Buy an Andalusian

Why Buy an Andalusian

Based on an answer to a query.
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 not 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 been here to help 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.

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

The creative side is my personal contribution and joy - from the site itself, thru the pictures and to the videos.

Circle 2: The Horses we Present on the Website

Our websites present our own horses, and those of a few friends and associates. We think of ourselves as a window between the spanish world and the english speaking world.

We do the filming, the writing, and the website building. We help where needed with translations and communications.

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.

So logically you want the best stallion possible for the money available, to grasp the attention of as many people as possible.

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.

First Prize is a stallion who looks the part, fulfils breed requirements, has enviable bloodlines and can do a good dressage test.

CRITICAL to BOTH DRESSAGE And BREED STALLIONS: SOUNDNESS of the LIMBS

When you put your stallion into reasonably hard dressage work, you want to be as sure as is reasonably possible that he can sustain the strains being put on his limbs. For this, you can consult x rays and consider conformation.

X-ray that are clean of OCD are a bonus, and this where breeding with or buying a Qualified PRE stallion is advantageous.

Good conformation doesn’t guarantee soundness, nor does a bad one always lead to problems, but certain conformation problems mean there’s a higher likelihood of certain soundness issues arising.

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.