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Location: Unfortunately OR | Have you..Would you..
Buy a horse from out of state without going to see in person? If so how’d it go? What did you do before hand? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | I did! Twice actually. Its extremely hard for me to get off work so i had no way of getting out of state to see both horses. One was in Kentucky and the other up in New York. I had them send as many pics/videos/records as possible. It wasnt an overnight thing, i definitly sat on both horses for a couple weeks just to be sure. But i just had a gut feeling on both and took the chance and theyve been amazing! I went to pick both up so i did see them before getting them on my trailer and did a quick overview there as well, but at the point my mind was already made up on both and they were coming home with me regardless. Just ask a lot of questions, dont be afraid to ask for any info. If the seller is honest they will understand. If they get irritated then that would be a red flag to me. I also understand tire kickers and ppl not wanting to go through all that work just for someone to back out, but if they understand the situation and they want the horse sold, i would think they wouldnt mind. Good luck!! |
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Addicted to Baseball
 
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | I've had mixed results. Y0unger horses I've arranged a vet check with a vet the seller hasn't used and it's worked out great. My most recent riding purchase, another OTTB, worked out great. A few others over the years some did work, some didn't. One was so rank he had to be put down. Can do many checks and balances but dishonest sellers is a factor you can't prepare for. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| I've bought many. My current two ended up being EXACTLY what I needed/wanted.
My gelding came from a younger girl who was in college and lacked the time. He was for sale for a LONG time. I was hesitant because of his size, but after watching numerous videos a million times, I bought him and had him shipped to me. He is everything he was sold as.
My mare came from a well known rider. From the time she was listed to the time we paid for her, I think maybe 24 hours had gone by.
I just suggest to vet the HECK out of one from afar. One 4 year old I considered passed the vet check with flying colors....but the vet forgot the front feet X-rays I had specifically requested. So I had the horse go back for those. And navicular changes showed on the film. So I spent a couple grand on a vet check for a horse I didn't buy, but I'm so thankful that I did!
Overall - I wouldn't hesitate to do it again! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | dRowe - 2017-11-08 8:17 AM I've bought many. My current two ended up being EXACTLY what I needed/wanted. My gelding came from a younger girl who was in college and lacked the time. He was for sale for a LONG time. I was hesitant because of his size, but after watching numerous videos a million times, I bought him and had him shipped to me. He is everything he was sold as. My mare came from a well known rider. From the time she was listed to the time we paid for her, I think maybe 24 hours had gone by. I just suggest to vet the HECK out of one from afar. One 4 year old I considered passed the vet check with flying colors....but the vet forgot the front feet X-rays I had specifically requested. So I had the horse go back for those. And navicular changes showed on the film. So I spent a couple grand on a vet check for a horse I didn't buy, but I'm so thankful that I did! Overall - I wouldn't hesitate to do it again!
This. Spend the money for a good vet check. Look through the threads about Vet checks and take notes on what exactly to ask the vet to look for.
Each vet has a different definition for a vet check. They aren't generic, they need to be specific. Ask your vet to recommend a vet where the horse is at and call them.
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| I've had great luck buying without trying. I think it all depends on the reputation of the seller. I buy mostly young horses to train myself. The internet is a great source to do some research on who you're buying from, I'm still in contact with people I've bought from till this day, one in Missouri others in texas and Oklahoma, i myself live in Illinois. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | Yes! I bought my futurity (NRCHA) horse in January sight unseen. Granted I did know the trainer that had him for sale, I spoke at length with him, several videos and pictures, and an extended vet check with films. Best purchase I ever made. Ended up leaving him with the trainer and just going up to ride monthly. Won over $15,000 on him in 2 shows. Just bought another from the same trainer/now friend. Would definitely buy sight unseen again, if the circumstances were right and I had a good gut feeling about it. |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | Yes, I have done it a couple times. Worked out good for me both times. Videos and pictures and vet check. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| halter_ego - 2017-11-08 9:45 AM Yes! I bought my futurity (NRCHA) horse in January sight unseen. Granted I did know the trainer that had him for sale, I spoke at length with him, several videos and pictures, and an extended vet check with films. Best purchase I ever made. Ended up leaving him with the trainer and just going up to ride monthly. Won over $15,000 on him in 2 shows. Just bought another from the same trainer/now friend. Would definitely buy sight unseen again, if the circumstances were right and I had a good gut feeling about it.
I know it sounds minimal but listen to your gut. Even if you do everything right (pics, convos, vet checks, etc...) listen to your gut. It has saved me more than once in a sticky situtation. |
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 Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
Location: Way up North | I bought my cowhorse sight unseen off a gut feeling and had her shipped. The pictures weren't great, the video was okay, and I did not do a vet check and bought her knowing she had a 'click' in her shoulder. I was told it xrayed clean and she was sound. I took their word for it and have had her for 2 years winning a lot of money on her. I took a gamble but the price was right and she is pretty and bred well so I decided if she didn't work out for me I could likely resell and at least recoup most of my expenses. The only thing that kind of caught me was her height. She was listed as being like 14.2 and when I picked her up from the shipper I literally asked where's the rest of her??? She is like 13.3 on a good day but she's stout and height doesn't really bother me. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I've bought two 2yo's without seeing first. The older, my rocket mare, is now retired to brood. Maybe a couple years sooner than I'd expected due to conformation issues that led her to have to be retired from the pattern.
My new filly has a better conformation. Only time will tell on her longevity and trainability. She's been totally willing with her previous owner and with me so far so I'm not concerned.
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I would never buy a finished horse without riding it, but I’ve had pretty good luck buying prospects. The one I’m training now was a sight unseen purchase last year and he is the the funnest horse I’ve ever ridden. I love his daddy’s babies, and trusted the seller. I’ve had a couple of disappointments too, but I’ve also ridden and vet checked horses that didn’t end up being what I thought, so... |
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 Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | Yes, I have bought sight unseen twice now - I get really nervous trying out horses (like to the point of getting physically sick) so this way actually works out pretty good for me lol. The first one I had planned on going to try him but hubby couldn't leave so we just sent someone after him. I actually am not sure I would've bought him had I gone to try him. He was very underweight and stiff when riding BUT he is turning into a really nice horse after some work and is a great fit for me.
The second one I just purchased a few weeks ago from a very reputable trainer. I got hurt soon after he got here so haven't had a chance to do much with him.
?Granted neither were "finished" horses and were in a price range that I was comfortable with. I think if it were a high dollar finished horse then yes, I would want to ride first and try at a race. Do what you are comfortable with! |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | I'm the oddball out. I would never, in a million freakin years, purchase one based off photos and videos alone. I horse shopped this summer and put on THOUSANDS of miles going and trying out horses and I'd do it all again. What I learned in the process is that photos and videos can be extremely deceiving, when it comes to conformation. I looked at one that I like to call the "Monet." He was big and beautiful from a distance, but close up was crooked as the day is long, dropped out the same hole in the front, and was a freakin bucker. I didn't know about the last part until he tried to dump me on the test ride. But based on the photos that were sent to me he looked kind, gentle, straight legged. Not only that, if you don't know the horse or the seller, how do you know anything about its temperment and trainability? You only know those things by trying them out. What works for someone else may not work for you.
If your serious about the horse invest the time and money it takes to travel to see the horse and a good vet check. It's worth it. I drove to Canada, SEVERAL times, to look at/test ride, vet check, and pick up my new horse. One way was nearly a 7 hour trip with border time. It meant several days off work, but to me it was all worth it.
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Location: Unfortunately OR | Thank y’all for your thoughts and experiences. I have never bought one sight unseen but found one several states away that Has just caught my eye.. He is finished and has ran at Rodeos.. He’s a lot of money for me..There’s no way I could fly there, try him and then have him shipped.. I don’t know the gal or anyone it that state to go see him for me.. I will probably not do it but I sure do like him.. |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | I went to see a horse a couple of weeks ago that was supposed to be dead broke with no buck etc....was advertised as being used for mounted shooting and basic play day events. I asked the owner to ride first because I had my toddler son with me who was crying a little bit. The owner got on and the horse took one step and broke into a wild mouth open buck!!! I will not purchase a horse without trying it extensively because so many people lie! |
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Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
Location: Way up North | I will say buying without trying isn't a good fit for everyone. You really have to know your level and abilities and be able to judge a horse based on what their abilities or short comings are from a video. I went in to my purchase knowing full well there were going to have to be adjustments on my part as well as hers. I could tell from the video she was going to be on the hot and feely side which isn't my go to kind of horse. We both had to find common ground on each other's quirks and I didn't expect it to happen right off the bat and trust me it did not. That said she forced me to grow as a rider. I think that's where a lot of people go sour on a purchase especially sight unseen buys, those unmet and sometimes unrealistic expectations. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 670
Location: Running my kids somewhere. | I have bought a few like that. Young stock, broodmares, ponies and a really nice 1D-2D horse. For the most part things have gone ok.
Lots of questions, talk to the person not just messages, videos. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | I have bought 3 or 4 like this. Very young, weanlings. By the time they were 2 and ready to break I knew if I wanted to go on with them or not. If I didn't think they fit our deal I would sell them. I don't think I would buy a broke horse without trying it. As old as I am and as hard as the ground is these days I want to be as sure as I can of what I am getting. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | I have bought all of my futurity prospects without riding them first, everything from $3500 to numbers I won’t speak out loud!! I did at least see all of them except one in person before purchasing. My last one was bought solely off his papers, pictures, videos and a very thorough vet check! So far it has worked really well for me. |
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Buying without trying...