Where do people look for small dressage horses?

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Jo C

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Having lost my pony of a life time a few weeks ago I'm now starting to look for a new horse but it's so long since I did this last time I'm feeling a little lost. What websites etc do you all use to search for a competition horse please?
 
Sorry about your loss, this is not a great time of year to be looking for a new horse, I would actually wait until the new year before searching seriously as many people will wait until post Christmas to advertise, the last time I looked for a small dressage horse they were few and far between anything under 15.2 seemed to be either uneducated or lack movement but I do think there are more about now.

I would look on H&H, Horsequest and also the PC site as they frequently have nice ponies, small horses that are outgrown and tend to be nice types.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss :(.

I looked outside of the box when it came to mine. Topaz is a very solid 15.2/3hh, she looks and rides a bit bigger but is a lovely size for me most of the time (I'm 5'2"). Skylla is a problem as she was bought to make 15.2hh but erm is that now at 3.5 :eek: so may end up a bit big for me...

They are both Freisian x Hackneys (though Skylla has Holstein in her too). Trying to find small warmbloods was like waiting for a unicorn poo, so I looked at height, confo and movement first and breeding second. I made my job harder as I don't get on well with cobs (my legs are too short for anything too wide :o), and lots in the under 16hh bracket were too cobby for me.

I found them on Horsemart and Preloved, and looked for similar breeding to Topaz as she is such a lovely horse. Though I also looked a lot at the Arab crosses, as one I love Arab's and two they tend to be smaller.

Sites I looked at were Horsemart, Horse Gossip (a forum but with a strong selling section), Preloved, Facebook groups, BD website, Horse Deals, Horse Quest, Project Horses, even Dragon Driving. I also asked my horsey friends to keep an eye out and went to view a gorgeous high percentage PBA through friends, I nearly bought her but decided she was a touch too small at 14.2hh at 4, fussy I know!

Take your time and decide what the important factors are to you.

x x
 
I'm sorry about your loss :(

Are you looking for young dressage horse or an older more established one?

If young then a couple of options really - call around the dressage based studs and see what they have available. Should be plenty of choice here in the UK, but I also know someone with a nice little small 3/4 yo black filly that might be for sale in Germany if that was of interest. The good thing about the little dressage ones is there is generally less interest for the small young ones, so they are in general more affordable.

I'm also not averse to looking at Welshies / welsh part breds for someone wanting a smaller dressage horse. Would take a bit of research though to get one with the right basic paces / temperament for the sports job as opposed to show ring.
 
Maybe look at show horses - a lot of hacks are quite small and very well put together, and I've seen some lovely smaller horses in the Part Bred Arabian classes. You tend to get more for your money with show horses rather than animals marketed at dressage.
 
Bernwode stud specializes in dressage ponies I think, I don't know them very well but have seen some of their stock/stallion on Facebook and they seem to be getting very good competition results.
 
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What about an iberian? They're quite small and compact. Plenty in this country for sale already. Why go to spain?
 
Very nice cross! Would love to see pictures.

I'm completely biased on the iberians as I'm smitten with them. Plus if you buy one bred here, they will be used to the weather and our way of handling.
 
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