Importing a horse from Europe?

[Equilibrium]

Mileage isn’t the issue on money. I know you all think your gas prices are high but convert litres into gallons and do the math. Also as far as Ireland is concerned, we are an Island off an Island off the mainland. Getting stuff here is expensive and if you want to travel to big shows it’s costly doesn’t matter the size of Europe.

But the costs of showing are way cheaper. My classes are a flat rate of 20 euros at most shows. It fluctuates so never less than 15, never more than 25. You have a yearly membership fee as owner/rider and your horse or horses. For me and Abba it was a one time fee of 165euros I think. I have one of the best farrier’s in the country doing my mare and that’s 70 euros for gel inserts and custom hinds. Her Chiro is 50 euros but I think he does me a deal since I’m American as is he. He is also liscenced for people so I get thrown in with that. Vet costs are much lower but not commenting in case someone decides she needs a visit! One yearly vaccine here in Ireland. Sometimes 2 depending. I don’t think bedding is cheap, 7 euros a bag for shavings. Hay is roughly the same. I’d say you have more feed choices and lower prices there. My mare is home now so am availing of much cheaper training fees.

If breeding, getting one on the ground to backing in a normal situation is cheaper. Did price comparisons with my stepmom a couple of years ago and was shocked. But I do all the backing and breaking myself so very helpful. Plus no silly booking and collecting fees. The much cheaper stud fee is already all in.

If there’s anything I missed you’d like to know about just ask.

Terri

[Napoles]

[QUOTE=Equilibrium;5650187]
But the costs of showing are way cheaper. My classes are a flat rate of 20 euros at most shows. It fluctuates so never less than 15, never more than 25. You have a yearly membership fee as owner/rider and your horse or horses. For me and Abba it was a one time fee of 165euros I think.Terri[/QUOTE]

Humm, maybe if you are showjumping. Eventing classes are more expensive at 85 euro per horse for a CNC* class, which really adds up if you are competing more than one horse each weekend. A CIC* costs Eur 225 and CCI* Eur550. THen add on FEI membership for yourself and the horse…
Membership to Eventing Ireland is 170 euro per year for rider/owner and 70 per horse… Then you need your own insurance…
Worth it though!

[Equilibrium]

Oh yeah, definitely cheaper than eventing but since this is the H/J forum I’m going from that angle. I only deal with jumpers.

Terri

[sansibar]

[QUOTE=karlymacrae;5650180]
That sounds like soo much fun! I’m jealous. How did you find the farms that you visited and was there a huge language barrier? (sorry for thread hijack)[/QUOTE]

A lot of improvisation went into this. We had sent emails to a few people, but the real places were found by just talking with people and walking into places. We met a bunch of people at an FEI show we went to. Ya we managed to convince some FEI officials I was a competitor so I got wristbands to go where all the riders were, (stalls and VIP area). We drove 3000km I think the rental place had a heart attack when they got their brand new car back 2000km past servicing ;). GPS technology is rather useless in some areas so you need to know where you are going.

There would have been a language barrier if we didn’t speak the language. If you want to get a European price, or close to one you need to speak the language. A lot of people speak broken english so getting a good conversation flowing is difficult. I should also mention I did not go to Belgium, Holland or Germany (although next time our contacts will be taking us over there and taking us to their contacts). As soon as the dealers hear that the horse is going overseas, you can be 100% sure the price has tripled, and that is in addition to your agents commission and all the fees for the middle man. And how do I know this? Well I spoke to agents and found out that is exactly what they do. So if you plan to go you really need to go with some one who can work with these people and negotiate for you in their language. Work with some one who just collects commission, and not one who has any say in pricing the horses, it is hard to find agents like that but it can be done if you know who to talk to. Also many of the dealers in the big countries WILL NOT talk to you unless you have an agent with you, there is a lot that goes into bringing a horse overseas, and they know how much of a hassle it will be if it is the slightest bit disorganized!

If any one needs help planning a trip over there let me know! It was definitely worth it, riding so many amazing horses was great. I really am crossing everything on me right now that the horse I picked vets clean!

I actually have a prize list for an FEI show right here:

Entry fee per horse:
€ 350,00 -Gold, Silver, Bronze Tour( incl. VAT, Stable feewith first pading-shaving )
Entry fee per horse CSIJ-A/ CSICh-A : € 270,00( incl. VAT, Stable feewith first pading-shaving )
Entry fee per young horses( 6 or 7 year) :a € 250;00( incl. VAT, Stable feewith first pading-shaving )
Tackbox or traininghorsebox: € 150,00
Electricity for lorries& caravans : a € 50,00
Gala party for one competitor or owner-1 person/ horse) a € 20,00.

Price : Shaving ( cca 20 kg) a € 8,00
Hay ( cca 20 kg) a € 5,00
Straw ( cca 16 kg) a € 5,00

And I think my fee for the show would have been €40, it was just a local show but it was all paid for.

3. HORSES

For events in Europe, stabling is free of charge.
Outside Europe, stabling to be paid by OC | | or Athlete | | at per stable.

[dorimka]

Hello to everyone!
If anyone wants to go to Europe you can visit my stable in Poland! I assure you, here horses are lot cheaper than in Holland and Germany and you find the same quality. I can organise accomodation at my place ( I have rooms above the stable), then we can visit other stables , and try many horses. Pick up from airport is possible and other services will be my pleasure We have many very good jumpers, as well as hunters. The best part is hunters are not so popular here, so prices are really really good! Here is my stable: www.oxer.pila.pl