Hoofine vs BigEq
A safety net for six-figure show horses, layered onto pro discovery.
BigEq is the go-to US marketplace for hunter, jumper and equitation horses, deeply integrated into the show circuit where many sellers are known professionals. It's still a classifieds model, though: high-value deals are wired privately with no integrated escrow, and trust rests on reputation rather than platform-enforced KYC. Even between professionals, miscommunication happens — Hoofine's escrow and verified identities protect both sides of an expensive purchase.
BigEq — bigeq.com. Comparison is based on each platform's publicly described model and may change.
Your money is protected by escrow
BigEq is an advertising venue — buyer and seller arrange payment privately, so a wire or deposit leaves you exposed. On Hoofine every payment is held in escrow and only released after delivery, with a 48-hour inspection window.
Every seller's identity is verified
BigEq relies on basic account registration, so you may have little more than a name and a phone number. Hoofine verifies seller identity (KYC) before a sale, so you know who you're dealing with.
You only pay when a sale completes
Instead of paying listing fees whether or not your horse sells, Hoofine is free to list and charges a flat 2.9% + $1 only on a completed, escrow-backed sale.
Hoofine vs BigEq, feature by feature
| Feature | Hoofine | BigEq |
|---|---|---|
| Escrow on every sale | ||
| Identity-verified sellers (KYC) | Pro reputation | |
| 48-hour inspection window | ||
| Dispute resolution on the transaction | Report ads only | |
| Public pedigree database | Per-listing only | |
| Breeding & stallion-at-stud network | ||
| Multi-currency, built for cross-border | ||
| Free to list | Listing fees | |
| Cost to sell | 2.9% + $1, only on a completed sale | Listing fees regardless of outcome |
Why buyers and sellers choose Hoofine
- Escrow protection on high-value show-horse purchases
- Verified identity even within the professional circuit
- Cross-border and multi-currency for imported prospects
Hoofine vs BigEq — FAQ
- Why use Hoofine alongside or instead of BigEq?
- BigEq is invaluable for finding hunter/jumper and equitation horses through the professional network. But buying a six-figure horse by wire still carries risk. Hoofine adds escrow and identity verification as a safety net — protecting reputations and relationships, not replacing your trainer's expertise.
- Does BigEq hold funds in escrow?
- No — BigEq is a classifieds marketplace; high-value payments are arranged privately, typically by wire or certified check. Hoofine holds the payment in escrow until the horse is delivered and inspected.
- How much does Hoofine cost?
- Listing is free. Hoofine charges a flat 2.9% + $1 fee on a completed sale, deducted from the seller's payout at release. Nothing is charged on cancelled or refunded transactions.