Verified Horses
You can request that we personally visit, try and verify a private Seller’s horse if you would prefer that to flying or sailing in yourself. (Paid service)
No time to waste or don’t you like travelling full stop? You may want a full holiday experience while trying potential horses, or a horse that you think may well suit you.
OPTION 1 – BUY SIGHT UNSEEN.
This is done a lot more often than people think and we have a great success rate of successful matches. The key is honesty and transparency on both sides. Don’t say you have been around Badminton when you actually don’t like jumping for example!! We do look for videos of you riding as we consider it a matter of rider safety and horse welfare to get this right.
We are experienced in doing this and can quickly evaluate from you video what sort of horse that you need and put that into the context of what horse you want. The two do not always align!
We do our best to send you as much information as possible about your new horse, as if you were there.
A video is created at your request;
- Taking the horse out of the box
- Walking/trotting the horse up in hand
- Tacking up and picking out its feet
- Lunging the horse
- Riding in all gaits and jumping if necessary
- Being washed off unless lashing rain and blowing a gale!
- Loading onto a trailer/horsebox or horse lorry
- Veterinary inspection where possible. Some people are working on their own and cannot trot up/lunge a horse and video at the same time!
- Optional virtual visit in real time (paid service)
OPTION 2 – PERSONAL VERIFICATION
We will travel ourselves, or we will designate someone experienced that we trust to any point in Spain, Portugal, France, UK or Ireland to show you, up close and in real time, the horse that has drawn your attention.
Connect by internet with the application of your choice and if available at the location; Skype, Whatsapp, FaceTime, we will show you everything you want to see for half a day, so several horses if they are in the same stable. We will show you the horse in the box, at work and from the ground, but also the facilities where it is located, its rider, its food, etc….Where there are connection problems then you can specify particular things that are important to you and we will video and send to you as soon as we can find a connection.
Where there is a good connection it will be as if you were there personally so you can ask anything you want to see and if you wish and where possible, the veterinary test can be scheduled too so that it happens the same day. You can communicate with him or her directly and ask relevant questions.
So book a virtual tour of your potential new horse, but without having to leave your home.
Personally visiting a yard and verifying a horse will be charged at €275 for half a day. If the distance means this involves a whole day the charge will be €400. This includes fuel charges.
You will be charged and invoiced for verification even if we report that the particular horse or pony in question is not deemed to be a suitable match.
OPTION 3 – HOLIDAY IN FRANCE TO BUY A HORSE
Spend 3-5 days with us here in Chateau d’Albizia in the unspoilt Gers in South West France. You will meet a horse or horses that you think may suit you and get to know him or her during your stay.
You can choose to care for the horse yourself for the whole time; bringing in and out from the field, grooming, tacking up, going for hacks and treks through the vineyards on your own and in company or use the 60 x 40 sand arena (qualified advice on hand) and fields. Your holiday, your choice. Now of course there will also be good food and wine.
Non-riding partners are welcome and shouldn’t be bored as there is a carp lake that can be used for fishing free of charge, a swimming lake and beach within half an hour, wine tasting can be arranged at a local vineyard and plenty of local food producers and markets to investigate. Bicycles can be borrowed and there is a ping pong table together with cable/VPN TV and a library if you want to just chill and relax with a book for a couple of hours.
Other trips can be organised for you on request if you want to stay for longer or to spread the trip over a longer period.
Airport collection and return can be booked ahead for Lourdes if requested so all you have to do is pack your bag and your hat and boots. A discount on your holiday cost will be offered if you decide to proceed to buy a horse.
OPTION 4 – HOLIDAY IN SPAIN, PORTUGAL, IRELAND OR THE UK TO BUY A HORSE
We will accompany you, or someone we trust and know will accompany you to try a horse or horses in any of the Countries mentioned above. This will be organised with due consideration and care as to the quality of accommodation offered. Paid Service plus accommodation costs etc. Please contact us to help us organise everything for you.
OPTION 5 – FORGET THE HORSE YOU JUST WANT A HOLIDAY!!
No problem. If you want a fully organised travel concierge trip just ask. Do you fancy hunting or Cross Country in Ireland, dressage in Portugal or Spain, hacking through the mountains, airport transfers, multi-trip or residential, galloping on a beach, climbing a mountain, we can advise and put together an itinerary for you, that is put together with you at the centre of what will make your holiday special.