Buying from Ireland

[BBP]

I think a few of you have bought unseen from Ireland recently but I can’t remember who to be able to look it up. I wondered if you would mind sharing your experiences with me about vetting, transport to England, costs etc.

I’m off doing an ultramarathon tomorrow so can’t reply til tomorrow evening, but would appreciate any feedback on how easy or scary you found it. Thanks!

 

[paddi22]

it totally varies depending on region and seller. did you have a region or area narrowed down?

 

[BBP]

Good point. I think county Sligo region.

 

[spacefaer]

Jim Tempany at Tireragh vets, Dromore East Co Sligo. Used him several times - very approachable and excellent vet.

Transport- Bramhams of Buckingham - speak to Tim Green. Currently bringing horses across from NI to avoid the worst of the Brexit costs and regulations.

We've been buying our own horses in Ireland for decades. We've used other vets and transporters in the past and regretted it.

 

[ImmyS]

I bought unseen from Galway Ireland. I hadn’t done it before. The breeder/producers I bought from helped me organise vetting - would have to check who it was with.

Transport I organised myself. I was let down last minute by a large company. This would have been around £400 for a shared load. I ended up using Ken Gamble Transport, who helped out last minute and Finn came on a private load which was £600. Couldn’t recommend Ken and his team enough - such a lovely man and gave Finn a very good journey considering how long it was

As above some transporters are still going through Northern Ireland to avoid extra costs.
I was scared as first time I had done it, but I think when you find the right seller it just feels right! I got good vibes the whole time as Finn arrived exactly as advertised if not better!

 

[Red-1]

I just did that. Bought off a dealer with a reputation to keep. Spoke at length, asked stacks of questions, saw loads of video, she also saw video of me riding.

Spoke to the vet myself, he sounded very professional and understood what I wanted. Spoke to me in person after the vetting and emailed the certificate the same day.

I used Bramhams of Buckingham for transport, dealer recommendation. They came through Northern Ireland. The journey was 14 hours start to finish, they took photos of loading and also in England when they swapped from a big wagon (that was used on the ferry with a stack of horses) into a little 2 horse box for the final leg, so he wasn't driven here, there and everywhere.

Horse arrived tired and a little dehydrated, but bounced back next day. Understandable for a 4yo on such a long journey. The driver and little box that arrived (on time) were great, I would recommend.

To be honest, it was the easiest purchase I ever did make! Phone call on Tuesday morning and afternoon to the dealer. Phone call Tuesday and Wednesday to the vet. Phone call Wednesday to the transporter. Texts with updates and photos from the transporter until he arrived on my driveway on Friday.

It was, however, a risk. I suspect that, if the horse hadn't been as described, it would be tricky to enforce a return and refund. I had mentally prepared to lose the money and deal with whatever turned up. As it is, I am delighted.

 

[BBP]

Thanks all, sorry for the slow reply, ultramarathon kicked my backside!

May I ask how you managed things like strangles testing and quarantine? Probably a question relevant to bringing in a horse from anywhere really.

 

[lme]

I've just bought a 4yo. Mines with the vendor awaiting strangles test results before travelling with Bramhams.

 

[hock]

Thanks all, sorry for the slow reply, ultramarathon kicked my backside!

May I ask how you managed things like strangles testing and quarantine? Probably a question relevant to bringing in a horse from anywhere really.

Great thread OP. I’m particularly interested in the isolating precautions as we didn’t buy unseen from Ireland but we did have a problem with not strangles but illness that presented very much like. Mine all went into their own paddock about a mile from home and the person who did them for me did them as the last job on the way home.