Private home. I was very lucky with as he is as advertised - I had looked at a mixture of breeders, private home and dealers as I knew I wanted either a native pony
I found Ali's advert on Gumtree. No photo, advertised as not a novice ride and POA. E-mailed the seller and she e-mailed me with some more info. The next day I texted her asking if I could come to view. She rang back half an hour later and I viewed that night. Went back the following morning and rode her. Fell absolutely in love at first sight to be honest. The ride was just the final tick, so to speak.
I paid for her then and there, and her old owner trailered her to the yard for me. (Yes, she had all her jabs and was wormed up to date, and we quarantined her for a fortnight.)
My first horse - I guess you could call her a dealer. she had a lovely gelding at the yard where i had lessons and had another one up for sale in another emirate. My parents viewed him first and put a "valentines" card up on my bedroom wall in 2001 - we viewed him that day and he came home the next week.
My current boy came from my dad. He found him through our SJ instructor. he was the third horse my dad viewed and now lives with me in scotland.
My dad's current horse was found through a well-known SJ-er whose wife is friends with the breeder. Im hoping to go back to her when I start looking for a younger model
I found my goregeous boy through someone on this forum. I'd all but given up hope of finding my perfect horse and posted on here about the dishonesty of so many of the sellers whose horses I'd viewed and a lovely HHO member read my post and contacted me to tell me about her friend's homebred. I've had him for 4 months now and absolutely love him to bits
I spotted my current cob as a foal in a local field, called up the owner (who my OH knew) and was pleasantly surprised she was for sale The TB came from a dealer long story that one, and my little welsh D came from a local breeder too
Both mine came from dealers, both of which I would deal with again.
Captain was the dealer's own horse but the 3 we had gone to see were all unsuitable in one way or another so he said "well there is Captain" We saw him and despite his many, many issues we loved him.
Fany was advertised on Horsemart and rang up, went to see her, bought her.
I got my first horse off Horsemart. He was totally not what I was looking for. I have no idea why I went to try him but it was love at first sight and every day afterwards. We had 5 and a half wonderful years together but sadly he was pts in September.
I got my new horse through a forum member (not this one). I had tried 6 horses who were mostly not as advertised and she was the 7th. She had been for sale all through my searching but I just wasn't able to see what was right in front of me!