There's a huge difference between finding a horse and finding the right one — the one that fits your level, your goals and the way you ride. Finding it, with judgement, guarantees and calm, is exactly our job. You enjoy the process and your horse; we handle everything else.
Buying a good horse is an important, often international, high-value decision. It deserves a method, not the luck of an advert. Golden Horses is a 360º equestrian advisory that works exclusively for the buyer: no inventory, no sellers to represent. We have no horses to sell — only the commitment that you buy the right one. In this article we explain, in detail, how we work and answer every question a horse buyer usually has.
What a 360º buying advisory is
A buying advisor is a professional who represents only the buyer's interests. Unlike a seller or a traditional intermediary, they don't earn by placing a particular horse: they earn by finding the right one and protecting your investment. "360º" means we're involved in the whole process — not just one part: we listen, search, evaluate technically, coordinate the vet check, negotiate, draft the contract, arrange transport (including international) and support you after the purchase. One trusted point of contact, end to end.
Each stage has a clear objective. In the consultation we understand your starting point. Defining your profile pins down discipline, rider level, sporting goals, desired temperament and a realistic budget. The search relies on our network and a private portfolio of horses that are never advertised. In the evaluation we assess conformation, aptitude and health, and coordinate the veterinary exam. In the negotiation we defend your position and put everything in writing. And in the delivery we handle paperwork, health, transport and customs all the way to your stable.
Looking for a competition horse?
If you're a professional rider or compete at a high level, you already know what you want: you don't need anyone to explain what a pre-purchase exam is or how a horse is evaluated. What you need is time, access and judgement at your level. That's where we're worth our weight in gold:
- Your time is for riding and competing, not for scanning portals, filtering leads or crossing Europe to try horses that weren't as promised. We do that work.
- Access to horses that never reach the market. Our network lets us reach horses with proven records or future prospects — often before the competition.
- Trusted eyes and hands on the ground: we shortlist, assess and coordinate the pre-purchase; you only try the short list that truly deserves your time.
- Technical dialogue between peers: conformation, movement or jumping biomechanics, bloodlines, records and rideability. We speak your language.
- Negotiation and absolute discretion, essential in high-value deals.
- Logistics solved: export, health, quarantine and transport coordinated without you losing training days.
In short: we're not selling you protection — you know how to judge — we give you efficiency, access and freedom from the whole operation so you can focus on what matters: competing.
A trusted team on the ground
More than 20 years in the sector translate into something you can't improvise: a network of trusted people on the ground. Breeders and riders we know and whose methods we understand, independent reference vets and specialised transporters. When we evaluate a horse we don't start from an advert, but from real knowledge of where it comes from, how it was bred and how it was worked. That network is what lets us access horses that never reach the open market.
Technical guarantee: why you buy with peace of mind
The buyer's greatest risk is hidden faults. We tackle it with technical rigour and in writing.
Pre-evaluation
Before proposing a horse we assess its conformation and morphology, the quality of its gaits or its jumping technique, its aptitude for the target discipline and its health. Only those that truly fit your profile pass the filter.
Pre-purchase veterinary exam
Always, without exception, an independent pre-purchase veterinary exam is carried out — with the vet of your choice — which may include static and dynamic assessment, flexion tests, X-rays and serology (piroplasmosis, equine infectious anaemia). If you don't know any vet in Spain, we put you in touch with trusted professionals. We interpret the findings with you, without sugar-coating them.
Contract
There is always a sale contract, with clear terms. Nothing is closed on a handshake.
Specialists in your breed and discipline
We concentrate our knowledge where we're truly expert: PRE, PSL and Warmblood, in dressage, show jumping and breeding.
Dressage
We value the quality of the three gaits, aptitude for collection, straightness, a willing character and conformation. The PRE shines in collection and temperament; the Warmblood dominates the international elite; and we work with both according to your level and goal.
Show jumping
We look for jumping ability, technique and care over the pole, courage, sound limbs and, where relevant, a record. Here the Warmblood is the reference.
Breeding
For a breeding project, the value lies in genetics, morphology and bloodlines, as well as reproductive health. We help you choose with genetic criteria.
We export worldwide
Buying in Spain from abroad frightens those who've never done it: paperwork, health, customs, quarantine, flights… At Golden Horses we manage and coordinate everything. We work in the European Union, United States, Latin America, Middle East and Asia. Requirements change by destination country — and over time — so we verify them in each operation with the relevant authority.
European Union
Equine passport, health certificate via TRACES and a prior clinical exam. No quarantine.
United States
Import permit, tests and a pre-export quarantine with the tests the destination requires.
Middle East & Asia
Import permit, tests and quarantine whose length varies by country.
Latin America
Import permit, tests, quarantine and country-specific animal-health certification.
Piroplasmosis (Theileria equi / Babesia caballi) is the key barrier: many disease-free countries don't admit seropositive horses, and roughly one in four horses in Spain is. That's why we factor it in from day one when your purchase involves export: anticipating it protects your investment.
We coordinate vets, transporters, paperwork and customs. You just have to be home to receive your horse.
Strategic Consultation
Video call to analyse your profile and guide you. Refundable if you engage the Full Advisory.
Full Advisory
End-to-end search, technical evaluation, vet check, negotiation and turnkey transport.
Premium Advisory
Priority access to the private portfolio, advanced biomechanical evaluation and reinforced follow-up.
The 10% commission on the final price of the deal is paid by the buyer, and the advisory fee already paid is deducted from it. Full coordination of transport and export is included in the Full and Premium Advisory.
Before, during and after the purchase
Our relationship doesn't end when you sign. We provide follow-up for whatever you need: questions about the horse's adaptation, arrangements or simply knowing we're still there for you, wherever you live.
The experience: how you'll feel
Behind every purchase there's an emotion, and our job is to look after it. During the process you'll feel something you may not have expected: peace of mind. No more sleepless nights or the nagging "what if I get it wrong?". Instead, the excitement of knowing that someone who knows is searching for you, that every horse you see has already passed a filter, and that you're never alone in any decision.
The day your horse arrives — when it steps off the truck and, for the first time, into the door of its new home — you'll understand what it was all for. It's a moment you don't forget: the end of a journey we've travelled with you and the beginning of your story together. No last-minute surprises, no pending paperwork. Just you and the right horse.
And afterwards, once you're riding and enjoying it, comes the best part: the calm of knowing it's the horse you truly needed — healthy, with no hidden problems — and that you still have a professional team a message away for any question. Buying with Golden Horses isn't a transaction: it's starting to enjoy before, during and long after.
Frequently asked questions about buying a horse
What is a horse-buying advisor?
A professional who represents only the buyer throughout the process — search, technical evaluation, vet check, negotiation, contract, international transport and follow-up — without selling horses or representing sellers. Their interest is that you buy the right horse, not a particular one.
How is it different from a broker or intermediary?
An intermediary usually gets paid for closing a sale and often works for the seller. A 360º advisor like Golden Horses works exclusively for the buyer, with no conflict of interest, and handles the whole process, not just presenting the horse.
How do I buy a horse in Spain from abroad?
You tell us what you're looking for, we find it, evaluate it and coordinate the vet check, contract, health paperwork and transport to your country. You can buy without travelling: we handle everything and keep you informed in your language.
Do I have to travel to Spain to see the horse?
It's not necessary. We shortlist and evaluate for you, with videos and technical assessment, and coordinate the independent vet check. Many of our clients buy without leaving home.
How do I avoid being deceived or hidden faults?
With three layers: we assess the horse before offering it, we always run an independent pre-purchase vet exam (with X-rays and blood tests) and we always sign a contract. We also work with contacts we know and trust.
What is a pre-purchase veterinary exam?
A veterinary evaluation of the horse before purchase: static and dynamic assessment, flexion tests, X-rays and blood tests (including piroplasmosis and equine infectious anaemia). It reveals the real state of health and avoids surprises. We coordinate it with the vet of your choice.
What is piroplasmosis and how does it affect the purchase?
It's a disease (Theileria equi / Babesia caballi) very present in Spain that doesn't prevent competing here, but does block export to disease-free countries (such as the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan). A seropositive horse may be worth considerably less if the destination requires it to be negative. That's why we check it from the start when export is involved.
Can you export the horse to the United States or my country?
Yes. We export to the European Union, United States, Latin America, Middle East and Asia. We handle paperwork, health, quarantine and transport according to each destination's requirements, which we verify in every operation.
How long does quarantine take to import a horse?
It depends on the destination country. Within the European Union there's usually no quarantine; for overseas destinations a pre-travel and/or on-arrival quarantine may be required, from a few days to several weeks depending on the country. We confirm it and explain it in advance.
How much does it cost to transport a horse internationally?
It varies by destination, entry airport and each country's requirements, so it's quoted per operation. Within Europe transport is by road; overseas, by air. We coordinate it entirely.
What documentation does a horse need to travel?
At a minimum, the equine passport and an official health certificate. For movements within the EU it's processed through the TRACES system; for export outside the EU import permits, tests and destination-specific animal-health certification are added. We handle all of it.
How much does your service cost?
Strategic Consultation €350, Full Advisory €2,000 + 10% and Premium Advisory from €3,500 + 10%. The 10% applies to the final price of the deal and is paid by the buyer; the advisory fee already paid is deducted from that commission.
How long does the whole process take?
It depends on how specific your profile is and on the availability of matching horses. We prioritise finding the right one over going fast; we give you a realistic expectation from the first conversation and keep you informed at every stage.
Do you help professional riders buy competition horses?
Yes, it's a central part of what we do. We give access to horses with a record or prospects that don't reach the market, we shortlist and coordinate the pre-purchase, and we manage the whole operation so the rider can focus on training and competing.
Which breeds and disciplines do you work with?
PRE, PSL and Warmblood, in dressage, show jumping and breeding, with more than 20 years' experience in the equestrian sector.
How do I know the horse is the one in the advert or video?
We verify the horse's identity with its passport and microchip, and cross-check name, age and pedigree. We also review its real sporting history (rounds, results, rider changes). Working with trusted contacts removes the "bait and switch" risk.
Are there hidden or multi-level commissions?
No. A common mistake buying in Europe is stacking commissions (the trainer's, the local broker's…). With us the commission is 10% for the buyer, transparent, and we always clarify what's included in the price.
Should I insure the horse?
Yes, it's highly advisable to take out insurance that comes into force on the day of purchase. We guide and coordinate so the cover is ready when you sign the contract.
Do you review the horse's previous veterinary history?
Yes. We request the available veterinary records and take them into account in the evaluation. A seller refusing to provide them is a warning sign we know how to read.
What's the difference between a PRE and an "Andalusian" horse?
PRE (Pura Raza Española) refers to horses registered in the official Stud Book (ANCCE), with verifiable passport and pedigree. "Andalusian" is a more general term. For export and value, official registration matters.
How do I choose a reliable advisor and avoid unrealistic adverts?
Work with a single trusted advisor (not several at once: in Spain many handle the same horses), verify their reputation and be wary of adverts that are too good: not every horse "for sale" really is. A good advisor works for you, not the seller.
Let's talk about your next horse
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll handle the rest. The right horse. No compromises.
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