What is wrong with novices taking on an Iberian?

I think having heard comments from a few people who have gone to Iberia, in Spain and Portugal, they are treated as HORSES and a commodity, disciplined and worked hard whereas over here a lot of them are pets and they maybe don't have the same level of discipline? Correct me please if I am wrong, I have a part bred Britush Luso and he is very much different to any horse I have had and there have been several in my 40 years of ownership!!
 
SpanishNeddy said:
I also would only import. You get far more for your money buying direct from Spain than you would here. Looking at what they cost in the UK makes me chuckle!!!!!!!!!!!! one add I saw today has a PRE 5 year old, just backed, not great breeding for £10k! haaa. People pay that though, as they are sought after. All I would say is be careful who you buy from in Spain (as they do ride them differently and you might end up having to re-train it anyway!!!).

Hope that helps! they are fabulous horses :)
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Gosh really? 10k??? Who was that then? No proper breeder listed in UK would ever ask that much. Plus, they are all very well known and anyway, any discerning PRE buyer who had ever done any research on the breed before buying wouldn't look at that twice anyway. You sound like you know your stuff so I'm surprised you even took interest...

The BAPSH/PRE UK breeders would hate to hear this.
 
I own a lovely pre stallion, and have work with them for many years. Although I completely agree with all the comments bout them being sensitive and clever, this can also be a advantage! My pre competes with me in dressage, but will also safely take my mum for a ride around the school and have even been use on the lead rein for kids! There always is one or two who don't follow the normal trend!!
 
Mine is PRE/lusitano/connemara. I didn't want an iberian and didn't know anything about them, he was just a nice type and I bought him.
He has been my first horse and I had the first 18 months of hell with him. Not many instructors have been able to help, I think because they are not the same as other horses. He was sharp, gets bored, evasive, bolshy, downright naughty. My riding/handling wasn't up to his needs. He put me in hospital twice and I very nearly sold him. Everyone told me I was overhorsed and to get rid. Thankfully we have sorted ourselves out together and have a great relationship now - we just both needed to stop listening to other people and start listening to each other. He has taught me how to ride him (I think) and I have taught him to trust me. I am convinced he can read my mind! He is so very clever and sensitive, and also has a sense of humour. He knows my mood, will mess around when I am up for having a giggle and he knows when he needs to take care of me. He is even being a lovely schoolmaster for my friend's 13 year old daughter, looking after her beautifully. He is everything I could want in a horse, but he doesn't leave space in my life for another horse - he is definitely 1-1. And well worth all the bruises, embarrassment, heartache, stress etc though in hindsight he IS a second horse!!

However maybe one day I will need a new horse and it will have to be a PRE because nothing else will ever be good enough now!!!!
 
I have a lovely imported PRE. He was definately at the bottom of the pile when it comes to sharpness, he's so laid back its unreal. Has been used by me to babysit allsorts of nutcases. Completely and utterly bombroof in every way imagineable and borders on lazy when being schooled. Show him showjumps and x-country fences and you'd think someone had shoved Semtex up his backside, he goes off like lightning and can easily make the time at a BE Event. Happily goes down the duel carriageway and round roundabouts no probs. He's incredibly clever and has been know to take the pee when a novice gets on him but in a totally safe way. He would be suitable for a novice but he might drag you to a tasty grass verge ooccasionally bless him. He is truly one in a million. If you get a good one like mine he will truly be your best friend.
 
noblesteed said:
He has been my first horse and I had the first 18 months of hell with him. Not many instructors have been able to help, I think because they are not the same as other horses. He was sharp, gets bored, evasive, bolshy, downright naughty.
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My sister has a conn x TB and after having him 16 years, he is still incredibly bolshy, and will barge you out of the way if he thinks he needs to - so I think the bolshyness comes from the irish side! :D
 
SpanishNeddy said:
I also would only import. You get far more for your money buying direct from Spain than you would here. Looking at what they cost in the UK makes me chuckle!!!!!!!!!!!! one add I saw today has a PRE 5 year old, just backed, not great breeding for £10k! haaa. People pay that though, as they are sought after. All I would say is be careful who you buy from in Spain (as they do ride them differently and you might end up having to re-train it anyway!!!).:)
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Most of the horses that people buy cheap from Spain are second rate. They have either physical or behavioural problems, or are badly bred, and are cheap horses with a huge dealers commission on top. The good horses from Spain are far more expensive than comparable British ones. It's the same old story as WB's, for some reason people think that because they buy them from abroad that they are better. There are a few good dealers, but why pay money to someone that you could put towards a British bred horse? I've heard so many stories of people buying horses, usually unseen, from Spain and having problems when they arrive. Even if they do go out and see them, they don't realise that the laidback horse they see in the hot Spanish sunshine might turn out to be completely different with a cold British wind up it's backside!
 
Do you think Templewood. I would of said they were better value for money buying from Spain from what I have seen. Maybe it's the type I go for I guess. I like the traditional baroque PRE's not the new modern sport ones (if that makes sense lol!). I am no expert though, he is my first PRE.

My boy was what I call cheap, but yes he was sold as a nervous horse who needed time and handling. He actually came from english people who were natural horsemanship (just based in spain). So I guess he had what you have called a behavioural problem. However, he is AMAZING now and with all the work I have put in you would never know he had far better manners that most on the yard. He is a very sweet horse, would not hurt a fly. Just had lack of handling that was all. So I was VERY lucky I guess as he has amazing breeding as well (although that was not why I bought him).

Yes I hear of many nightmares from people importing. My boy was fine though, he adjusted very well and had a good journey. He was so happy to be with other horses for a start, he constantly chatted to them all !!
 
I'm glad that it turned out so well for you and it sounds like you have a lovely horse. Unfortunately, so many people spend thousands of pounds importing a horse that they can never ride and have their dreams shattered. At least with a UK bred horse it is used to our weather, grass, feed, tack, shoeing, traffic, management etc. Plus they can actually see it and have a British vetting. They can also check that it has the correct papers and is a purebred, if that's what they want.
The Spanish vets, who come over to grade the UK bred PRE's, always comment on the high standard of horses presented to them, and very few fail their grading.
 
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