Where can you find the largest selection of horses in the world? On the Internet, where you can find everything from breeding records to videos of performance.
Shopping for horses online isn’t nearly as difficult as it was even five years ago, and most people have developed their Internet skills sufficiently to handle this without a problem. However, you do have to be careful that you deal with the right people on the Internet, so finding your dream horse should be tempered with a bit of respect for the possible dangers.
Beware Multiple Listings
People who list five or six horses on the Internet shouldn’t raise any red flags, but if you find a dealer who has hundreds of horses for sale, you might want to run in the other direction. Since so many people are shopping for horses online, the equine equivalents of puppy mills have come out of the woodwork. If you find multiple listings during your search for your dream horse, do some research on the farm before you buy.
Shop Close to Home
The beauty of shopping for horses online is that you can find your dream horse in any corner of the world – even overseas for some people. However, for the typical horse buyer, it is better to stay within a fifty-mile radius of your home to avoid scams and possible miscommunication. That way, you can go see the horse (more than once, hopefully) before you buy.
Contact Other Buyers
In some cases, web sites that allow you to shop for horses on the Internet will give you the option to contact other buyers who have purchased horses from a seller. This is a unique and powerful feature that can help you avoid scams before they take hold. Send a couple of buyers an e-mail, asking about their experiences and whether or not they would recommend the seller. If no e-mail is provided, ask the seller for references.
Read All Information
Some sellers who market their horses online give paragraphs of detail about the animals, while others post a couple of words, then hope for a few bites. Regardless, read all of the information the seller has posted, and look up abbreviations if you don’t understand them. Shopping for horses online requires close attention to detail, as well as a built-in scam-detector.
Negotiate the Price
When shopping for horses online, realize that prices are always negotiable. The price you see listed on the advertisement is what the seller hopes you will pay, and not necessarily the lowest price he will take. If the seller won’t budge, and you aren’t comfortable paying the advertised price, keep looking. You never know when your dream horse will surface.
Request a Trial Run
One of the best ways to shop for horses online is to secure your investment with a trial run. A trial run means that you put a deposit on the horse, then bring him home for a week or so to “try him”. If you find that there are no problems, you’ll pay the rest of the agreed-upon price; if not, you’ll return him for a refund. A trial run is the best way to ensure that the horse is healthy, and hasn’t been drugged for sale.
Have the Horse Vetted
Although having a horse vetted costs a few hundred bucks, it’s worth every penny. The veterinarian will check for any diseases or parasites, run X-rays on the horse’s legs, and generally check for soundness and health. If any red flags pop up when the horse is vetted, you can continue shopping online; if not, you’ll have your dream horse ready to buy.
