Horse dealers... good? bad? What to do??

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kymw90

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I am on a budget, I would love a barefoot happy hacker..

Mt friend went to a horse dealer and bought 6 ponys.. one was a lovely mare full backed with no health vices and a dream in traffic and so forward going.. its a wonder why she was at the dealer really...

the other ponies were all vice free too but green.. I don't know how much she paid but I would say he came off better with 6 great ponies for riding and bringing on and now the 2 foals are coming on strong and forward, the wild one is now backed by her daughter, 2 have gone onto lovely homes as she found 6 were too many but still all lovely ponies!!.

This is one story of going to a dreaded horse dealer and coming back with really great lovely animals.

Has anyone else done this?? I've heard of terrible stories of really being cheated out of money, ending up with a poorly horse, a dying horse or something thats more than green.

Theres no such thing as a perfect horse/pony I know but my friend seems to have found all of them at a dealer and I would like to go and have a look at a dealers stock and see if I can too rescue a star from dog meat or any other horrible fate.

When I go what should I particularly ask to see and to know about an animal??? and what should I do to be wary of the dealer?? what tricks will they try and play or lines they will say to make a sale.

I'm not saying all horse dealers are horrible and cheating!!!!!! Just being cautious
 
Any horse can end up being sold through a dealer - a huge percentage of top class competition horses as well as the bargain basement ones. 99% of times, a horse is not at a dealers to be 'rescued'; and with the remaining 1% all you are doing is funding another poor soul or two to be bought!

You are not RESCUING by buying from a dealer, you are BUYING!

Of course there are bad and good dealers, the same way there are bad and good private sellers :confused:

Whether you buy from a dealer or a private seller, I would suggest you take an experienced person with you..
 
I would say the majority of dealers are ok - they are in a business and if they get a bad reputation, it will be found out. Also they are covered by the Sale of Goods Act which private sellers are not. Go to a reputable one, get some recommendations. Good luck!
 
I bought my girl in my siggie from Clip clop traders. Would go back again and again and again. She was straight up and 100% honest about everything about her. She however does not sell bin end cheap horses. They are realistically priced nice ones. Any she has problems with or are not right that she doesn't feel comfortable selling she sends back.

You just have to find the right dealer!
 
I think the golden rule with dealers is to get a vettings from a vet that isn't suggested by them.

Also remember that the horses are probably in fairly hard work being ridden and handled by a pro, so can be quite different when you get them home.
 
Kat said:
I think the golden rule with dealers is to get a vettings from a vet that isn't suggested by them.

Also remember that the horses are probably in fairly hard work being ridden and handled by a pro, so can be quite different when you get them home.
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Wise words,

I bought from a top end dressage dealer in Surrey, the one with a internationally known competition centre, lovely horse, as described, who has gone on to be stunningly successful in show ring and dressage arena, but -- it took a very long time for the horse to adapt to a different regime and I had very serious doubts about my purchase for a very long time. Had I not sourced professional help the horse would have been put back on the market at a considerable loss.

The horse has a home for life now and in the 7 years I have had the honour of owning him he has had 160 competition starts and has been out of the first 4 only once.

As has been mentioned a dealer does not/cannot afford bad press but the potential purchaser needs to be realistic in their abilities regardless of wether they are buying in the 10k or £150.00 bracket.
 
We have purchased a fabulous little horse from a local dealer and have kept in contact with him and his team. Yes we had her vetted by our own vet and would certainly go back to him if and when we ever need another horse.:)
 
I purchased my horse from a dealer. I had a really pleasant experience, friendly and given the opportunity to have an ace trial at their premises.

I am now 6 months on from the purchase and i have found my horse to be slightly greener than expected (flatwork) but quieter than i could of ever asked for (thats what i wanted). Fab fab fab maners too, literally can be handled by anyone!!!!

I would recommend buying from a dealer tbh, esp one that has a return policy and good reputation. If you buy private you have less come back.

I had my horse 5stage vetted by a local vet to the yard (too far away for my own). Which as i am a first time owner, i felt was esential.
 
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