Horse Talk

[horseman01]

You've found your dream horse. You've done your due diligence, you've had a vet inspect the horse and you're ready to make your purchase. Now it's time to send money off to a person that you've never met for a horse that you've never actually seen -- scary.

If you can arrange to make payment for the horse after he's delivered to you or when you come to pick him up, that's the best way to do it. However, most sellers won't agree to delivering a horse without payment in full or holding a horse for pickup without some money down. The important thing here is to protect yourself and understand all aspects of your agreement with the seller. Write out a contract that details every aspect of your agreement with the seller and get either a written signature or the email equivalent on the contract. Clearly state what the horse you're buying is said to be capable of doing. Make sure that any guarantees made by the seller as to the horse's soundness or suitability for a task are written in the contract. Address issues like what happens if the horse gets hurt or dies once payment is made. Identify who's responsible for delivery and who's responsible for any injuries to the horse in transit. Understand at what point the ownership of the horse will be considered changed, and outline reasons/terms for cancelling the contract by both parties. Leave as little gray area as possible in your sale. This will lead to less confusion if things don't go according to plan with your sale.

Most people will generally try to be honest with you, but things that seem obvious to you may not be obvious to them. A clear written agreement helps you protect yourself and avoid potential confusion and disappointment.