When purchasing miniatures on line

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little lady

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When looking to purchase a mini on line that you will not see live but only through pictures what are some tips/good questions?
 
I have never purchased a mini online without seeing it before the final transaction, but we do breed French Bulldogs and I have purchased several of them online and had them shipped... I would highly recommend seeing a video of the horse! I refuse to purchase any frenchie without seeing a video. I had one bad, and very expensive experience with purchasing a dog from Kentucky from a breeder that I had done reference checks on. Long story short, if I would have see a video of this dog move, there is NO way I would have purchased her. Video's show so much more then pictures. Then their is always the obvious vet check. GOOD LUCK!
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Ask TONS of questions

Make sure you get plenty of photos/video

Call the seller and talk to them

Talk out terms/conditions/agreement and put them in writing (believe an email will work as long as you both state you agree to the terms?)
 
Be VERY, VERY careful. Bought one horse on line without seeing it in person. Actually did see a video. Was absolutely not what it was supposed to be when I got it home. Will absolutely never buy another horse without seeing it in person. Learned my expensive lesson very well.
 
Communicate with seller, get a video and photos, get references from people who have bought from breeder (see their "sold" horses), have a detailed sales agreement, and check with the registry or the Stud Book online to make sure the horse is registered in the name of the seller.

Yes, e-mail contracts are valid but probably one signed by both parties is even better.

If you are buying breeding stock, check out parents and as many siblings and foals as you can. You might be able to meet some of them in person.
 
Go see the horse in person first.

I encourage prospective buyers to visit my farm.
 
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Last year I purchased my very first mini on line through lots of emails and lots of pictures and it was an amazing experience. Last year I also sold my first horse on line the same way and that worked out amazing. But now this time as I search for my next mini I feel like I may be forgetting something, perhaps I am rushing it, it just seems some sellers are not as willing to send pictures or fully answer questions. Lately I have seen where people have had some bad experiences so hoping that I can get some useful tips from all of you!!
 
Get a vet check!!! A reputable breeder will NOT be offended. If the seller refuses, look elsewhere. However, remember this is on your dime. Try and find one nearby on your own rather than relying on the farm's vet. Get a detailed contract. Make sure to ask about testicles and if you are not planning on gelding or paying a lot for a cryptorchid surgery, make absolutely sure the vet checks and puts it in writing that they are fully descended. Getting a photo would not be out of the question. Can you tell I've had a bad experience there??
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If you are buying a breeding mare, get it in writing that the mare is breedable.

If you are buying a breeding stallion, same thing.

Photos - Video - including bite - etc.

Bottom line - get it in writing!!
 
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Good points when looking for a stallion. I think when the time comes to add a stallion it will be a must see in person! Thanks!!
 
Last year I purchased my very first mini on line through lots of emails and lots of pictures and it was an amazing experience. Last year I also sold my first horse on line the same way and that worked out amazing. But now this time as I search for my next mini I feel like I may be forgetting something, perhaps I am rushing it, it just seems some sellers are not as willing to send pictures or fully answer questions. Lately I have seen where people have had some bad experiences so hoping that I can get some useful tips from all of you!!

Often it depends on where people live too. In a colder climate, the horses are too hairy in the winter and in early spring, many look very moth eaten as well. I clean up and take photos of my horses in late spring and throughout the summer. I use these pictures throughout the winter. Some people want me to go out and take more pictures of the hairy horses, and believe me, in this part of the country they get really hairy!! No one can tell what they look like under all of that hair. Still, if I do go out and take some hairy pictures, I can guarantee that the person will not buy them, and so far, no one has.

As for videos, one needs some help to get proper videos and many of use live alone and can not easily get someone who knows what they are doing to come help.

That is why it may take a while to get pictures and videos.

I really want to get them, but it can be rather hard. I am sure others have the same problems that I do.
 
Ask tons of questions, get tons of photos. Word of mouth goes a long way, good or bad. Don't take it as a bad thing if someone says a farm goes overboard about thier horses (rather have someone care too much about their horses than not enough).

If you are dealing with a breeder that truely cares about their horses, they will be as eager to ask you questions as you are to ask them questions.

Open lines of communication are extremely important on both ends.

I have gotten most of mine long distance (and have been very happy), some that I had in the past were places that were only a few hours away and I got to meet the owners in person.

Go with your instincts if you have a gut feeling that something isn't right or that someone is schmoozing you (bragging up their horses beyond the point of believability or a little to kiss up trying to make the sale). God gave us common sense for a reason.
 
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Absolutely DITTO Carolyn's post........Go with LOTS of communication and that old Gut feeling.

Ask for pictures......and let them know you don't care if the horse is clipped, in show shape, etc. Just tell them you want pictures - pictures - pictures. (If the seller is able to do video, go for it. Not everyone can.)

As both a buyer and a seller, I like to develop some kind of phone relationship with the other party. E-mails are great for quick communication and for sending photos. But it's nice to sit and VISIT with the person.
 
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I know that your first experience with your very first foal was horrible and it still breaks my heart for you.
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Take your time there are plenty of minis for sale. Visit some more farms if you can? Ask for ref. and plenty of pics. Part of the fun of adding to your mini family is the looking..lol...have fun and let me know when you find that perfect roomie for Pokey
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I bought 2 mares on line just seeing pictures and not seeing them until they were either delivered or I picked them up. I have no regrets with either of them. I did call the registry to see if the horse existed and was registered to the person I was buying from. I talked to a couple of people to see if they knew of the seller and what they thought of them. Lots and lots of pictures, copy of papers and a contract.
 
I'm so glad this topic came up. I'm learning a lot and when you're just beginning it's very hard.

What you may like may not be whats winning out there. What one person thinks is top notch another may not.

And then one may not always be able to drive or fly here and there to see the horse in person.

It can be truly frustrating. A lot of good info on here, thank you for starting this conversation.
 
I know that your first experience with your very first foal was horrible and it still breaks my heart for you.
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Take your time there are plenty of minis for sale. Visit some more farms if you can? Ask for ref. and plenty of pics. Part of the fun of adding to your mini family is the looking..lol...have fun and let me know when you find that perfect roomie for Pokey
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I am hoping to find a clone of Pokey...lol
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Make sure you ask for Current pictures... one 'trick' that I use is whatever pictures they send.... ask for another angle, or hock shot, foot angle or whatever, that way they have to physically go outside and take that picture for you. If it is any honest breeder they will do it for you, if they don't you are probably not getting quite the horse that you thought.

Also go with your gut!!!!!

I hope that you got your questiosn asnwered about your foaling?????????

Let me know,
 
I have purchased nearly all of my horses without visiting the farms. I have some incredible horses. I just can not imagine leaving my herd and jumping on a plane to visit every horse that I have ever considered buying. Many I have bought from an ad on LB or through meeting someone on this forum. Some people have contacted me with horses they were selling and thought I might like. Others through internet searches.

I love great photos, but I do not always get them before I make my decision. A video is always good when you can get one in a reasonable time period. I bought five horses last year. No videos on any of them. Awesome horses! One from Canada, One from Pennsylvannia, one from Kentucky, two from Texas. I am in California. Had I waited for current videos most of these horses would have been sold.

We post videos of all our sale horses on our website taken when the weather is good and they are clipped or naturally shed out so people can look at them anytime. But knowing how much time it takes to get a great video of your horse and how many people are involved, I certainly understand that they might not always be available.

What I look for is an up to date website. I hate ones that are one or more years old or not kept up to date. I want people that communicate well and in a timely manner. I want to see that their horses online are well cared for (hooves not too long, well groomed etc). I do check the online studbook to make sure their papers are in order, not revoked, and in the right seller's name.

A vet check is automatic when you are shipping the horse from out of state.

Communication is key between the buyer and the seller. I encourage people to visit, but I know I could not leave my horses for most of the year due to births and the realities of my buisness. Frankly I LOVE it when they do visit as they always buy more horses then they came for! I depend on people being honest when I ask them a question, or for them to be willing to take a photo of the bite etc.

People that buy from me that live in another state or another country expect the same from me. If they ask me which of my horses I think would be better for their needs I will tell them. Even if that means letting them know I do not have what they are looking for.
 
I bought my guy sight unseen from a very reputable breeder. The photos caught my interest, but the video sold me on him. I couldn't be happier with my horse and I wish you the same luck!
 
Have patience, especially when asking for a video. I videoed several of our sale horses, but ran into problems emailing the videos to certain email addresses. Files would be too big for the recipient, or perhaps were filtered. I still have two poor people out there that want to see videos that I'm going to have to figure out how to post to YouTube. I've asked some people for snail mail addresses as it would just be easier to send a DVD, but then they don't send me the address. One person in another country has twice asked for a video, but she won't respond to my emails asking what country she's in. Kind of makes me wonder if I should go to the trouble to drag my teenager out to help, upload the video, and then try to send it in a file size their email will accept. Every video I email out involves about 2-3 hours of work from start to finish.

I don't mind sending a video by mail - it's much easier to get that out.

Be aware that getting bite shots on a weanling or yearling can be challenging. With the shutter delay on the digital cameras, the restless young horse, and the teenager asking "did you get it yet?" in an increasingly irritated voice - it's a lot of fun
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My favorite are the photos of the handler's fingers or the underside of the jaw as the horse moved at the critical moment. Oh well.

Good luck and happy hunting!
 

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