Dear Graemont,
I'm looking for a nice schoolmaster type mare or gelding between 10 and 14 years
old. I'd like it to know flying changes, be locally competitive at 4th
level (once I get to that point), and be at least serviceably sound. I've
been looking at videos for 6 months, have wasted three weekends and now more
than $2000 on a flight, hotel rooms, rental cars, and 2 failed pre-purchase
exams. Why is this happening to me.
- Frustrated in USA
Shopping in Europe
Since our company represents repeat
business to our European contacts we are handled with greater care and respect. It goes to follow then that our clients can benefit from this preferred treatment.
We talk to buyers each week that tell us their stories. The story
above is quite typical, and many buyers say to us that they wish they had
talked to Graemont six months ago, before wasting valuable time and
financial resources. The fact is, there ARE good horses for sale in
the USA but unfortunately there is a very low population
of quality dressage horses per square mile in this country. Compounding
this problem are two significant factors:
1. there few skilled trainers that give a horse quality dressage training
relative to the size of the United States AND 2. most USA horses
for sale are represented by amateur sellers or inexperienced (at selling)
professionals. This means that you are probably going to receive an
inaccurate appraisal of the horse's value, rideability, and soundness even
from well meaning sellers.
Now picture this. Imagine that you could shrink the USA into half the
size of Pennsylvania. Give it another 50 years of practice in developing a
breeding program and dressage training experience - guess what? You're in
Holland! There are horses everywhere, and horse shopping takes on a whole
different complexion. Imagine getting in your car at 9 a.m. and getting
back at 7 p.m. that evening after looking at 10+ horses and finding several that
you liked! As far as the ones you didn't like, well, chalk it up to
experience and get back in your car...off to the next barn! If you have
realistic expectations and a good network for locating horses, you have an excellent chance of
finding a horse that you'll want to buy. A flight to Europe costs as
little as $350 from East Coast in winter to $850 in summer. Hotels, meals
and incidentals make the total package quite inexpensive relative to the number
of horses you get to try.
But don't think it's just that easy. Shopping in Europe brings its own
unique aspects to navigate. What veterinarians are reliable?
What dealers, sellers and breeders are reliable? What bloodlines are
suitable for me? Who can I trust to guide me through this
process? We also hear many stories of buyers who have wandered
overseas after making contacts through the internet or by calling on print
ads. It's a big bad world out there, and you have to be careful.
You need an advocate that looks out for your interest helping you with the
process.
That's where Graemont, Inc can help. Our staff can help you
to determine if you are likely to find a horse within your buying parameters
in the price range you set. Since we are there nearly every month, we
have a good sense of what horse's cost and how to find them.
What's more, the European shopping experience creates a special lifetime
memory of fun, adventure, beauty and education.. Since Graemont
makes most of the arrangements for you, it is possible to sit back and
enjoy the beautiful country and take in the European culture. You
are able to get away from the distractions of your everyday life and
concentrate on this important purchase decision.
Graemont's goal is not just to help our customers find a
great horse, its to create a positive experience with the process.
That's why we are anxious to give our references from both our
professional and amateur customers. No one says it better than a
happy customer! One customer was so happy she returned and wrote an
article for the PVDA newsletter and was published in Half Halt.com.
Read that article by clicking
here. We have several pre-defined types of horses that we
are normally able to find in Europe. Check them out in our virtual
inventory section.
Beautiful sites to experience, beautiful
horses to see, that's what makes the European shopping adventure one that
you just don't want to miss out on. Customers stand ready to give
rave reviews about their experience with us. It is a great
opportunity to observe many different horses and sharpen your power of
observation. It is an excellent educational experience that you may
look back on for many years.
If you'd like more information about shopping in Europe, CLICK
HERE
To find out if Europe is the place you should be shopping, you need to consult
with a staff member at Graemont, Inc.
To go to Graemont's Home Page, CLICK HERE
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