Cross-border buying is now the norm in Europe, and almost all of it starts online. Done properly it widens the search enormously. Done carelessly it is the single most common way buyers lose money without ever owning a horse.

The process below is the one experienced buyers use. It is deliberately slow at the start and fast at the end.

Step 1: Screen the Listing Before You Write

Read the advert against a checklist, not against your hopes.

  • Do the photographs show the horse from both sides, in movement, and under saddle?
  • Is the height, age, sex, breed and location stated precisely?
  • Does the price make sense for the stated record? Extremes in either direction warrant more questions.
  • Is there a passport number, microchip or studbook reference?

Our red flags guide covers the patterns that should end the conversation immediately.

Step 2: The First Message

Keep it short, specific and answerable. Ask:

  1. Why is the horse for sale, and how long has the seller owned it?
  2. What is the horse's current work routine?
  3. Has it had time off, and for what reason?
  4. Is there a recent vetting, and may you see it?
  5. Can you have a live video call with the horse this week?

Vague answers to specific questions are information in themselves.

Step 3: The Live Video Viewing

A recorded video shows the seller's best day. A live call shows today.

  • Ask for the call to start in the stable, not the arena.
  • Request a walk and trot up on a hard, level surface, in both directions.
  • Ask the rider to walk, trot and canter on both reins without editing or pausing.
  • Ask the handler to state the date aloud and to show the passport pages on camera.
  • Record the call with the seller's consent.

Step 4: Independent Eyes on the Ground

Before any money moves, arrange one of:

  • A trainer or agent local to the horse to view in person, or
  • Your own visit, or
  • A full pre-purchase exam with radiographs, commissioned by you.

Every serious cross-border purchase includes at least one independent professional who has physically stood next to the horse.

Step 5: Paying Safely

This is where losses happen.

  • Never pay a deposit before the identity of the seller and the existence of the horse are verified.
  • Pay by bank transfer to an account in the seller's own name, matching the passport or company registration. Refuse third-party accounts.
  • Be sceptical of urgency, of "another buyer arriving tomorrow", and of any request to use gift cards, cryptocurrency or money-transfer services.
  • For higher values, use an escrow or a solicitor's client account, with release conditional on a satisfactory vetting.
  • Get a receipt and a written contract stating price, deposit, vetting condition and the date title passes.

Step 6: Transport and Arrival

Book a licensed transporter, confirm insurance during transit, and plan the first days at home. Cross-border journeys need the passport, health certification and TRACES documentation — the full sequence is in importing a horse to the EU and the practical side in our transport guide.

On arrival, isolate for a short period, keep the routine quiet, and follow the first month checklist.

Fraud Patterns Worth Memorising

  • A price far below the market for a horse "urgently" needing a home.
  • Photographs that reverse-image-search to another country or another year.
  • A seller who will not do a live video call.
  • Payment to a name that does not match the seller's.
  • Pressure to skip the vetting because "the horse was vetted last month".

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a deposit ever safe before a vetting?

A modest deposit against a written agreement, paid to a verified seller and refundable on a failed vetting, is normal practice. A large non-refundable deposit before independent verification is not.

How much does a cross-border vetting cost?

Expect roughly €400–€1,200 depending on the country and the radiograph set. It is a small fraction of the purchase and transport cost, and it is not the place to economise.

What if the horse arrives unlike its description?

Your remedy depends on the contract and on whether the seller was a professional. This is why a written contract listing specific warranties — age, height, soundness, competition record — matters more than any verbal assurance.

Should I insure the horse before transport?

Yes. Cover should begin at the moment title passes, which the contract should state explicitly.

Can I trust a seller with good reviews?

Reviews help, but verify independently anyway: passport, microchip, live video and a professional on the ground. Reputation supplements verification; it does not replace it.