Oh-kaaay. With all due respect, I didn’t feel it was necessary to fly from Georgia to Wisconsin to look at this horse. If I was spending $10,000 or more on a horse I intended to event or hunt with, then definitely. But not for a draft-x, generic mutt mare that I was gonna use for pleasure. Just simply not necessary.
I spoke with the owner/trainer many times on the phone and through e-mail, showed her every picture that I had of where the mare would be boarded, how I practice horse care and gave her my vets names/numbers to check my references, as well as the farm owner and the previous farm owner I boarded with. We clicked right away and I’m still in contact with her to this day, sending her updates and pictures.
All in all, it was an excellent buying experience for both parties. I didn’t have to pay a “non-refundable” deposit just for the privilege of looking at her horses–just the $10 for a video. I also knew I wouldn’t have to pay a “restocking fee” if I didn’t take her, nor pay by-the-hour for help in loading her on the shipper’s trailer. Also didn’t have to pay board per day while waiting for the shipper to pick her up.
