Blog Sol -Spanish Horse in Dubai

Another unhurried, unpressured, carefully considered purchase - with the rewarding long-term results.

A. first contacted us in March of 2009. We talked in detail about her search, discussed training , budget and travel - and set the base for a good friendship, as we enjoyed the fun correspondence.

We narrowed the suitable candidates down to 3, and A and her husband visited in July. Well, when she saw Sol it was pretty much love at first sight. Some serious watching and riding, and a number of visits to the yard, in line with our philosophy of no hurry.

A. had to return to Dubai, and we went ahead with a detailed vet check. All the results proved satisfactory. In September she returned for another visit, and an evaluation plus a few lessons with one of our associates, an International Coach.
at this point we had exchanged 270 emails

Sol left for Dubai in the November of 2009 video of Sol before he left.

A’s reportback on her PRE in Dubai

NOV (1)
Well what can I say. He has settled so well, just as though he was always here. I am totally amazed by his maturity. He is the darling on the yard - I had to put signs up to say please don’t feed me!

You certainly gave him a good start in life. He has faced quite a few things already. Polo ponies cantering around warming up, riding past 100 polo mares who were going out on exercise, riding in a small arena in close quarters with geldings and mares all doing their own thing, all varieties of farm machinery from v big to v noisy. Truly, he is a dream come true. I can never quite thank you enough

NOV (2)
Today the vet was there, and the Foreman of the stables, and they said they felt Sol was the number one in the barn (out of 28) for health and his nature. They cannot believe how young he is yet so mature. Thanks for a fantastic start in life at the Yeguada. Even bigger thanks go to you and Andres. Next week Farrier and Dentist and then getting to know each other.

DEC (1)
I am getting to know him now and he is a cheeky one. He has so far escaped from his box and gone visiting, and he has totally destroyed his ’slow hay feeder’. Clearly he wants to eat at his pace. Last night my groom was woken up at 3am and ended up cleaning out his stable and replacing his bedding. He had extracted the ball from his automatic waterer and tossed it out!

His turn out paddock looks like an activity centre with traffic cones, rubber and hard plastic balls and buckets, all for his pleasure to throw, and he also likes to tip over the water buckets in the paddock.

He is collecting quite a fan club with the children too. But as soon as you put his tack on or even his rope halter, he behaves like the good student that he is. Thanks again to the team.

DEC (2)
Txt message Are you sitting down? It was only prelim, but 65% and it was the best score too. Very happy indeed. could easily have been 68% if we had not dropped canter just where we should not have done!

I was so very proud of him. There were plenty of reasons to spook and he reacted to nothing I am almost too happy!

JAN
Last week I thought the odd log or trotting pole would help keep him fresh and aid stretching over his back. He showed great pleasure and the next day ended in a 70cm course of 8 jumps, done with ease and fun. I had no idea I had a show jumper too!

FEB
He boxes like an expert and is happy to be in the visitors stables when we go out and compete. Just so long as he has some hay the world is good for him.

AND . . A horse reversed into him and now he is the talk of the yard as he did NOTHING, he just turned and said ’oh hi - pleased to meet you.’

APRIL
After the dressage to music we did the other week we decided we would take a break and get some jumping in. He did even better than last time and we were delighted to complete a 9 jump course of 80cm including a wall ! with not a flicker of his eyelid - he is so genuine and a pleasure to introduce to new things. We have done lots of fittening work too and I explained to him if you want to enjoy so much hay there is a pay off! its called lots of trot and canter out hacking, he is getting used to it but would prefer idle chatter at times!