Have You Ever Bought Sight Unseen?

legyield

legyield

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A close friend of mine is thinking about getting another youngster. She already has one but it's too young for her to do much with at the moment.
Apparently she is thinking of buying one that's perhaps rising 3 and something she can work with through the summer. From what I gather she's not after anything special, as long as it isn't pure TB, and is fairly laid back to make over 15-15.2hh. From what she's told me her budget could perhaps stretch to £450 - no idea if she'll be able to get something for that - but she's thinking of buying sight unseen if she finds the "right" horse.

I, personally, think it's quite risky but I suppose at that price and for a youngster I'd maybe consider taking the risk if it was me. She's asked me my opinions on it but I don't know what to say to her to be honest! As exciting as it seems, getting another horse, I think at the back of my mind I have a niggling worry for her in the case that she ends up with a loony.

So what are your experiences with buying unseen? Did they turn out as described or would you never do it again?
 
I often import horses and at times I'm not able to travel to view the horses prior to purchase. I do however make sure I have photos of every part of the horse and I ask for plenty of video footage. I also have a lot of horse contacts so I run the sale horses by these contacts in the area to see what they know. I spend considerably more than £450 but the sentiment is the same regardless. Encourage her to ask for plenty of video and photos. This has never been a problem for me to get at the price tag many of my purchases command and most of these horses already have regular video footage uploaded, it may be a bit more of a struggle for her to get as the seller may not want to put in the time for such a cheapy horse. I've been very happy with all of my unseen purchases.
 
I have just done exactly that. I bought a rising 4yo unbroken PBA 14hh pony for my daughter. I saw her advertised but she was too far away to go and see. We looked at lots of other ads but kept coming back to this one. I got photos and asked loads of questions and then arranged to have her transported up to us. I am totally delighted with her but I would only do it with an unbroken younster, I would never buy anything other than a blank canvas this way, and also I trusted the sellers, who asked me almost as many questions about the home we could provide, as I asked them about the pony. Not sure I would do it again though, it was a huge risk.
 
I know of one she can have for £450. Super looking, well bred, 4 yr old lots of photo's, county level riding horse quality. The photo's would sell it unseen easily. Stunning looking correct horse.

And the truth is - rotten tempered, evil, nappy, awesome rear, bargy and bites. Good points - it's a gelding so no one will breed from it. I guess the photo's don't catch these attributes !

Buyer beware.
 
I have bought two by this method and been hugely pleased with both. I think the main thing is an open line of communication with seller, a seller you trust and taking time over the decision.
 
I've heard a few horror stories but at the same time I've heard quite a few, if not as many, success stories. I suppose it depends on the seller and how open they are, and her own personal judgement on whether the risk is worth it. I don't think she'd be considering it if it wasn't a young, more than likely unbroken, horse.
 
I've bought 3 sight unseen,

1. Section A yearling from Wales - saw lots of pics - has now matured into a super LR pony. Was exactly as described.

2. Ex-Racehorse - also from Wales, saw pics and video and had a vetting - arrived, as described and is super horse. They did tell me he was tricky to ride and he went well for their son but he was a good rider. Bought himn for my eldest daughter who is also a good rider and he goes fabulously for her too. He was just as described - including his little quirks!

3. L/R RP Schoolmaster from Invernesshire - fab little pony, saw lots of pics and videos and had him vetted, he too is a super pony and as described.

Wouldn't hesitate to do it again, especially with a youngster.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I know of one she can have for £450. Super looking, well bred, 4 yr old lots of photo's, county level riding horse quality. The photo's would sell it unseen easily. Stunning looking correct horse.

And the truth is - rotten tempered, evil, nappy, awesome rear, bargy and bites. Good points - it's a gelding so no one will breed from it. I guess the photo's don't catch these attributes !

Buyer beware.
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Poor horse, what's happened to it? If I wasn't full and it was in the south east I'd offer £50 sight unseen subject to photos, a video of its movement and details of breeding! I am full though.....no chance it's a small hunter rather than a riding horse I suppose......?
 
I only know of one person who did it. Horse was forever lame and was a numpty to ride out. She was okay to school but hacking out was a no no. Personally I wouldn't do it, I'd like to see if I actually liked being around the horse.
 
I have done it once with a youngster. I saw lots of pictures and did a lot of research online regarding the breeding in terms of temperament. It is not a guarantee but gives some idea.

I was very pleased with her but would only do it from a breeder. The problem is people can lie about anything regardless of whether you see it or not. I knew the people were honest and loved her from the moment she walked off the lorry. In some ways it was quite exciting, it was like Christmas...

I know of a friend who went to see her horse, had it vetted, rode it many a times, bought it and within 2 weeks the horse was lame from an ongoing illness and after 2 years of battling had it put down.

Either way it is a gamble. Some people are nice and some aren't. You have more chances of spotting problems if you view the horse and also you know straight away if the horse is for you or not when you see it.

Personally though, I would see it if i could but if the terms were right i would buy unseen...
 
Have done it twice; first was my horse of a lifetime and second a youngster last month. Key issue is I trusted the dealer/agent acting on my behalf; second point is to get the horse vetted and to see the vetting certificate prior to changing hands. If mare get confirmation it is not pregnant (by vet). Also better to know the breeding, but not all horses have that available. MY fallback in both cases was working through people who would take back & re-sell if it didn't work out. Would not buy via a private buyer this way. Good luck!
 
I did. I was mucking out one morning when mmy YO came out and asked me if i wanted to buy a pony. Apparently her friend lived next door to a lady who had bought this reg welsh b mare for her grandaughter. The pony turned out to be too much for the grandchild who then became too scared to ride her. Women thought too much of the mare to sell her through the markets and the only private buyers who cam to view were numpties!! Would i like to have her. Initially the owner was going to give her away but i thought it best to exchange some kind of money. so offered £100. 2 weeks later our beautiful welshie turned up. She's 12.3 and jet black with a little white snip on her nose. Her temperament on the groung is amazing. She had a 6 month old baby on her back in a basket saddle in the summer and went for a walk around the milking parlour, didn't bat an eyelid. She can be a little quirky when ridden sometimes but she has taught my daughter a hell of a lot. B is now a member of the family and will never be sold!! Would i do it again, probably not. If you take a chance and it pays off the first time, don't risk it again. If i can work out how to post piccies then i will.
Chocolate and Vodka for anyone who made it to the end of this post x x x
 
I sold one to a lady who didn't see her before we met to drop her off. The horse was a 2 year old. I live in the south and the lady lives above Yorkshire and she really couldn't justify travelling all the way to see her to give her a pat!

I took alot of photos and spent a day doing videos of turning her out, catching her, her walking and trotting up, little trot on the lunge, getting into the truck, standing near a tractor and walking down the road with cars coming by!!

The filly was such a genuine sort that I was happy with it. If she had of been tricky then no way would I of let it happen. There was also a bit on the sale document saying if she wasn't happy with her over a 6 month period that I was happy to buy her back for the same amount.

We met halfway with her (at the lady who I brought her off actually!!) it was nerve wracking but the lady and I really got on and the horse was just super and it all worked out fantastically. She also got to meet the lady who bred her and meet the horses mother.

So it can work but I can imagine, like anything that people could be dodgy about it
 
Yep done it. For considerably more £ too. I could not find what I wanted in this country for the money I was willing to spend so I looked in Europe. I did not go through any dealers or agents and did my research on the breeder/stud before I even contacted them. I got all the necessary pics at the right angles. The only issue I had was he wasn't backed and was supposed to have been. Someone had sat on him yes, backed him no! But for all my effort I am beig rewarded with the horse of a lifetime. Two lifetimes!
I would do it again. Especially at the age she is looking for and the money.
 
Suziq77 said:
Poor horse, what's happened to it? If I wasn't full and it was in the south east I'd offer £50 sight unseen subject to photos, a video of its movement and details of breeding! I am full though.....no chance it's a small hunter rather than a riding horse I suppose......?
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It is under going neurological tests at great expense courtesy of his insurance policy. Much money has already been spent trying to help him. I posted him as an example of what buying unseen from a private vendor could result in. He will be pts if he is beyond help.
 
I bought my horse unseen and he has been here for about 7 years now. He was in N.Yorkshire and was too far for me to go to view and being as I was quite novicey viewing him myself would have proved no help at all!!!

A very kind member (or exmember as I have been off the boards for so long) from here went and saw me, reported back that he was not evil and then I picked him up.

I have not regretted it at all, I had him thoroughly vetted before purchase and other than an onforseen tendon injury years later he has been just as i expected. :D

I dont think I would chance it again but I have also seen so may people buy horses that have been seen and ridden and they still end up with something they didnt expect.
 
Brought two of mine unseen, I think I only saw a picture of their heads on each advert, nothing special! Simply asked a few q's, was satisfied with the answers, and had already looked up their racing records. One was delivered for his price, and the filly I had transporters bring her down, both have been super little horses so far. I have no problems with buying unseen but maybe I've been lucky! Would happily do so again, but then I don't tend to pay more than £1000 for a horse tops.
 
AdorableAlice said:
It is under going neurological tests at great expense courtesy of his insurance policy. Much money has already been spent trying to help him. I posted him as an example of what buying unseen from a private vendor could result in. He will be pts if he is beyond help.
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Oh, poor boy - glad to hear he is being helped and if he can't be mended he won't be passed on. Really glad you replied as this kept popping into my head!
 
I bought a PBA 4 year old unseen straight from his breeder, not even a photo :eek: and he had just failed the vet :eek::eek: He was his breeders's first foal, from a fairly ordinary farm pony and a well bred Arab stallion but as it turned out he was very well handled and started which set him up for life. 33 years later he is still here and has been, and still is, the pony of a lifetime. :)

I would do it again with horses of a traceable breeding (for instance the Arab mine is crossed with produced fantastic long lived, all rounders) and the mare's next foal (out of a TB) ended up going round Badminton.
 
I knew someone who bought unseen, 8 year old ridden gelding. She went purely on photos and what the owner told her. Within a week of her bringing him home he'd broken her finger (freak accident) and he's a grumpy git at the best of times. Personally, I wouldn't.
 
I've sold two unseen, both to the very north of Scotland. Both were very straight and easy, one an 8 year old and one a five year old.

Both did have disclosed issues. 8 year old windsucked, 5 year old made a noise and were priced accordingly, although still not cheap cheap as both were nice, useable horses. 8 year old I think 4k, 5 year old 3k.

However, both were EXACTLY as described, when the vet came for vetting I made them be a witness to them going down the road, jumping 1.30m in the case of the 8 year old, 1.10 in the 5 year old, both jumping a ditch.

I asked an awful lot of questions in both cases, also made out like the one that made a noise roared like a train, and the one that cribbed was a neurotic mess, just to cover myself.

One I met at Carlisle, the other sent a transporter. Both people are happy!
 
One of my TB was unseen, I knew the woman and she promised me he was lovely, didn't even see his picture. Was a nice suprise when he came off the lorry, he's very cute and has a big fan club for being so lovely, not sure I would do it again but was extremly lucky to find such a little gem
 
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