Loosely considering a 9 yr old horse in Europe; for reasons to complicated to get into, I cannot go over to look. Interested in those who have bought based on video, challenges, process, etc. Horse has been recommended to me by respected woman in the area.
I have done it in the past and getting ready to do it again (lack of good quality horses available in my area that are affordable). It can be a gamble and you need to be willing to accept the risk with what the horse will really be like. Videos can show one thing and reality when horse arrives can be different (or hopefully not). Do you have a plan if horse doesn’t work out? I’m comfortable doing it but I’m also willing to accept what I get for the long haul and adjust my expectations even if the horse doesn’t meet theirs.
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I did it for my only horse so far. It went well, but I was lucky since I was inexperienced and the breeder did not take advantage.
She sent me video of anything I wanted, from picking feet to a rider riding the horse for the first time. I was also fortunate she is an amazing photographer and got many beautiful photos. (Although she could never get a good conformation shot!!)
I feel I was fortunate!!!
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@js - yes I have a couple plans: If it turns out horse and I are not a match, trainer can show him, and then we put him up for sale. If I can ride him and feel a bond with him I would keep him. There is always the soundness question but that’s there even if I go try him…
I’m not desperate for a horse but thinking about a year or so down the road…
It’s a hard one.
I’ve brought prospects that are green off videos. Heck, my latest two OTTB boys were both off a confo photo and not much else. It’s easier knowing they are green and not really expecting much under saddle.
However, when looking at something with education, it’s a big gamble. I hated the videos of my mare who I brought in Spain. I wasn’t even going to look at her but it was only I was interested in a stallion there that I rode her. But this was also looking at horses PSG and above and rideability was a big thing for me.
What level is the horse? Sometimes you just get lucky and everything works. Other times you don’t. If you already have a plan in place in case he doesn’t work out, then I’d be more inclined to say “go for it”
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I’ve heard many successful stories about HW horses. Irene always shows the horses at their best and has a good track record of great matches
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Yes, I did it. It depends on the person doing the selling. I would put a lot of effort into the seller’s reputation if you don’t know her. For me, I ended up with a horse that had lots of emotional issues, although very talented and athletic. Neither the videos nor any communications we had revealed these issues, even when specifically asked. I kept the horse, but it’s like riding a ticking time bomb, which is not what I wanted. And I am a kind, fair rider with clear communication. Can’t in good conscience pass that onto someone else, so The horse and I are slowly working it out together.
So my advice is to find out everything you can about the seller and the horses she or he has sold in the past. Just as important as the video, which can be taken when the horse is having a good day or is medicated.
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Yes I am familiar with several of her horses, however I am looking for a Lusitano primarily or possibly a PRE.
For a trained horse, I wouldn’t do it. For something unbroken, or with 30 days under saddle, maybe.
FWIW, I would have ended up with the wrong horse if I hadn’t flown over to Spain to try myself. Trusted pro pre-tried a bunch, none of which were good fits, and a number of the horses I pre-selected off of videos were nothing like they appeared to ride.
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I agree with this. My horse’s issues are from the way that the horse was trained and managed, probably more of the latter. You can’t get that from a video.
My most recent purchase, a PRE from Spain, was bought off of a video. It would have been a cheap flight from this part of Europe to there, but I was super busy at the time and took the risk.
I think that this seller/dealer represents the horses well. My horse was just a few months under saddle with good basic walk, trot, canter, and some hacking. If he arrived here and we didn’t get on well, I would’ve worked with a trainer to sell him. However, we get along just fine, and I still have him 
I bought off of video and had a PPE done by a respected FEI vet in the general area. I’d do it again. I do have experience with analyzing video (well, as much as one can, really), had reasonable expectations and an exit strategy (sell). I think if you have those things, you’re fine.
I’m happy to enable anyone that is considering buying an Iberian horse!
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This made me laugh! Got my first Lusi 5 years ago. Told my trainer recently - “dont talk to me about any other breeds. I’m among the converted”.
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I did. The seller has sold from very good horses (Valegro to Carl Hester and Florintina to Charlotte Dujardin). She was an unbroken 3 year old. I had my vet review the X-rays. I have a very good friend who has purchased 4 horses from the same dealer. She has the pre purchase exams FaceTime with her veterinarian.
I have a different friend who has purchased multiple horses from Europe without trying them. Experience from young horse through FEI. She has contacts in Europe that can ride the horses for her.
Personally, I would not buy a horse over 4 years old without trying it.
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I have someone shopping for me in Europe for a 4th level horse who is so thorough that I will get a video of every thing that I need including trailer loading and hauling. So based on my relationship with the person looking, I feel comfortable doing this. In contrast, similarly trained horses in the US cannot even have sales videos that are not edited 15 times in a 4 minute video and if you ask for more, you get no response or the old “you need to just come see him!”
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A great example of knowing your seller. And I have learned my lesson about buying anything over a youngster. I should have gotten on a plane.
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I would only consider it for an inexpensive young/green prospect that I could easily resell if things didn’t work out. I’m a one-or-two-horse-at-a-time amateur and I want horses that I enjoy riding. It’s hard to judge that from a video. When my very very experienced GP dressage coach sat on my TB for the first time after teaching me on him for months, she commented that he feels very very different than he looks.
I would hate to spend a bunch of money importing a nice horse only to learn that I don’t enjoy riding it! There are too many other things that can already go wrong with horse ownership.
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I was recently saying to a friend that this (my P.R.E.) would be the last horse I own during a “I’m sick of the weather and horses moment”…but then I added, unless it were another P.R.E. or Lusitano. :lol: I’d really like a Lusitano as my next one since I feel that I need to own both in order to have a full Iberian experience. :winkgrin:
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I said the same thing to my husband. I’ve recently got 2 projects as my “save up to go back to Spain” start up fund again. I told him this time it will be a stallion, I promise I won’t even look at mares and I really want a Lusitano this time too. My husband said this time he’s coming with me and reminding me of those exact facts :lol:
I have several friends and acquaintances that have done it. Most of them bought horses that were in training with a young horse specialist in Germany that I have known for 20 years. One person (an AA) was on vacation in Germany and went to his barn to try a horse, didn’t buy that one but later bought another of his training horses off video. A year or so later, she bought another one from the same guy–again by video. Another AA bought a 4 y/o and 8 y/o through him by video (the 4 y/o was at his barn, the 8 y/o was elsewhere but he went and tried it for my friend and made the video). A professional I know well bought a young horse from the same guy by video, and I sent another professional to him last year. She tried several horses at his barn, bought one for a client but decided (by video) on a 4 y/o stallion for herself that he had just sent to a sale barn in Denmark. Her itinerary did not allow her to go try the stallion but she bought him anyway, then had him gelded before importation as she didn’t really want a stallion. All those folks have said they would definitely buy from him again, and yes, via video. He is super experienced and has vast experience and talent assessing and matching horses and riders, but he did tell me some years back that he does not like to sell by video unless he has previously seen the buyer ride or is working with their trainer and knows the trainer can honestly assess the buyer’s skills.
I also know several other folks that have bought off video from a broker in the UK. She tends to represent mostly Hanoverians and Oldenburgs (many of which are at the barn of the guy I mentioned in the first paragraph). Most of the people I know that have bought through her have been pretty satisfied.
I think it can work if you are capable of honestly assessing your own riding ability and know exactly what you can manage, AND you are working with a sales agent that is very experienced and very honest. So many folks overestimate their skills and want a fancy horse to wow their friends and spouses but soon find that they can’t get the same performance out of the horse as the professional they saw in the video. Sometimes their riding skills aren’t up to the level they think they are, and/or the horse has been managed in a very different way and becomes much more challenging to handle and ride once imported. If I had a dollar for everyone that said “I want a 10 mover with a 10 temperament,” I would be rich enough to buy a horse for myself.
If I had a dollar for everyone that said “I want a 10 mover with a 10 temperament,” I would be rich enough to buy a horse for myself.
Its funny, I admit to having number of boxes that must be checked. But not one of them is “10” mover. Pretty darn sure I couldn’t ride one of those! Happy to have 3 decent gaits and a 9 temperament, lol. [HR][/HR]
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