{"id":327,"date":"2026-08-09T11:30:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T11:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westernhorseconnection.com\/?page_id=327"},"modified":"2026-08-09T12:30:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T12:30:38","slug":"buyer-policies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westernhorseconnection.com\/?page_id=327","title":{"rendered":"Buyer Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Western Horse Connection<\/p>\n

Buyer Policies<\/h1>\n

Effective date:<\/strong> August 9, 2026  \u00b7  Version:<\/strong> 2.0<\/p>\n

These policies describe Western Horse Connection\u2019s public service standards for prospective buyers. Acknowledging them confirms receipt; it does not by itself create an agency, fee, purchase, transportation, veterinary, or other transaction agreement. Horse-specific rights and obligations must be stated in signed agreements. A signed agreement controls if it conflicts with these policies, except where applicable law does not permit a right or remedy to be waived.<\/p>\n

Independent decisions<\/span>Meaningful disclosure<\/span>Safe evaluation<\/span>Written terms<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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1. Western Horse Connection\u2019s Role<\/h2>\n

Western Horse Connection helps a buyer define search criteria, identify possible horses, organize information, and coordinate communications. Unless a separate signed agreement expressly says otherwise, Western Horse Connection is an introducer and coordinator\u2014not the horse\u2019s owner, seller, veterinarian, trainer, insurer, transporter, lender, escrow holder, or legal representative\u2014and does not take title to or custody of a horse.<\/p>\n

Western Horse Connection does not make the buyer\u2019s final decision about health, soundness, safety, suitability, value, insurance, transportation, or purchase terms. If Western Horse Connection will receive transaction-related compensation, the party responsible for that compensation and the agreed method of calculation must be disclosed in writing. Any material conflict, including compensation from more than one side, must be disclosed and handled with any consent required by applicable law.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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2. Information Sources and Corrections<\/h2>\n

Horse information may come from owners, sellers, agents, public listings, registration papers, veterinary or training records, photographs, videos, and observations. Western Horse Connection may summarize that information but does not adopt every third-party statement as its own warranty. We will distinguish material information reported by others from information we have independently verified when that distinction matters. Buyers should request source documents and promptly report suspected errors so they can be reviewed and corrected.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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3. Buyer Information and Matching<\/h2>\n

Buyers must provide accurate information about rider experience, confidence, physical or practical limitations relevant to the search, intended riders, intended use, care environment, budget, timing, and non-negotiable requirements. A parent or legal guardian must act for a minor. Western Horse Connection may pause a search or decline to recommend a horse when the information available is incomplete or a proposed match presents an unresolved welfare or safety concern.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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4. Independent Evaluation and Pre-Purchase Examination<\/h2>\n

Every buyer is responsible for independently evaluating a horse. Before purchase, we strongly recommend an in-person evaluation, help from an appropriately qualified independent trainer or adviser, and a pre-purchase examination by a veterinarian chosen by the buyer who is not controlled by the seller. The buyer determines the examination scope after consulting the veterinarian and should consider intended use, imaging, laboratory testing, drug screening, and review of available records. An examination reduces uncertainty but cannot guarantee future health, soundness, behavior, or performance.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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5. Safety, Inspections, and Trials<\/h2>\n

Horses are powerful and unpredictable animals. Buyers and accompanying persons must follow facility rules, honestly state their abilities, use appropriate safety equipment, and decline any activity beyond their ability. Riding, handling, inspection, or trial activity may require a separate state-specific warning, release, or participation agreement before the activity begins. No policy or release is intended to excuse fraud, intentional harm, willful or wanton misconduct, or any liability that applicable law does not permit to be waived.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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6. Availability, Deposits, Payments, and Fraud Prevention<\/h2>\n

Availability, asking price, condition, and seller terms may change. A horse is not reserved until the person authorized to sell it accepts written reservation or sale terms. Before sending money, the buyer should verify the recipient and payment instructions using a trusted second communication method and obtain a written receipt stating whether a deposit is refundable, the conditions for refund or forfeiture, and what happens if the horse becomes unavailable or does not satisfy an agreed condition. Western Horse Connection does not receive or hold purchase funds unless a separate signed agreement expressly authorizes that role and explains how the funds will be safeguarded.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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7. Written Sale Terms and Warranties<\/h2>\n

The buyer and legal seller should sign a horse-specific bill of sale or purchase agreement identifying the horse and parties and addressing price, payment, deposits, inspection rights, possession, delivery, passage of title and risk of loss, seller disclosures and promises, warranties or lawful disclaimers, return rights, default, and dispute procedures. Descriptions and factual promises can have legal consequences even when the word \u201cwarranty\u201d is not used. These policies neither create nor waive a warranty or statutory consumer right.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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8. Interstate Sales, Health Documents, and Transportation<\/h2>\n

When a horse will cross state lines, the parties must identify the horse\u2019s location, inspection location, destination, and delivery point before contracting. Import requirements are set by the destination state and can change with disease conditions. Depending on the route and destination, the horse may need individual identification, a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, negative equine infectious anemia testing, entry permits, or additional testing. The purchase and transportation agreements should allocate responsibility and cost for those documents, taxes, insurance, quarantine, carrier selection, and delays. Buyers remain responsible for confirming destination requirements with the destination state animal-health authority and an accredited veterinarian.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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9. Private Portal and Confidential Information<\/h2>\n

A buyer login and curated horse page are for the assigned buyer only. Buyers must protect their credentials, promptly report suspected unauthorized access, and must not share another person\u2019s private contact information, veterinary records, pricing, or other confidential material for unrelated purposes. Portal access may be suspended when security, privacy, safety, or misuse concerns arise.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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10. Respectful Conduct, Concerns, and Ending a Search<\/h2>\n

Buyers must communicate respectfully, keep or promptly cancel appointments, and avoid deceptive, coercive, discriminatory, abusive, or unlawful conduct. A buyer may end a search at any time, subject only to obligations in a separate signed agreement. Concerns about a horse, seller, safety issue, payment request, conflict, or Western Horse Connection service should be reported promptly. We may preserve relevant records, seek supporting information, correct or withdraw a presentation, or pause an introduction while a concern is reviewed.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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11. No Guaranteed Outcome<\/h2>\n

Western Horse Connection cannot guarantee availability, examination results, future behavior or health, financing, insurability, transportation, seller or buyer performance, resale value, competition results, or a successful long-term match. This statement does not limit responsibility for Western Horse Connection\u2019s own express written commitments or for rights that applicable law does not permit to be disclaimed.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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12. Privacy, Records, and Policy Changes<\/h2>\n

Buyer information is used to evaluate and support the search, communicate about possible matches, operate the private portal, protect people and horses, and maintain appropriate business records. See the Privacy Policy<\/a> for additional information. The policy version acknowledged with an inquiry is recorded. Material revisions will receive a new version and effective date and will not retroactively replace signed transaction terms.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n