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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
  
| bought a barrel horse or prospect without seeing it in person or riding it first. Based just on photos, videos, and record. Just curious, I heard of someone doing that, and just wanted to see if any of you have. |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I bought a 3yo off the track sight unseen. Photos and race record was all I saw. He was great! Actually for sale now, in siggy  |
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  Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | I did - bought only on a video and pedigree. Sent money and went from Calif to Kansas in the heat of July to pick up Sis... DFC/Seattle Slew mare. She was OTT and patterned by Betty Roper. She was techincally green on the patterned, but I loved her and everything else about her. Kept her for 9 years and when I decided I was offically done with barrels it took me 8 months or more to decide to sell her to another. She had so much more to give .... I was lucky enough to sell her to another older lady that needed a confidence builder and would love her as much as I did. She is in a forever home I hope, but that was what I thought to. Two of the best decisions I've made. 
Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. Good luck in your decision.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I did....never again. Was lied to, horse was psycho. But don't judge for just one persons bad experience. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | My most recent prospect I bought on a picture and a few videos. He was a reiner and didn't make the cut. When they come up for sale, you just have to trust that they are what they are and get them bought. He's everything I hoped he would be and more...best minded 3 year old I've ever ridden.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| They sent me a ton of videos, including a stop, back, side pass, spin, while bridle less. I was pretty impressed especially since it's a three year old. But I've been burned way too many times so I am pretty sure I will just end up driving. Praying he will still be there by the time I have a free day to go see. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| rachellyn80 - 2015-09-01 12:37 PM
My most recent prospect I bought on a picture and a few videos. He was a reiner and didn't make the cut. When they come up for sale, you just have to trust that they are what they are and get them bought. He's everything I hoped he would be and more...best minded 3 year old I've ever ridden.
 Oh wow, Gorgeous!! |
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 Professional Amateur
Posts: 6750
Location: Oklahoma | I probably buy 98% of my horses without seeing them in person or throwing a leg over them. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 812
Location: north mississippi | rachellyn80 - 2015-09-01 12:37 PM
My most recent prospect I bought on a picture and a few videos. He was a reiner and didn't make the cut. When they come up for sale, you just have to trust that they are what they are and get them bought. He's everything I hoped he would be and more...best minded 3 year old I've ever ridden.
You always have the prettiest horses!  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | I didn't put out money, but traded straight across for a mare I had and drove 4 hours to get there. Saw pictures, pedigree and a video of him being lunged each way although he was broke. He was shorter than we were told and found out it was the first trip to town the day we met at a fairgrounds. We made the trade and it has turned out to be the best decision we ever made. He has now won more money in the 6 months my husband has been heading off of him than the last 3 years as a barrel horse.
Not sure I would do it again, but this one turned out on the positive side. |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| Over the years I have bought several horses without seeing them in person. Everything from a 3 month old, 2-3 yr olds to finished barrel horses.
Every one was exactly what the seller said they were. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| I did it too. Turned out well for me.
Did a little bit of due diligence by talking to a reference or two, a thorough vet check and some fb stalking :)
May not do it again, but would from the sellers I bought from. |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | mscanchaser - 2015-09-01 1:42 PM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-01 12:37 PM My most recent prospect I bought on a picture and a few videos. He was a reiner and didn't make the cut. When they come up for sale, you just have to trust that they are what they are and get them bought. He's everything I hoped he would be and more...best minded 3 year old I've ever ridden. You always have the prettiest horses!
Thank you :-) I have a weakness for fancy horses. That way if I can't go compete I can still ride a super broke, pretty horse around |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Not a performance horse but I bought my broodie from RockinAS site unseen by (I think) just one picture. We exchanged a few emails and that was that! I paid someone to haul her over 1,000 miles to me. She stepped off the trailer looking awesome and I've had her since then. Don't think anyone could buy her from me at this point :) |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| You know, it's funny you bring this up...
Every single horse in my barn (I've got five) is a horse that I'll never sell, and every single one of them, I had never ridden when I got them. Every. Single. One. Every single horse I've 'tried before you buy', has been one that I've sold because they just don't fit the program or me in some way. Hmmmmm......
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Bought a gdaughter of cc out of bd and doc bar she was green trail broke trail horse. She was a little greener than i expected but a lot of good minded. Loke a 20 yo horse. Love her. Bought dozenssite unseen. No bad problems. |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | I drove 500 miles to look at horse that I almost had shipped just from looking at the video and pictures. Sure glad that I didn't. I would have been so mad at myself if he had stepped off of the trailer at my house. I mostly blame myself for a wasted 1000 mile trip for not asking the right questions. Oh, and tomorrow I am going to look at another horse, but not as far. lol |
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| I have bought at least 15 that way only got burned once. I have never bought a finished barrel horse that way only prospects. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| lol we just did and so far everything is what they said but i have heard nothing but good about these people
my new filly is goregous and bred love her |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Pocob - 2015-09-01 12:55 PM
I probably buy 98% of my horses without seeing them in person or throwing a leg over them.
Me, too. I figure there's always going to be something I don't like or have to fix. That's part of the game. If I like the videos, and what the person says, I buy them. I don't have the time, money or inclination to drive all over the country trying horses, but I've also learned who to avoid and try not to pay more for them than I can afford to lose, because sometimes (rarely) it's a bust. Most of the time, it's been a good move, and allowed me to own horses I'd never have had the chance to own. Like Rachel said, when they come up for sale and they're priced right, you better move or they'll be gone. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I bought an OTT prospect off a video and he didn't turn out, so I traded him sight unseen for a yearling. We met halfway at a rest area to swap, all I knew about her was that she was cow/run bred, solid paint, and I saw 2 pics. She was kinda ugly at the time, but it turned out she was by Jesses Double Dee with a bottom side I really like. One of the best horses I've thrown a leg across and she grew up to be big and gorgeous.
I would buy another young horse that way, but never again a broke horse. |
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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | I traded my HS rodeo mare, who at that point was a broodmare and in her twenties for a yearling through pictures straight across. I just seemed to work out for both of us. The lady was looking to add speed to her lines and I was looking for something I could start after I had my daughter( I was pregnant). I would say the filly wasn't quite a nice as the pictures made her out to be, but she turned out to be a good horse. |
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 Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | I've bought quite a few broodmares based on pictures and one I had a video. I don't buy broke horses. |
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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Pocob - 2015-09-01 11:55 AM I probably buy 98% of my horses without seeing them in person or throwing a leg over them.
Me too! It has always worked well for me. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | I just bought one last week off BHW without seeing or riding him. I really liked the breeding, his age, his pictures and I liked the videos they sent me. I felt like I was getting a fair price that if he didn't work out for me I could resell him with no problems because of his exceptional breeding. I have rode him a total of six times and every time I get on him I fall more in love with him.
I also bought my now nine year old sight unseen off BHW back when he was only five months old. I also bought another one sight unseen a couple of years ago but I didn't end up keeping him. He was too lazy for me so we didn't really get along, but a friend of mine bought him from me and did great with him. She has since sold him as a kid's competitive barrel horse. This was another instance that I felt like I got a good enough deal that if he didn't work out for me I could resell with no problems because of his good breeding. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | I've never bought anything finished sight un-seen, but the vast majority of my prospects I've purchased that way. As long as there's pics and videos. I've been burnt one time though - so it can happen. But overall I've been pleased and would do it again but I definitely do vet checks and preferably with a vet that isn't the seller's vet (I'm not always the most trusting person lol)
I think as long as the potential purchaser has the experience and ability to ride and work with different personality types and styles it can work out.
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I did for the first time... wasnt a good experience for me. The gelding was supposed to have all the basics and ready to be ridden. He was also supposed to be 15.1 and growing with a stout build. Put money down, drug my feet for months on it because I was so nervous, asked a million questions.
Got there 500 miles, he was 14.2 and ornary! Didnt load, didnt tie and had minimal to no groundwork. However, I took him home, put a lot of hours in and re-sold him. He was a nice horse just wasnt the size I was looking for. It wasnt his fault and I tried to remember that but it was a very tainted relationship from the beginning. I did end up loving the little guy, bawled like a baby when I sold him but luckily I was experienced enough to handle him. Someone else could have really been in a pickle. I just didnt WANT a horse that green. I wanted all those shenanigans dealt with lol
I know quite a few people who have had a lot of luck doing sight unseen. Which is what helped encourage me. |
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 Loves to compete
Posts: 5760
Location: Oakdale, CA | me..........Ive bought my last 3 horses sight unseen with a picture... Love love love them all! I do talk to owners/breeders and get a good feel for them. I love buying horses that way but I do make sure the sellers have a good reputation and I pretty much always buy from breeders.........
I want to buy another horse too but I really need to sell one of my 3 and I can't seem to part with any of them.........
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