Buying an Andalusian

[sanchob]

I am considering buying an andalusian next year and wanted to do lots of research before I consider anything. I will be looking to get a 2/3 year old so I can back it myself when it's old enough. I have found a lady that goes out to spain and imports them, and sells them for reasonable prices, and sounds very trustworthy from her testimonials. Are there people on here that have done this? if so how did your horses settle in the UK? and what sort of routine did you give them? what do you find there temperaments like? Thanks

 

[justabob]

You must be completely mad! You will need Olly de la vera or someone with a similar name to school it for you. They are so tricky even Carl Hester would have problems as he will not be used to such volitile a horse. Your horse will need to be schooled 8 days a week by this Olly de la Vera and even then he might never have engagement. Dont do it!! Get a lovely simple TB, every one knows how to ride them.

 

[Herts05]

If you want a PRE then I would advise you contact BAPSH. They have a good group on facebook.
If you can get to Hartpury next weekend then you can see the annual BAPSH show. There will be more PRE's there than you can hope to see normally.

Don't just consider importing one - there are some good British bred ones and you have none of the issues associated with a horse who is not used to the UK way (I know I did it )
Definitely don't buy one until you fully know what you are letting yourself in for. They are amazing horses but need plenty of work and you must know how to ride (or learn very quickly)

 

[Armas]

You must be completely mad! You will need Olly de la vera or someone with a similar name to school it for you. They are so tricky even Carl Hester would have problems as he will not be used to such volitile a horse. Your horse will need to be schooled 8 days a week by this Olly de la Vera and even then he might never have engagement. Dont do it!! Get a lovely simple TB, every one knows how to ride them.

Ignore this

If you want a PRE then I would advise you contact BAPSH. They have a good group on facebook.
If you can get to Hartpury next weekend then you can see the annual BAPSH show. There will be more PRE's there than you can hope to see normally.

Don't just consider importing one - there are some good British bred ones and you have none of the issues associated with a horse who is not used to the UK way (I know I did it )
Definitely don't buy one until you fully know what you are letting yourself in for. They are amazing horses but need plenty of work and you must know how to ride (or learn very quickly)

BAPSH is a very useful site go for it magical horses. I pinched this from a post Cortez just wrote.
Spanish horses are funny beasts; they don't react, move or respond quite like any other that I have ever trained (which, at this stage of my long and eventful life is a lot of different horses over nearly 50 years). It's really hard to explain, but anyone who has ever had an Iberian horse for any length of time will, I am sure, know what I am talking about. They are reactive, almost too eager to please, take offence when ridden badly/roughly, need a firm hand yet require gentleness and extreme tact. They ARE the horse of Kings; they ARE the ultimate noble creature; they WILL lay their life down for you IF they respect you. They are the original Haute Ecole horse, yet are not ideal for modern dressage; they can offer piaffe, passage, levade and capriole as natural movements and collect with ease, but struggle with extreme exaggeration in the gaits and are not "back movers" like the modern sport horse breeds. The traditional equitation of Spain and Portugal is the closest to "classical" (BIG debate over what that actually means) riding, which is NOT dressage as we know it today. But if you want to see EVERY horse going in beautiful, quiet, natural collection, performing piaffe & passage as a normal part of everyday riding, calmly, happily then go to any feria in Spain or Portugal. These are the places where classical riding is just........riding.

 

[Cortez]

Ignore this



BAPSH is a very useful site go for it magical horses.

Like wot he said ^^^^^

 

[sanchob]

Thank you will have a look at the site now. Unfortunately I won't be able to go the hartpury as I'm competing at the regional's next weekend, would have liked to go and watch though. Is there anywhere around East anglia that offer lessons on them? I'm not expecting to get something that is going to go to the top in dressage ( as I wouldn't be able to afford anything like that) just something I can have fun with and really enjoy riding and training. I'm going to spend a good 6months to a year looking in to it before I make a decision.

 

[Azabache]

Iberians are amazing to ride and teach you so much. They are extremely intelligent and sensitive which can be the most amazing feeling in the world when working with you, but can be extremely challenging when not. Having imported one from Spain and part of a FB group with people who've also imported, it's safe to say that imported horses come with more challenges as they adapt to the English way of doing things. Generally speaking they will have been handled by men who are far more black and white than we are.
You are right to do as much homework as you can. As others have said BAPSH. Is a really good place to start.

 

[shampain]

Thank you will have a look at the site now. Unfortunately I won't be able to go the hartpury as I'm competing at the regional's next weekend, would have liked to go and watch though. Is there anywhere around East anglia that offer lessons on them? I'm not expecting to get something that is going to go to the top in dressage ( as I wouldn't be able to afford anything like that) just something I can have fun with and really enjoy riding and training. I'm going to spend a good 6months to a year looking in to it before I make a decision.

I have no idea about East Anglia, I'm afraid, but depending on how far you're willing to travel, Sam Twyman of Dovecote Stables in Worcestershire has a mixture of spanish horses and friesians which he teaches on. A friend of mine has been going to him for several years now (though she herself has a hano) and really rates his instruction.

 

[blitznbobs]

You must be completely mad! You will need Olly de la vera or someone with a similar name to school it for you. They are so tricky even Carl Hester would have problems as he will not be used to such volitile a horse.

Had to laugh at this... You obviously never met Peanuts then?

 

[Herts05]

Contact Emma Thomas or James Smith at Esperanza dressage. They are based near Keysoe, just off the A1. They compete BD as well as showing PREs in the UK and Spain. Lovely knowledgable people who are very well respected in their sphere. (They backed my Iberian youngster and I wouldn't have trusted anyone else with him).

 

[sanchob]

Thank you. Worcestershire might be a little far but will look in to it maybe for a weekend away up there, over the summer holidays. I will contact Esperanza dressage this morning. Thank you for all your replies

 

[mtj]

Contessa Riding Centre, nr Buntingford, has an Andalusian stallion and a PRE x for lessons.

 

[Cortez]

I would second the recommendation

Thank you. Worcestershire might be a little far but will look in to it maybe for a weekend away up there, over the summer holidays. I will contact Esperanza dressage this morning. Thank you for all your replies

I would second the recommendation for Esperanza Dressage, they really know what they are doing and are proper professionals who specialise in PRE's.

 

[MagicMelon]

They are so tricky even Carl Hester would have problems as he will not be used to such volitile a horse.

Ha ha, well actually he HAS one! Video here: http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Improve-...ester-Dressage-Demo---Training-Horses-part-4/

 

[Mongoose11]

I would second the recommendation

I would second the recommendation for Esperanza Dressage, they really know what they are doing and are proper professionals who specialise in PRE's.

This is lovely to know. My dear friend bought her dream baby Andalusian this year and he is off to Esperanza to be started at the end of the Summer. Off to watch him in a groundwork session this afternoon, can't wait.

 

[Sarah20]

My friend imported from Spain and it did not work out well at all! She ended up having to part ex him and had to go out to Spain for a day just to sort it out. Has a lovely one now but still - she would never do it again!

 

[mjcssjw2]

Ha ha, be careful with the BASPH facebook, in my experience there are some on there that can be very clicky and downright rude! so bad I left the group.
perhaps I am not special enough to ask questions.

 

[Kokopelli]

My boss has an adalusian and she is the easiest thing going. She often teaches people how to leg yeild, shoulder in, half pass etc on her because she is soo easy! Also don't believe they can't jump either as some of them could give these warmbloods a run for their money.

 

[Moobucket]

Have you considered buying one from the UK. My friend bought an Andalusian from Grovewood and backed her herself.
https://www.facebook.com/grovewood.andalusians?fref=ts
She is a beautiful horse and very kind and intelligent. You have to build a bond with them, and ease them gently into situations, although they are willing and loyal once they trust you. I think they are fantastic!!

 

[Palindrome]

Lovely horses, ours are very comfy to ride (I think that is due to their good sloping shoulder). Both have been bred and backed in Spain by a good breeder, although they were imported by someone else before we bought them. Like all horses though, they are individuals, one is sharp and one is laid back and ridden by a confident beginner. Also, the more expensive and serious breeders will tend to have stock with better conformation and temperament.

 

[tallyho!]

You don't have to import to have an Andalusian horse. The UK is brimming with them especially the young ones you are after. I know several breeders who have suitable youngsters and the thing people don't realise is all the UK ones have the same bloodlines as the ones that come from Spain and are probably cousins or half sisters or brothers or aunties and uncles or some other relation.

Plus, they are already acclimatised, they speak Spanglish fluently and can be trained English from the very outset.

I'm not biased, I just think there is a very good reason not to rule out our UK breeders first. If you can't find something you want without the stress of importation then by all means, do go to Spain as the choice is very obviously wider there.

Call up some of the board members for help, Mary mcBryde is the registrar and will help you through the complex registration process if not already done and if you want a PRE registered horse as not all andalusians are PREs but all PREs are andalusian horses if you get my gist...

I dreamed of these horses as a girl and actually had the opportunity to work with them about 10years ago and once bitten, forever smitten is all I have to say! Good luck and enjoy the journey.

 

[Rhodders]

haven't read all your responses but contact Rachel at St Pirrans Stud http://www.stpiransstud.com/ - lovely lady, beautiful horses, she imports and breeds, my horse came from there (although not andulucian, he was there on sales livery) I can't recommend the place highly enough

 

[sanchob]

Thank you everyone for all you responses. Have contacted all the mentioned people and will definitely try the UK first Thank you