Why Buy an Andalusian

I wrote once on a long-ago ’blog: "I’ve spent half my life involved in factual reporting, documentary film-making and communications. All that really means is that I like talking, and I found a way to make it look like I was working at the same time."

So I’ll be talking some here, covering some interlinking circles, (some stuff repeated elsewhere on the site) all in regard to what you are asking. Stay with me - this is going somewhere.

Circle 1: The Website

The wholeness of the site, and the philosophy behind it, is that it is far more than a ’horses for sale’ site. The majority of the site is articles and info - nearly 300 pages, and multiple subjects covered.

We have functioned for years as a free resource for aficionados. We have answered queries, shared triumphs, and helped sort out problems ranging from minor confusion to total catastrophes.

It’s a long term, ongoing project to expand people’s knowledge of the PRE, and included in that project is a hope that it will help prevent them being taken in by fast talkers with half-stories, or Get Rich Quick dealers.

See the Buying Wisely Guide for tips, real life case studies and amber warning flags

Circle 2: The Horses we Present on the Website

Our websites present our own horses, and those of a Private Group of breeders.

• We know all the horses and the owners.
• We examine each horse personally, and evaluate them as they are being handled and in work.
• We do all filming, editing, writing, website building and photography ourselves.

There are a number of horses that are not on the Public Pages, whose owners do not wish any exposure. (We have a rather unpleasant underflow of flash dealers who set out to dazzle outsiders, and who are abhorrent to the residents. Another story.)

In the evaluations, we are clinically analytical, and look at the horses from the perspective of (a) breeders and (b) dressage trainers. The two often run hand in hand, but are not always synonymous.

We are clear about what we consider good points and potential. And we are always upfront about shortcomings, as well as what we consider limiting factors.

Circle 3: Your Goal

"in order to achieve my goal of both showing and making money"

Money can be made in prize money, and in cover fees for a stud stallion. (1 500-2 500 per cover?)

Showing is fun - and it is also a means to the end of making money, because it
(a) is exposure to other owners
(b)gets your name known; and
(c) when you win it’s a reassurance to those who are wondering for which stallion they should pay out all those cover-fee dollars.

A Dressage Stallion Proves his Worth as a sire by his Performance and Results.

The suitability and ability of a PRE in dressage is, as with all horses, an equation of natural selection, with only a limited number proving themselves capable at the higher level.

However, a horse can be ugly and still win; he can be ’imperfect’ conformation-wise, yet still produce good results, especially with expert training.

A Breed Stallion is Judged on his Correctness, Movement, Looks and Appeal

The breed conformation requisites of a show/breed stallion are quite stringent.

There’s not such a thing as a horse with a perfect conformation, but the closer he comes to the ’ideal’, the better his chances in a show ring. Of course, you will always have to contend with the quirks and humanity of judges.

CRITICAL to BOTH DRESSAGE And BREED STALLIONS: SOUNDNESS

When you have invested a considerable amount of time and money in your stallion, you want to be able to enjoy the benefits.

• You would like your time with your stallion to be as free of time-off and vet bills as is reasonably possible.
• When you put your stallion into reasonably hard dressage work, you want to be sure that he can sustain the strains being put on his conformation.

When someone brings their mare to your stallion and pays $2 000 for the future foal, she wants as much assurance as possible that the foal will be healthy and sound.

She has to raise it for 3-4 years, and she has to have a healthy foal to sell, so she wants to be as sure as possible that the stallion is free of all identifiable problems, and is showing sound.

SO your stallion must

• x-ray clean of OCD - quite prevalent in PREs
• not show weak areas as far as legs are concerned

Which Brings us to the long haired baroque beauty you are asking about:
He is a well bred, inscribed, revised stallion, with good lines.
We have known him and his rider for a number of years, and watched his progress from young.
We have video-ed him in work more than once.

About a year ago, Andres expressed his concern to the rider that the horse was being pushed too far too fast, and that his legs would not sustain the demands being made. It then came to the point where we decided to take him off our listing. This is why you are not able to view the video.

At the last contact, the price had been increased outside the C range he was in when he was with us.

If you were determined to view/purchase this horse we would recommend stringent vet checks, including for long term substances, and would express our personal reservations about his ability to sustain dressage.

Where To From Here?

I am confident we can find a beautiful, healthy horse, after this mode, who is within your budget.

One who ’looks the part, fulfils breed requirements, has enviable bloodlines and can do a good dressage test.’

We know breeders whose stock is of this type, and there are a couple on the files. I will forward some info tomorrow.

"I want to plan a trip to Spain and look at horses"

Completely possible, and can be planned.

It is time and resource effective that you do the initial ’filtering’ beforehand, then concentrate your visit on a few pre-selected candidates.