Have you ever bought a horse sight unseen?

Question

How risky is it?

Ive found a pony that sounds perfect for what I wanted, but its a bit too far for a quick look.

Has anyone bought a horse sight unseen? Did you get what you paid for?

Answer 1

When you buy something you are looking at.

You are getting what you paid for.

If you pay a cheap price, you will get a cheap pony.

If you buy a pony sight unseen. You may "not" even get what

you are paying for. So, take someone with you to look your

pony in the mouth, that knows about horses. <}:-})

Answer 2

Yes, however our situation was different than most.

Some years back I worked for a woman with a Dressage and Driving show barn. Her horses were of the highest caliber and money was not an issue. (She qualified multiple times for the Olympics, so I won't name names).

If a dealer contacted us with potential horses, we would take them sight unseen.

Keep in mind that at this level, the dealer has the reputation to keep, so If the horses didn't work out for ANY REASON, he would take them back with a full refund.

We bought many horses this way.  Some with excellent results and others that just didn't work out.

If your seller will give you a trial period and take the pony back if it is not appropriate, then you really have nothing to lose.

Of course, you will want to get the vet check done to avoid any problems that may be (conveniently) unknown to the current owner.

Answer 3

I bought a gelging sight useen. I even saw a short video. Somehow they managed to make him look perfectly fine on the video, but when I got him, he was not at all what I was told. I ended up selling him for $50. I lost a lot. Try having someone closer look at him maybe.

Answer 4

I would NEVER buy a horse sight unseen!  I'd make the trip and check the pony out before you purchase it.  Try it out under saddle, spend a while with it and see if it REALLY suits your purpose.  Then have a vet check the horse out before you purchase it.  Make sure it's a vet who doesn't have anything to do with the seller and get a soundness check and a blood work (You're looking for a tranquilizer in the horse's system.).

I know fuel is expensive right now, but make the effort.  Trust me, you'll thank me in the long run.

Best of luck.

Answer 5

Hi, yeah I brought my gelding sight unseen as weanling nearly six years ago but I brought him from a stud with a high reputation for breeding quality foals so I didnt have a problem with it. Find out what the breeding is so you know if he/she comes from good stock or not (the better the bloodline the less chance of getting a poorly conformed pony), do the current owners have internet access? you could ask them to email you some pics. You ,may even be able to take it on a trial if the owners are willing so you can see if the two of you are compatible. Hope it goes well :) also go by the price, if a pony seems too good to be true for a low $ it probably is.

Answer 6

Yes. we bought a Black Clydesdale X sight unseen. when we first got him we were told that he was sound ennough for any one to ride. so mum asks me to get on him. he does a fine display of bucking rearing and pigrooting. we inquire with the previous owner. turns out he was mistreated and abused by a person leasing him. now we have had him for a year and he has just begun to trust us and we havent ridden him yet. according to the vet he had his back out and we got a chiropractor out and when she ran her finger along is spine to see where the  pain was, he almost llay down trying to get away from the pain. we got his back put in and now we cant ride him because he goes crazy when ever someone goes to get on him because he is anticipating the pain. so no. DONT EVER BUY A HORSE SIGHT UNSEEN!!

Answer 7

I would never buy a horse sight unseen, as I like to feel my horses and really know what I have under me before I even consider buying.

However, if you're stuck on the idea, go with the suggestions to get videos, pics, ask TONS of questions-If the owner isn't hiding anything, they won't have any problem with you asking these things. If they refuse to give them to you, that's a red flag. Walk away.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Yes, I have, but it was two rescue situations where I knew I would be taking them home regardless.

Both were blind in one eye, both in loose hands, back when the plants were still open and I felt sorry for them and had the room.  

The big gelding is a dreamboat...he is placed with my friend in a forever home, a sure footed trail horse (I believe in compensation for the eye) and faithful friend.

I could have sold the little mare several times over for more than twice what I paid.

So, yeah...I got more than I paid for.

But this was an entirely different situation for me, a person who had the means to handle them correctly and still buy another riding horse if it didn't work out.  If I could only care for one or two, I'd never chance it without a test ride, vet check, etc.

Answer 9

I bought a horse last year from a trainer friend. She thought he had lots of potential for my discipline and not for hers, so I agreed to buy him (cheap) without seeing him.

I trust her judgment, shes a GP dressage rider. But something tells me she had never been on the horse - he had serious balance issues! He also had a s***w loose. I sold him for what I paid for him, so I did get what I paid for. But I can afford to do that - I'm a trainer with my own barn, so its not a big expense for me to keep a horse for a few months and I have the connections to sell it. I'd think for the average buyer, you shouldn't take such a risk.

Is there someone you know & trust who can go look at the pony ? Can the seller send you a video? Ask your trainer is she knows the pony/seller - odds are, she'll know someone who knows someone....

Good luck!

Answer 10

Hello,

Well we have lots of experience buying horses without physically seeing them in person.

Out of about 15 horses we purchased on the internet, we had about 4 that weren't good matches for our family.  Mainly because the sellers weren't upfront on vices!

Kari M has lots of great questions to ask, but make certain you ask if they have any vices and include examples:  pulling back when tied up, pawing, cribbing, kicking, rearing, bucking, humping up, biting, hard to catch, hard to saddle, cinch, etc....

I also recommend that BEFORE the sale, and when you submit your offer, you write a contract type of email.  This email should include:

If you guarantee that this gelding/mare is sound, has no lameness issues, health issues or vices we would like to offer you ______.

Upon receipt of the gelding/mare if we are unsatifsfied within 7 days of arrival you will reimburse our funds including our shipping costs and arrange shipping to have the horse picked up from our ranch within 21 days.

YOU will find that ANYONE that has any sense and they are trying to scam you, will be worried about that sort of agreement, but if they have been upfront with you it shouldn't be an issue.

ASK for videos of walking and trotting with and without the saddle, coming and going, and both sideways directions.  Ask to have the video with and without the saddle on.  Ask for video showing the horse being tacked up.

Try to get them to answer your questions in emails, if you talk on the phone send the questions anyways and add in:  I know we discussed some of these on the phone, but I can't remember if I asked you all of them?

IT isn't so bad buying over the internet, we have great luck, and it sure does open up your area for finding a great horse.  OUR worst buys were in the beginning before we asked so many questions and had the sellers agree to our terms.

WE got more than we paid for;

my oldest daughter got her first barrel horse online and we happened upon her, the owners needed money and we paid $5,400 for her, and when she sent the paperwork on this mare she spent $12,000 on her 3 years before.  BUT, they were in a bind and need money for a emergency surgery for a family member.  Well, that mare not only won the girl we got her from 1D championship, she won my daughter 2 1D championships!!!!

ITS worth looking online!!!  Many times, and depending on where you live you will get MORE for your money!

EDIT-  Vet exams and X-rays are a MUST on any higher priced horse, or performance horse.  The vets will help you to see if there is an issue too.

Answer 11

I live in Alaska and bought a perch/paint cross from Canada sight-unseen.

I have a friend that has a 50-horse trail-riding business in my area, and he buys a lot of horses from the farm mine came from.  My friend talked with me and the farm owner by phone to get an idea for what I was after.  The farm owner picked out a horse and sent him over.

At first look, the horse was not what I asked for.  But I agreed to try him out.  As it turns out, the horse was a nice fit for my situation, and I still have him.

Had I looked at him in person, I probably would not have bought him.  His conformation is not condusive to what I wanted to do, but the former owner was right about his personality, his attitude, and other qualities you can't tell from a quick look.  He has a lot of heart, and actually turned out to be quite atheletic, and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

My recommendation: Have a good long talk with the folks that own him.  Tell them what you are after, what your goals are, what your experience is, and ask them if they think he is a good fit.  If you are still nervous, ask for pictures, and/or video and make your decision based on that.  Trust their judgement.  If they advise against him, find another pony.

Answer 12

Yes, I have - but it was from a VERY reputatable breeder whom I had purchased horses through before.

I have sold horses to people that haven't came out in person - but typically, they are sent several videos (youtube works great for videos - that way you don't have to wait for days for them to come in the mail) and they had vet checks on them too.

It's something that you need to weigh the risk.  Talk to the people, watch some videos, ask LOTS of questions:

Good for farrier?

Any health issues?

Ever coliced?

Ever foundered?

Worst thing he's ever done?

What's their favorite thing about him?

Does he tie?

How does he behave when he's with another horse and then that horse is taken away (Seperation anxiety is TERRIBLE - I try to avoid horses with these issues!).

Does he clip?  Do you have to twitch him?

Does he load?

About how many hours of riding time does he have with someone on his back?

How many hours within the last month and year?

How does he do if he's given a few months off?

Do you have to lunge him before you ride?

Does he drive?

Go over jumps?

Been shown?  What classes?

Does he trail ride?

Cross water?

What does he do when scared?

Easy to catch?

Stand still for saddling?

Is he cinchy?

Does he stand for a person to mount?

Good conformation?

Have them take a video of the entire process of working him - catching him in the pasture, saddling, getting on, riding, walking, trotting, and loping both ways.

If you're paying more than ~$1000 I would suggest a vet check.  If it's under $1000 I usually skip it as I figure it's not economical.  Vet checks usually cost about $150-200 as long as you do'nt need x-rays.  The second a horse needs x-rays I don't even consider purchasing that horse.

Answer 13

My friend was switching from western pleasure to reining so she needed to sell her pleasure horse for a reiner and we live in Virginia and Moon(reiner) was in wisconsin. Moon is a 7 year old mare named footworks fever and she is a dapple grey quarter horse. She rarely has bad days and it was definetly what she paid for

Answer 14

I have taken rescue horses sight unseen, and since the adoption fees were low, or in one case nothing, yes I got what I paid for.  They were actually all good horses who had just fallen on bad times.  But if you really are looking for that "just right" horse, you really want to go look, ride, and have a vet examine it.  

Get all the information you can before you go look.  A video is a wonderful way to see the way a horse moves but it doesn't tell you much about disposition.  Once you feel confident that this really is the right horse, take that trip.  You won't be sorry that you did....even with the high fuel costs.

Answer 15

Hi , Yep 3 of my horses I brought sight un seen and yes all what I got what I paid . it does not matter really you usely get teh sense of someone but then again I went and looked at my horses 7 times and I still got scammed . I had more luck with out meeting the owners lol . but thats just me . alot of the time it sounds CRAZY to but with sight un seen but it really what you gutt id telling you if there one little bit of your gutt being unsure then DON'T always trust your gutt. and by the sounds do you have any part of your gutt telling you no because you did ask this question ?? Or are you just asking because its a risk ?? anyway good luck hope I help LOL thanks

Answer 16

We bought a Morgan mare in Vermont after only seeing one picture of her. We shipped her all the way across the country and I would do it 100 times over again. She is an amazing mare and is better than we could have ever guessed.

Answer 17

No, never and I never will.  I work too hard for my money to risk it that way.  I want to see, and touch any pony or horse I'm interested in.  There are lots of things that are NOT said in an ad.   Ask for videos first then if you are still interested suck it up and drive or continue to look closer to home.  Perhaps the people will be showing the pony in your area and you can see it there?  That happened once for me, nobody had drive the entire way and I got to see the animal when it wasn't on it's home turf.

Answer 18

My friend recently purchased a 5 yr old paint gelding without checking him out. In his discription, he sounded well broke and that he had been riddin for two years in a halter and a snaffle bit. When he arrived he was very well behaved but under saddle he was quite a bit more green than what the owner had said. He acted like he had never had a bit in his mouth, constantly mouthing it. He won't stand still for anything, he doesn't stop with two reins, he won't lope for her. Just a big mess. Also, last week she had him saddled up ready to ride and as soon as she got on, he bucked her off leaving her even more affraid.

I know if she would have takin the time to go see and ride him, she wouldn't have bought him. Now she's so attached to him she won't sell him for something with a little more experience.

I would suggest you go see him. Better safe than sorry. Best of luck!

Answer 19

I never have, but I know several individuals that have while shopping in a higher end market for show horses...most of these horses have quite a show record behind them, and you may readily acquire health records from their respective veterinarians.  On a lower level horse; a yearling that's never been shown, even as a lungeliner, or other horses that are not high end animals...I'd want to see them; I'd begin with a video and go from there....either you like what you see, or you don't.

I can't argue the gas price thing but I also think if you're in the market for a horse you'll do what it takes to find a good one.  Costs as much to feed a good one as a bad one...and, I won't waste my time or money on a bad one.

Answer 20

I did, once. I'd never seen the horse but I heard about him through word of mouth, and I had backup - there were a handful of people who did know the horse and his owners, so it wasn't truly unseen... it was a strong recommendation from people whose judgement I trusted, and it worked out fine.

I'd never buy without some kind of backup like that. If you've never seen the pony and don't know anyone who has seen it, you could be sold anything. Photos and videos show off the best of an animal - that's why sellers use them - and that's not a slight against sellers, obviously it's in everyone's favour to use good photos and videos. But no picture can give a true image. There will be things that go unnoticed by a lens that you can only see with your own eyes - and no picture can tell you about an animal's personality!

Answer 21

i wouldnt do that the people that we bought our horses from did that and they got 2 horses the reared and bucked so i wouldnt

Answer 22

My dad bought his first horse sight unseen.  She was great, but that was just luck.  He called the vet after the pre-purchase exam and asked him, if the horse was good enough to get without looking at her.  The vet said probably yes.  We bought her and she was wonderful, however, that was probably just luck, and I'm not sure if I'd ever risk it.  My mom has gone to see all the horses she's ever considered, and it's been worth while.