Thinking of buying a young Dutch W/B - any experiences to share?

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CharlesMax

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I am currently shopping for a new horse and didn’t realise what a daunting task it is! I have recently got the taste for Eventing which my lovely ISH Hunter didn’t enjoy as much as I did so I sadly sold him on so I could find a more willing horse. Having a small budget, I have had to compromise on age and still toying with getting a more experienced older horse vs getting a young horse with potential. I was only considering younger Irish horses but have recently come across a fabulous looking Dutch Warmblood. I have seen videos, etc and am impressed so far and want to trial the horse with my Instructor.

I am not very experienced but nothing phases me and I have good instructors to help me. My last horse was very Green and I managed well with him under the right Instructors so I am happy to take on a new challenege. I wanted to ask your opinions/experiences buying younger Warmbloods, especially from those of you who are less experienced.
 
I had a lovely 4 year old dutch warmblood mare a few years ago. She was great but quite spooky (find most from holland/germany/belgium spooky!) but always jumped constantly and learned very quickly! She went from novice to newcomers/fox quickly and was brave!
 
Good to hear, this one's rising 5 so also very young but jumps very well which is what I am looking for. When you say spooky, how spooky?
 
I don't think there are many generalisations that apply to entire stud books. In general Dutch WBs are bred to be sports horses, but other than that I don't think there is much more to say. Do you know this horse's breeding? Perhaps someone more experienced on breeding could comment on that.

If it were me I would chose the older, experienced horse to learn on than the younger to bring on.
 
I have a Dutch boy and I honestly wouldn't change him for the world, but, their emense talent does come with the quirks! They are bred to be good at what they do and as a result do need to be kept occupied and worked. Every horse is different though and some are no problem and very focussed, but these ones tend to come with a decent price tag or are already under professionals. My boy was a perfect, quiet, safe as houses 5yr old when I got him. Gangley and all legs, when he turned 6 this went out the window and I had a very strapping "jack the lad" who thought he knew better :rolleyes: :D so he hasn't been the easiest to produce but he has all the talent, they just need experienced hands to know how to channel it. If you have a reliable instructor then you should be ok as I am certainly no professional and have used all the help I can get with mine :D if you feel it is the right horse then go for it, for eventing I would probably look for something WBx (either with TB or ISH) as they tend to be a bit less "edgy" mine would never be suitable as an eventer....not unless "do as many handstands as possible" was ever a move in the dressage :D good luck in your search, hope whatever you find is the right one :)
 
By Enrico V/D Withoeve (Embassy) ex Nackara.

I agree that an older horse is a better option but I have had friends who have been very lucky with some younger horses who have been absolute Gems, obviously under the right Instruction/help.
 
Nightmare before Christmas said:
I tend to find they are spooky around the sides of arenas ect more than the fences! Maybe I always have/ride spooky ones! I love them though and it doesnt effect their performance! In fact I think it makes them careful :)
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Sounds just like mine! I have no problem with the jumps.....its the scary people/things around the arena oh, and the horse eating b****y timing equipment!!!

Felt like burining it all at one point! :D
 
Another ex owner of a spooky KWPN. Fabulous jumper, quick learner, tried her heart out, but my Goodness, change conditions even slightly and she suddenly had the attention span of a gnat, grew 6 hands and shook like a jelly. We found that leaves could hide fire-breathing dragons; or the sun glinting on that particular rock/twig/fencepost/leaf/object we had passed a 1000 times before could suddenly be a disagreeable colour. We could capriole with the best of them. The speed of our pirouettes out on a hack are in the Guinness Book of Records, you know. And we could leap a whole 15 feet sideways at 90 degrees to the perpendicular if she saw the invisible monster with fangs at the side of the road.

She used to do this schooling, too. Working on something, get it right, do it for all of, oo, 10 seconds, and suddenly she'd be the other side of the school, eyes out on stalks and nostrils snorting like Ivor the Engine. Silly moo. You'd go and practice the next day and she'd do it like she'd done it all her life.

God I miss her so much. She was perpetually lame and always hurting herself. So, being a Caretano Z x Falco mare, she's gone to have babies. May they be as fun, stag-like and sweet as she is.

<<<<----- That's her. Would jump the moon if you asked. But also had issues with timing equipment.
 
Personally I would stick to more irish/tb influences for eventing. For some reason, a lot of european horses seem to take to eventing a lot slower than their irish/tb counterparts! There is a lot of continental blood in the irish stud book, but generally the dose of irish bog pony seems to give them the edge to go XC...
 
Hereshoping said:
Another ex owner of a spooky KWPN. Fabulous jumper, quick learner, tried her heart out, but my Goodness, change conditions even slightly and she suddenly had the attention span of a gnat, grew 6 hands and shook like a jelly. We found that leaves could hide fire-breathing dragons; or the sun glinting on that particular rock/twig/fencepost/leaf/object we had passed a 1000 times before could suddenly be a disagreeable colour. We could capriole with the best of them. The speed of our pirouettes out on a hack are in the Guinness Book of Records, you know. And we could leap a whole 15 feet sideways at 90 degrees to the perpendicular if she saw the invisible monster with fangs at the side of the road.

She used to do this schooling, too. Working on something, get it right, do it for all of, oo, 10 seconds, and suddenly she'd be the other side of the school, eyes out on stalks and nostrils snorting like Ivor the Engine. Silly moo. You'd go and practice the next day and she'd do it like she'd done it all her life.

God I miss her so much. She was perpetually lame and always hurting herself. So, being a Caretano Z x Falco mare, she's gone to have babies. May they be as fun, stag-like and sweet as she is.
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People must think we're mad but to me she sounds lovely! As she sounds just like my crazy dinosaur! :D he warms up like an old hat (after being in there for a good 20mins he's "used" to his surroundings) enter the ring then BANG back to square one....shrinking, spooking, wobbling and this isn't great when you're trying to get round a Foxhunter!!! Wouldn't have them any other way though :D :rolleyes:
 
Hello there :) I bought a 3yr old directly from holland 2 years ago, I was very lucky (I think!) as she was very easy and has a lovely can do attitude, she is small so was fairly cheap in comparison to what a 16.2hh version might cost. This seems to make some difference and there are a few little bargains to be had if you don't mind a smaller horse.

I have found (this is a massive generalisation) but does seem to hold some truth that a lot of continental horses can be abit cold, I have seen a few that are big scopey jumpers but really aren't forgiving if you happen to be on a duff stride!. I am not sure if this is due to the way horses are educated on the continent or breeding, perhaps I am talking rubbish ( wouldn't be the first time!). I have found that Irish horses can have a much more can do attitude, and be a little more amature friendly, of course this again is a big generalisation. But over the past few years I have seen more continental horses down tools because they just can't cope with being asked to do something that is out of there normal routine. Good luck with your horse search :)
 
pigsmight:) said:
Hello there :) I bought a 3yr old directly from holland 2 years ago, I was very lucky (I think!) as she was very easy and has a lovely can do attitude, she is small so was fairly cheap in comparison to what a 16.2hh version might cost. This seems to make some difference and there are a few little bargains to be had if you don't mind a smaller horse.

I have found (this is a massive generalisation) but does seem to hold some truth that a lot of continental horses can be abit cold, I have seen a few that are big scopey jumpers but really aren't forgiving if you happen to be on a duff stride!. I am not sure if this is due to the way horses are educated on the continent or breeding, perhaps I am talking rubbish ( wouldn't be the first time!). I have found that Irish horses can have a much more can do attitude, and be a little more amature friendly, of course this again is a big generalisation. But over the past few years I have seen more continental horses down tools because they just can't cope with being asked to do something that is out of there normal routine. Good luck with your horse search :)
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I agree you need to be quite accurate with them. I put it down to them not being quite as clever as some irish horses!
 
KatB said:
Personally I would stick to more irish/tb influences for eventing. For some reason, a lot of european horses seem to take to eventing a lot slower than their irish/tb counterparts! There is a lot of continental blood in the irish stud book, but generally the dose of irish bog pony seems to give them the edge to go XC...
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Have to disagree with this one some of the top event horses at the moment are Contender ones. Love the KWPN, we havent had a bad one yet, not spooky at all, having said that there are certain line which can be sharp, Numeruno and Chin Chin seem to be the worst. but the Quidam/guidam lines are really trainable and sane.
 
kirstykate said:
Have to disagree with this one some of the top event horses at the moment are Contender ones. Love the KWPN, we havent had a bad one yet, not spooky at all, having said that there are certain line which can be sharp, Numeruno and Chin Chin seem to be the worst. but the Quidam/guidam lines are really trainable and sane.
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Agree with the lineage playing a part, I've been told Nimmerdor and Furioso can be "opinionated" and unfortunately mine has both! :rolleyes:
 
Yes they may be contender on the sire line, but will be high tb influence or Irish lines on the damn side in a lot of cases. ...also comparing pro produced horses is not always the best as a lot will do well with pro's, but need a lot of riding and wouldnt do as well with amateurs. Obviously you can't say theyre all the same, cos they're not, but a lot are!!
 
kirstykate said:
but the Quidam/guidam lines are really trainable and sane.
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Really!?!

The 2 guidam's I know are anything BUT sane! ;)

Original post. If you trust your instructor have a good and proper heart to heart with them about what you want now, in the near future and the far future and see whether they think the horse will be able to do this for you

Good luck :D
 
I have one out of Don Aqui - he is 3 in May and was bought directly from the breeders.

Very laid back generally about life, can be spooky but that might be down to age! Was on box rest for about 4 weeks when we first got him due to an accident in the field and was no trouble at all the whole time!

Just started lunging :) have high hopes for him! He is a bit of a dude already!
 
Booboos said:
I don't think there are many generalisations that apply to entire stud books. In general Dutch WBs are bred to be sports horses, but other than that I don't think there is much more to say. Do you know this horse's breeding? Perhaps someone more experienced on breeding could comment on that.

If it were me I would chose the older, experienced horse to learn on than the younger to bring on.
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Completely agree. I have two KWPNs and they couldn't be further apart in terms of training/temperament/performance!
 
ajf said:
Really!?!

The 2 guidam's I know are anything BUT sane! ;)

Original post. If you trust your instructor have a good and proper heart to heart with them about what you want now, in the near future and the far future and see whether they think the horse will be able to do this for you

Good luck :D
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Are the mares lines Irish??;)
 
As I said, a lot have more tb OR Irish blood, and its those that are the more event types....so basically look at the breeding!! The fact the dutch stud book has introduced a lot of tb, Arab and irish blood into it in recent yearsshows they saw the need to change the breed type....
 
A lot of blood in the dutch horses now, they were getting to heavy and they needed to be more athletic to cope with change within show jumping, they must be doing something right as they lead the way breeding sport horses. Thats why Guidam didnt do so well in Ireland as he would leave heavy beasties, you needed to put him to mares with alot of blood in them or you ended up with elephants!!:p
 
I bought a 3yo dutch warmblood 4 years ago now pretty much fresh of the boat from Holland! He was a bit scraggy looking but had beautiful paces and kindest eye (he was sold the moment I saw his face actually!!). Hes a concorde horse so Marco Polo & Voltaire.

Anyway, Ive taken him slowly and hes not 7 turning 8 in June. I event him and hes competing at Novice level and doesn't seem remotely fazed by it. Hes got beautiful paces and a huge scopey jump so I feel like Im luckiest girl to ahve found him.

I write about him, our ups and downs etc on my website (link below) so feel free for a nose! I would encourage you to make the jump.. buying Winnie was the best decision!
Anytime you want to chat dutch warmbloods then you can always give me a shout ;)
 
They lead the way for SPORT horses, not necessarily eventers ;)

Anyway, back to OP, if the horse suits yours needs in temperament, type, etc etc, regardless of whetehr it's half giraffe, go for it :D As with any potential eventers, check how it reacts to things it hasn't seen before, how forward thinking it is, and you should be fine :D
 
I just want to add that mines not particularly spooky at all. He has quirks like he doesn't like being on his own and he won't stand in the box after event.. he needs to get home and if not he tries to canter on the spot.
But hes exceedingly trainable and quick to learn. he tries so hard and hed dance for me if I asked him Im sure!! He's also flipping bold xc and takes on anything and to be fair hes help me out enough times when I'm on a *****e stride so disagree with other peoples comments.

They may be the same breed but all of them will ahve been bought up differently so are bound to have different characteristics. So long as you are prepared to put the time and effort in and seek guidance along the way then you should be fine.. in exactly the same way you would taking on any youngster.

Please keep us updated and we'd love to see a pic ;) x
 
Mines a Nimmerdor one and he is so laid back he's horizontal!

A tiny bit spooky at stupid things I.e. Jump blocks at side of school or logs at the side of the road.

But he is verymtrainable, very easy to do and just pure love.
 
WOW, was not expecting so many comments! Thank you! I will just go along and try her out and take it from there. Will get good advice from 2 instructors so I will feel confident when making decisions - just good to hear your opinions on the breed as I was set on Irish....
 
I worry about longevity with them as a lot are barn raised which I hate. KWPN have changed quicker than any other breed type which is why they can be hot and spooky as had huge doses of hot blood added. I think I verge towards German and French bred over Dutch.
 
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