Learning about importing from the Uk, Ireland, Europe as a whole

BunnyDog

BunnyDog

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Hi all, this could be in the wrong forum but this seemed the closest of the choices. :)

I know I am a newbie on the H&H forums but I promise I am not a young annoying person who doesn't know how to research. I am an American and well over the age of 40 and considering importing a horse for the first time, to help me ascend the levels a bit higher in show jumping. (Currently at 1.15m)

So I have taken this proposition seriously and I have been doing my homework. I have done research on the actual shipping, the blood work done before and after the flights. The time frames, quarantines and of course the costs.

The next things I looked into were the 'typical' vetting procedures. I have read up on 2 stage and 5 stage vettings and while these are a bit different from how we do it here I do see a wealth of vets willing to tack on the more "American" stuff that we need in order to be able to buy for possible resale. (Don't even get me started on my country's obsession with perfect x-rays. I don't agree but I have to buy with a similar requirement because as a very small one person outfit, at any time I could need to sell one and if it's not got 'acceptable' rads I am not going to be able to recoup my losses.)

The things I am looking to do, and who knows I may not be able to but why not try, is to avoid dealers and to attempt to consider and try horses that are for sale with their individual owners or very small breeding outfits. Yes... I could be daydreaming but it is a learning process.

But I can't know everything. I know I am just scratching the surface. So I am asking if you all would be so kind as to add your own 2 cents on what I may need to consider or do or what have you.

I am planning to come over to try horses in person and will (I think) be staying with friends and looking in/around England, Ireland and possibly Belgium too. (Please let me find me the perfect horse in Liege so I can save a few $$$$!!!)

I have bought and sold Thoroughbreds off the track for the last 20 years or so here so I have an eye for how to select what I am looking for and the folks at home will have videos that we'll shoot when trying so not looking for an advisor to tell me which horse to buy. Rather looking to avoid the sellers that we would describe here as "smarmy" the people you don't want to invite into your home.

Thank you for any thoughts that you may have,

Emily
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.

How exciting searching for a horse from so far away.

Is there a reason that you would prefer to buy from private homes rather than dealers?

I have recently purchased a horse via an agent in Ireland. She set up a number of excellent quality horses for me to see over 3 different yards in close proximity to each other. I was spoilt for choice and if I'd had the money I would have bought two. I've had the horse home now for a few months and he is absolutely everything they said he was.

Highly recommended way to purchase horses. The Facebook page of the agent has the odd video but best to get in touch directly- the Facebook page is Golden Vale Sport Horses

Feel free to pm me if you would like further info
 
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Depending on where you buy there are some people who will have xrays done for prospective buyers, and an agent could well be the best way for you to go as if you know exactly what you want they are most likely to be the people who will know what horses in t he area will suit you and will save you going all over the place looking at horses that do not match the description that you were given in an advert! As for importing to USA, most will go from Amsterdam or possibly Luxamburg, and the shipper will deal with the quarantine at the Europe end for the blood tests and all the import paperwork, all you need to do is collect when the horse clears quarantine in the US - and pay the bill of course!
 
Agree with Wheels. There are dealers and dealers and for a top competition prospect I guess that is a more of a specialist area. There is always the Billy Stud run by Pippa and William Funnell and I expect other people can suggest other specialist studs.

Someone who travels horses between the UK and the USA said it is necessary to have insurance in case a horse is rejected in the USA, despite passing all tests in Europe. Apparently it happens sometimes.
 
Wheels said:
Hi and welcome to the forum.

How exciting searching for a horse from so far away.

Is there a reason that you would prefer to buy from private homes rather than dealers?

I have recently purchased a horse via an agent in Ireland. She set up a number of excellent quality horses for me to see over 3 different yards in close proximity to each other. I was spoilt for choice and if I'd had the money I would have bought two. I've had the horse home now for a few months and he is absolutely everything they said he was.

Highly recommended way to purchase horses. The Facebook page of the agent has the odd video but best to get in touch directly- the Facebook page is Golden Vale Sport Horses

Feel free to pm me if you would like further info
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Simply put I am VERY accustomed to dealers here being the lowest of the low in our hunter/jumper world. They lie, they cheat, they drug and for all this they mark up the prices substantially (To the point that states had to pass laws against it)

If dealers over there are different that's great. It's absolutely not what I am accustomed to.

Emily
 
Of course there are dealers over here too that would do similar but there are also lots of dealers who wouldn't risk their reputation by doing anything like that and will really help you to find your perfect match.

There are a number of Facebook groups about dodgy dealers so if you find something you like at a dealers yard then you can research their reputation fairly easily. Generally it is the cheaper end of the market here that appears on the dodgy list as the upper end really won't risk getting a bad review. Of course there are exceptions to the rule but personally I have found the private sellers are good at looking at their horses through rose tinted glasses and you may have to travel far and wide to find something suitable that is also sound
 
Wheels said:
Of course there are dealers over here too that would do similar but there are also lots of dealers who wouldn't risk their reputation by doing anything like that and will really help you to find your perfect match.

There are a number of Facebook groups about dodgy dealers so if you find something you like at a dealers yard then you can research their reputation fairly easily. Generally it is the cheaper end of the market here that appears on the dodgy list as the upper end really won't risk getting a bad review. Of course there are exceptions to the rule but personally I have found the private sellers are good at looking at their horses through rose tinted glasses and you may have to travel far and wide to find something suitable that is also sound
Click to expand...

I appreciate that. Where can I find the fb groups that warn you about dodgy dealers? (Or did I interpret that wrong?)

Emily
 
If you type dodgy dealers into the search bar on FB then a number of pages will come up. You can search the pages if you have names or post to ask if anyone has any reviews of dealers you are looking at
 
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