| More and more folks are looking to the Internet | | | | towards animals - they have more skills than just |
| to find their next cat, dog or horse. While this | | | | their medical knowledge when it comes to |
| offers a convenient solution and broader selection | | | | animals, or in this case, horses - make use of |
| outside of ones locality, it can be fraught with | | | | them. |
| unseen expenses and potential heartache. It | | | | 4. Ask for references for previous horse buyers |
| seems inevitable that buying horses online will | | | | from the seller. If this is a one-time sale with no |
| become more the norm than the exception as | | | | other references available - then depend on a |
| the Internet grows. With that in mind, following is | | | | phone interview with pre-determined questions. A |
| a short list of what one should do when looking to | | | | caring, honest seller will gladly answer your |
| purchase their horse through an online source. | | | | questions as well as ask you plenty too. |
| 1. Call the seller - don't just email. You'd be | | | | 5. Make sure you have insurance coverage for |
| surprised at how many folks have never spoken | | | | the transport. Most commercial horse |
| a word with the seller until after the money | | | | transporters will carry a certain degree of |
| changed hands. | | | | insurance to cover accidents and mishaps, |
| 2. Ask for a recent video. Most Internet-savvy | | | | however, it would behoove you to carry extra |
| sellers already have videos on hand and will have | | | | insurance on your horse, especially in the event |
| no problem with that request. Some sellers will | | | | he/she falls ill during or after the transport. |
| not have access to a video camera, and in that | | | | 6. The very best advice is for a potential owner |
| case, you need to try to find someone who can | | | | to make the trip themselves, inspect the horse |
| go to where the horse is and check him out, or, | | | | personally, bring in a local vet for checks, and |
| better yet, go yourself if possible. Of course, your | | | | spend time communicating with the horse to |
| requirements in a horse and budget will determine | | | | assure him/her that everything will be fine once |
| if it is worth all the time and money spent making | | | | they arrive to their new home. Making the trip |
| sure the horse is what you want. A $1500 animal | | | | with your horse will help them to become |
| might not warrant a $300 plane ticket plus other | | | | accustomed to you as their one constant and will |
| expenses. It would really be best to look more | | | | pave the way for a much smoother homecoming. |
| local for your next equine friend in that case. | | | | This is but a short list of what one should be |
| 3. If you seem fairly certain that the horse is for | | | | looking at when buying a horse online. You may |
| you, hire a local vet to go over and give a check | | | | get lucky and hook up with a seller who has all of |
| to your prospective horse. If one doesn't do | | | | the above and more ready for your look-see, but |
| anything else here, hiring a vet should be the | | | | just to be on the safe side, it's best to know at |
| minimum that is done when buying a horse online. | | | | least some of the minimums that need to be |
| Just doing the standard Coggins and general | | | | addressed. Always keep the horses well-being in |
| overview for transportation purposes won't cut | | | | mind when deciding that you just have to get |
| the mustard. Have the vet look over the teeth, | | | | that beautiful looking Paint horse who happens to |
| eyes, hooves, muscle condition and coat condition. | | | | be 2000 miles away. If the horse isn't feeling |
| A horse is finely attuned to everything in and | | | | 100% in the first place, and you put him through |
| about it - if anything is wrong it usually shows up | | | | the stress of an uncomfortable long haul, you |
| in the eyes or coat at the very minimum. Ask | | | | may be doing some major harm to the |
| the vet for an objective opinion as to if the horse | | | | frightened horse that could end up being a |
| is sound and easy to manage. A vet chose their | | | | heartbreak for all concerned. |
| field because they had an extraordinary affinity | | | | |