Buy Horses in Oman

Horses for sale in Oman: Buying and selling horses in Oman

What makes the horse market in Oman so interesting is the way deep Bedouin tradition meets a quietly modern, well-organized equestrian scene. You feel it the first time you stand by the rail at a local race or watch an evening training session under floodlights: people know their horses here, and they care about bloodlines, soundness, and correct handling.

Oman has a long history with Arabian horses, and that still shapes the market today. You’ll find classic straight Egyptian and Gulf Arabians for racing and show, but also a growing number of part-breds, Anglo-Arabs, and warmbloods brought in for showjumping and dressage. Endurance is strong, especially around Nizwa and Salalah, while racing and flatwork dominate near Muscat and the Batinah region. The overall market is not huge compared with Europe or the UAE, but it’s surprisingly diverse: from 800–1,200 OMR leisure horses for trail and family use, to 3,000–10,000 OMR performance horses competing in national classes, and a smaller top tier of imported competition horses priced much higher.

Buying and selling horses in Oman feels more personal than in many countries. Deals are often done through networks—trainers, stable owners, and families who have bred and traded horses for generations. At the same time, online horse classifieds and social media groups focused on “horses for sale in Oman” have made the market more transparent. If you’re willing to spend time on the ground, talk to local riders, and understand how people do business here, you can find honest horses at fair prices and build relationships that last well beyond a single sale.

Buying horses in Oman - what you need to know

If you’re buying a horse in Oman, one of the main advantages is value for money. Purebred Arabians for pleasure or light competition can often be found from around 1,000–3,000 OMR, depending on age, training, and pedigree. Local-bred endurance horses with proven results might sit in the 3,000–7,000 OMR range, while imported jumpers and dressage horses can start at 6,000 OMR and go well into five figures for serious competitors. Compared with neighboring Gulf countries, Oman can feel more reasonably priced, especially outside the capital and away from top racing lines.

To actually find horses for sale, you’ll usually start online, then move quickly to in-person viewing. Facebook groups and WhatsApp networks are very active; you’ll also find ads on regional classified sites where owners and dealers list horses with photos and short videos. Around Muscat, several training centers and riding schools know which horses are quietly on the market, and a local trainer can open many doors. There are occasional auctions, mainly for race and endurance horses, but most buying in Oman still happens privately: you visit the stable, watch the horse ridden, then ride it yourself, often over more than one visit if you’re serious.

For both local and international buyers, a pre-purchase veterinary exam is essential. In Oman, standard vetting usually includes a clinical exam, flexion tests, and basic blood work; X‑rays are available in Muscat and some regional clinics, and are strongly recommended for performance horses. Don’t be shy about bringing your own vet or asking for a second opinion—professional sellers are used to it. If you’re buying from abroad, factor in export paperwork, Coggins and other tests, quarantine rules at the destination, and transport from Oman’s main airports. Export agents in Muscat handle most of this, but you should confirm who pays which costs right at the start of negotiations.

Prices in Oman are influenced by age, discipline, pedigree, and competition record, but also by something more local: reputation. A horse known to be sensible in the desert, easy to handle in a busy souq, or reliable on long endurance loops will command more than a similar horse with no track record. Take your time, ask for videos in different situations, and watch how the horse behaves on the ground. Clarify what tack is included, whether the horse is currently shod, and when vaccinations and teeth were last done. A little extra diligence early on usually saves a lot of trouble later.

Everything about selling horses in Oman

If you’re selling a horse in Oman, your potential buyers are more varied than you might expect. You have local leisure riders looking for safe family horses, Omani owners upgrading to a higher-level competition mount, stables wanting school horses, and international buyers interested in endurance and Arabian bloodlines. Buyers from the wider GCC sometimes look to Oman to purchase slightly more affordable horses, especially for endurance and flat racing, then export them onward.

To present your horse well in this market, you need clear, honest information and good visuals. Buyers in Oman want to see straight-line trotting videos on firm ground, canter both ways, a bit of work in the arena or desert, and some simple handling: picking up feet, loading, standing tied. Clean, recent photos taken in good light make a big difference. Include height in centimeters, age in years (not just “rising”), discipline, level of training, and any competition results within Oman. If your horse is suitable for beginners or children, state it carefully and truthfully—word travels fast here if a horse is misrepresented.

In terms of where to advertise, local Facebook groups and Arabic-language classifieds focused on horses for sale in Oman are very effective, as are Instagram accounts targeting the equestrian community. Some people work with trusted dealers who already have a buyer base in Muscat and beyond. For higher-end sport or endurance horses, sending videos to trainers and stable managers you know is often more productive than public ads. When you set the price, look at current market conditions: pleasure horses often sell in the 800–1,800 OMR range, straightforward schoolmasters or proven endurance horses more like 2,000–7,000 OMR, with well-bred or imported competition horses going higher depending on results and age.

If you hope to attract international buyers, be ready with up-to-date vet records, passport details, and an idea of export costs from Oman. Many foreign buyers will ask for a full set of X-rays, so planning a pre-sale vetting can speed things up. Buyers in Oman generally expect transparent information about health, vices, and past injuries, and they appreciate sellers who allow trial rides over more than one visit. Seasonally, the most active period for buying and selling is usually from October to March, when the weather is cooler and the competition calendar is busy. Listing your horse at the start of the season, with fresh videos and a realistic price, is often the best way to reach serious buyers quickly and achieve a smooth, fair sale for both sides.