Re: Horse Buying Guarantees

[trailsz@webtv.net (Sarah Zegers)]

Having sold a few horses over the past 20 or 30 years, I've found that
often people want to take a horse on trial before they decide to buy.
So I do what is called a "sale with a buy-back guarantee", which works
like this:  I agree to let the prospective buyer take the horse on trial
for an agreed period, usually 2 to 3 weeks;  before the horse leaves my
ranch, we have a veterinarian (chosen & and paid by the prospective
buyer)  perform a pre-purchase exam  on the horse (this establishes the
horse's present condition, soundness, etc.,  and is VERY important);
the buyer pays me the full purchase price of the horse with my consent
to give back that money in full if, at the end of the trial period they
don't want the horse, and the animal is in the SAME OR BETTER CONDITION
than when it was examined for the pre-puchase exam.  I have a written
agreement for this process, which is signed by both buyer & seller.  It
puts everything right out there in black and white, and this method has
always worked well for me.  I have found that most serious buyers are
comfortable with this agreement.  And I am comfortable taking back a
horse and refunding the buyer's $, under these terms.  I have never had
a problem with a sale or a return under this type of agreement.   

Sarah Zegers
"Good Horses Make Short Miles" @