Possibly importing from Ireland .....

W

welshcobmad

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2010
Messages
542
Visit site
Considering going to view a horse I've found on the internet over in Ireland, after emailing the owner he seems everything I'd want in a horse!

The one thing that's putting me off is the fact that he's over there - the advert didnt say a location so had to email to ask.

So is it fairly straight forward to do or more hassle than its worth & am I better off waiting for something to come along over here?

He's a good few thousand so I'm not going because he's cheap! lol I can afford him, but it's the spiraling costs of importing ontop I'm worried about .... flights to Belfast to view, finding a vet over there to do a vetting then obviously the travelling him back back! (I'd have to find a specialist)

Any tips, advice or ideas on cost for various bits greatly appreciated!
 
A friend has just bought a horse from Ireland, it was relatively trouble free, horse came from a respected breeder, I think it cost around £300 to get him over here (to Liverpool ish).
Sorry can't help with the other bits though!
 
So many horses are imported i don't think you'll have any probs finding transport , the vet who does the vetting would probably know , my boy came from southern ireland , onto a ship at cork and then off at holyhead and down to cornwall so a pretty long journey , but well worth it..
 
I've imported a few from Ireland and usually use mullins for the transport - they arrange everything so no hassles. I've only been over once as usually buy unseen (from a dealer I know) and it cost me about €250 for a weekend in Dublin, including flights and a night out :)
 
elliecjno1 said:
Considering going to view a horse I've found on the internet over in Ireland, after emailing the owner he seems everything I'd want in a horse!

The one thing that's putting me off is the fact that he's over there - the advert didnt say a location so had to email to ask.

So is it fairly straight forward to do or more hassle than its worth & am I better off waiting for something to come along over here?

He's a good few thousand so I'm not going because he's cheap! lol I can afford him, but it's the spiraling costs of importing ontop I'm worried about .... flights to Belfast to view, finding a vet over there to do a vetting then obviously the travelling him back back! (I'd have to find a specialist)

Any tips, advice or ideas on cost for various bits greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...


Just to point out that if horse is in Northern Ireland which it appears to be, as you say flights to Belfast, then you are buying a horse in the United Kingdom, so it is just the same as buying in Scotland or Surrey; Good Luck!
 
Was just going to say that freddie!

OP do you now know where the horse is? Maybe you could post up and ask for vet recommendations
 
Pretty easy. Choose your transporter and they usually do the rest, often inc sorting out payment for the horse.

Ours cost £270, from Ireland to Edinburgh
 
Lots of cheap flights to Belfast, lots of good horse vets in NI (you'd get some good recommendations from HHO if you told us where the horse is) and they don't charge as much as mainland ones, and it's pretty cheap to transport horses across the water with lorries going weekly. My only advice is be careful which transporter you use. Some of them are terrible and I wouldn't let them transport a cardboard box, let alone a horse :(

So it should be relatively straightforward and not too expensive ... :)
 
Ive had a few from Ireland and its actually pretty hassle free if you use a good transporter. And not that expensive either, last one we had over was in a shared consignment of 16 horses!
 
Echo those who say use a good transporter. Mullins would be my first choice as they are very good. Can certainly tell you of at least one to avoid! ( think horse not turning up for a week after he was due without any contact to say where he was and why he had not travelled on the arranged date!)
 
I have brought over a good few over the years and the most recent was just 3 weeks ago. Cost of transport was around £280 from Kildare to Bedfordshire with Mullins who really are excellent. She had an amazing journey, being picked up about 6pm on Tuesday and arriving with me at 5.30am on Wednesday so less than 12 hours. I have also used McMahons when the horse was further north.
 
mine is over from ireland, a well known dealer in the UK was selling them on their behalf. Well i dont know who transported them but when they got to the UK all the papers were wrong which then resulted in the horses being on the transport for nearly 5 days before being allowed to continue which im prety sure is illegal!
 
You can always collect yourself too like I did, more expensive but I'd do it again. Got to stop as often as I wanted and also didn't have to travel with any other horses. Some transporters are great, some can have your horses traveling around for days. Also they can end up dropping off in the middle of the night which is ok if you have your own yard, but not if on a livery yard! If you go yourself you can pick your ferry times.
 
I've used McMahons many times over the years, the last one was £250 from N Ireland to me in Wiltshire. As other posters have said, plenty of good vets to choose from and it's just as simple to arrange by the phone. I've certainly never regretted buying an Irish horse yet!!
 
Thankyou all so much for your advice & help, given me plenty to think about! Mullins is the big one I've heard of but will look up the others too.

From what I've gathered he's in County Antrim, Belfast? (I don't know Ireland at all!) lol Will be travelling down to South Wales.

Also, as the horse is only rising 3, what stage vetting would you recommend if I was to buy him?

This is all new to me need as much help as I can get! My boy was only 15 miles up the road! lol
 
charlene88 said:
I live in N.I and know of many excellent vets if you want to pm me the area i can get you a good vet.
Click to expand...

Also in Northern Ireland and live in Co Antrim, you can pm me to, if you wish.
Have to say even if its only three go for best vetting, what is wrong with him at three will be with him when he's four, if you get my point!:)
 
Co Antrim is quite big - goes all the way from south belfast up to the north coast and yes, I live in Co Antrim too - north antrim

is the horse broken or lunging? would be hard to get a 5 stage vetting done if the horse is just off the field

you can pm me too if you like :D always interested to know the comings and goings of horses from my area
 
charlene88 said:
I live in N.I and know of many excellent vets if you want to pm me the area i can get you a good vet.
Click to expand...

Brilliant thank you! I'll be emailing him again tonight & will ask more specifically where he is.

Freddie19 said:
Also in Northern Ireland and live in Co Antrim, you can pm me to, if you wish.
Have to say even if its only three go for best vetting, what is wrong with him at three will be with him when he's four, if you get my point!:)
Click to expand...

Very good point! Its things like this I need reminding of as part of me is thinking hes only 3 hes not going to have been through the mill but same time he could have done anything in the field!

Wheels said:
Co Antrim is quite big - goes all the way from south belfast up to the north coast and yes, I live in Co Antrim too - north antrim

is the horse broken or lunging? would be hard to get a 5 stage vetting done if the horse is just off the field

you can pm me too if you like :D always interested to know the comings and goings of horses from my area
Click to expand...

I didnt realise it was that big! lol Shows how well I know Ireland (rather embarassing!) Will send you a PM once I get the ball rolling & know the exact area.

Hes rising 3, backed & done light schooling & pole work end of last summer by the sounds but then turned away to grass over winter which is where he is now, although they said he'll be brought back soon & restarted ready to go. So suspect he'd be ok for a 5 stage but to what extent I dont know, will ask the question.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top