Doom for Spain's PREs

RutlandH2O

RutlandH2O

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I don't know how to show you a link, but on Yahoo US, there is an article with the title:

'Legendary Horses Latest Victims of Spain's Bust'

The report says that due to the severe economic downturn in Spain, many breeders of the Pura Raza Espanol, also known as the PRE, will have to send their stock to slaughter if they can't sell them at greatly reduced prices or even give them away. We all know there are fates worse than death for horses. PREs are considered status symbols, among other things, and many breeders jumped on the band wagon when Spain was experiencing a period of great prosperity in the late 1990s. When the property market went bust in 2008, the demand for horses dried up, and now the breeders can't afford to keep their stock.

Perhaps there are interested individuals in the UK who could take advantage of this sorry state of affairs and acquire some fine breeding stock. I know I would, if I could. Just a thought.
 
Hmm, I met a horse that was imported from spain last year. He was long in the back, croup high, had been ridden in false collection so his shoulders and withers were jammed down and he had bulging muscle under his neck, and had exaggerated leg action, looked flashy but meant he moved on the spot rather than forward. And still entire at 11. I wouldn't have been proud of that horse, and I certainly would not have paid money to have him shipped over, gelded, then a small fortune on physios, chiros etc. I'll stick to british horses I think, we have enough in this country anyway, and some perfectly good PREs being bred here aswell.
 
It sounds like the horse you met was a sub standard one RF. I've known some really fabulous Spanish PRE's, but I do agree about the way they are trained with the focus on collection.

If I had the money, I would be very tempted to go and buy youngstock. I really hope that the rarer bloodlines don't get lost.
 
ridefast said:
Hmm, I met a horse that was imported from spain last year. He was long in the back, croup high, had been ridden in false collection so his shoulders and withers were jammed down and he had bulging muscle under his neck, and had exaggerated leg action, looked flashy but meant he moved on the spot rather than forward. And still entire at 11. I wouldn't have been proud of that horse, and I certainly would not have paid money to have him shipped over, gelded, then a small fortune on physios, chiros etc. I'll stick to british horses I think, we have enough in this country anyway, and some perfectly good PREs being bred here aswell.
Click to expand...

I had no idea there was a sizeable gene pool of PREs in the UK. One would think that the horse to which you refer, above, is one of many available and must have floated someone's boat, correct or not. I can't imagine anyone's arm was twisted to acquire that particular horse.
 
It is true, it is a very sad situation in Spain at the moment with regards to the PRE's.

I would just like to add though, the good horses are still being sold at a decent price. It is the masses of youngstock they have (hundreds and hundreds on the big breeding yards) that are at risk I think.

I just imported a PRE stallion a few weeks ago, for the second time. My other boy I imported 3 years ago.

Yes you can get PRE's in the UK, of course, but depends what you are looking for ;)
There is a far wider choice in Spain and I did look in the UK as well at the very few that were available in my criteria! (which all failed vettings I might add!).
 
This is happening to lots of breeds all over the world - poor horses are the victims of economics. The same thing is happening in Ireland with the slaughter houses overflowing with perfectly good horses.
 
RutlandH2O said:
I don't know how to show you a link, but on Yahoo US, there is an article with the title:

'Legendary Horses Latest Victims of Spain's Bust'

The report says that due to the severe economic downturn in Spain, many breeders of the Pura Raza Espanol, also known as the PRE, will have to send their stock to slaughter if they can't sell them at greatly reduced prices or even give them away. We all know there are fates worse than death for horses. PREs are considered status symbols, among other things, and many breeders jumped on the band wagon when Spain was experiencing a period of great prosperity in the late 1990s. When the property market went bust in 2008, the demand for horses dried up, and now the breeders can't afford to keep their stock.

Perhaps there are interested individuals in the UK who could take advantage of this sorry state of affairs and acquire some fine breeding stock. I know I would, if I could. Just a thought.
Click to expand...


The exact same thing is happening over here in Ireland! It happened in the 70's and 80's and again now. Some very nice stufffis going for slaughter. I know of one where the horses were tied to the gates before it opened there were so many.
 
My friend brought one in the uk which had been brought over from Spain a month prior to her first seeing him with a full vetting certificate. Sadly she didn't have him re-vetted in the uk as had she done it would have revealed that the horse was almost totally blind!
 
I am 2 hours from Spain and have heard from a reliable source that horses are being abandoned etc. I could possibly take on a young filly.
 
The article states that horses have a useful life of 10-12 years, they should come meet some of ours!

I would love one, would love one anyway, but a cheap/free one is obviously better,not really in a position to ATM tho.
 
I live in Spain and its the same with all the breeds, and though its very sad about these horses, there would not be such a problem if they stopped breeding, unfortunately mares are seen for breeding, and the attitude is..... ''what will I do with them if I dont put them in foal''
A friend has a stud near her... 130 skinny horses and just but 45 back in foal for next year! and others close by doing the same, .. Ive got Appaloosas and my plan was to breed them here, but due to the crisis Ive not put anything in foal for 4 years now.... the spanish need to do the same..

I run a group on FB for Horse owners in Spain.. and there is a lot of horses being given away or sold for peanuts.. :-(
 
Turns out... breeder doesn't even know the article was written... he's selling them for over £3000 still...

What is going on???
 
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