FINDING YOUR NEXT HORSE
...and flying them home
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We'll talk through your wish list, from the basics of budget, age, height and experience to the finer details of what would make the ideal match.
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I'll then look for a horse that ticks as many of those boxes as possible, either through my personal network or listed for sale through reputable sources.
Hunting for hunters
I'll send photos, videos and descriptions of suitable horses I've found. The perfect prospect might be for sale tomorrow or it may take several weeks to find one that fits the bill.
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Although there's no direct equivalent to hunter/jumpers in the UK, I'll do my best to identify horses with the qualities and temperament to excel in America. And while you might not get a sales video of the picture-perfect hunter round (they simply don't exist here!) you might see some impressive clips of actual hedge hopping!
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As in the US, great horses aren't for sale for long, so if there's one with potential, we'll try to move quickly to the next step.
Viewings & vettings
Once we've agreed on a horse with potential, I'll speak to the seller to ask any questions before arranging a time to see the horse in person.
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I'll personally try the horse on your behalf, taking extensive videos and getting a good feel for the horse's ability and personality. I can also arrange for a trusted local trainer to join me and provide a professional ride and opinion.
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All being well after the viewing, I will arrange for a recommended local vet to do the pre-purchase exam. The vetting procedure in the UK is standarized, following the same 5-stage process. Learn more here.
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I can also be on hand for the vetting to film the ridden work, lunging, jogs and flexion tests to be shared with your US vet.
Sale & transport
If you're happy with the vetting outcome, I can help to coordinate the conditions of the sale and arrange the necessary export blood tests. The buyer will be responsible for insurance as soon as the sale is finalized.
With negative blood tests in hand, I will work with a trusted transport agency to arrange for your horse's arrival in the US. Generally this will involve ground transportation to continental Europe for a direct flight to New York, Miami or Chicago.
Depending on the time of year, there can be a wait of a few weeks before a space becomes available on a flight to your preferred airport. I will help make sure all required paperwork, ground transportation, and "horse hotels" are arranged to get your horse home as soon as possible.
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On arrival in the US, your horse will need to spend a period in quarantine before making the final journey to your barn.
Costs & commission
In general, prices in the UK for a competitive junior- or amateur-friendly horse are significantly less than in the US. We will talk through your budget from the outset and I will seek to find the best and most affordable horse possible.
I do not work on commission, but rather a flat-rate finder's fee agreed in advance. This is only payable once your new horse arrives safely home.
While I'm horse shopping on your behalf, I will ask for the cost of my car or rail travel for viewings and vettings to be reimbursed. The cost for a local trainer to join me for viewings will also be agreed in advance (generally a few hundred dollars).
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The cost of a vetting will depend on the part of the country the horse is based and number of x-rays requested. X-rays tend to be the most costly aspect of a vetting. Roughly expect pre-purchase vettings with basic x-rays to be around $1,500-$2,000. All vetting costs will be agreed in advance.
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With fluctuating exchange rates and fuel costs, it can be difficult to say exactly what you will need to spend to get your horse home. As a rough guide, clients recently have needed to spend around $15,000 to cover ground and air transport, quarantine and associated paperwork.
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A little bit of fine print
Buying a horse is always a risk, and of course, even more so when buying unseen. My job is to help find great prospective horses, assist with the admin of dealing with sellers, vets and transport agents and provide you with as much information as I can so you are in the best position possible to make the ultimate purchasing decision. The decision to buy and responsibility for insurance is always down to the buyer.
I am happy to give you my personal opinion of suitability, but at no point am I liable for a client's horse.
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