The best possible souvenir from Spain...a new horse!!

j1ffy

j1ffy

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My OH and I went on a riding holiday in Spain last week (www.losalamosriding - I'd recommend it to anyone who likes horses and wine!) and came back with the papers for a PRE! Pocholo passed his vetting today, and will stay in Spain to be gelded and finish his training. We're planning to spend a few weekends there to have some lessons on him then bring him over late May. He is a lovely boy, very laid back but beautifully schooled in the Spanish high school tradition (with plenty of hacking in the local town and forest).

We are soooo excited, and now I have a real excuse to do lots of shopping at Badminton!! Here are some piccies:

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And contrary to the idea that 4yo stallions can be hard to handle...!

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My OH's first time bareback, on a very tired Pochello the day after we both had dressage lessons:

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And a gratuitous shot of his next-stable neighbour, Nono, who I'd love to buy if I had a spare £20k and somewhere to keep a stallion (it would be a crime to geld him!):

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WOW from me too, he looks fab.

Just out of curiosity, do they break them in and start them off in double reins and what would be considered a strong bit over here, is that normal for the way the Spanish training is done?

Bet May can't come quick enough for you now :)
 
Thanks everyone!

I'm still trying to get used to the new forum - I'd put the album as "private" but it seemed to work once I changed it to "public", though I still can't see the pics until I'm logged in! All a mystery.

daydreambeliever - he's been ridden in a snaffle and a pelham with two reins. I'm not sure what they start in, but they ride much more from leg and seat (weight in particular) than we do in England. They also spend far longer working from the ground, esp. long-reining, than we would. Usually they then put a rider on while continuing long-reining to familiarise the horse with the riding aids and new movements (e.g. piaffe, passage, Spanish walk) before letting them being ridden on their own.

He is so light in the mouth that the lightest pressure has an effect, so I think the bit itself is almost irrelevant. My OH and I had constant "mas pienas" (more leg - though probably misspelt!) from Antonio on the lessons. He is certainly better schooled than me, so I'll be planning to continue lots of dressage lessons when we bring him over :)

ETA: Just remembered, they start with the reins on the noseband (like a cavesson) in-hand and when ridden!
 
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I think that's partly to do with the breed as well - they tend to be well balanced physically and mentally with the right training! We're buying him from an excellent trainer too - Antonio has a waiting list of over a year and is sent horses from all over Spain. His brother won the Doma Vaquera championship two years in a row on a horse he trained. Even more important (to me anyway ;)) is I don't think I've met a trainer who is so attached to his horses, they all whinny at him when he walks into the yard!
 
LOL - most people bring back a straw donkey and a sombrero!! :)

He's totally stunning - good job you didn't bring him back this week with all this snow!

Looking forward to lots of photos and updates :)
 
Oooh I got my boy 5 years ago from the same place as you!!! I have v similar photos to yours going around their oval arena and in the stable yard. How exciting for you! If I had the time and money, I'd be back there in a shot to buy another one. He looks gorgeous and is the same colouring as my boy.
Completely agree about Los Alamos, best place ever to go on holiday. You may already know, but there's a facebook group for those having purchased horses via LA. Very friendly bunch of people who are more than happy to share their experiences. Please feel free to PM me if you have any qu.s or just want to share your excitement with me!
 
Wow, how utterly breathtaking is he! He looks like a dream, especially since he is only 4. I can't imagine how excited you are, and i look forwards to seeing lots more photos when he arrives with you. Enjoy your champagne and excitement, and feel free to waffle as much as you want about him.
 
Simply beautiful! I can only imagine how excited you are!!! Enjoy the excitement - bet you can't wait for May...

Its lovely to see a horse so well balanced and trained and really interesting to read about how they work them on the ground more.

Good luck - can't wait to see more pictures!
 
Thank you for all the lovely replies! He is very chilled for a four year old, not all the horses there were quite as relaxed ;)

Azabache - that's amazing! I'll PM you. Would love to see some pics of your boy!
 
In Spain (and Portugal), its quite normal to see horses being worked early in a double or 2 reins pelham. It does just seem to suit the temperant of these horses and they dont seem to bat an eyelid - but probably because of the time spent on the ground etc.
 
Awww wow what a stunning horse! Hope he doesn't mind out British weather:p Last time i went to spain i came back with tea towels!:D You come back with a 'to die for' horse!:D
 
He is lovely!! Whereabouts is that yard? It looks like a yard I rode at when I was last in spain in Anadalucia about 15 mins from the rock of Gibralta :)
 
Firewell - it's Antonio Coralles' yard near Vejer de la Frontera, so probably a bit more than 15 minutes!

jinglejoys - I've never seen donkeys like that (I assume they're donkeys not mules - their ears look very long!). Are they a special Spanish breed? They're have lovely coats, not at all like our English donkeys
 
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