Buying unseen

[ester]

I don't think £250 is too much for someone to give their professional opinion on suitability.

As you aren't a horsey family/don't know horsey people then it would certainly be a good idea to find someone to help you source/with purchase even if it is more local.

 

[TheresaW]

I'll go if you want but you will need to be very clear what your criteria are.

You are not that far from me, so maybe we could work something out? Want to meet you and yours anyway ?

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

There will be other ponies.
I think the problem is that anyone who does not work with OP on her horses can only guess as to suitability.
I had someone came to see my horse, she still kept her hat in a bag!
Had never riden except some RS nag round an arena. Brought a friend who codnt ride very well either., lapsed AI, horse soon sussed them!
I would normally have quizzed anyone before they came, but they sort of phoned en route, I though it was casual enquiry.
Another who insisted her daughter was very good rider, she had ridden show pony type, all schooled for her, I told her the horse needed an experienced rider.

 

[ycbm]

You are not that far from me, so maybe we could work something out? Want to meet you and yours anyway ?

I'll put the kettle on.

 

[meleeka]

I'll go if you want but you will need to be very clear what your criteria are.

ETA I will go on the basis that I tell you whether you need to make a visit, not on the basis that you should buy unseen.
.

That’s very kind ycbm. I’d jump at that chance if I were the OP.

 

[Winters100]

OP that is an amazing offer from ycbm and TeresaW. I have read a lot from ycbm on this forum and she is clearly a very experienced and knowledgeable owner. (Teresa - sorry but I have not read so much from you, but I am sure that you are also very knowledgeable).

It is a very good point that ycbm makes when she says that she can go to say if pony is worth viewing, not that you should buy unseen. Do keep this in mind, and decide in advance if you would be able to make the trip if her view was positive.

@ycbm and Teresa - a really kind gesture which is lovely to see

 

[GSD Woman]

OP, I am also on the spectrum but driving doesn't bother me except for my back. Is it possible to take a train and read to ease your mind if TheresaW and ycbm think it's worth the trip?

 

[Kaylum]

We get messages daily from people buying unseen. The horses are in terrible condition when they arrive. Another trick is they put a nice photo of a horse in and a totally different one arrives.

You also need to ride and handle it yourself.

Good luck.

 

[Melody Grey]

Do you have lessons OP? Can you recruit your instructor or riding school owner to go on your behalf? I would expect to pay them a day’s wage + for the trouble, so I don’t think £250 for that is unreasonable.

otherwise, build a rapport with a reputable local dealer- there could be a choice of horses to view at one location closer to home and you have easier recourse for return if the horse isn’t suitable.

 

[Birker2020]

The three horses I went to view before buying Lari were dreadfu.

The first one was okay but wouldn't have passed a vet as it held its tail to the side constantly and they had to warm it up in a field of long grass so you couldn't see how initially stiff it was.
The second one was totally unsuitable, I didn't even see it tacked up, it didn't have a single bit of muscle on its body and it was so shut down it was untrue. If you had of fired a firework in front of it, it would have just shut its eyes, heart breaking to see a horse so shut down, like it was at the end of its tether.

The third one was nice looking but 2 inches higher than advertised (no good for my trailer) and couldn't bend around your leg and had a bad wind problem which may not have been noticeable on a video! Hilarious when its huffing and puffing past me and I said what's that noise and the lady said "what noise". Talk about 'the elephant in the room' lol.

All three of those looked super in videos and photographs, I could have ended up in serious trouble buying any of them unseen!

 

[Kaylum]

If a person is happy for you to buy unseen in the current market then I would question why? If its a much loved animal from a private home they will be asking you a lot of questions and want to meet you as they wouldn't want it to end up with a dealer.

 

[nutjob]

had a bad wind problem which may not have been noticeable on a video!

There are reasons why horse sales video's have got music dubbed over the top , this is one of them.

 

[Coblover18]

Thank you all for your lovely advice and also thank you to the two lovely ladies for offering to view him for me. That is so kind of you but I think I either need to get the guts to travel 4 hours or I will have to leave it sadly. Thank you

 

[Birker2020]

If a person is happy for you to buy unseen in the current market then I would question why? If its a much loved animal from a private home they will be asking you a lot of questions and want to meet you as they wouldn't want it to end up with a dealer.

Yes I agree, although with one of my horses when I spoke to them over the phone I was told they were prepared to drop the asking price if he went to a good and loving home as they 'loved him to pieces and were devastated about selling him' but when we turned up to view him they never once asked our circumstances or what kind of yard he was going to and when I explained they weren't in the slightest bit interested.

But I do agree that genuine people will want to know they are going to a good home.

 

[Tiddlypom]

If a person is happy for you to buy unseen in the current market then I would question why? If its a much loved animal from a private home they will be asking you a lot of questions and want to meet you as they wouldn't want it to end up with a dealer.

This, plus there would be no need for the vendor to hang around waiting for a ditherer to commit (or not) to a viewing.

 

[Winters100]

Yes I agree, although with one of my horses when I spoke to them over the phone I was told they were prepared to drop the asking price if he went to a good and loving home as they 'loved him to pieces and were devastated about selling him' but when we turned up to view him they never once asked our circumstances or what kind of yard he was going to and when I explained they weren't in the slightest bit interested.

But I do agree that genuine people will want to know they are going to a good home.

It has always surprised me that sellers have never asked about how I will keep the horse, what turnout I will provide etc. The 3 I have now were all purchased from people I know, but of the many horses I have had in the past I have never once been asked. When selling it is one of the first things that I discuss, even before arranging a viewing.

 

[Ratface]

Please don't buy unseen. In my opinion, it could be a quick route to heartbreak and penury.
Could you look into loaning for the time being?
Good luck, anyway.

 

[ihatework]

Do not buy unseen, even paying someone to check it out for you. As a novice buyer it will be difficult for you to really verbalise and understand what you need and even an experienced stranger will not be able to get a good enough feel from you to advise accurately.

I have on a few occasions pre-viewed for someone, but only people who I have sufficient knowledge of to be confident they will understand my assessment. Also only a pre-view with the mindset it’s worth travelling to view, not buy unseen.

By all means pay for someone to come with you as an independent opinion on suitability. That is advisable.

 

[Leandy]

Do not buy unseen. It is not a good way at all to find the ideal horse for you. Or, at the very least a very experienced person who knows you and your capabilities and preferences well must view. It is perfectly reasonable for a professional to charge for their time and and travelling expenses in helping you with this.

 

[Fransurrey]

What about booking a night in a hotel in Chester? Take the family to see the Roman walls, maybe a night at the theatre and see the horse the next morning? As someone on the Spectrum I find travel difficult sometimes, so I make it worthwhile! Journeywise I've done that trip many times (past Cheshire up to Lancashire) and I can tell you from Kent that there are a few nice service stations to stop at to break up the journey (I tend to head straight for Warwick, but you might find North M25 better, in which case you could admire the view from the QEII bridge!).

 

[Sir barnaby]

Hi I have read with interest on this subject, a lady at our livery, bought a unseen horse last year lots of promise and videos, paid £3,500 for 15hh coloured cob, it started well and we hacked out together for a couple of weeks then the problems started, couldn’t be clipped, naughty for dentist, needed special shoes to correct gait, was very trippy, basically it is now a field ornament and very rarely used unless a ‘trainer’ rides it around a paddock every few weeks or so, I have to say it does have potential, but the owner has now lost her nerve and barely sits on it such a shame with constant work and regular lessons it could be a good family horse, look for something with lots of history and check all the details out. Patience is a virtue I’m sure something suitable will come up in your area in the spring when the market picks up

 

[onemoretime]

Do you have lessons OP? Can you recruit your instructor or riding school owner to go on your behalf? I would expect to pay them a day’s wage + for the trouble, so I don’t think £250 for that is unreasonable.

otherwise, build a rapport with a reputable local dealer- there could be a choice of horses to view at one location closer to home and you have easier recourse for return if the horse isn’t suitable.

This is a good idea. I would recommend Julia Martin at Kings Hill Equestrian in Bolney not far from Hickstead in Sussex

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thank you all for your lovely advice and also thank you to the two lovely ladies for offering to view him for me. That is so kind of you but I think I either need to get the guts to travel 4 hours or I will have to leave it sadly. Thank you

Why don't you see if you could meet ycbm and Theresa to go with you to view the horse, at least you would have expert eyes and that would surely reassure you a bit.

 

[Roxylola]

Thank you all for your lovely advice and also thank you to the two lovely ladies for offering to view him for me. That is so kind of you but I think I either need to get the guts to travel 4 hours or I will have to leave it sadly. Thank you

I think you're right in this. Fwiw, the spotty I've recently taken delivery of looked quite a chunk in his videos, and I was told he was about 15.1.
Hes more like 16.1 and really quite blood. It doesn't matter in my case, but if it matters to you you need to see. Especially bearing in mind this was someone I know with no desire to try anything on who wasn't trying to sell him.

 

[Hallo2012]

i think you've made the right choice. buying unseen isn't for novices or anyone who doesn't have the space, time and confidence to sort out a variance from the description!

 

[Bumblepony]

I'm afraid I don't have anything useful to add over and above what others have said, but just wanted to post in solidarity as I am a fellow autistic person who struggles to travel currently looking for a pony to buy, I was pressuring myself to get on a train (I find trains a bit easier than cars) to go to Yorkshire from the Midlands to see one who looked lovely but eventually persuaded myself to just wait for something closer, and I felt quite relieved when I had decided that. I have a lovely friend who keeps offering to drive me to places further afield but I just can't cope with long car journeys and struggle to explain why to someone who is fine with driving all over the place! Good luck in your search x

 

[Coblover18]

I'm afraid I don't have anything useful to add over and above what others have said, but just wanted to post in solidarity as I am a fellow autistic person who struggles to travel currently looking for a pony to buy, I was pressuring myself to get on a train (I find trains a bit easier than cars) to go to Yorkshire from the Midlands to see one who looked lovely but eventually persuaded myself to just wait for something closer, and I felt quite relieved when I had decided that. I have a lovely friend who keeps offering to drive me to places further afield but I just can't cope with long car journeys and struggle to explain why to someone who is fine with driving all over the place! Good luck in your search x

its Always nice to find someone who has the same anxieties I have. The only ponies I keep finding are in the north.

 

[Spottyappy]

its Always nice to find someone who has the same anxieties I have. The only ponies I keep finding are in the north.

Can you give us your approximate location (county), as someone on here may know of something suitable that’s not so far away?

 

[Prancerpoos]

Coblover, I think you have made the right decision. You should wait until something comes up within your area. That may take some time, so you can save up the money you would have been spending on livery and put that towards your buying fund.

Good luck. Something will come up.

 

[Coblover18]

Can you give us your approximate location (county), as someone on here may know of something suitable that’s not so far away?

Hi I live in Kent thank you