Hi!
I saw your posts on a few earlier threads about horse shopping in Ireland and hope you don’t mind the random PM. My friend and I are doing a riding holiday in Ireland this October with Flowerhill in Galway (cross-country instruction and a few foxhunts). My older horse is retired and my 5-year-old that I raised from a yearling seems to be terminally lame so although I’m not planning to actively horse shop while I’m there, I’d like to have the option of bringing a horse home if I ride one that I absolutely love. I would want it for lower-level dressage and eventing (Prelim tops), occasional foxhunting, and trail riding.
I was wondering, can you offer any advice about this idea? I have imported before but it was from Germany 18 years ago. I would particularly appreciate a vet recommendation if you know any in that area. (I would also send x-rays for my vets here to review.) I know that I need to budget about $10k to import a gelding to the east coast of the US.
I was thinking I should spend some time looking at ads to figure out reasonable prices as that isn’t a market I’m very familiar with (I have mostly competed in dressage and shopped for young prospects) and I don’t want to be taken advantage of. I’m actually an Irish citizen as well as American, but the sellers would see me as American I’m sure. Do you have any suggestions for Irish horse sales websites where I could see what is available at various price points?
Thanks!!