Buying a horse unseen?
Are horses being treated as a mail order item?
There has been a marked increase in the amount of horses being bought unseen and often also not vetted, buyers relying simply on the vendor’s description for what they are buying. Is the continuing lockdown, with limited access for viewing, encouraging impulsive decisions and causing buyers to put faith in the vendor to be totally open and honest? Following this trend I have noticed an increase in complaints about the horse when it arrives and claims against the vendor of it not being suitable or as expected. But does this mean some vendors are capitalising on the opportunity to make money without viewings being made in person or is it the buyer’s expectations that are unrealistic? And should we morally be treating horses as goods that can be repackaged and returned if not as expected?
For the less scrupulous vendor this must be the ideal way to be selling; no need to produce the horse properly for sale, not to have to deal with potential buyers and less haggling over price. You’d expect horse prices to be dropping with the time and effort being saved and yet they are soaring! However, although there will always be dishonest vendors out there, private or trade, who have no concerns about selling lame, dangerous or simply unsuitable horses, there are also many genuine ones with good horses and ponies for sale. And these are having to take the buyers word about their experience and capabilities.
How many times could the buyers be the ones who misrepresent themselves? Without meeting them personally the vendor is unable to assess their true capabilities. In which case, are the resulting mismatches the fault of the buyer or the seller? Having sold some horses myself and helped clients to buy, I know many buyers will dismiss an honestly written advert for one that promises perfection (and we all know that is impossible!) This rose tinted expectation of a new horse can only lend itself to disappointment.
What buyers really need to know are the horse’s real strengths and weaknesses and whether they will:
a) suit the new buyer and
b) fit into the new home environment.
Having a horse or pony vetted is also highly recommended especially if riding and competing are high on your list. Not having a horse vetted is a false economy when you consider the cost of investigations and it’s always good to start off knowing the horse is generally sound and healthy.
But this is about integrity, not profit and requires frank and honest discussions and even then, with the best will in the world, sometimes things just don’t work out.
In these increasing disputes, the horses (the innocent victims) are either sent back or kept in limbo, neither party wishing to invest further into their care while arguments rage over their heads. Surely we need to consider that these horses potentially have changed home several times in a short period of time and had to deal with the mental and physical stress of these changes; of travelling, change of feed and routine, new manner of handling/riding, a change of environment and loss/change of companions. The impact of each of these add up and yet the horse is expected to behave in just the way they were, as advertised, when in a settled environment! Are horse owners today just expecting to buy an ‘off the shelf’ horse that should tick the boxes required? I wonder if we are forgetting the true value of owning a horse and the development of a relationship that takes time and mutual respect and trust? How quickly are these horses deemed unsuitable and could the situation have been avoided in the first place? There are few purchasing rights when buying a horse privately but the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives a purchaser the right to return a horse within the initial 30 days, if not as described or fit for purpose, for a full refund when buying from a trader. These are ‘implied’ rights, they do not require mentioning or a signed contract. Some dealers may issue their own contract terms but they cannot legally restrict the rights of a consumer. However, implementing such rights is rarely an easy or pleasant experience and proving liability, particularly if you have not covered the purchase with a contract of sale, is likely to be a costly and a time consuming exercise. Look on any forum and there are endless stories to be found from unhappy buyers who have bought from unscrupulous dealers. The law regards horses in the same way as a washing machine or car and the rights in purchasing are similar. But should we be looking at buying a horse in this way?
A machine will not lose confidence if overfaced or treated incorrectly, they don’t get unsettled by a new environment although they may break if not maintained correctly! Returning a horse as not being as described is much less likely if the purchaser has already met the horse, handled and ridden it. If they are given the opportunity to do so more than once and in different situations it is more likely to succeed in a new one. Sometimes it can be very clear that a partnership is not going to work out and surely that’s better to find out without the horse having to move anywhere. When a horse arrives in a new environment there are many more variables to consider. I wonder if an impending return cutoff date could lead to a new horse and rider combination being decided about, hurried or pushed before they have gained a sufficient level of trust.
When horses are in a yard to be sold, either with a dealer or a professional trainer, they will have been handled and ridden by confident people used to riding many different horses a day. When horses then move to a new home, which could be their second or third or more within a potentially small timeframe, most will need a confident lead from the new owner in order to settle in. Unfortunately this is sometimes lacking and can be part of the problem.
Alternatively, the horse may have moved from a private home where it had been settled for some time. Whether the sellers have been honest about the horse or not, they will probably have given the horse a consistent environment that may even have evolved around its needs so not even aware of any potential issues. A change in a longstanding secure environment can be very unsettling and will require confident yet empathic handling.
I have seen horses quickly lose confidence with a new owner and display a change of character which would not be the fault of the vendor. Buyers need to be realistic and honest about their own abilities, particularly with an unknown horse. What a one horse owner may feel able to cope with on a horse they know well could be completely different with a strange one. It can be a tricky balance for a new owner to become confident enough quickly with a new horse in order to provide the confidence it may require in its new home. Unfortunately they may not realise this until faced with it.
Equally I know of many instances of horses sold with problems covered up. Beware buying any horse ‘sold from the field’ having not been ridden for months. There is usually a very good reason its in the field and the vendor selling in this way is taking no responsibility for its possible future use. The possibility of buying a horse cheaply in this way that will turn into your horse of a lifetime is very remote. Many of these horses are likely to require time and money for rehabilitation without even the possibility of riding at the end. If you buy a horse without knowing it is capable of doing the job you want it to then you cannot complain if it doesn’t ever happen.
Realistically it takes a good year to get to know a horse properly.
A confident, experienced rider can evaluate a new horses needs and start to produce a good partnership much more quickly. But a professional competition home will also expect a horse to fit into their routine and those that can’t or won’t (unless exceptionally talented) are likely to be moved on rather than be catered for. For these riders a horse’s useful working life comes before their individual needs. It is often these competition horses, not able to cope mentally or physically or not quite good enough, that end up in the amateur rider market. Unfortunately dazzling breeding lines or previously high price tags may convince buyers that they are getting a bargain. In reality, they are often getting a broken horse. Some horses are lucky to find new owners prepared to put the time and effort into giving them a new life. They take the time to learn how they respond to changes in season, adjust to new situations, respond to others and how to get the best from them.
The unlucky ones get sent back and forth by owners looking for the perfect horse, getting patched up and moved on but further losing confidence and picking up bad habits. We need to be careful that we are not moving towards a cycle of horses being circulated round.
If you really want to buy unseen, then at least ask for several videos. Make a list of your requirements, from most to least important and ask the vendor for confirmation in writing that the horse should meet your expectations. If your expectations are unrealistic they should say. Ask for videos of the horse being trotted up, tacked up, mounted, ridden in all paces including the transitions between and jumped if that is required. Considering how simple it is to take videos today it should not be difficult for any vendor to put together a small portfolio on any horse being sold and it should also be useful to them in the case of any dispute.
Keep any adverts and records of communication and ask for a contract of sale outlining any particular needs and your expected use. If a seller is not prepared to do this then you should question why. It may feel like you are being fussy and over the top but buying a horse is not like buying an object or a car and the purchase price becomes almost irrelevant in the cost of care once you own it. Horses involve an emotional attachment as well as costs that can escalate out of control when things go wrong.
