Why choose to buy from a dealer?

Archiesmummy

Archiesmummy

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Following a previous thread, I was just wondering why so many people use dealers and am interested to know experiences, good and bad? In the minefield of horse buying is it the best option, buying from a dealer, knowing in the event things go wrong there is some redress?

When I was looking for a horse it didn't enter my head to contact a dealer and I found Archie with a private seller. I know his history from birth, I knew his likes, dislikes and I am in regular contact with his old owner, after 4 1/2 years.

I think I was lucky and know buying privately can be a minefield too so if you have any experiences you would like to share then please do.

xxx
 
I have bought both my horses from dealers, and both have been, pretty much, as described. The first one was a cob who I stuck with for over 4 years, but he was the wrong horse for my first horse. My current chap came from a different dealer. I did not set out to only buy from a dealer, but she happened to have the perfect horse I wanted. I did look at some in private homes, but they were not right for me. I did ask around to find out what people locally thought of the dealer, and no bad reports came back, so I was happy to go with her. She was honest and I took to her immediately. And I do love my pony, apart from an issue with the wrong age on the passport (I only know his true age because I traced his breeding in Holland) I have no complaints at all. The dealer was conned herself in Holland by the seller she got my chap from I would say. You have more protection when buying from a dealer, according to a solicitor I know, since they have to abide by more rules that private sellers.

Sorry, that is dribble, but I know what I mean!!
 
I bought mine from a dealer.

I found I was looking at private sales as well as trade and being told just as much **** by both!

So to my mind it was better to buy from a reputable dealer where I would have some comeback.

I have got the perfect horse IMO, from a dealer. I would do the same again.
 
We bought two of ours from a local breeder who was very well known and respected in the area. He was amazing!! Proper old school horseman and matched people to horses perfectly. Both of ours were amazing including my horse of a lifetime who I lost in December and the other my sister still has. I would use one again but would prefer to use word of mouth rather than trade ads.
 
Persephone said:
I bought mine from a dealer.

I found I was looking at private sales as well as trade and being told just as much **** by both!

So to my mind it was better to buy from a reputable dealer where I would have some comeback.

I have got the perfect horse IMO, from a dealer. I would do the same again.
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Ditto above. Mind you, I did do some searches on forums to see which agents had a good reputation! I would go back to the same dealer again.
 
If you google the telephone numbers advertised, you soon realise that a large percentage of so called private sellers make frequent advertisements. You also get an insight into their "life" and can get to see things like their OH's BNP membership. No I'm not joking.

I've only viewed 1 (out of 6) "private" horse that was genuinely a private seller. Sadly, got the impression seller didn't like her horse - not encouraging. Most i've seen are being schooled and sold on by professionals. Couple being brought on by folks out of their depth and have made a mess of the horse.

Realistically, i would prefer people to be open about professional sales/agents/dealers. I am happy to go to a private vendor or dealer, but experience has taught me to avoid the agent situation (unless owner fully accessible).

No doubt I'm not the only one driving hundres of miles. The chance to view a few suitable horses in one location sounds refreshing to me.
 
we buy quite alot and always buy from the same dealer as we've never had anything bad from them. they know my style and what we want so they can show us suitable horses and know what i like and dislike.
i think a dealer that you know and 'trust' - as much as you can! - is really valuable. you can negogiate prices without fuss / swap horses / etc. if you have a good relationship and its relatively hassle free.

also i find alot of private people are either not in touch with the rest of world re prices / have over excited ideas of their horses ability.
 
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To be honest I got both of my boys from dealers simply because they had what I was looking for. When I was looking for B I tried several horses from "private" advertisers and was duly dumped by ALL of them :eek: needles to say they were all advertised as "perfect"

Would deffo reccomed the people I got Lord from as they were V honest from the start and V pleasant to deal with :)
 
It is often easier - they have several in that might be suitable and you can try them all on the same day. One of my friends bought her horse from a dealer lovely horse she probably paid a lot more than she would if she bought him from a private owner but this dealer was very reputable. They did not have what she wanted in stock and it took them six months to find the perfect horse for her but they did it right down to colour!

A good dealer will not sell a client an unsuitable horse, however sometimes clients lie and say they are better riders than they really are and sometimes this can cause problems if you are not honest.

I bought my pony from a private seller and at the time would not have considered a dealer as they do tend to be expensive if they are good. If they are bad however they tend to be very bad.
 
A good dealer will find the right horse for the rider, but at a price. They are there to make a living, and have a good turnover.There are plenty of good dealers who do the job properly, buy something with reasonable conformation that they know they can sell on again. They will ride it and assess it and then match it with what someone is looking for. They will not be over feeding and under exercising. Some of them immediately get the clippers out and pul manes and tails. You can get a bargain if they have an awkward one,but they will want to sell to someone who knows what they are doing.

Then you get the sort of back street dealers who just want to sell on to any mug who comes on the yard and they don't really care who they are, how they can ride or anything. Let the buyer beware and make sure never to answer the phone or email.

At least with dealers they are selling to make a living,not to get rid of a horse at all costs. You can get told terrible lies by private sellers.

I have had good and bad from both private and dealers.
 
I wouldn't buy from a dealer again, only because I think with a private sale they know more about the horse and usually have a bit of history with it. Also some tend to be over priced!
 
I have bought from private sellers and dealers finding both ok. As someone said its the horse not where it came from. The first horse I bought from a dealer was doped, and he was a family friend!! Luckily the horse was not at all bad, just very forward but we won no end of jumping comps!! Second pony came from a dealer and he was absolutley fab. Current horse came from a dealer and had a few issues (which I didn't know about) but he did let me have him on trail at the yard and do what I wanted with him. Perhaps I should have done more ! But again it has all turned out fine.
 
I bought my mare from a dealer.She was advertised as a 6 yr old Belgian WB. Again probabaly paid over the top for her.Tried a couple of horses from his yard,in the menage and rode them on the road.Riven's the only one who wasn't fazed by anything.There were tractors passing us and there was a railway nearby with a level crossing (which was great cos we have one near the yard).I didn't go looking for a chestnut mare but she's the greatest.
I later found out that the dealer was a bit dodgy (he was in the news a lot) after I bought her,and have since found out that she is probably a lot older than advertised at the time. I've only had her 6 yrs and she's a KWPN and branded.
I ended up going over Doncaster way to look at her and it cost a fair amount to get her transported but she'll be with me for the rest of her life.
 
I had a quirky mare who was shattering my confidence, i hated competing her so I decided to sell, decided to try and swap her for something more suitable so went to a local dealer who is huntsmaster, and son is a int. sj'er. They had a nice mare who had bsja'd they were very honest with me, had just dragged her out the field after about 2/3months off. so i did the swap, after a few little issues its the best decision iv ever made. I was a little apprehensive about going to a dealer because I worked on a horrible dealers yard a few years back
 
I have never bought from a dealer but know a lady that went to one to try a couple out. She was actually at her yard for a fews years before so knew her quite well. She was thrown off as soon as she got on one of them.

I think some dealers take part exchanges and reschool them which yes can work and yes cant work, thats something to be aware of. Remember they will have bought them cheap and want a quick profit out of them (the part exchanges I mean).

There are on the other hand some excellent dealers I have heard of. Heard of because word of mouth speaks for itself.
 
Two of our horses came from dealers and it was positive experiences in both instances. They both came highly recommended and didn't disappoint. More importantly the horses were as described and are a pleasure to own. There's a huge difference in the quality of dealers out there, but we would have no hesitation in buying from either of the two dealers we bought from again.

We bought the second horse from a dealer having got sick to the back teeth of going to view horses being sold privately who were anything but described. And there were several of them.

That said, our last two horses were both purchased privately without any problems.
 
mtj said:
If you google the telephone numbers advertised, you soon realise that a large percentage of so called private sellers make frequent advertisements. You also get an insight into their "life" and can get to see things like their OH's BNP membership. No I'm not joking.

I've only viewed 1 (out of 6) "private" horse that was genuinely a private seller. Sadly, got the impression seller didn't like her horse - not encouraging. Most i've seen are being schooled and sold on by professionals. Couple being brought on by folks out of their depth and have made a mess of the horse.

Realistically, i would prefer people to be open about professional sales/agents/dealers. I am happy to go to a private vendor or dealer, but experience has taught me to avoid the agent situation (unless owner fully accessible).

No doubt I'm not the only one driving hundres of miles. The chance to view a few suitable horses in one location sounds refreshing to me.
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Bnp members honestly ! Joking ....not...?
 
i have bougt two horses from dealers, both the same dealer and they were brilliant and would deffinalty go back there to buy from the dealer, i trust them 100% they know my by now and my style, never heard a bad word about them either
 
I didn't think I was buying from a dealer but it turned out I was lied to and fell for it hook line and sinker! I was given a totally false background on the horse and there was no way they could have know if it was suitable for me as they only had it 10 days in total!
 
i am going to a dealers soon, but one that was recommended to me by my instructor as well as a friend who got a lovely young horse from there.
Theyre not all bad, and something i prefer if you dont have to impress to perfection with your riding whereas a private seller might choose not to sell you their horse because you have had one "off" day of riding
plus its worth the journey, going to a dealers and trying a variety of horses rather than just going to see one individual horse which may be as no way described and you immediatly take a dislike to it; so its a bit of a wasted journey.
Some horses from dealers have "probelms", but im sure not every one does. They may buy a few problem horses, but they work with them and bring them on.

I know of quite a few reputable dealers in the Kent area
 
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