Thinking about buying a PRE

[Emma_1994]

Hello everybody!

I'm looking for some advice - I've been thinking for a while about buying a PRE for dressage. I'm finding it hard to find something in the UK and my trainer mentioned that I could look at importing. This sounds very scary to me but I wanted other people's views and experiences since importing post Brexit.

Are there any places either in the UK or Spain that anyone could recommend to me?

I know about transport costs, settings and import tax but is there anything I would need to think about. Also how do people find the horses travel over and how well do they settle?

Appreciate any advice! Thank you, Emma.

 

[Caol Ila]

Have you seen this FB group? https://www.facebook.com/groups/315632406116391

Horses are always popping up for sale on it.

I've read that it can be difficult to settle a Spanish import in the UK because the weather and lifestyle is wildly different, but I haven't experienced it. However, the Shire-TBx I imported from the States never in 13 years acquired any tolerance for midges, flies, and horizontal rain. My PRE is a local, a wee lass from Barrhead (in every way!), and she's pretty well adapted to those things.

I was advised to get either a British-bred one or a Spanish import that has been here long enough to (hopefully) settle.

 

[shortstuff99]

As said above there are a lot for sale in the UK you just have to know where to find them.

The BAPSH and GBPRE website and facebook pages list lots of British breeders. These breeders often have good contacts in Spain and can help to source over there if what you want over here doesn't suit.

There is a also a facebook group called buying/importing horses from Spain which is worth a search for which dealers etc to avoid.

There are some very nice horses in Spain but a lot of dross that they try to flog to unsuspecting buyers.

Main tips, always check the registration status, they must be ANCCE registered to be a PRE. If they don't have that they are NOT a PRE and you can can struggle with some competitions. They must also have the Carta as without one you cannot change ownership with ANCCE.

Be careful with vettings, a lot will fail.

They often train very differently and strictly to here and they can become confused and stressed when changing to a different training style.

Grass can send them mental.

I love them and I go to Spain a lot and am on a half eye for getting another foal from Spain so who am I to judge ?

 

[Peglo]

I imported from Italy. The people selling my horse sorted out a lot of it and it was actually quite simple. Think it took less than a week for her to travel here.

she’s settled pretty well and I live on islands off the top of Scotland so pretty different climate to Italy. (Although she’s still pretty high to ride in the wind ?) I didn’t buy a PRE though so no help there.

 

[Alibear]

If possible, I'd recommend riding a few over here first. They are lovely, but they are different from average riding horses. They can be more sensitive to seat and balance, and you need to have good soft hands. So I'd suggest riding a few different ones in different scenarios first just to check you get along with them. It might be worth looking at Lusitanos as well. I failed with my boy; we got along for the first 18 months, then the wheels fell off, and we never got back on track, and many vet issues were discovered in the process. Mine is not an unusual story when you start looking at people who have had them for more than the first year or two.
The same can be said for most breeds, though. Good luck with whatever you decide to go for. Like others have suggested it was going for a new one, I'd look in the UK first. Or there are a few yards that specialise in them and have liveries who own them on the yard. I'd follow the yard's advice if you're in one of those setups.

 

[Cortez]

You don't say whether you have any previous experience of PRE horses, but as others have said it is a very good idea to do a LOT of research into the breed before getting one. If your goal is serious dressage competition then I'm not sure that a Spanish horse is the best option for that. There are a number of UK breeders with OK stock, but I have only ever imported from Spain as I require a very traditional type of horse. Good luck, and be careful.

 

[Caol Ila]

My experience is n = 1, and Cortez and Shortstuff will have a lot more, but unplanned pregnancies aside, I don't find my little PRE harder or hotter to train than other horses I've worked with. Might be her lines, or might be the fact that my other horses have not been the easiest of creatures. When I first got her, she was more or less unhandled and very pregnant (I did not know this) and became tricky when the hormones overwhelmed her little teenage brain, but she's a different horse now. Sure, she's sensitive and sharp, but so is my bloody Highland (who may have some Welsh D in him), but most of the time she takes things calmly in her stride.

There's one at Fin's yard that is hotheaded and dramatic. That's a completely different experience than Hermosa. Like any horse, temperament can vary a lot between individuals.

ETA: My experience should be n = 2. Her son is very calm and well-mannered for a yearling. He was that way as soon as he was halter broken.

 

[Emma_1994]

Thank you everyone for your input so far! I should have said that I have had experience with PREs while working at a dressage yard and really loved them. Got on with them really well and seemed to suit my way of riding.

Thank you shortstuff99, I had been confused about the registration and how to know if they are full PRE.

I would much rather buy a UK based horse, it's just finding the right one as I have struggled to find many for sale. I had read that there are UK breeders but I didn't want one too young. I'll check out the Facebook page as well!

Thank you!

 

[Emma_1994]

@Cortez where do you buy yours from in Spain?

 

[milliepops]

are you on board now CI? how are you finding her?

A friend has imported a couple unbroken which are lovely horses horses. but there were a fair few vet failures before them. I couldn't say whether the ratio was unusual or not compared to buying in the UK but it seems more awkward I suppose because it's harder to be there and see for yourself. they seem to adjust well though.

 

[Caol Ila]

Nah, I'm not on board yet. She's a bit bum high at the moment. She is winning at long reining, though. We are getting close. I have to do everything by myself now (you must know the feeling) so I'm taking my time.

 

[milliepops]

ah i misunderstood, sorry. Yup, i know exactly the feeling, it's difficult!

 

[TPO]

I was friendly with someone who'd imported two, I think they were possibly brothers or at least closely related. They couldn't have been more different from each other. One was pretty chill and one was very sensitive and reactive. She bought unseen (& vetted) from trustworthy breeders as she had been over there several times staying weeks at a time for tuition.

Another friend (years ago) went to Spain and Portugal with a view to buying one but thankfully didn't. In her case it would have been a first horse and there doesn't (or didn't) seem to be geldings, so finding suitable livery, even initially, for a stallion was as good as impossible on livery.

The first person I mentioned had her own place so could manage it but I think they took a bit of management to adjust to grass, turnout and a more UK way of handling. There's a few out there with facial scarring etc, the name of the noseband/halter escapes me.

I am not a good rider or competitor or anything like that but I haven't enjoyed the ones that I've ridden. I do (or did in my younger days) enjoy sharp, sensitive, clever horses and have owned an Arab and TBs that fitted that bill but just didn't like the particular PREs that I sat on. I'm guessing though that you've already ridden a fair few to have fallen for the breed? Perhaps worthwhile to investigate the bloodlines of those you have liked riding and handling and contacting those studs.

I know nothing about the different types and I know that you've posted about wanting to do dressage but Working Equitation seems to be gaining popularity in the UK. Going to a clinic or show for WE might be a good place to network? Definitely a guarantee of seeing Spanishes there rather than at dressage etc.

Definitely worth getting in touch with Cortez if she's ok with that because she's someone who has actually walked the walk.

 

[shortstuff99]

Nah, I'm not on board yet. She's a bit bum high at the moment. She is winning at long reining, though. We are getting close. I have to do everything by myself now (you must know the feeling) so I'm taking my time.View attachment 96764

She has grown loads, she looks great!

I have sat and walked mine around and then my trainer said you should probably teach her lungeing and long lining. So I gave it a go and she did it first time, which is why PREs are amazing sometimes ?.

TPO you are talking of the serreta which is falling out of favour in Spain now.

If you do WE they're going to try and convince you to get a Luso instead ?

 

[TPO]

Yes that's the name. I honestly have no idea about the kit and how it should be used/if it can be used "kindly". All I know is the scarring I saw from it so googled to find out about it at the time. Admittedly a fair few years back and this was on horses that had long left Spain.

 

[Cortez]

@Cortez where do you buy yours from in Spain?

I have bought from many different breeders and dealers. You could perhaps try Faye or Leah at Sol Horse and Property Group on FB, they are english, based in Spain and know a huge number of horse people there. Everyone's criteria are different, and my requirements are very particular and not at all mainstream, so I can't really point you at anyone. I would suggest that you start looking in the UK, it'll be easier all around.

The serraton is a useful bit of kit which can, like anything, be abused. I would not be at all put off looking at horses with nose marks because of it, indeed it may well be a sign that a horse will have very respectful manners

 

[Green Bean]

You could always try Matt Harnacke, isn't he bringing them to the Netherlands and selling them all vetted but I would think his would be eye-wateringly expensive

 

[ycbm]

Mine was UK born and bred not 10 miles away and she was as metabolic as hell. Her diet had to be severely restricted at all times, she was in a muzzle almost all winter and on soaked forage all winter, needing a vit/min supplement, unless I paid a fortune for pure timothy, which then meant I you need to feed additional protein. On those grounds alone I wouldn't have another.
.

 

[Inda]

I have hermosa’s big sister. I don’t find her any different from my previous sport horse. She’s opinionated but not difficult. They were described to me as the border collie of the horse world, and that’s how I treat her.

she’s far too good a doer, I’m always worried about weight, laminitis, insulin resistance.

But I got her for personality, I do endurance with her, not dressage. I never went out to buy a PRE, I wanted an Irish draught. And I bought a yearling. She should be terrible I did everything you shouldn’t do, bought a youngster of a breed I had very little experience with. I would get another one if I was looking, I love her brain

 

[GreyDot]

I have hermosa’s big sister. I don’t find her any different from my previous sport horse. She’s opinionated but not difficult. They were described to me as the border collie of the horse world, and that’s how I treat her.

she’s far too good a doer, I’m always worried about weight, laminitis, insulin resistance.

But I got her for personality, I do endurance with her, not dressage. I never went out to buy a PRE, I wanted an Irish draught. And I bought a yearling. She should be terrible I did everything you shouldn’t do, bought a youngster of a breed I had very little experience with. I would get another one if I was looking, I love her brain

@Inda Totally off-topic ,but can I ask what hoof boots those are?

 

[Barton Bounty]

T

I have hermosa’s big sister. I don’t find her any different from my previous sport horse. She’s opinionated but not difficult. They were described to me as the border collie of the horse world, and that’s how I treat her.

she’s far too good a doer, I’m always worried about weight, laminitis, insulin resistance.

But I got her for personality, I do endurance with her, not dressage. I never went out to buy a PRE, I wanted an Irish draught. And I bought a yearling. She should be terrible I did everything you shouldn’t do, bought a youngster of a breed I had very little experience with. I would get another one if I was looking, I love her brain

That is a cracking picture ?

 

[Inda]

@Inda Totally off-topic ,but can I ask what hoof boots those are?

Renegade vipers in Arizona copper. I love them

 

[littleshetland]

I imported one from Spain 2 years ago now, and found him via a very reputable agent based in this country. I bought him 'sight unseen' ('what could possibly go wrong?'.....I thought to myself!). I really am old enough to know better, but the agent who helped me find him has a very good reputation, I viewed hours of video of him, including the vetting. It seemed all the right boxes were ticked and I bought him. Best thing I ever did - he's fabulous. He came from Cordoba (very hot!) and is now settled into the West of England (also quite hot atm..) but has done well through 2 winters and springs - just introduce to our rich english grass very carefully.
They're fabulous horses, super clever and love to work and I'm learning so much from him. I'd be happy to pm you any more information if you like.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Sian at Stalino horses on Facebook imports some lovely horses they are based in Hertfordshire.

 

[visa_bot]

Hi. I imported a PRE stallion from Spain over 13 years ago, it was very straight forward because I used somebody that did it a lot. I was lucky, he has been the most safe and awesome horse. Got me to dressage regionals at advanced medium and has been really sound, he’s 19 now. Loved him so much I also bought/imported one of his sons, who has also been great. However, a friend used the same person and had a nightmare. long story but ended up with no horse, no money and a long court case.

You should do your research but I think it’s a bit luck of the draw. The actual import was quite straight forward for me. But if things do go wrong, it’s harder for recompense.

With regards to settling in, no problems. Mine doesn’t like the heat or the flies and he’s happy to eat hay and haylage as well as alfalfa. I think he prefers it in the UK.

Good luck, keep us updated.

 

[Emma_1994]

Thank you so so much everyone for your replies, definitely lots of good information from you all. It's great to hear that @visa_bot and @littleshetland you have had good experiences and your horse's have settled well. I think I was worried that importing could be really difficult. Has anyone heard of or used Andalusian horses direct? I have been in contact with Dawn from there about a lovely horse and she has been super helpful but wanted to know if anyone has used/knows anything about her?

 

[Emma_1994]

I imported one from Spain 2 years ago now, and found him via a very reputable agent based in this country. I bought him 'sight unseen' ('what could possibly go wrong?'.....I thought to myself!). I really am old enough to know better, but the agent who helped me find him has a very good reputation, I viewed hours of video of him, including the vetting. It seemed all the right boxes were ticked and I bought him. Best thing I ever did - he's fabulous. He came from Cordoba (very hot!) and is now settled into the West of England (also quite hot atm..) but has done well through 2 winters and springs - just introduce to our rich english grass very carefully.
They're fabulous horses, super clever and love to work and I'm learning so much from him. I'd be happy to pm you any more information if you like.

That's really good to know, thank you. Could you tell me who you bought yours through? Did you find that you had to retrain yours slightly to different aids? I've heard the Spanish do things a bit differently, like asking for canter with the inside leg. Thank you ?

 

[chaps89]

If you’re in the south, the Iberian Performance show is on at Merrist Wood in a couple of weekends time. Might be worth you spending some time there, looking at the different types, what you like/don’t like and generally they’re all very happy to talk about their horses so might be able to help you

 

[littleshetland]

I found my PRE understood all my 'english' riding aids no problem but they're very clever, so if you did find one that has been trained to different aids, with some patience you could get them to respond to your preferred aids. Mine likes a hack, but his happy place is definitely the school. If you like dressage, you're in for a treat...they just seem to find the collected work easy (when they're fit enough tho!), but mine has quite a choppy stride, so we don't get marked well for lengthening strides, but make up for it with the collected work, but I get so much joy from training him - thats what really matters to me. I wish you luck in your search - if you find a good one, they'll make you very happy

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I wrote a long post and it went poof. Ugh!

I can tell you one dealer not to buy from, that's for sure. Their horses are generally overpriced anyway, but they're also dishonest.

Mine is not so much of good doer and actually eats quite a bit. We also don't have the best grass though.