1/05/2009

How to Buy Horses Online?

When buying the right kind of horse it has to be made sure that the seller is being honest and not diplomatic while answering questions even though the best pictures and information related to horses available would endorse the website. Therefore, it is worthwhile to notice the online rating of the seller whom one is about to buy from. The horse should not only be healthy but of sound mind as well and good at socializing with new owners especially when it comes to buying grown up horses. Likewise, a horse should not be too young either, else most of the cost would turn out to be training related as compared to the original cost incurred while buying it in the first place. However, it also depends on the owner as to what age of horse is preferred.

For online purchases, often it is noticed that a separate sections are maintained for different categories, such as horse feed, hay, latches, horse saddles, horse jewellery etcetera. Therefore, it becomes much easier and organized to search for the perfect item sought as opposed to print classified advertisements that dump everything into one category of livestock or horses.

In terms of ratings made the level of seriousness of both the seller and buyer could be well evaluated. Ratings for the seller show how honest he/ she is for dealing with online horse sales and those made for the buyer show how serious the person is while coming up to a final purchase decision.

Great precaution has to be taken, especially while buying horses online. Those sold through online auction should be definitely avoided as usually this type of sale is a characteristic of those horses which are either belong to poor breed or which people are unwilling to buy. Similarly, a horse should not be bought just because it would be a good riding companion someday, a horse should be bought that would be more compatible for you in accordance to your experience of even amateur level.

There are other various important things to know before buying the horse, for instance, whether it ever kicks, bites, becomes colic or even has a slightest of tendencies to colic. How regular have the visits been to a veterinarian answer the horse’s health related queries which would also include it’s vaccination whether completed or ongoing. Finding out the last time the horse was ridden and if it is green broke are essentials of through research based on horses before buying them. Furthermore, the temperament of the horse should also be brought to one’s knowledge. This should be done by asking questions regarding whether it has been kept with other horses or stabled alone. This helps in coming to a conclusion about the behaviour of the horse with people and how social an animal it is or whether any further training would be required.

It is advisable to request a purchase agreement as it serves to protect the rights of both the buyer and the seller. This would include mutually agreed payment mode and time, circumstances of a void contract, trail period if any and the shipment procedure of the horse. Moreover, as discussed about last visit to the vet, a purchase health examination and negative Coggins test should also be asked for. The latter is a test for infectious anemia which a viral disease that cannot be cured. Even though many states demand this test, great precaution has to be taken where it is not part of the law so that the horse you are buying is free of any such vulnerability.

No comments: