The buying process, step by step
From the first sale video to the signed contract, the European buying process has its own rhythm and its own rules. This section walks through each step the way it actually happens — and flags where buyers most often get caught.
- Judging a Horse from Video
Almost every international purchase starts with video. How to read sales footage, what raw clips to request, and the limits video can never overcome.
- Working with an Agent
A good buyer's agent turns a foreign market into a navigable one. How agents and commissions work, and how to protect yourself from hidden fees.
- The Pre-Purchase Examination
The pre-purchase exam is your most important protection. What a vetting covers, why the vet must be independent, and how distance buyers manage it.
- Contracts, Paperwork and Warning Signs
What belongs in a horse sales contract, which papers you must receive at handover, and the warning signs that should make an international buyer walk away.
- The Trial: Going Yourself or Sending Someone
A step-by-step protocol for the trial visit, plus how distance buyers use an independent proxy rider to try a horse in Europe on their behalf.
- Where Horses Are Sold, and Who to Trust
Breeders, sales stables, auctions, private sellers and online marketplaces compared, so you know which door you are walking through and its risks.