Andalusian in the UK

[Lorrie66]

Hi - I am looking to buy a good all round Andalusian, about 8-15 yrs, something for me to learn dressage on but also a happy hacker.
Can anyone recommend a UK based dealer, equestrian centre (or maybe a breeder) that can help look out for one?
I'm in no particular rush and want to avoid any pitfalls that may come with going to Spain as I am not experienced in these matters, and want the right decision for me and the horse.
Any top tips gratefully received

 

[leonh]

..i have bought and imported two andalusians from the same dealer. the first was a 7yr old mare that had had 2 foals in spain, no papers, grey, cost under 5k, sold her this year after having her 3 for 4k. she was a dream. settled very quickly. amazing hack - but no mover in the school. she went to a le trec/endurance home. the 2nd i imported in june this yr, a gelding, 5yrs old, stunning, real head turner, sold to me as trained but really is anything but. so green. knows zilch but AMAZING paces and brill hack, so brave, adventurous and fun. my gelding is now at amy strovolds dressage yard up for sale. i play polo and only want a pretty hack. spent a friggin fortune on full livery there past 2 months. read between the lines and if possible, buy from uk. spanish horses can take a while to settle (as i found out with mine) And they dont geld them in spain, mine was gelded before i shipped him over. after 6 months no stalliony behaviour anymore. (rigcalm helped at 1st). main problem with horses from spain is that the geldings / stallions and some mares (unless they have been used as brood mares) have minimal social (horse/dog/other livestock) skills. my gelding had NEVER even hacked out with others, been in a field/turned out, eaten grass or worn a snaffle. he was stabled 24/7 in a stallion stable (steel bars) and excerised three times a week.. ..and that is the norm. .. its a hard life out there for them.

 

[tallyho!]

Agreed with leonh. There is a member on here SirenaX - she's very knowledgable about spanish/andalusians - you could try a PM with her. I'm sure she will notice this though...

Here you are, a starting point... I heard about them a few years ago. My old teacher had a stud in SW but she's just moved her breeding stock back to Portugal!! The below is the only other one I know of.

http://www.spanishhorsesuk.com/

 

[JoannaC]

Try Esperanza Dressage they have Andalusians and sometimes have some for sale or might know of one. They aren't cheap though! They are based in Northampton so not too far from Bucks

 

[samfern]

Try the BAPSH website. I got my PRE from Lucy Thomson at Lavant House Stables, she has some lovely ones for sale currently and they were brilliant to deal with.

Fabulous horses, you won't look back...

 

[showqa]

I'd say BAPSH as well - they often have some nice ones for sale on their site.

I bought my gelding from a UK person who imported them and did all the socialisation etc. I adore my fella, although he's not without his quirks! That just adds to his charm as far as I'm concerned. His dressage has really turned a corner this year actually (he's just 7), because he knew very little when I got him as a 5 year old. I've taken it very slowly with him because physically they do mature later than many (8 in fact). He hacks out a lot, in company and alone, occasionally a bit silly but soooo much better than when I first got him. Love him though.

 

[SirenaXVI]

Def be careful when buying from Spain, you do need to know what you are doing and can end up paying PRE prices for an unpapered horse, many people are caught out, also never ever buy a ready backed horse from spain, there is a distinct lack of basics! There are lots of breeders in the UK now and I would recommend the BAPSH website: http://www.bapsh.co.uk/indexpage.htm.

I agree that Esperanza Dressage is a good place to start if you want a beautifully trained horse, Emma and James do a brilliant job, I am not sure if they have anything for sale at the moment but def worth checking the website.

You could also try Star Andalusians in Hampshire, they often have horses for sale. Sam Tilley is very honest and helpful and would point you in the right direction if she did not have anything herself.

Good luck in your search

 

[dany]

I dont think its all bad to import from Spain, but you do need to do your homework. I imported a 4 year old stallion 5 days ago and he settled almost instantly to a very busy yard that doubles as a saddlery shop and he hasnt batted an eyelid at any of the machinery or trucks. He was worked in the new school with 2 others on his first day and had no stallion behavior.

I do believe I got more for my money in Spain and had searched here and there for 6 months. The PRE breeders that ive met here have been amazingly enthusiastic and helpful, ive made many new friends on the way. It seems to be quite a small community where everyone knows each other, so (as people have suggested already) give BAPSH a call and im sure whoever you speak too will be able to suggest a breeder to go to locally or further afield. I can message you some names of the people ive found most helpful if you like x

 

[Lynette]

You could try www.st-pirans-stud-spanish-horses.com

They breed their own stock but also offer trips to a stud in Madrid that breed really nice stock for both temperment and quality.

 

[SirenaXVI]

I dont think its all bad to import from Spain, but you do need to do your homework. I imported a 4 year old stallion 5 days ago and he settled almost instantly to a very busy yard that doubles as a saddlery shop and he hasnt batted an eyelid at any of the machinery or trucks. He was worked in the new school with 2 others on his first day and had no stallion behavior.

I do believe I got more for my money in Spain and had searched here and there for 6 months. The PRE breeders that ive met here have been amazingly enthusiastic and helpful, ive made many new friends on the way. It seems to be quite a small community where everyone knows each other, so (as people have suggested already) give BAPSH a call and im sure whoever you speak too will be able to suggest a breeder to go to locally or further afield. I can message you some names of the people ive found most helpful if you like x

He is a lovely boy dany, but, don't forget, his breeder is british. The bigger spanish studs (and there are a lot of them) do not put the work into their youngsters that John and Kim would have done, he would also have been much more used to the british way of doing things. He is also a youngster, an older, (the OP wants something 8+), backed entire from Spain is an entirely different kettle of fish and lots of people have come unstuck once they got them home.

There are more and more PREs in the UK now, and most of them are of equal quality to anything you could import. In fact the Spanish judge at this years breed championships commented on the quality of the UK stock. There are lots of dealers offering to import for you but this is ALWAYS at a price.

 

[dany]

John did help me get him, but he hasnt been bred by them, he came from the Maipe who are most definitely Spanish. I dont disagree that importing has its problems, but I just wanted to put across that can work out the better option at times.

 

[SO1]

i don't have an Andalusian i have a new forest but my riding instructor helps people find andalusians and she is a very honest person and based near herts so might be able to help?.

http://www.horse-e-world.com/Pages/Epo-try.html

 

[Funkyfilly024]

I know of a beautiful one for sale in my part of the country at the moment, bit of a distance though i suppose.....

 

[jinglejoys]

I've got two but no ones having them

 

[Sarajane]

John did help me get him, but he hasnt been bred by them, he came from the Maipe who are most definitely Spanish. I dont disagree that importing has its problems, but I just wanted to put across that can work out the better option at times.

dany - just being nosy as this is about 10 miles away from me. Did you come over and see him yourself, or did someone deal with maipe on your behalf? - He is gorgeous btw

 

[dany]

dany - just being nosy as this is about 10 miles away from me. Did you come over and see him yourself, or did someone deal with maipe on your behalf? - He is gorgeous btw

I was taken the first time to be introduced by a friend, but I have been twice more on my own. Nacho Conesa speaks fairly good English and was very welcoming. I hadnt expected to be chaperoned the first time, so I had actually initiated the conversation via email beforehand. They are very used to selling horses all over the world and very professional in doing so.