I’m looking at importing a mare from Denmark to NY however I need to know how much I should expect to pay for import. 9k? 10k? 11k? I need it cheap as possible but I don’t want to sacrifice her well being for less dollars… Also is it a good idea to buy sight unseen? I think that’s what I’ll be doing
Do not forget to consider the quarantine costs when she gets to NY.
Yup, I’m hoping someone will include that in their estimate price!
From what I understand you are looking at a minimum of 13.5
Ri Arm Farm in NJ has a CEM quarantine for mares. Maybe call them? they can probably give you a quote from the Stewart Quarantine all the way through the CEM.
Is it a good idea to buy sight unseen?
Well do you handle surprises well?
Unless you’re 100% confident in the seller and that he/she is representing the horse 100% correct I’d be very careful about importing a horse like that. Ask me how I’d know:cool:
Anything that happens here with sale horses happens there. You need somebody on that end you can trust looking out for your interests. Exports are a big business and it’s not what it used to be as far as finding bargains, reasonable shipping and, sadly, sellers are ever more willing to say and do anything to get it sold.
Girl at my barn just imported a mare…I believe the cost was around $13-14K including the quarantine. However, mare was sent to the west coast. On the east coast I imagine it may be a little bit less, since the plane ride isn’t as long?
Also, I don’t know that there are a ton of companies who actually do the importing so costs are not driven down by a lot of competition. My trainer always uses Jetpets, and has imported around 10 times without issues.
I think if you have a good eye, are working with someone you trust over there, and are OK with ending up with something not as described, buying sight unseen can be ok. Personally, for a horse for myself I want to sit on their backs. But if I were buying for resale/project, I would be ok with it.
You will likely be looking around 10-11k for a mare, pending she goes on a full load for the flight. They usually quote around 9k but it adds up fast.
Please make sure you are going through a reputable individual, and if not you need to have some one over there. Ask for the flexions to be filmed, look up the show record (this is ALL online now a days), there is probably video on an online data base of the horse too.
Good luck, I have bought sight unseen before and it worked well (we knew the seller), but it is risky if you don’t know the seller!
I brought two geldings over with Mersant last month for a little over 15k, which included USDA quarantine. Mare CEM quarantine is usually about $2500 and stallions $6k give or take. I have bought sight unseen but was a source trusted by an acquaintance. A broodmare I would buy this way but probably not a riding horse unless it was from someone I know personally. Good luck!
It’s really not that expensive to get over there and take a look at the horse yourself, at least not compared to getting stuck with a horse you don’t like.
If you absolutely can’t make it over there ask somebody to videotape a continuous 30-45 min clip of a trial.
That’s what I will do when I try horses for other people, film the entire trial not just the bigger jumps in the end. Ask for the video to be Rolling the whole time so you know that they didn’t cut away any of the things she might have had trouble with. 
Here are the transportation parts: Shipping from current barn to European airport - it seems Amsterdam is most frequent point of departure.
Cost of the flight itself.
Transportation cost from US Airport (JFK?) to Quarantine in Middleburg.
Cost of Quarantine - mares used to have to stay longer than geldings, and stallions longest of all
Transportation from Quarantine location to final home in US.
You don’t have lots of options for price comparisons. There is only one quarantine option for the northeast. I’m guessing there’s not a ton of variation in terms of the flight over, as again, there are not more than a few options.
http://www.mersant.com/horse_services.html - some interesting info
If you have to fret over whether it will be $11,000 or $13,000, really I don’t think you should be considering it.
And personally I would NEVER buy a horse sight unseen, but that’s just me.
I’d amend that list slightly:
Shipping from current barn to European airport - it seems Amsterdam is most frequent point of departure.
Cost of the flight itself (likely into JFK)
Transport in sealed truck to USDA quarantine.
Cost of USDA quarantine (Newburgh, NY - 3 days) ($800-$1000) Geldings and foals go straight home from USDA quarantine. Mares and stallions go to CEM quarantine.
Transportation cost from USDA Quarantine to CEM Quarantine. There are several places doing this now. Rigbie Farm is highly regarded, especially among those importing mares in foal. Other options are Cornell, NC State, Ri-Arm, and others now I’m sure.
Cost of CEM Quarantine - $2000 or so for a mare if there are no issues ~21 days. More for a stallion and a longer stay.
Transportation from Quarantine location to final home in US.
You can call someone like Dutta who manages the whole process - and will give you one all-in number.
Appx 14k for import in August 2013
We just imported our mare in August from Northern Germany to Northern California. Mare came Amsterdam to LAX, then driven to quarantine at UC Davis.
Highly recommend Klatte, they are priced competitively and handle it all smoothly. They will ensure all proper lab work is completed ahead of time in Europe and they work with reputable shippers on both ends of the journey.
We did not spend the extra money for more room on the plane. Most horses like to lean on the walls and have a buddy. Be sure you share a cargo box with two other horses, though Klatte is very good about organizing this if you have some flexibility on dates.
We also paid a vet student to visit our mare in quarantine the days I couldn’t make the hour drive. The quarantine is tough on the mares. The person we hired groomed and hand walked, gave her grain and lots of TLC. She texted me after every visit, which was adorable. I liked that she was separate from the quarantine facility so wasn’t afraid to advocate for my mare - she was sure that the mare got extra bedding, for example.
Be sure you are very clear what services are (and are not) offered at the quarantine facility - it can add up fast. Personally, I wasn’t comfortable with anyone doing anything with my mare other than hand walking - so, for example, we did not pay extra for her to go in the Eurociser. And do go see the mare at least once in quarantine, they do remember you when they arrive at home weeks later.
BTW, we also treated with Ulcergard. Given how expensive it is, be 110% sure it’s being given to the horse. It adds $$$ but the import and quarantine can be very stressful.
Feel free to PM me if I can add any info or answer any questions. I think you have more options on the east coast for quarantine so might reduce your costs a bit.
Good luck and do heed the warnings posted by others, it can be a tricky business.
I imported my mare about 2.5 years ago. I don’t recall the exact price for the transportation to JFK but some of the numbers above look good. I used Klatte.
I chose Ri Arm Farm in NJ for the CEM quarantine and would definitely recommend them. That was about $2500.
EDIT: I was so happy we went to see her a couple times in quarantine. We took numerous pictures of her looking awkward and worried! But my DH also (we think) taught her how to enjoy hand-fed treats - she picked up on that after quite a few surprisingly awkward attempts.
Imported a colt last April. Was $8500 and that included the $2500 quarantine at Newburgh. Two weeks shy of his 2nd birthday 
Are prices different for different genders? Mare and stallions more expensive than geldings?
geldings are cheaper because they do not need CEM Quarantine… I set up my own place as a quarantine station… Worked really well and saved some money.
Yes, mares and stallions are more expensive to import than geldings because they need to be quarentined longer to test for CEM (sexually transmitted disease). Stallions need to be held longer than mares, so it is more expensive.
You have to be willing to lose the money you put into this venture if you are buying “sight unseen”. I bought my horse of a lifetime this way and would not hesitate to buy another from the same source. I was lucky and hope you are too. Good luck.
