Buying a horse unseen

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Eira

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Has anyone done this ?
Was it sucessful or a complete disaster ?

also
What were your reasons for doing so ?


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I sold my 8 year old TB broodmare by Ardross this way. Have regretted it ever since. She was collected and transported straight to stud up country to be covered. I know for a fact she was booked in as I'd phoned the stud to arrange collection details. The following year I checked with Wetherby's to see what she'd produced and they had no record of her having been covered. Checked with stud who couldn't remember the mare being there. Thought maybe she hadn't gotten in foal that first year but have checked with Wetheryby's every year since I sold her (in 2000) and she's never bred a TB foal nor had her ownership details changed from mine. She was a 17.3hh mare, unrideable due to an old hock injury and I loath to think what happened to her. I'd loaned her out as a broodmare and she'd produced two cracking foals, so was a proven breeder. The person buying her appeared professional and efficient but I never managed to contact him again to find out what the story was. Wish I'd just have kept her.....
 
i dont know anyone who has done it or would ever do it personally i feel the proof of the puddign is in the trying.
 
I havent heard of anyone doing this either nor would do it myself. I have put deposit down unseen knowing that within a few days would be going up to see the horse but really i do think it is best to see before you buy.
 
We have and was one of the best things we did. Why? Got fed up with seeing horses who were so far from described it was laughable. Bought from a reputable dealer who came highly recommend and with the proviso that horse could be returned if things didn't work out. (No refund, but another horse would be sent in return). Horse exactly as described.

The horse was vetted first, by a vet of our choice. And this was only because of dealer being really well recommended to us otherwise wouldn't have done this in a million years.
 
Yes, in a word, also been lent horses unseen too.

Twiggy was originally lent unseen after being offered to me but I later bought her as a future broodmare and although she missed the first year, she has since foaled and is a brilliant mother, so she's been vindicated.
Swallow was bought from HorseMart completely unseen but several photo's because I wanted to grade down to pony broodmares. If I'm honest, the main reason I bought her was because she had been in a bad way and I'm a sucker for 'poor' projects. The only disappointment with her, was she had been advertised as 14.2hh and she was much smaller which meant there was no way I could have ridden her. I kept her for a year, got her back to full health and she has since been sold and covered by a very smart pony stallion.
Bea was loaned me by SiennaMiller on here to use as a broodmare; she has since had Kitty who I am chuffed to pieces with and I have since bought her although the chance came too late to cover her this year. Because I didn't know about having her for keeps, I bought another pony to use my free return. She was bought through HorseQuest, again, unseen but she was already graded with SPSS and had recognised youngstock so not likely to be a pig in a poke. She went straight to stud from the owner and she only came home the other week. She is exactly what they said she was and I'm thrilled with her - she's also in foal, another bonus!

My reasons for doing it that way (with Swallow and Sasha anyway) who I bought from the start, was I just don't have time or the resources to actually do the mileage to go see them and then go back to fetch them; I'm also old enough, been around horses most of my life so did my homework, asked heaps of questions and I'm very careful with my money to not go overboard (in other words, I'm a skinflint!) if either pony had been a wrong'un; it wouldn't have been a complete and utter mammoth disaster as they were both bargain basement! If they had been expensive, then I would have gone to see them first, I wouldn't risk it, but also, don't forget, these had all been bought as broodmares only, so not ridden prospects where I think it's important that you do go and try first. When you've worked as a groom for any length of time, you get used to new horses on the yard and just have to get along with them anyway so I don't think it's much different, I think that's helped me a lot in my attitude now.
Sorry, didn't mean it to be so long!
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I bought one unseen, and just sold him for a nice profit.
He was a real sweetheart, not good enough for me to keep, but a lovely sane safe person who has gone to a lovely home
 
i have bought

a ridden pony, a 5yo stallion, 2 broodmares and a lot of youngsters from pics and over the phone and been very pleased with my buys, in fact my best broodmare was brought unseen, but i guess it depends on how much your spending i wouldn't spend alot of money and not view
 
yes, I bought my now 3 year old gelding as an unseen weanling, I actually bought him whilst I was on holiday - his breeder emailed me over photos of him!! I did have his full brother and trusted the breeder. So far so good, we start backing him in a week or so....!!
 
Yes, I bought my dressage schoolmaster some years ago now unseen except on a video, untried and unvetted. He was advertised in H&H and was in Scotland, so I would have had to take time off work to see him, take my intsructor etc, so I took a deep breath and just said yes, I'd have him. I knew if he was wrong, then I'd lose money, possibly all the purchase price if I'd really been "done", but I decided I could live with that.

I still have him, he is exactly as described and an absolute gem in every respect. I doubt I will ever get another horse like him. His previous owner and I exchange Christmas cards and I put in a little note about him. Sometimes I think you just have to take a chance - it seems to me you can take every precaution with buying horses and still get it wrong, often through no fault of your own.
 
Yes bought one unseen before the days of emailing videos to potential purchasers. Was a disaster - knew it was going to be the minute the mare stepped off the trailer. All ended happily though and she went on to a lovely home where she still lives.

Sold a few unseen; I always send videos though and lots of photos of not only conformation but also of legs, backs, feet etc. None of my buyers have been disappointed. Sold a horse yesterday which had another long distance buyer waiting for video, couldn't get video uploaded, another potential buyer came in person, bought the horse unridden and on the spot. I have another buyer coming up from the States today so am hopeful she will be inspired to open her wallet!
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Yes, I bought my current mare unseen from Scotland and she is the best little pony I've ever owned. I also sold my WB over the 'phone and he went to a good home. I checked it out before I agreed to the sale.
 
yes, i bought my mare after somebody put a thread up on here, although she can be a cow, her good points fair out way the tantrums. reason i bought her? money., and i fancied a challenge.
 
Do you think it's something about Scottish sellers! On a completely different topic, my old instructor's little girl is named Finella, generally known as Fin. Just thought I'd mention that.
 
not really bought and not really unseen because i was gifted them and had seen plenty of photos but I'd not sat on shellee and certainly not jake as he was unbroken lol, neither had i seen them in the flesh
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But they've both worked out just fine, don't think i could have found a more suitable girl than shellee if i'd tried, Jake is still a work in progress but as far as I'm concerned as long as the progress keeps coming i'm happy
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JM on here has to great success. I would do it.

[/ QUOTE ]

yes, Weezy, i do it all the time...

it's not rocket science buying a horse/pony.
 
got one gifted and let one go on trust...I think it's safe to say I'd do neither again - ever, but neither ended up being a very good experience in honesty! LOL

buuuut looking for the ever present silver lining I do say nowadays that at least it taught me the many faces you can be presented with, which given was pretty naive a few years back before found the ole net I needed, mind sometimes I think I'd have had a far better time staying naive, believing everyone means what they say and not having the internet to prove otherwise....LOL :P
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Cariad - I'd never heard the name "Finella" until I got her but I really like it. Whenever we go to a show they always write down "Fenella" of Glendoll and the commentator always pronounces it wrong. Maybe I should go to some Scottish shows instead?
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Oddly enough, my instructor is not Scottish but her husband is of Scottish descent, but I don't think that was persuasive on the name. I think she quite liked Fionnuala, which is Irish and pronounced Finnoola, and Ella and then one of her clients suggested running the two together as Finella and so it was. So it was a sort of made up name. I expect she'll get Fenella along the way somewhere as well. Or Finny, or Nell or Nelly or Elly. It seems to me that there is no name you can give a child that other children cannot twist into something, usually that they find hilarious!
 
I bought an exracehorse unseen earlier this year. My father in law trotted him round the field at a trainer's near Carlisle and decided he'd do the job for me to take hunting. Happy came in early May and he's been a star ever since. Have to admit to being rather nervous about the whole thing though!! Luckily its turned out brilliantly.
 
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