The short answer is our background, track record and reputation, written guarantee, horse delivery and credit card acceptance. Please check out the details below. We are confident we can earn your business - we bet the farm on it!

Jo Joslin (formerly Merrill) operates this business. The Merrill family, from Baraboo, Wisc, was very involved in showing, training, breeding, rodeos, race tracks, public riding stables, and horse sales. Back in the seventies & eighties, Merrills M&M Horse Market was the place to go for a good horse, and chances are, Jo was the one who trained that horse.

Over the years, she has shown extensively at western pleasure, huntseat and halter - competed in rodeo and team penning, and always enjoyed lots of trail riding.

Jo rode for Gary Achtenhagen, nationally known quarter horse breeder, trainer and judge, also for Susie Weiss of Domino Stables, and Pat Zynda of TTT Ranch.

Jo helped manage two of her families riding stables at a young age, and from 1990 to 2000, she herself owned and operated the biggest riding stable in Wisconsin Dells. She was personally responsible for matching every horse and rider at a stable that exceeded 10,000 riders per year, resulting in an unbelievable safety record.

Which brings us up to date - Jo is busy selecting, training and matching horses with riders here at Big Springs Horse Market. Between her lifetime of experience in all areas of horsemanship, her years of working with beginners at the stables, and her reputation for straight and honest dealing, Jo has the right background to work from.

We have sold well over a thousand horses in recent years, individually, one at a time. Our horses have sold all over the midwest - to 4-H clubs, riding stables, lesson barns, mounted shooting clubs, mounted police, and lots of individuals. We also supplied horses for theraputic riding (prior to starting this business) at a local Easter Seals Camp - Camp Wawbeek.

From the start, we developed a reputation for straight horse dealing. Our plan was to sell one good horse after another, and let people talk. Demand for our horses is now very high, but also leads to our biggest problem - we have not been able to offer as many horses as we would like, especially during spring and summer. We usually offer 2 or 3 new horses each week, more during summer than winter, but some customers are frustrated that they sell so quickly. Supply is a problem because we only deal in quiet, well broke geldings, and they are getting harder and harder to find.

So, our track record is good for horses we have sold, not as good for keeping our shelves stocked, but we keep looking hard.

When we sell a horse, we state in writing, on the bill of sale, that the horse may be traded for a different horse within 2 weeks, for any reason, as long as the horse is in the same condition as when sold. This guarantee is meant to give you the time to make sure that the horse rides as good at your place as it did at ours. The 2 week guarantee is to let you really evaluate the horse, on your own property, under whatever conditions you prefer. We would much rather get a horse back this way, start all over and make you happy, because in the long run, we are going to make more money that way. If a suitable replacement horse is not available, this option remains open for up to 2 months or 2 trades (you may trade for a 2nd and a 3rd horse).

The reason we offer a written trade-in guarantee is because we are confident in the horses we sell, and want our customers to be confident in them too. A copy of our bill of sale can be seen by clicking papers at the top of our horses for sale page.

We would be happy to deliver your horse for a flat $1.00 per mile, one way. Milage from MapQuest is used. If you want to see what the milage is, use 330 State Road 23, Wisconsin Dells, WI as the starting point.

Check out the directions below or our map link to find out where we are located.

We are located at 330 Hwy 23, six miles east of Wisconsin Dells or 4 miles west of Briggsville or 1 mile south of Big Springs, at the southern tip of Adams County. We are the 2nd farm on the left past County G if you are coming from the Dells. We have a 4-rail white fence around our place, a big sign on the side of our red barn and we are located on the north side of the Hwy.

If you have to go through the Dells during the summer months it sometimes takes 30-45 minutes during the daylight hours. Also you could check this Wisconsin road construction and closing report to see if there might be any other delays in getting to us: www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/road/workzones.htm

From Eau Claire, take I-94 E. to Wisconsin Dells exit 87 for Hwy 13 N. Stay on Hwy 13 N. straight thru Downtown Dells (no turns) and go straight thru the last light in town on Hwy 23 E. (Hwy 13 N. turns left at this light). We are about 6 miles out on the left at 330 Hwy 23. (The first turn after exiting the Interstate will be our driveway.)

From Stevens Point, take I-39 S. to Hwy 23 W. (the 2nd Hwy 23 exit, exit 100, 6 miles past the 1st one), take Hwy 23 W. thru Briggsville, then we are about 4 miles on the right at 330 Hwy 23.

From Madison, take I-90/94/39 west towards Portage. Take the I-39 N. exit shortly after crossing the Wisconsin River, go about 5 miles to the Hwy 16 W. exit at Portage (right after the Hwy 16 E. exit). After exiting, take a quick right on Hwy 127. Go about 5 miles, turn right on AA. Go about 2 miles to the end of the road and turn left on Hwy 23 (Briggsville is to the right). We are about 3 miles down on the right side of the road (north side) at 330 Hwy 23.

From Madison, if you want to go thru the Dells (an extra 20 miles), take I-90/94/39 west to Wisconsin Dells exit 87 for Hwy 13 N., go straight thru Downtown Dells (no turns) and straight thru last light on Hwy 23 E., we are about 6 miles on the left at 330 Hwy 23. (The first turn after exiting the Interstate will be our driveway.)

From Oshkosh, take Hwy 44 to Ripon, then take Hwy 23 thru Princeton and Montello. Hwy 23 will go on top of I39 for 6 miles (heading south), then take exit 100 to continue on Hwy 23. Go thru Briggsville, we are 4 miles from Briggsville on the right, at 330 Hwy 23.

Big Springs Horse Market is named after a small town (Big Springs), just a mile north of our farm.

Our business is simple: we search all over the midwest for good-broke geldings, looking for a combination of value and riding ability, then we thoroughly screen the geldings in the round pen, the arena, on trail and along the highway before offering them for sale to the public. Based on our evaluation, some horses go right up for sale, some get additional training, and some will not make the cut.

We are well-aware of the risks and hassles involved with buying a horse. We cut the hassle by bringing alot of good horses together in one spot, displaying them on the internet, and delivering them for a reasonable price. We cut the risk by first selecting only good-broke horses, then thoroughly screening them ourselves, and finally by offering a written, trade-in guarantee. (Our guarantee is unconditional-no reason is required)

The best way to shop at Big Springs Horse Market is to first review our website. (We can notify you each time we add new horses if you send us an e-mail to info@bigspringshorsemarket.com with "add" in the subject line. You might have to adjust your junk mail settings to allow mail from info@bigspringshorsemarket.com) Then call us and set up a time to come look. That way, we can have your prospects caught and ready to ride for you when you come. We sell first-come, first-serve, but may hold a horse the day of a scheduled appointment. When we show horses, we first ride the horse for you to see - then after signing a waiver, you can ride and test the horse for yourself. We have a lighted indoor riding arena for night riding or bad weather.

To sum it up, we offer good horses, at good prices, with less hassle and less risk and in return we get the opportunity to make some money and meet some good horses and nice people along the way. We hope you will consider buying a horse from us. Give us a call at (608) 981-2120 to enquire about our horses, or drop us an email at info@bigspringshorsemarket.com if you would like to be on our new horse update list.