I'm looking for a 'Confidence Builder' and all of your horses look too young to be that?

Great questions, but I would encourage you to judge each horse individually. There is no guarantee that an older horse will have the foundation/confidence you are looking for. He might 'know things he doesn't need to know', at the same time a younger horse might have the right combination of experience that actually make his foundation very solid. We have plenty of examples of 3/4/5 yr olds that exude confidence beyond their years and have made amazing partners to their less than confident owners. Most of our sale horses do not have a lot of age on them because they sell too soon. This is a good sign. Ask for references if you would like.

Do I need to be a Parelli Student to get along with one of your horses?
No, you don't. As long as your goals line up with ours as far as 'building a relationship of trust and respect' through a natural approach. There are a lot of great horsemen/women who don't have a 'Parelli label' and we would be honoured for them to own one of our horses. At the same time I think a person would 'optimize' the foundation we have laid in the horses having some basic knowledge of the Parelli Program. It is also a great tool for keeping the relationship going in a great directions.

How do you price your horses? They seem a little expensive for just recreational horses.
Yes, there are many 'cheaper' horses on the market. The horse market is full of horses that are being sold for one reason or another, often by the owner/trainer after things have gone sideways. In contrast, we are selling our best horses. Our other reasons are on the business front. On average we sell about 10-15 horses a year. Some of these have been raised from a foal. Costs of raising horses, and paying the ranch bills, add up. If you don't generate income from your investment of time, money, and skill, then what you have is a very expensive hobby and you have to get a 'day job'. ( We do not want to get a day job! )

Another note on pricing is that mares, in the recreational market', sell for less than a gelding in most cases. (Mares Rock! (as we say around here) but the perception is very strong that the easier going nature of the geldings is better. We think our mares blow that perception out of the water, but still the pricing variation exists.

Shipping, Transport, and other questions

Shipping and Transport
Horses have been transported to Ontario, Michigan, California, and New Mexico.
Cardinal Ranch has worked with several transport companies that will safely transport your partener to their new home. The buyer can expect to pay around $1,400 for transport from Cardinal Ranch to Ontario. Cardinal Ranch can make the shipping arrangements for you and usually the horse can be delivered within a few weeks depending on transport companies schedules. Usually horses can be delivered right to your barn door.

Some Companies we use are:
International Horse Transport (The Brady's are our favorite drivers!)1-800-387-1779
Thompsons transport: 1-866-404-6269
Amercian Horse Transport: 1-800-991-9770

What if I am transporting a horse to the United States?
It is easiest to do this through a transport company as they as familiar with the paperwork at the border crossing. Export papers are done by our local vet and of course a negative coggins certficate. It is a little bit of paperwork but is really very simple to export a horse to the United States.

Isn't that long trip hard on a horse?
Our buyers have said they couldn't believe how well rested there horses looked after the journey. We think the transportation is actually harder on the humans involved. Our horses tend to load right up in the transport trucks and the lay over's allow the horses to be unloaded and cared for. Not to say that something could not happen, but in our experience horses have always arrived happy and healthy.

Do I have to have a vet check done?
A vet check is mandatory. It is done at the buyers expense (it is a about $100). This is between the buyer and the vet and includes a general health exam, flexion test, and checking out any other concerns you may have about the horse. Communication is directly between the vet and the buyer. The vet used most often for vet checks is Dr. Janet Jones from the Jasper Vet Clinic. You can call her directly at 780 852 5551. She will call Cardinal Ranch and book an appointment for Tuesday or Thursdaywhen she is in our area.

Should I insure my horse after I buy him?
This is a good idea. Cardinal Ranch is not liable for injury or death of the horse after the date on purchase. There are insurances available that will cover your horse during transport and over the next years in case of death or injury. They can cover vet fees as well as reimburse the purchase of t he horse. Sometimes a vet check is required so you may want to have the forms ready when the pre-purchase exam is done and get them filled out by the vet then.

Let us know if you would like to review a copy of our purchase agreement.