Buying a horse at auction gives the advantage of being able to view a variety of horses for sale in one place, rather than having to plan several trips to view a number of horses at different locations.
However, unlike buying a horse from a private seller, riding school or dealer where the horse can be viewed and then a decision made after careful thought over the course of a day or two, buying a horse at auction requires a fairly quick assessment of any horse before deciding to bid in order to buy it. It is therefore recommended to take along an experienced friend, instructor or trainer when attending a horse auction to have a second opinion before making the decision to bid on a horse.
The prices paid for horses at auction are very much determined by the number of people interested in each horse. Horses of interest to only a few bidders may end up being sold below the average market value, whereas horses with a high number of bidders may end up being sold for over the market value.
When attending any horse auction, even as an observer, it should be borne in mind that there are a number of horses from various locations and backgrounds that have been stroked and handled by a large number of people so it is advisable to change clothing, footwear, disinfect hands, etc before handling any horses after returning home to avoid any risk of passing on any infections.
Types of horse auction
Premium horse auctions can be a good source for quality horses whilst local monthly horse auctions may not have such a good reputation and buying a horse can be risky. Find out about the different types of horse auctions from this guide.
Viewing, trial riding and bidding on horses at auction
Check out our guide to viewing horses, trial riding and bidding tips when attending a horse auction.
Vetting procedures and warranties at horse auctions
Some horse auctions offer pre-vetted horses or the option of having a horse vetted when sold at auction, whilst others offer horses that are warranted or sold as seen. This guide outlines the different options that may be offered.
Auction fees, VAT and payment terms
It is important to be aware of any additional fees before bidding on any horse in an auction to avoid any nasty surprises when paying for the horse. Check out this guide to fees to look out for.