Buyers agent for event horse

[hamsterpoop]

Does anyone know someone who acts as a " buyers agent" when someone is looking to buy a horse. This would be someone who is not trying to sell their own horse but who objectively looks for a horse based on the buyers needs and wishes. Someone who is knowledgable enough to cut through the crap, find a decent horse for perhaps a fixed fee, and who can be trusted? Just wondered if there was someone like that out there.

[Janet]

Where are you located?

My sister, Gillian Clissold, does that. She is located in Vurginia.

[tle]

agree with Janet... where are you? I know a couple.

[LisaB]

I too know of one. She gets her commission from the seller. Found Winston for me and is excellent. Really tries to match personalities too. Hence why I have this little freak.:cool:

[ne900]

Courtney Cooper will do this also. She did a great job of finding appropriate horses for me to see as well as setting up a schedule for me with the sellers, including directions. She stayed in touch with me the whole trip. When I used her, I also looked a couple of horses that I had found on my own, only to find that these were not appropriate for me and Courtney had known about them and not arranged for me to see them because she knew they were not appropriate. She did not push her own sales horses over other's horses- she focused on finding me a good match.

It was a great time-saver and well worth it. I won't go looking for horses on my own again.

[EventingDiva]

Also know of several in Area 1. Let me know if that is where you are located.

[Ajierene]

My trainer used to, and probably still does - though I haven't talked to her about it in a while (hasn't come up in conversation). In the Fair Hill, MD area.

[oldbutnotdead]

What a great idea - if the agent is trustworthy. It sounds like there are some honorable agents out there -- I'll go this route if I look for another horse.

[maxxtrot]

i do this here in florida. i try to match rider and horse together as a team. i have a lot of contacts in the florida, georiga area, and surrounding areas. you can go to my website and look on the success stories page.(under horses for sale)i try to keep in touch with my clients after the sale, and love to get pictures and updates on how they are doing together.i love doing it. it is so nice to see a pair out competing, knowing you were the one that put them together :)

[lstevenson]

I have been doing this a lot lately too (15 horses found for clients in the past two years, found all over the US.) Let me know if you would like to see my resume.

[hamsterpoop]

We are in area 8 ( Indiana ) which, although there is a pretty decent eventing community in our state it tends to be in "pockets". I really appreciate all of the suggestions!

[Reynard Ridge]

I too know of one. She gets her commission from the seller. Found Winston for me and is excellent. Really tries to match personalities too. Hence why I have this little freak.:cool:

How in the hell did she screen for a horse who likes gunfire?!?? She must be psychic. ;)

[vbunny]

Mike ans Emma Winter in Georgia.

[eventrider]

I use ans swear by Lisa Reid in Middleburg VA. I trust her so much I have bought horses sight unseen. Her website is www.reidtowin.com

Christan

[Eventer6]

I do this all the time and can supply literally dozens of first class references. My daughter is on the Canadian Olympic team and I have also found all her horses for her so far. I am based in Canada but travel all over North America. I also have a lot of connections and a good reputation for matching horse and rider.
Morag O'Hanlon

[beeblebrox]

I like Nancy Lindroth (NC) and Courtney cooper (PA)

Both will set up full days with as many horses as you can see.

[LisaB]

Lisa Reid found Winston for me. I told you, RR, she's good! She would be well worth the long distance for you.
What RR is referring to is a story I told on AR2 list. You see, Winston was Amish and the folks abused him badly. Therefore, he has absolutely no trust in people. He will not ever come up to you for a treat or be pet. And I've posted my dilemma before. When he doesn't want to be caught, you ain't gonna catch him. I've done everything. Anyway, the hubby is working on Louie the Wonder Belgian and desensitizing him for mounted police work. So, this weekend, the horses were in the front field and hubby started shooting blanks in the yard. Kinda far away then wanted to work on getting closer depending on the horses' reactions. Well, Winston The Super Freak hears the gunshots and comes trotting up, ears perked forward, happy camper right up to the fenceline. Never thought I would see the day. So, hubby shoots more and Winston is just standing there with this elated look on his face. So hubby walks up and gives both of them a pet. Which Winston never wants. Weird horse.
Anyway, Lisa doesn't find freaks like that. But she talked to my instructor about the possibility of me handling a horse like this before presenting me with him. We did look at a Westphalen just imported who was lovely. All clipped up and clean. He didn't pass the vet. Then we went polar opposite and looked at Winston on the side of an icy mountain. He was clean though!
She finds horses out of the woodwork as well as ready-made ones. And she will work with your budget. She also found me Norm who was perfect for me at the time. He was 3500 and at a dr/eventing barn. He really instilled my confidence back in the equine psyche since I had a nasty bugger before. She will ask about who your instructor is and your goals and what have you done.

[hamsterpoop]

Wow! I would really like to thank everyone for their responses-I didn't realize thaere was that much out there. Time to try and figure out where to go from here!

[2869]

I do this as well. I am located in Pa and only sell horses from people I personally know and can trust. If you come to Pa, Nj, De let me know.

I can provide references as well for my own horses I have sold and friends horses I have sold.

JEn

[luckyducky1983]

Third for Courtney Cooper (C Square Farm, PA). She's good for event horses, but has access to all types.

She is really efficient in finding nice, quality horses for you to try. I like that she gives you many options, and also if you are from out of state, the whole trip to that event-horsey-heaven area is well worth it. She doesn't push her own sales horses, and w/ each buying trip I've always looked at around 2x horses off the property as well as those there. (Even when I've liked a horse of "hers" shes told me, not for you, you just like it because its here, which was the right decision) Yet, the bunch she has in is always seems to be a really great selection as well, just depends if anything suits you.

As far as personal experience, I've purchased 3 horses through her in the past (different horses as my needs/wants/goals/outside life changed...one was really fun green event horse from Ireland, the second was a really cool H/J who wasn't doing much at the time but went on to do the AAs, and now my current boy who evented & now has started me in the straight rec. dressage world, yikes what whole new world!). The first two, being nice horses, easily resold through her when I took a break in college and then switched out of the H/J realm. I felt like I had made such a wise decision buying quality when it was time to resell.....My other iffy horses of the past had been so much harder (emotionally and financially to place), these guys I knew were quickly off to good show homes. The third boy, also a nice guy, is out in my stall and I'm off to see, hug, and ride him right now!

[hamsterpoop]

Hey lucky ducky: Thanks for the reply. Is that Sue Foley from Clonshire that you quoted?

[Millicent]

If you fancy a trip to the UK you could try www.uptowneventing.co.uk

[piaffeprincess98]

I use ans swear by Lisa Reid in Middleburg VA. I trust her so much I have bought horses sight unseen. Her website is www.reidtowin.com

Christan

Yes, Lisa is my trainer and she is great. I know of alot of success stories including myself and several of her students.

[riderboy]

Does Courtney Cooper have an e-mail or phone # where she could be contacted? I tried whitepages.com but there are several Courtney Coopers in PA. Thanks!

[mythical84]

Does Courtney Cooper have an e-mail or phone # where she could be contacted? I tried whitepages.com but there are several Courtney Coopers in PA. Thanks!

www.csquarefarm.com