Spanish horses

[sikaran]

Does anyone here compete in BD with Andalucian/spanish horses? Having tried for ages to find a small (under 16h) dressage horse, it has been suggested that I look at spanish horses, but they are quite thin on the ground up north. I also have no idea what dressage judges think of them. Any thoughts/opinions gratefully received!

 

[asmp]

Went to watch a friend at a BD event down here in Hampshire the other day and was admiring a couple of Andalusians who were competing. Not sure how they were doing as I'm no expert but they looked pretty good to me! Personally I would love one but they were out of my price range when I was last looking for a horse.

 

[Calvo]

I compete dressage with my andalusian x welsh cob (people think hes full andalusian bless him) and hes going to make roughly 15.1 maybe 15.2hh as he still growing. I found him through my local tackshop so have you checked all your local tackshops, newspapers etc?

 

[j1ffy]

I compete on a small (15.1hh) PRE, we have our first affiliated next week. There are more of them around now so judges are getting used to them. Andrew Gould has a stunning one now, don't know how they're getting on:

http://www.naomivancewebb.com/article.php/HABANEROXLI

My boy happens to be a cousin of Habanero (but a hand shorter and a way to go to be as impressive!!).

ETA: Just looked up Habanero and he's getting high 60s in his first PSGs so not doing too badly

 

[Helbert]

I read on Andrew's Facebok page that he has another one now, Farol XXIX
Looks a stunner, can't wait to see it out and about.

 

[Herts05]

If you want more details about Andalusians, then look on the BAPSH website. If you are interested in Iberians generally, then look on the Lusitano Breed Society website too. Both societies hold annual breed shows. From memory the BAPSH show is at Hartpury on the weekend of the 30th and 31st July and the Luso one is as Keysoe on the weekend of 16th and 17th September. Definitely worth a visit to see both breeds represented at each show and talk to some experienced people who will be only too pleased to help.
I've got an 8 year old 15.2 Andy and a 15 month old part bred Luso x warmblood. They are fantastic horses with a tremendous work ethic. But its worthwhile having someone with experience to guide you through your purchasing journey, as if you import one their management in Spain or Portugal is very different from the UK. Having said that there are more and more now that are bred in the UK. Not sure where you live but you could try Pine Lodge School of Equitation in Norfolk, Turville Stud in Berks for a couple of lessons
Hope that is of help.

 

[Herts05]

Ah, just seen that you are in the North. Try Tori Peters, who competes BD and trains. Think she is in Lancashire. Otherwise, Sylvia Loch in Scotland

 

[Jenni_]

I compete on a Carthusian Andalucian Stallion called Luminoso XIII. I adore him, he is so different to anything I have ever ridden before in my life. so uphill, powerfull - so willing to work and his paces are to die for.

Rode with a well known Scottish dressage rider at the weekend - she said she didnt expect him to be as talented and now wants to put her 18hh black warmblood mare to him to see what we can produce!

I dont do him justice at the minute - although we started Passage today!!!!

Just started jumping! bless

and from last week (full permission to post these!)

excuse me i look a tad like a walrus in these - rapid weight loss has started!

sorry for all the pics! he's fabby and id deffo reccommend one (specially a well behave stallion - they *sparkle*)

i was told judges dont always favour them and that they struggle with extension - not the case for my boy. his extension is beautiful, and they judges have more than a soft spot for him. especially on one of his good days!

i honestly dont think you would regret getting one. Lumi is only just 16hh on his tippytoes - and im used to big 17+ hh TB's etc, but he feels 10x more powerful!

 

[Jenni_]

15 month old part bred Luso x warmblood. They are fantastic horses with a tremendous work ethic..

Lumi has been offered a warmblood to cover (AI) - I have never seen one! would you reccomend?

mare is 18hh - so hoping they will meet in the middle. I was thinking they will produce a quirky, intellegent horse with the technicality of a warmblood but the flare and sparkle of an Andalucian, at maybe about 16.3hh? with a lovley laid back nature but a brilliant work ethic.

 

[templewood]

Fiona Foy competes Andalusians at BD dressage. So does Esperanza Dressage www.esperanzadressage.co.uk

Both have had very good results and are trainers.
Several of my boys close relations are GP Dressage horses, both in the UK and Internationally. I've been told that he has enormous potential, but I don't think that I have!

Look how well Fuego is doing Internationally!

I think BD judges are getting to appreciate them more and more. Contrary to popular belief, they can do extension! They also find it very easy to collect and have fantastic temperaments.

 

[Andalusianlover]

I event my Andalusian at BE 90 level (but so far only unaffiliated). I'm trying desperately to improve my dressage (only ever done 5 tests, I prefer jumping) so that its worthwhile going affiliated. I intend to compete at pure dressage but not yet. My instructor says that at the lower levels Andalusians will struggle as judges tend to prefer big moving types but once you get to the higher levels PRE's get marked much more fairly as their collected work is so damn good.

My chap comes from the same stud as Habanero but isnt related but he has the same GG Sire as Fuego (Lebrijano).

I can thoroughly recommend Andalusians for ALL disciplines.

 

[thespanishmane]

I agree that they do better at the slightly higher levels. both my boys are different - one chunky 15.3 that can collect for Spain but WILL NOT stretch and do prelim/novice outline (he hasnt been officially taught to collect - he just does it) The other 16h on loan bogger offerer will go long and low, and will sod off at a moments notice, with no stopping (25 circuits of arena flat out last time - not scared or spooked, just loves to run).

I also think (know) beware of where they have come from. British bred and broken ones are probably a better bet than a Spanish bred and broken import. Neither of mine are snaffle mouthed - they go best in a double or spanish bit. having seen pictures of them being ridden in Spain, they were ridden by large men with a curb bit. I am 5' female! One will duck behind the contact and the other will snatch and go.......

If you really want to compete, I would do thorough research. There are many out there that really wont manage it, and are being sold as peoples dream horses. The one we have on loan was one of those......

 

[Lieto]

I have an Andalusian cross TB, he is 6 years old (and some how grew freakishly tall!) by Excelso, a 16.1hh Andalusian out of Palargo a PSG TB

He is athletic with paces to die for, but does have some of that Spanish 'hotness' and a temperament that not everyone could deal with. Personally I love these kinds of crosses, Lieto is incredibly uphill from his Sire, and will once he relaxes a little in showing situations have flashy paces (at the minute he's a little over-awed by the whole atmosphere!)

 

[j1ffy]

Lieto - your horse is lovely but he looks huuuge!! How tall is he? I know what you mean about the "over-awed" thing, my boy goes beautifully at shows but in a very "fixed" outline -it's like he's saying "it's all a bit scary and mum seems very serious so I'll make sure I stay right here between her leg and hand (as long as her hands don't ask me to stretch )". Sort of good but sort of frustrating as he goes so nicely with a good swing at home now!

 

[Lieto]

Lieto - your horse is lovely but he looks huuuge!! How tall is he? I know what you mean about the "over-awed" thing, my boy goes beautifully at shows but in a very "fixed" outline -it's like he's saying "it's all a bit scary and mum seems very serious so I'll make sure I stay right here between her leg and hand (as long as her hands don't ask me to stretch )". Sort of good but sort of frustrating as he goes so nicely with a good swing at home now!

Unfortunately he's now 17.2hh! I wasn't looking for a big one at all, and almost discounted looking at him when he was 4 years old and 16.2, but I went and fell in love The sad thing is he's still growing too, which means regular saddle changes and rugs don't last more than a season
Lieto is exactly the same as yours, only he throws in the occasional rear when it all gets too much for him! The outdoor photos are his first 'proper' show away from home with HHO's -Cadence- and her lovely Rossi showing us later how it was really done.

 

[j1ffy]

Unfortunately he's now 17.2hh! I wasn't looking for a big one at all, and almost discounted looking at him when he was 4 years old and 16.2, but I went and fell in love The sad thing is he's still growing too, which means regular saddle changes and rugs don't last more than a season
Lieto is exactly the same as yours, only he throws in the occasional rear when it all gets too much for him! The outdoor photos are his first 'proper' show away from home with HHO's -Cadence- and her lovely Rossi showing us later how it was really done.

Wow! That is big. Mind you, I know a TBxPRE mare in Spain who is over 18hh (she has a tendency to throw big palomino foals too, including a set of twins) so maybe it's not that unusual.

He looks lovely in the show pictures so I'm sure he'll come good! My boy has been to four shows now and he was starting to get a bit more cheeky at the last one, so I'm hoping that he's getting a bit more confident though no doubt I'll now have to work through his cheekiness to get to the good work!

 

[B-B]

BD judges own and train them so I guess they are 'starting' to get used to them.

Its getting them to work over their backs and to the contact that can be tricky..as they are quite good at curling back the neck and running.

They are judged exactly the same as any other horse. To do well, you need to train in line with the scales, whatever the breed.

 

[Wheels]

I have a 2 year old andalusian who I've had since he was 6 months old. I have always always wanted one ever since I was a wee kiddie but have never/probably will never have the money to buy a 4 year old so I bought a weanling & am just hoping he turns out OK.

He is the gentlest dude ever! Such a lovely nature and is really brave, takes everything in his stride without being silly.

If you think they might be rare in British Dressage then I think they are probably even rarer in Dressage Ireland comps - I'll let you know in a couple of years!! lol

 

[j1ffy]

Its getting them to work over their backs and to the contact that can be tricky..as they are quite good at curling back the neck and running.

They are judged exactly the same as any other horse. To do well, you need to train in line with the scales, whatever the breed.

**Like**

Ditto this - I had a fair few people tell me that you shouldn't work long and low with Spanish horses, the scales of training don't apply to them etc. etc. However it's all twaddle as horses are horses - like all horses they have their strengths and weaknesses however when they do use their backs properly they feel fab. The balance, power from behind and the sensitivity is like nothing else. Plus they are still very comfy to do sitting trot on

 

[dressagecrazy]

BD judges own and train them so I guess they are 'starting' to get used to them.

Its getting them to work over their backs and to the contact that can be tricky..as they are quite good at curling back the neck and running.

They are judged exactly the same as any other horse. To do well, you need to train in line with the scales, whatever the breed.

Totally agree with the above, here's a pic of my 4yo PRE from training today-

Spanish horses can stretch

 

[j1ffy]

Totally agree with the above, here's a pic of my 4yo PRE from training today-

Spanish horses can stretch

They can do it in canter too - this was our first attempt:

Do you think OP has got the idea now that Spanish horses can do dressage!!

 

[dressagecrazy]

Do you think OP has got the idea now that Spanish horses can do dressage!!

Hope so

 

[tristar]

i have a tres sangres, three bloods stallion, andalusian anglo-arab, i would say he is ideal for dressage, forward, sensible and can extend like no other horse i have ridden, if i return to england he will compete, i'm sure he will do very well.

 

[luckyhorseshoe]

Yes definitely go for a spanish horse! I brought a 4yr old Pre mare in Oct and I wouldn't be without her now.

Mine is rising 5 and i aim to affiliate next yr, i want to take it slowly as she is my dream horse but she has done 3 unaff tests and the judges comments have been really nice 'super pony' 'good paces' etc.

I would recommend buying from spain if you want to get more quality for money and look for one with a PRE passport.

Piccies for you:

 

[Mel1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVtZodFmcLU

To watch with sound! absolutely brilliant, they finished 5th at WEG! but the crowd loved them!

 

[Amaranta]

I am a BD judge and I also compete 2 PRE mares.

My mares are both quite different one (british bred) is 15.1 and very baroque but a straight mover who has no trouble extending, she flew through prelim and novice with scores between 67 - 70%, she now competes medium and hopefully AM soon.

The other is spanish bred and a more modern sports type, she is 16.2, has a medium to die for and only last week offered an extended trot so powerful that my trainer swore! This one, according to my trainer, will go PSG with no problem at all.

I disagree with the poster who said you get more for your money buying from Spain, take it from someone who has owned and competed PREs for 20 years. I would also advise against buying a backed horse from Spain, they know all of the tricks and none of the basics!

I actually bred the first Tres Sangres (a combination of Arab/TB/PRE) in the UK (many years ago) and, at that time spanish horses were very few and far between and, when I took my first PRE out BD there was a lot of prejudice from the judges, there is far less prejudice these days.

Be warned though, I started off with one part bred all those years ago, now I have 6 PREs!

 

[templewood]

I disagree with the poster who said you get more for your money buying from Spain, take it from someone who has owned and competed PREs for 20 years. I would also advise against buying a backed horse from Spain, they know all of the tricks and none of the basics!

Be warned though, I started off with one part bred all those years ago, now I have 6 PREs!

Totally agree with this. When the Spanish vets come over from Spain to grade the UK bred PREs for breeding, they always comment on their quality. Asking if they have been specially selected (which they haven't!). Hardly any fail the grading each year and then usually only because of something like lack of height.

I also started off with one Partbred and now have 4 PREs and 2 Partbreds. They are very addictive and almost impossible to part with. I even hate selling my foals!

 

[tristar]

i don't agree that the tres sangres is a part bred its a horse that can be bred back to another tres sangres and will one day have its own stud book, and is far more likely to become the future spanish competiton horse in my opinion, due to its scopey athleticism.
the hispano-arab is also a pure race and only horses registered in the spanish stud book can be called hispano-arab, not the ones reg in england as partbreds, it is also a rare breed officially.

 

[Amaranta]

Totally agree with this. When the Spanish vets come over from Spain to grade the UK bred PREs for breeding, they always comment on their quality. Asking if they have been specially selected (which they haven't!). Hardly any fail the grading each year and then usually only because of something like lack of height.

I also started off with one Partbred and now have 4 PREs and 2 Partbreds. They are very addictive and almost impossible to part with. I even hate selling my foals!

Exactly Templewood, I think the fact that only 2 horses have failed their grading here in the last 3 years, one was on lack of height and the other because the neck was not quite right, shows that the quality of the british bred PRE is superb. I really don't know why people feel that they can only buy from Spain, I feel that unless you really know what you are doing and have the right contacts, it can cost you a whole packet more! Not only that but I have seen people pay five figure sums for horses from Spain that were really badly put together and not worth even 1/5th of what they cost the buyer!

Lol - I find it impossible to part with any of my foals either, I stopped breeding for a while but have another due next year which will probably end up staying too

 

[Amaranta]

Unfortunately he's now 17.2hh! I wasn't looking for a big one at all, and almost discounted looking at him when he was 4 years old and 16.2, but I went and fell in love The sad thing is he's still growing too, which means regular saddle changes and rugs don't last more than a season
Lieto is exactly the same as yours, only he throws in the occasional rear when it all gets too much for him! The outdoor photos are his first 'proper' show away from home with HHO's -Cadence- and her lovely Rossi showing us later how it was really done.

Love your partbred but have to say that coloured in your signature is so so striking - gorgeous!