Andalusian Owners help please

Kayfm

Kayfm

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Andalusian horses are my all time favourites and always have been. I would like to think about getting one in the future though not sure of excactly when. I would love to learn high school. I would therefore be looking for a high school, school master. I wouldnt be looking for superstar that has won the world, best breeding etc just one to enjoy and teach me high school, and also do a little dressage with. Where is a good place to look when im ready. There are so many sites on line to pick from when importing from but I wouldnt know what ones are good or bad. Are there any really good ones in the uk. Im thinking that you may get more horse for your money in Spain, even with transportation costs.
 
Hey
I share a similar dream, I one day, when money + time allows it, plan to buy a andalusian stallion for dressage + stud! You can sometimes find decent priced horses in horse deals + horse mart! But if u where thinking of importing, I'd advise you to go see in person, all can look good on paper, or a screen, even when its not! Also take in mind vaccinations and quarantine!
 
Kayfm said:
Andalusian horses are my all time favourites and always have been. I would like to think about getting one in the future though not sure of exactly when. I would love to learn high school. I would therefore be looking for a high school, school master. I wouldnt be looking for superstar that has won the world, best breeding etc just one to enjoy and teach me high school, and also do a little dressage with. Where is a good place to look when im ready. There are so many sites on line to pick from when importing from but I wouldnt know what ones are good or bad. Are there any really good ones in the uk. Im thinking that you may get more horse for your money in Spain, even with transportation costs.
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Well, I don't know much about them in the UK, as we're based in the USA, but I can tell you that yes, you'd definitely in my experience get more for your money over in Spain. IMO it'd be worth finding a few you like online, and going over for a couple of weeks to get to know them properly before you make a decision about importing the to the UK.

The two studs we imported this winter came from Spain, and quarantine was quick and easy, as we asked the stud if they could take care of the paper work, checking vacs etc (for a fee), meaning a lot of the stress was taken out of the process.

Having worked with PREs for years now, feel free to ask any questions you have either generally or about prospective purchases, and good luck with finding your perfect horse! :D
 
There are many studs breeding top quality stock in the UK these days. Look on the BAPSH website that might give you some pointers. My PRE was imported from Spain but I was very lucky. If you want something already very well schooled from Spain, and if the Spaniards are willing to sell it, the chances are its knackered or has a screw loose. BEWARE buying from Spain. Many will fail vettings on their x-rays. Am certainly not saying all importers of PRE's are bad, the majority will prob be ok but there are bad ones out there. If you go to Spain take some very experienced horsey people out with you and find a very unbiased vet.

Go for British Breeding if you can!
 
Andalusianlover said:
There are many studs breeding top quality stock in the UK these days. Look on the BAPSH website that might give you some pointers. My PRE was imported from Spain but I was very lucky. If you want something already very well schooled from Spain, and if the Spaniards are willing to sell it, the chances are its knackered or has a screw loose. BEWARE buying from Spain. Many will fail vettings on their x-rays. Am certainly not saying all importers of PRE's are bad, the majority will prob be ok but there are bad ones out there. If you go to Spain take some very experienced horsey people out with you and find a very unbiased vet.

Go for British Breeding if you can!
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Not necessarily... We've imported a lot of well schooled horses aged between 6 and 10 being sold so that the owners could focus on schooling and competing their younger horses :confused:
 
Kay, try SirenaXVI (or similar on here, she has some lovely home bred ones and certainly knows what she is talking about. Hows your lovely big lad?? xx
 
I second the UK breeders, my PRE came from a UK stud.

If purchasing in Spain I would use an experienced middle man like Miriam Frenk
 
I have one quite happy to give him to you. on serious note there normally lovely horses i think im unlucky. I would love to know more about this breed. He came from spain there are a lot that turn up in france for some reason
 
I'd highly recommend a trip to the BAPSH championship show (Aug time i think) I went last year as a groom with a friend that has 2 andalusian's - it was an amazing show and there were some real experts there, was really interesting speaking to some of the breeders (lots for sale too!) the parade class in the evening was absolutely fantastic (if a litte nerve racking for me watching my friend riding in it - sidesaddle!)

I keep my horse (not an Andy) with my friends two, they're fab horses, i ride my friends older one a lot accompanying her on her youngster for endurance, really versitile and loyal horses
 
lochpearl said:
Kay, try SirenaXVI (or similar on here, she has some lovely home bred ones and certainly knows what she is talking about. Hows your lovely big lad?? xx
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Hi Miranda, The big fella's fine thankyou, hope yours are well ! speak soon.


Thanks every one for great information.
 
For ridden horses I would not touch anything from Spain, not unless it cost well into 5 figures! They are either very badly trained or there is something wrong with them!

Young/unbacked horses are a different matter and I would have no hesitation in buying something unbacked from Spain, heck did it myself a couple of years ago :)

There are numerous breeders in the UK who are breeding quality stock that is also versatile and MUCH cheaper than anything from Spain. As someone mentioned check out the BAPSH site or if you like you can pm me.

If buying from Spain, I would not go through Miriam Frenk but rather Spanish Horses UK.
 
I bought my boy Kirico (see my siggy and previous post for more pics) from yeguada ovelar, through Miriam Frenk in spain last january, and wouldnt hesitate to recommend her again. She was very accomodating and helpful whilst i was out there and only took me to see horses that she knew would be suitable and well within my budget.
Hes a lovely boy aswell and i couldnt be happier with him, fantastic temperment, paces to die for and has been placed at the BAPSH show and every other show he went to last year, everyone thats known him whether they know spanish horses or not have fallen in love as quickly as i did! From what ive seen of horses in the uk and spain you get a lot more for your money over there, of course there are stories when its gone wrong but from my personal experience im 100% sure i made the right decision and am very happy with my boy:D
 
I brought my mare from spain nearly 5 years ago now, i did go through an agent via a uk contact, she was extreamly helpfull and kept my 5 month old foal for me for nearly 3 months till she came to the uk. i think its the same with buying horses in the uk, there are good and bad people selling, i must admit that they do keep them very differently to us here i n the uk, and especially with the stallions, with regard to costs, a lot depends on the lineage and colour, both here in the uk and in spain. it seems a lot of uk breeders are going over to breeding more unusual colours and not always perhaps for confirmation, but thats just my personal oppinion.

best of luck with finding a horse, and enjoy what is a fantastic breed. i certainly wouldnt be without my mare, just a pity she's not able to be ridden due to a field injury as a 2 year old, but hoping for a lovely foal from her this year.
 
SirenaXVI said:
For ridden horses I would not touch anything from Spain, not unless it cost well into 5 figures! They are either very badly trained or there is something wrong with them!

Young/unbacked horses are a different matter and I would have no hesitation in buying something unbacked from Spain, heck did it myself a couple of years ago :)

There are numerous breeders in the UK who are breeding quality stock that is also versatile and MUCH cheaper than anything from Spain. As someone mentioned check out the BAPSH site or if you like you can pm me.

If buying from Spain, I would not go through Miriam Frenk but rather Spanish Horses UK.
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I agree with everything you've said x 10
 
Andalusianlover said:
I agree with everything you've said x 10
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Me also, ive just purchased my PRE & he's UK bred.

If i was to buy from Spain i would be definitely looking at the stock these people sell, but you will be looking at a lot of money for them http://www.pure-spanish-horse-spain.com/index.html

I actually do think you can get just as good over here for less money & ime if you buy from the right people in the UK they will of been started more in line with the scales of training.
 
An acquaintance of mine got one from Spain, bought him over there as an 8 year old and he turned out to be 4 and just gelded. As a slightly nervous 'average' non-competitive rider I think she bought him because she wanted a pretty horse! Big mistake!
She had an absolute nightmare with him, he had trouble acclimatising, he was stressy and sharp and wouldn't keep condition on, she found him pretty much unrideable, spent ££££ on schooling, lessons etc. She sold him at a loss to an excellent home however, to a lady who teaches classical riding and competes several lusos, and is a bit of an expert with Iberians. She said horses broken in spain are trained to slightly different and more precise aids and unless you are used to riding in the same way they are so sensitive they can get confused, which is what had happened to this horse. Without sounding mean, I don't think the lady's riding was up to the required standard for such a horse.
I have also heard that, like their wine, the Spanish keep the best to themselves and export the rubbish!
 
I have two Andalusians, one bought by me and one on loan. I had a very very tight budget, and went to see some that are advertised on horsedeals, and in this country. The one I bought in the end was extremely green, but a gent. I had trouble cantering him - he had no idea how to assemble his legs, bless him. I also had problems getting on him too, but he was, and still is, such a sweet, trusting soul. He is very, very sensitive indeed, which causes some problems when being ridden, and I have to ride him from seat aids only otherwise he gets hot, hot,hot!. However I found out he had been a drivng horse, and had only recently been backed. He was advertised as a bomb proof school master, but certainly was not, although this didnt bother me as i knew I could improve him. I dread to think what would have happened if a novice had got hold of him!

I found another one for loan, and it turned out his owner had bought him from the same place as I had. she was offering him for loan as she didnt really have time for him. He is also a sweet boy, BUT, he is dreadfully put together, he is sensitive, he rears, he bolts and canters on the spot. He has had an ingrowning canine tooth and his molars were in terrible state. We have had this done, and this has improved his eating. I wont ride him anymore, but my very brave husband does! The poor horse has terrible scars on his nose from an overtight noseband, has been ear- twitched so I have to put bridle on by undoing cheek piece, slipping browband and headpiece over head and then slipping bit in! However he is traffic proof! He was advertised as a dressage school master (not). I know these two are not the only ones who werent quite what they were cracked up to be.

I wouldnt part with mine for a fortune now, as he is such a character, but I would seriously have spent more time looking and trying than I did. I did have ideas of doing at least medium dressage with him, but this isnt going to happen for a long, long time! - so my dream of purchasing a well trained Spanish horse didnt pay off at all - I have a stunning looking cheeky boy!

I think my friend did the best thing - she contacted an agency, went to spain and looked at a lot of unbroken three year olds. she bought one, and he is now competing at Medium level - I might point out that she paid around £10K for him as a baby, and she is a trainer herself, but it was worth it. He certainly doesnt have the hang ups that my two do. So, what I am saying is do some serious research, go to the breed shows and read between the lines!

good luck!;)
 
Hiya;

Well my first bit of advice before going to buy an Andalusian/Lusitano is to go out to Spain and Portugal. There are some people I can recommend ( breeders and trainers) and I'll PM you contact details.

I love Andalusians, and I agree they are the best for fulfilling high school and classical dreams of riding. Where abouts in the U.K are you based? What is your price range. My other bit of advice would be to purchase Peter Maddison Greenwell's book ''Living and Working with the Horse of Spain'', it is a wonderful book and goes through the history of the breed, management ( i.e. importing and feed etc), tack, training them and the Lusitano breed ( my absolute favourite- the Andalusians Portuguese brother). There aren't tremendously large differences, although the Lusitano I feel tends to me more compact, and a war horse- great movers, particularly in the lateral work.

There are a lot of Part breds in the U.K which I feel are nothign in comparison to riding and being around Pure breds. There are lots of Iberian breeds, suitable for different jobs. The Hispano Arabe, The Tres Sangres ( three bloods- Andalusian, Arab and TB), The Lusitano, the Spanish Mustang, Carthusian horses- which are considered the purest breed of Andalusian out there. So lots of research can be done on that.

Out in Spain, you get to see and try proper classical and high school work. Portugal has some wonderful places ( Luis Valenca, Francisco de Braganaca, Morgado Lusitano, Pedro Torres, David Oliveria etc) where you can ride Lusitanos and Andalusians.

Would you import? I feel the ones imported from abroad are usually ( not always) trained more sufficiently. I hate nothing more than seeing an Andalusian horse being ruined by poor riding and training of the high school movements.

Riding Andalusians is a TOTALLY different experience than riding say a TB, Cob, New Forest, Shire, etc- they are like something else which until you sit on one, you don't understand. They are incredibly sensitive and my trainer has had to do lots of work with Andalusians who've been thrown into work, tried to do the high school movements and done them incorrectly or with too much force and lack of co-ordination and begin to work with them. I remember half passing up the school, when I was asking for a normal walk, because I was sitting slightly unbalanced which even on video took me a while to spot. I got Spanish walk into levade because I slipped my leg forward too much ( well about an inch :P ) which pressed another button! It was the most wonderful thing I've done though and helped me become mroe aware of myself. Riding out in Portugal and Spain will be amazing, you will love it, so I thoroughly recommend it!
 
With the recession here in Spain at the moment, there are a lot of good horses being sold cheap, owners can no longer afford to keep them, I know of one that was for sale at 24k.. the price was dropped and dropped to 5k.... as he needed the money to pay the livery, in the end the yard owner took the horse to sell cheap to pay the livery debt..

and my friend has one for sale, stunning and the most well mannered stallion ive met, and Ive met a lot over here, and she really reduced the price..

but you do need someone who knows what their doing re: buying one, as they are good ones and bad ones, but thats like any horse anywhere..
 
hi

try this lady, she fab, she has lots to choose from youngstock to grand prix dressage horses and a wealth of knowledge :D

janemccutcheon.com
 
If anyone is looking I know some andalusians around the Guildford area - who are aged between 16 and 1 and are looking for new homes by next weekend. Otherwise they are being sold to a dealer, probably for meat.
2 stallions - both broken to ride, and very well behaved (although not particularly highly schooled.)
1 yearling
2 yr old filly
6 yr old gelding
13 yr old broken mare
16 yr old companion

All going for silly money... beautiful horses... if intererested pm me x
 
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