Would you sell one of your horses unseen?

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Taboo1968

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I am going to write this post so that the horse cannot be identified as such.... but I have had an email enquiry about one I have for sale.... lets just say the person lives over 300 miles away and is interested in buying the horse.... However because of the distance, asked if I would sell him unseen by her???

Am I right in saying no? I fully believe that if someone is that interested in a horse, they would actually make the effort to go and see it (the person hasn't even seen a picture!)

yes I would like him to sell... but only to a five star home and one that will happily enter into an agreement that if they should ever come to sell him, we would get first refusal.... I'd rather keep him than have him passed around like a field ornament!

So would you sell one of yours to a purchaser that hasn't even been to see the horse?
 
No I never would. However someone on this forum did buy one unseen - and (I think) was terribly pleased with the purchase.

However, it's your choice at the end of the day. I could just never live with myself if the purchaser turned out to be the person from hell - and that's where I'd sent my little horse to..........
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JM7 bought hers unseen from Ireland and is v happy! I would buy unseen but it would have to be a horse that could be passed on easily if I didn't click with it.

HOWEVER, there are a LOT of scams about so I would want the person enquiring to see the horse too - buying unseen from a dealer is one thing, from a private person COMPLETELY different.
 
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No I never would. However someone on this forum did buy one unseen - and (I think) was terribly pleased with the purchase.



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That was me - twice!
Well, second was a friend buying from Vicjp and he's chuffed to pieces too. Also SM bought Jenny from me, only saw her when she collected her (so still time to back out if she wanted to) I bought Swallow that way from an ad in Horsemart but I did do my homework first and had several long chats to the owner so she could suss me out too. The only disappointment re Swallow is that she isn't actually 14.2 as described, she's more like not quite 14 hands - if I had known that I probably would have passed her over without even looking at the advert. I admit, I have no one to blame but myself for that, but I had absolutely no chance to go and see her; still, I can live with that, otherwise she is exactly as described and I think the world of her.
 
no, not only would I not sell unseen but I would want to vet the buyer and where the horse was going to. I wouldnt be able to make a judgement on whether or not I liked the buyer without meeting them and seeing how they were with my horse. I do understand that people who sell often or for a living may not be able to have the luxury of this choice though and I would probably buy unseen (but I know where I would be bringing the horse to and what sort of home it would have)
 
I Did to exmoor eventing only because I heard of them. I wasnt bothered as I was glad to sell him to someone who would use him for what he was good at!!!

I could have sold him 10 x over though!!
 
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That was me - twice!

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Yes, didn't want to name names........ And remembered you were a bit dissapointed with the size of Swallow.
 
No, would never. I would always want to meet the buyer and see how they handle the Horse and their general attitude. I am precious about my Horses though LoL.

Buying unseen is another thing totally. Would consider this if I knew a lot about the Horse and trusted people knew it. Would have a return agreement though if didn't get on with him/her.
 
Went to see the horse I have 3 times! 1 to ride in school, 1 to hack out and 1 to be there at vetting. He was 50 miles away so I did a total of 300 miles. Also I think you have to 'click' with a horse when you ride it, I went to see some others and just didn't get on with them when I rode them but when I saw the one I ended up with I immediately felt at home on him.
Then again having second thoughts with all his spookyness at the moment!! Have had him 2.5 years so can't really give him back! TEE HEE!
 
It's a lot more common in North America and, oddly enough, it often seems to work out just fine. I sold one last year where the actual buyer never planned to come and another where the plans fell through twice but they went ahead anyway. So far as last report both are very happy. I've also been involved in quite a few deals with breeders where buyers want a specific bloodline etc. in a prospect and the horse is young enough that trying it isn't part of the equation anyway.

The usual protocol though is for some sort of agent (often a coach the buyers coach knows or has had recommended) to at least come and see the horse is as described and of course vetting is done by the buyer so they have that information. There is always an exchange of video, often a general one and then one "request" one specific to the buyer's needs. The buyer also provides information on their situation and I've even had people send videos of themselves!

My general feeling is someone who is willing to take that much attention and is looking for something so specific is actually probably (so much as one can tell) quite a good prospect. I guess people COULD lie about their prospects and their situation but then again, people regularly lie in person so there's no guarantee. Getting the "feel" of someone is fine but seeing how many horses end up in not great situations and were presumably bought in person . . . I actually find it easier if it's "just business" and I don't have someone obviously unsuitable actually standing in front of me!

This has all been for horses worth significant amounts of money. I think I would be very leery of anyone who just wanted any old horse sent from them from anywhere. I don't think I've done a good job of explaining myself but I would say it's situational, by no means a definitive "no".
 
I have sold a horse unseen and also bought one unseen. I was satisfied that the purchaser was an experienced horsewoman with a lot of back up from a leading SJer. I also checked out her credentials and she was a wealthy individual so I have no doubt that her small private yard was as she described it to me.

I bought my Highland mare unseen from Scotland, around 300 miles away. The seller was very honest and a lovely lady. I had a full vetting and the vet couldn't find fault with the pony and also said that the owner seemed like a very nice and genuine lady. Everyone thought I was bonkers to buy a horse this way but she has turned out to be the best horse I've ever had - she is simply perfect for me.

I bought a horse for my OH from a dealer several months ago. We hacked him out, tried him in the school twice and he seemed perfect for OH but he was actually a total nutcase and I have since sold him for a fraction of the price I paid for him. So, going on my track record, actually seeing and trying out a horse seems to bring me worse results
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Yes I would sell unseen and I have purchased most of my horses unseen. Its amazing what you can find out about people through speaking to them on the phone or via email etc. Yes people can hide details, but they can do that in person as well if they have a talent for it...
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I have sold foals in-utero (i.e. before they were even born), several people have purchased horses from us unseen (a couple on HHO), and none have been disappointed with what has arrived with them, in fact, most tend to be the opposite. In fact I would say that its almost half and half, i.e. 50% will come and see the foal/youngster, and the other 50% are happy to trust you because have a good reputation.

If somebody purchases a foal or youngster from us they are welcome to visit anytime and as much as they want, we also keep them up-to-date with pictures and DVD's. All horses are open to vettings etc.

Just because somebody is unable to come and view a horse would not mean I would not sell it to them. Yes you can tell a lot by seeing people in the flesh, but that gives no guarantee to the home your horse will get, nor how long it will stay with them. In fact we had one instance many years ago where people came to view and try out a young horse, we subsequently sold it thinking it was going to a good home and then heard later that it had been neglected. So you have no guarantees!

Nearly 85% of the horses we have at home was purchased through pictures or DVD only. In fact our stallion we only purchased on a few pictures when he was a foal.

At the end of the day it is each to their own, and people need to choose what they feel is right for them.
 
Never in a million years would I sell one of our horses unseen. Mind you, have never managed to sell one yet anyway, as way too soft...
 
I sold one of my fillies this year unseen, the buyer loved from the photos of her, her half brother and her dam, and loved her pedigree and knew our reputation from speaking to other breeders. Funnily enough he phoned me today raving about how well she moves and what a sweatheart she is.

I have bought 3 mares/fillies unseen last year. Two of them I am thrilled with, exactly what I was hoping for. One (that came from Europe) is smaller than she was meant to be and so I will be selling her as she is too small for my needs but still a very nice little mare.
 
i have never sold unseen but have brought quite a few unseen mainly youngsters and broodmares and have been very pleased with the out come. i dont think i would buy anything ridden unseen though
 
Normally - no. However i did once sell a three year old. I had however been chatting to the person for years on a Forum Board. She has kept in contact and I am very happy that he has a fabulous home. If it were someone I had never come across before, then no.
 
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