.
We spoke a length about what I wanted and the budget
She then sent videos of several horses and we discussed those I am struggling to remember but I 'think' we were to pay her B and B cost when she was travelling with us and of course the sellers paid her a percentage .
I was so sorry I never got to make the trip I had my fall the week before I was due to go.
You need remember the horses are priced up to pay the agent .
You need to remember the agent wants you to buy a horse or they don't get paid .
I would advise that all but the most strong minded takes some with them to be squarely on their side .
And agent or no agent when in Ireland remember most of Irish are the unselfconscious natural sales people in the world when it comes to horses remember to take off your shamrock tinted glasses when you get there .

 

[VRIN]

Goldenstar you've given me a giggle. Yes we have the gift of the gab here alright, it's in our nature to be talkers.

Personally, I wouldn't pressurise anybody to buy. It's just ugly, and I doubt it would work and it's something I don't agree with. And if I do my job right, there will be several at least that really grab the person and usually they have trouble deciding between two horses.'.

I would totally agree with Irish gal ... I went over to Ireland ... a very sceptical buyer and very concerned that I might be pressured into buying... (I only went because I had given up on the 'English scene' after many wasted journeys - the stories I could tell!!) I was put in touch with Richard Sheane by rachel Wakefield. She assured me all would be well!

It was an awesome experience. Richard was both entertaining and knowledgeable. There was ABSOLUTELY NO pressure. I could have bought any of the horses as they were all exactly as described and suitable for what I needed. (I had given Richard a rough idea of what I was looking for before travelling)
He knew my budget and didn't show me anything that was above my budget ..

I didn't make a decision on the day. Richard made no attempt to persuade me towards any horse and explained that if I wanted to come again to leave it a couple of months and he would be able to show me different horses that may suit me better - having spoken to me, seen me ride and the type of horse I liked he would be better able to spot those that I may like.

Having spent a few days mulling it over, I decided to by one that I had been shown. I still have the horse and if i needed to replace him I would not even bother to look in England but would make the trip to Ireland (though I think Richard may well be out of my price range now!?!?!?)

 

[Goldenstar]

Let's not pretend that every purchase in Ireland (as elsewhere )is a roaring sucess .
Don't misunderstand me , I am married to an Irishman, they have no need to use hard sell to shift horses they are way way more talented sales people than that .

 

[Irish gal]

Let's not pretend that every purchase in Ireland (as elsewhere )is a roaring sucess .
Don't misunderstand me , I am married to an Irishman, they have no need to use hard sell to shift horses they are way way more talented sales people than that .

I'm sure there are lots of sales that are't roaring successes as you say but still there are plenty that go wrong that are not the fault of the seller or the agent. There are a lot of people out there who over estimate their abilities and end up over horsed and then will turn around and blame the seller!

I think if we were lucky enough to be such good sales people this country would be an economic power house, which patently it is not

An awful lot of breeders and producers here have rather a subsistence lifestyle, they're not making lots of money, they're just horse people who love what they do.

Buyers are often very astute people, professionals, business people, those who run companies, some that over see massive budgets for work. They're not people who could be easily led or conned. Many are very able dealers in their own right and I think you'd be a long time trying to get the better of them.

I know horse dealing has rather a murky aura to it but I feel people are often overly suspicious. Just because a person comes over here to look at prospective horses, that doesn't mean they leave their intelligence and experience behind them in the UK. I'm sure if there was anything unsavoury going on they'd have the wit to sniff it out fairly quickly.

 

[spacefaer]

We tend to go over and look ourselves. It's good fun and not ridiculously expensive or time consuming.

I know exactly what we want and know generally within the 1st 5 mins of sitting on a horse whether it'll suit.

The last trip, I saw 7 in the day, bought one and went over to collect him. I don't recommend going over and getting your purchase in a 24 hr round trip - expensive and exhausting! But we wanted him home to try him out hunting before the end of the season!