Why buy a horse via an agent?
It might seem complicated to buy a horse abroad. You probably don’t have contacts in the country, you don’t speak the language or you can’t communicate properly, you have to arrange the trip and accommodation, you don’t know exactly how many horses will we able to see, how is the purchase process, etc. But all this can be very simple if you hire an agent to assist you in buying a horse.
Agents have a wide network of contacts: dressage stables, riders and breeders. They already live in the country; they speak the language, know several equine clinics and transport companies which export horses abroad. They make the selection of horses most suitable for the new rider which meet the buyer’s requirements, then they make a schedule of horses to see each day in each area. Therefore you can see the maximum number of horses in a short time.
That’s why we recommend to search horses through an agent who can arrange everything for you and make the buying process, vetting and transportation of the horse easier.
How to start searching
First contact an agent with a wide network of contacts who can send you some videos and information about the horses in advance. It’s necessary that you give an approximate budget, indicate what kind of horse you’re looking for and for what kind of rider it is. This way the agent can narrow the search and show you the most suitable options (you might fall in love with a horse but maybe it’s not suitable for the rider at all). If you don’t want to purchase a horse via video, the best option is to come and see the horses on site, make a decision and close the deal as soon as possible if you do want to buy one of the selected horses. You must take into account that in Germany and The Netherlands horses are sold quite quickly, so if you take a long time to take a decision it’s possible that the horse you initially chose is sold in the meantime.
Come over and visit the stables
Once the dates of your arrival are confirmed, your agent will make the final schedule. This is quite challenging, as it’s difficult to coordinate our appointment with the availability of the rider to present the horse. The route and appointments are organised by areas, as we have to drive long distances every day. It’s recommendable to plan your stay for at least 3 days. That way we can try to see all the horses and have some extra time to do a second try out on the horses we liked the most.
Buying process
Once you choose a horse and agree on the final price, we usually proceed to do the vetting of the horse to know exactly if its healthy enough. Once the vetting is concluded (LRD always sends an agent to be present at the prepurchase exam in order to film the whole process and keep you informed) and once the decision has been made to purchase the horse, you should read and sign the contract and proceed to the payment. When the payment is fulfilled, the horse is yours and all associated responsibilities lie on the buyer from that moment on. The new owners can arrange transportation themselves or the agent can help you make the arrangements.
All in all, what seems complicated to organise and to coordinate can be easy-peasy when counting on a professional sales agent!
Emily
Many horse professionals are venturing overseas for access to a superior range of horses. Although there are many benefits to this, a key thing to approach with great attention is vetting. Things to remember include:-
Ask your insurance company for requirements prior to the vetting.
Make sure the vet is working for you not the agent.
Ensure the vet is aware of all the vetting requires, consider language barriers- source a English speaking vet.
If an option, consider sending your own vet or find a vet that has been recommended to you personally.
Consult your own vet from the start, lack of information may mean they can’t advise fully