Online horse shopping?

[rosegold]

Okay, aside from the time-tested word-of-mouth method of finding a new horse, what are your sources when you want to go pony shopping (specifically, for an eventer or event prospect)?

For reference, the last time I bought a horse who wasn’t first owned by some mutual acquaintance, I found it on Dreamhorse (several years ago) and that site seems to be… well, at least less relevant now than it was at the time. :lol: My younger friends are telling me that Facebook has some great sporthorse/TB listing groups, but I’m not really sure how to search there.

How does digital shopping work in this decade? What are your sources? Please and thank you.

[Highflyer]

In my budget, it’s typically CANTER, local TB rescues, or local Facebook groups, but many professionals have sale horses on their websites and Facebook pages as well. If you give your general area, that would probably help.

[greywithchrome]

Selling on Facebook groups is huge these days.

[Jleegriffith]

I do resale so I typically shop via facebook mostly the Tb sites and my sales horses get posted on facebook sales groups and also my website.

[Rachael5517]

There are lots of good ones on sporthorsenation.com I would also check the websites of professionals that are near that you respect.

[HiJumpGrrl]

I looked on facebook as well… Amy Paulus/Paulus Racing and Performance TBs, Thoroughbred Connection, Stoney Hollow Stables (OH) and Stoney Hill Stables (NY–this is where I got her) are the 4 places I stalked.

[serendi]

The page titled “eventing horses for sale” and your area facebook page (and any other areas you are willing to look in) are both good places to start on facebook.

[GraceLikeRain]

On the Facebook pages you can use the search feature for key words “beginner novice” or “amateur friendly”. The challenge is that you will pull posts and comments but it will not capture variations in your key terms. I think daily stalking is almost easier than trying to search. Or if you are actively searching and ready to buy post an ISO (in search of).

[ndirish07]

I’d go the facebook route and also check sporthorsenation and dreamhorse. I found my current horse off a facebook group. He was about 45 minutes away and essentially went money in hand because I was not playing around. I had also posted an ISO on the groups and got a lot of information, but nothing really what I wanted. It seemed to more or less get every horse people wanted to sell despite not being remotely close to my criteria, so I don’t know that I’d suggest that (but it can’t hurt-- you’re not out anything except weeding through a lot of horses that don’t match what you want).

[kcmel]

I found mine on the “Horses for sale in Pennsylvania” FB group. There are also more local FB groups, and some covering a larger range. The “draft cross sport horse marketing” FB page is good if you are looking for a draft x–they often have sportier types there. Or your local USEA area FB page. And I think there are 2 event horses for sale FB pages.

[rosegold]

Thanks, everyone! So the key to Facebook searching is basically just “[area name] horses for sale” (or including eventing keywords therein)? Apart from trawling through individual posts via keyword search, is the group function the most effective way to search Facebook? (If you can’t tell, this particular database is the one I’m most curious about, and also the one I have the least experience with.)

Thanks again for your patient replies, I appreciate your taking the time!

[SouthernYankee]

I bought a horse about 4 months ago and never looked at DreamHorse or any other horse sales site. I looked at Facebook and Canter listings.

I ended up buying a horse off a group on Facebook. He was listed on a couple groups, ‘Barrel horses for sale’ and I think ‘cow horses for sale under $10k’. None were local only groups, but they were active groups. I just stumbled across him in my news feed and sent the owner a PM.

The seller was a complete stranger, no known connections, and 7+ hours away. She gave pictures. video, and we spoke on the phone prior to me driving to see the horse. We pre-negotiated the price and agreed on payment also. We ended up driving all night then trying him the next day. He was exactly as advertised and has been since I brought him home. I’ve turned down some serious money for him because I enjoy riding him.

[ndirish07]

[QUOTE=rosegold;8885093]
Thanks, everyone! So the key to Facebook searching is basically just “[area name] horses for sale” (or including eventing keywords therein)? Apart from trawling through individual posts via keyword search, is the group function the most effective way to search Facebook? (If you can’t tell, this particular database is the one I’m most curious about, and also the one I have the least experience with.)

Thanks again for your patient replies, I appreciate your taking the time![/QUOTE]

Pretty much. You’ll want to search for possible groups and will then likely have to join groups to be able to search their posts, but yeah- that’s it. I’d look to see if your USEA area has a group-- like Area VIII has its group and then an Adult Rider Group. You’ll want to look at “eventing horses for sale.” Or maybe even “hunt horses for sale” or check the fox hunting groups. My two eventers have previously been fox hunters-- personally, I like what that brings to a horse for xc-- bold and “jump all the things.” If you want a draft x look at “draft cross sport horse marketing” and “draft horses and draft crosses for sale.”

[michi]

I was super-smart and bought a horse sight-unseen from a Facebook ad and had her shipped down to me.
I SUPER lucked out, she’s freaking awesome.
But I don’t recommend doing that.

Facebook groups are great for shopping, probably the most active online resource out there right now. I do still peruse Dreamhorse.com but, it appears to be used very little these days.

[TaraB_Connected_Ride]

I just bought an amazing Hanoverian mare from Canada through www.internethorseauctions.com. They have monthly sport horse auctions and sometimes breeders auctions as well. It was a simple process and I am incredibly thrilled with the quality of horse I was able to purchase and even more thrilled with the price I got her for!

I’m hoping you can view this link of her!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLr_kpqge0x/

[riverinthewoods]

I found both of my horses via Facebook. And I have advertised via Facebook as well. I thought about listing ads on Dreamhorse or Equine.com or whatever, but after one ad being on Dreamhorse for a while and no response vs. a ton of response through Facebook I think the social network is key.

Eventing Horses for Sale is great or you can look into your Area pages. I’m in area one but also view area II’s page quite frequently.

[cdeventing]

Facebook groups, SportHorseNation, plus all the OTTB sites such as CANTER, New Vocations, Secretariat Center, etc etc. I stick to TBs only though.

[GoHorse]

I have just created a new horse sales page. We are doing things differently. We offer low monthly subscriptions (you can upgrade/downgrade/cancel anytime). And, you can list your horse or horses and we market throughout the internet for you. So you just sit back and reply to any inquiries! We have a HUGE network on Facebook, Online, Offline, friends etc. We will get your horse in front of the right people.

And, if you are a buyer you can also enter your criteria and be notified whenever the site has a listing that matches!

Check out the site at https://www.gohorseshop.com We are continually making improvements and we just recently released our beta mobile app for Android & iOS!

[GoHorse]

I have just created a new horse sales page. We are doing things differently. We offer low monthly subscriptions (you can upgrade/downgrade/cancel anytime). And, you can list your horse or horses and we market throughout the internet for you. So you just sit back and reply to any inquiries! We have a HUGE network on Facebook, Online, Offline, friends etc. We will get your horse in front of the right people.

And, if you are a buyer you can also enter your criteria and be notified whenever the site has a listing that matches!

Check out the site at https://www.gohorseshop.com We are continually making improvements and we just recently released our beta mobile app for Android & iOS!

[Xctrygirl]

My new one was from a Facebook ad. I sold my horse recently through Facebook as well.

Not really much point in paying to advertise unless you’re going above $25k. I have seen that horses in that price point seem to still sell best through paid sites. Not all, but many.

Emily