Would you buy horse unseen?

DMancini

DMancini

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Hi all

I've just seen a horse advertised on Irish Sport Equine website that ticks all my boxes! Very tempted, but not sure if I can really go through with it!

Anyone had dealings with this dealer? is it as easy as it sounds!

Can anyone offer any advice? Have you brought unseen? would you do it again?


PM me if more appropriate :)

thanks in advance
 
I bought Daisy from them. She was a hand shorter than the advert said which could have been an issue if she wasn't such a chunk. She also has PSSM, whether they had a clue about that I don't know, I hadn't heard of it until she was diagnosed and most people have not. She was otherwise exactly what I expected from the video of her and she's made me smile every day since I first watched her on their site. I've had her for 18 months and you couldn't get a better horse (well technically pony!). You can see her on her FB page www.facebook.com/TeamSuperCob

Friend has just bought a grey mare from them and she is happy so far (just arrived today so hasn't ridden her).

I think I would forget about the exchange if you aren't happy thing and only buy something you felt you could sell on if it isn't what you wanted. Vet it and insure it.

Also when I saw her I knew I was having her. There was no doubt in my mind and there never has been that she was meant for me.
 
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My friend bought a wonderful dun connie from them. Very happy though he was VERY green we expected.

If it's Noriss you must buy!! ;)
 
FfionWinnie said:
I bought Daisy from them. She was a hand shorter than the advert said which could have been an issue if she wasn't such a chunk. She also has PSSM, whether they had a clue about that I don't know, I hadn't heard of it until she was diagnosed and most people have not. She was otherwise exactly what I expected from the video of her and she's made me smile every day since I first watched her on their site. I've had her for 18 months and you couldn't get a better horse (well technically pony!). You can see her on her FB page www.facebook.com/TeamSuperCob

Friend has just bought a grey mare from them and she is happy so far (just arrived today so hasn't ridden her).

I think I would forget about the exchange if you aren't happy thing and only buy something you felt you could sell on if it isn't what you wanted. Vet it and insure it.

Also when I saw her I knew I was having her. There was no doubt in my mind and there never has been that she was meant for me.
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thanks for reply- she looks lovely :) I have heard of PSSM one of my horses was tested for this, she looks really well though!
 
General rule of thumb with buying any horse is only spend what you can afford to lose. If you buy unseen I think this is even more relevant as clearly you are taking more risk. However, although I have never done it, I know people who have and been very happy. I also know people where it went horribly wrong. But that's the same for the ones that have been seen, trialled and vetted too.

At the end of the day horses are a gamble, just decide how much risk you are prepared to take - no one can make that judgement for you.
 
My last two have been bought unseen. Not from this seller though and both were unbacked. Wouldnt sell either of them!
 
I've bought unseen before, but it's not something I think people should recommend to strangers on an internet forum.
It all depends on your experience, attitude to risk and how much money you are willing to write off if it doesn't work out to be honest.
I think 3.5K for a RC allrounder type (If I have the right horse) is sufficient amount to be worth viewing if I'm honest.

I bought a young event horse with a friend 15 months ago. We had planned a buying trip to Ireland and just before we set off saw on the internet what looked to be a very nice young horse from a well known dealer/producer. Both friend and I were pretty sure this is the horse we would buy, we even discussed cancelling our trip and just getting the horse vetted and sent over unseen. In the end we told the agent that we wanted to incorporate viewing of this horse on our trip. Thank god we did, it was no where near as classy as a very well presented video portrayed him to be. So in the end all we did was waste 3 hours by going slightly out of our way to view.
 
My last purchase was unseen, but a) he was pretty much off the track and very cheap, and b) he is mainly a companion unless my main horse breaks, so I could afford to take a chance. He is a lovely boy; a bit nappy but that wouldn't have deterred me at a viewing. He has a tiny sarcoid under his belly which they didn't mention, which is naughty, but vet is happy with it and I am sure it is shrinking now. I'd not do it for an only/main riding horse. Could you take a trip over?
 
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It's like buying on ebay, only spend what you might lose, ask all the questions, and in my case, I always want to see a video unless the horse is straight from the breeder. I've bought several in the last 3 years, most have turned out super although all of them were young and unbroken. The one older mare that I had vetted after seeing a super video of her jumping, turned out to be a real dog, and was moved on quickly. None of mine were bought from this seller, I might add.
 
I have bought a horse unseen from a stud, but I knew the bloodlines well and because he was only 2 and therefore he was relatively untouched and unspoiled. I agree with the sentiment that you should only spend as much as you can afford to lose though - especially with a youngster as you are only buy potential talent not proven talent
 
We did. We needed a companion urgently one December. Farrier's father found us a mare, in foal to an unknown stallion. Mare was not good conformation wise and had some sarcoids. In the spring she produced a beautiful colt that my friend bought as a weanling. In due course we decided to try her under saddle, absolutely perfect jumping machine! Her temperament was superb and we kept her till she died of old age.
 
I've done it several times. Don't do it unless you are prepared to sell it on if you don't like it and put it down/retire it if it's a crock. I've never had to put one down, I have sold one on that I bought intending to keep. But one I have now I intended to break and sell and I love him so much he never left :)
 
I brought an unbroken 3yr old unseen- she's well bred, was cheap enough to take a punt on and I was happy the reason for sale was genuine. She's fantastic!
But I wouldn't buy a ridden horse unseen
 
The key is to do your research. Photos, video, reputation, and gut feeling.

The trouble is, if you ask too many people for advice, one of them may nip in and buy before you do! :)
 
I'd never buy a horse purely from a photograph, I'd want to see video footage. I bought a 3yo Welsh Cob purely from a video years ago, I would always go and see most horses but this one was in Wales (not exactly near me in NE Scotland). I also figured at 3 and newly backed (which I saw in the video) then he hopefully wouldnt be ruined. Took me 3 months to get the horse to walk under saddle properly and he was a real ***** to handle but that horse taught me a huge amount and he did very well eventually so I didnt regret it. I wouldnt buy an established horse without trying it out first though.
 
I'd say no in general but i did recently see a horse advertised who looked/sounded lovely and I've purchased from the seller once before It wasnt and expensive horse and i think she's a very honest seller in that the adverts often contain the bad bits along with the good. I'd have probably bought him unseen had he not just sold!
Ffionwinnie is Daisy your horse and Team supercob you and your page?
 
yes I have, but a very cheap unbacked youngster who is awesome. Went down with a trailer to buy another weanling colt unseen-on a friend's say so and breeder's recommendation. Still have them both, both have worked out great.Personally wouldnt buy a ridden horse untried - I once took a horse on loan that a friend though would be perfect for me and was bored silly by him.
 
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The last three ridden ponies I sold were all sold unseen with no vetting, just still photos, and video. One is going on Gillie's lorry tomorrow morning. Their father was bought unseen with still photos and a vetting only. Seven years later, he is still here and I've never regretted his purchase for one moment. If we don't buy unseen and on trust up here in the Highlands, we wouldn't buy much.
 
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