I've never bought or sold a horse over the internet. If anyone has experience doing so, can you post some advice that you may have found pertinent to selling horses this way? Maybe some lessons learned or "what I should have dones"? For example, my friend bought a horse without first getting a video and she ended up with a real paddler (though otherwise nice mare...lucky for her). So I know you have to get a video and you have to see the horse in person.

My other friend saw a horse on the internet, flew out to see her once, bought her and shipped her across the country home, and it turned out well. But I always wonder how you can protect yourself from being scammed when dealing across the country and over the internet?

It is really easy to buy a horse over the internet we have bought and sold.. at least 25.

You just go with your Gut... and NEVER, take a money order! (maybe postal)
and never for more money.. if they can pay you they can pay the shipper. And most people will pay there own shipper.. there alot of great companies.. we have some here on the forum. or the sites you can review.. they quote you and have been in business for many years..

One more thing.. Get a vet check if the price permits.. Little hint.. use your own vet, or set up one from the local phone book, I love Vets, and most are 100%, but if a vet takes care of a 100 horse barn, and the trainer is selling a horse with a "healed" bowed tendon, there may not be 100 authenticity in that.

Just my two cents...

i do not trust the internet sales any more. i almost lost my mare to slaughter that way. people can get your address and come take your horse. i would stick with classified adds with just the phone number and description of the horse you are selling. it was the scariest thing ever not knowing if i was going to come home and my hors would lbe gone.

Have bought and sold, local and long distance.
Just use common sense, if it seems to good to be true-It Is. Do request a video, or dated pictures, ask lots of questions, both good and bad. Every horse has @ least one bad habit. Request vet records. Remember you are dealing with horses they are NOT bombproof, they can be woonderful animals but they are animals with survival instincts.
Just the facts- Prospect=he doesn't know anything yet Free jumps 4 feet= Over the pasture fence Sensitive=spooky/unpredictable
This is my favorite, EVENT prospect=Crazy
Keep your eyes/ears open to interpret what is really being said, do your homework.
Go see the horse if possible, and know your REAL riding limits. If your a beginner rider that trail rides western. It would be a waste of time for both buyer/seller to look @ a Grand Prix showjumper.
It's not hard, to buy or sell. If its not something you would do face-toface, certainly don't do it on-line. And NEVER give out any personal information.

Great post ltc4h. I've bought and sold 50+ over the internet, and find as far as selling, that I get a TON more market from interested online buyers (I guess everyone is lazy now and instead of getting up to get a paper, or running down to the local tack store to scan billboards, they sit at the computer and search) I don't think I will ever advertize in papers/magazines anymore. I'd get 100 calls from buyers online before I'd get a call from a newspaper! (Well, at least that's the experience I get lol)

OOPS, should I go unlist my "EVENT prospects?" haha lol , anything I have here that comes close to being a good eventer prospect would definitely not be crazy-