My experience as well. WBs and crosses are all over the place tyoewise depending on what the breeders local market is receptive too. The SA horses are popular as Show Jumpers and Polo is huge so that drives what breeders strive to produce, Lets just say there’s more blood in the typical SA WB import. The Zangersheids tend to be very big horses but they aren’t bulky, IMO, and they are fast.
Don’t recall any from there that were difficult either Zs or crosses but they weren’t the more Dressagy, beefier types you see more of coming out of Europe.
I think the Ireland suggestion is great but still think you need to get a little bigger budget so you an have a better selection and can get one further along, like jumping 1m courses., Also very important you do get out there and get involved more with SJ in your area so you get a better idea of what to look for. The more first hand knowledge you have, the better choice you can make.
Just FYI - I know Canada is not the US, but buying a horse from there is not at all “importing” in the way that it is from Europe (in a good way!). There’s no quarantine, flights, etc… it’s literally just shipping, which can be pricier than normal only bc of the distance. I purchased from Ontario two years ago and all I needed was a health certificate to cross the border.
I really shake my head at these posts. Have you folks actually been looking at the prices of horses for sale on the other side of the pond and the cost to import? Because according to you I shouldn’t be able to what I’ve done now twice this year.
Folks you really need to stop and smell the roses. The costs to import are not all that extreme. Not when you spend 5 mins on Bigeq.com or ExchangeHunterJumper and realize that it will require many of us ‘normal’ people a second mortage or living in a shack for the privilege of buying an import that is already here. Let alone the American bred warmbloods who are priced competitively (to the imports) but not for a more limited budget buyer.
So how do you succeed in beating the system?
Know where the price points are and buy what you need - If you don’t need a 2-4 yr old…don’t buy one because someone said they were the cheap way in. They are the cheap way in, but that won’t help a middle level rider, it will help their trainer. Then you’re just spending more money on this side of the pond. If you need a made nice horse who knows it’s job, go look for it. But really remember that there are MORE horse people on the other side of the pond and many normal folks like us who want to find their horse a good home. The dealers drum up the prices a TON to Americans and for those who let their trainer guide them… you will invariably land in these hornets nests of markups.
Know which routes cost the least to ship from/to. Czech horses are flying to Cali for less than English horses coming through Amsterdam to the east coast.
Be Patient. Horse hunting is a long and grueling process. Doing it an ocean away, moreso. But for all the effort you really can find some lovely horses for peanuts compared to some of the big buck horses here.
Make friends with those with boots on the ground. I became a semi regular poster on the Horse and Hounds forums and it’s helped me a TON. Not to mention how nice it is to relate to horse people in different places with a different set of normals than us.
If you are velcroed to your trainer chances are this method won’t work for you. But I would suggest talking to your trainer and asking them to look over any horses that you find doing your own legwork. Having said that I would explain (heavily) that if you do the work, don’t be expecting a huge commission from you. It’s not an easy conversation but if you find the right horse, they’re still going to get lots of profit from your lessons and board etc.
As always I am very happy to share my experiences and what smaller tricks I learned while searching and finding Cudo and Chad. (I haven’t posted about Chad yet as he just arrived Saturday but he’s my new 4 yr old KWPN from England, bred in Holland.)
You can reach me at my email since my inbox here is MUCHO inconsistent.
Thanks em, was hoping you would pop in here with a different experience and suggestions. And it is true, if you know what you are doing and do some research, it’s a different scenario.
BTW I never look at sale websites, just go by what my friends have shared going the standard route via trainers and agent/ consolidators. Wonderful idea to join forums over there and good point about shippingroute…think every euro I know came thru Amsterdam or Brussels.
Congrats on the new horse…need pictures. Did you every get that other horse that was off straightened out?
I am alright with something a bit eccentric. In fact, that’s how I picked up my current horse for below-market, back in his prime. He was often difficult to handle on the ground, very strong on XC, and dressage was always a challenge. He’s a total sweetheart now and you’d never know it. Most of those issues we were able to work through.
Anyway, this is something I’m game for, so long as the horse was sound, had the talent, and showed potential for improvement (though I suppose it might be hard to pin down that last factor w/ any accuracy). My only question is how to find these horses since I’m not as well-connected in the horse world as I once was. Any tips?
Totally get what you’re saying. I still know quite a few people in the eventing community, but I know far less in the H/J world. I’ll need to work on that aspect. Good advice to get out and watch a lot of jumpers - this sounds fun and educational
Do your friends think Argentina has better value over Europe? I wonder what the cost differential is for transport…
I am certainly concerned about soundness and how the horse holds up to being in regular work. I’d certainly prefer buying something that’s been started that will give me a better sense of the overall picture.
Yeah, if the horse doesn’t turn out to be scopey enough for the bigger stuff, that would be my plan. At any rate, it would be a good experience for me in horse shopping and bringing along a younger horse.
Thanks! I’d be open to making an east coast trip and will check out Courtney’s website. My current horse is from Ireland too, so I’m partial to the Irish ones
They are located in Aiken recently relocated from Argentina. They have horses for sale up here, still have their breeding program down there and do buying tours for the big operations such as Zangersheide or Henry Jota, plus Martin and Rachel are just good people.
So I had been looking at prospects in the UK and had friends who imported super nice babies (3-4 year olds, I believe) from a breeder there (seemingly sound, sane, and athletic) all for around my budget. The consensus on this thread, though seems to be that it’s not possible, or likely, to get that good of a deal. I suppose it makes me wonder what the “catch” is with horses I see posted in the UK for those prices. For example, Harrington Horses seems to consistently have a few nice horses listed for less than $15k, and I believe that includes the cost of a PPE. Do those horses have soundness or behavioral issues? Are they not really as nice as the videos make them out to be?
Anyway, I’m curious, because based on their experience (and what you’ve been seeing on those UK Facebook groups) I had originally thought it was a solid option.
I’d love to read through the flipping thread on the eventing forum! I wonder if they’d have a different take on the issue of finding young prospects, too.
I did Young Riders with a girl who is now based in the U.K. and seems to be doing really well, so I might reach out to her for her input too (once I’m a little farther along in the process)! I’d be pretty content going to see horses w/ a local trainer out there and then just sending videos to my trainer back home.
Thanks - I’m alright with something a little hotter, so long as it’s still got a good brain. I don’t think I need something that’s already jumping around 1m courses, but it would be nice to have something that’s been started over fences.
I think the easy answer is to say “increase your budget” but at the end of the day, I have to spend what I have to spend. If only money grew on trees, right? Of course I’ll try to give myself the biggest budget I can responsibly manage, but I also want to get another horse as soon as reasonably possible, and it’s already hard enough waiting (and saving up) forthe next year before I even start seriously looking.
So while I could theoretically take more time off and save up more money, I’d rather get a 1.20 horse in a year than a 1.30 horse in 2 years. I don’t have serious competition goals at this point, I really just want something to ride and enjoy at home and take to local shows a few times per year.
Yup, when I was in the PNW we used to go back and forth to horse shows in B.C. all the time. I remember it being pretty easy! What was your experience like buying there? What resources did you use, what were you looking for, etc.?
Thank you, I really appreciate this insight. As I said up top, I’ve had friends import nice prospects from the UK recently on a similar budget and that’s what sparked the idea for myself. This thread really had me doubting whether I would even be able to get a horse with 4 legs for within my budget (kidding, kidding). I was wondering what must be wrong with the horses my friends imported.
How did you find a good contact for Czech horses? I’ve heard there’s good value there, but I’ve also heard some horror stories of sketchy sellers and horses being started in less than ideal ways. I’m totally open to “non-traditional” locations, just want to make sure I’ve got some local knowledge to make sure I’m making good choices!
In terms of what I’m looking for, I’d love something “made” but I don’t have the budget for it. That being said, I don’t plan to show extensively and really just want something to enjoy. Thus, I’m alright paying the $$$ for training rides and lessons. I had a young horse in college (bought as an 8-month old!) so I’m not totally unfamiliar with the challenges and triumphs involved in bringing along a green horse. I think it’d be a nice project, and if at the end of the process I can also have a horse that jumps closer to the height I want to be at, it would be wonderful.
Great advice re: making more contacts in those locations. Once I’m a bit further along in the process I plan to reach out to some friends I have that are now overseas (UK, Ireland, etc.).
Anyway, I’d really love to hear more about your experience!
I had seen lots of competitively priced, seemingly nice, horses listed in the UK as well. That’s why I had originally thought it would be a good option. This thread has cast a lot of doubt on that, but I still question those postings I see. Like, Harrington Horses seems to typically have a few nice prospects on their site for under $15k, and I’m sure those are priced higher than average since they focus on exports. What’s the catch? What’s wrong with those horses?
I’m totally open to hiring a local trainer/broker to help me look at horses, too. I don’t think my trainer would be too bothered by it, but she may also be in the market for a new horse next summer, so we could potentially just shop together!
To be clear, my two came from England. But I know folks who buy from Czech because the shipping is a bit less. And to be fair the shipping direct from Brussels or Amsterdam is far less than from UK or Ireland. Both of mine came from far flung parts of England so they cost a pretty penny to just get to Amsterdam. Had they lived or been purchased from Holland or Belgium I would have spent. I have been heavily cautioned about Czech as well, but I know that some folks I know do buy from there and resell here so it must be doable.
Send me an email and I can explain and link more of where I went. For Ireland though go to Donedeal.ie
OMG the cool bargains there. Imagine Horsey Craigslist listings but with horses in Ireland. I mean… wow. Too bad the shipping is more from there, UNLESS flying to Chicago is an option. Because then there are some great deals to be had.
@findeight which one that was off? Beau my tb with the bone bruise, or the grey one I had temporarily for a friend who bought him?
