Importing a PRE?

[iberianfan]

I have imported twice from Spain. The first was gelded before leaving (at 13), the second was already a gelding. It was a relief not to have to geld the second. While it was completely successful, it’s still worrisome.

I love both the PRE’s and the Lusitanos. I have also owned a Brazilian Luso
who had been imported to Florida by his breeder.

In trying horses in Spain, I tried PRE,Luso, Spanish Sporthorse. In my experience,the Luso is hotter and quicker, but not naughty. None of the horses felt naughty at all. Such delightful animals, wouldn’t trade mine for the world.

I would get a good agent! And a good vet. I can recommend both if you want. PM me. And going to Spain is just heaven.

[Hayburner]

Super! Fingers crossed all goes well

[Hayburner]

Finding the right trainer that is familiar with the bred really helps.

[Caol_Ila]

Yeah. The breeder has recommended one local to me, so we’ll start in-hand stuff when she’s settled and ready.

[2tempe]

Congrats. Given you’ve seen the older PRE and have some a trainer recommended, you will be fine.

[Caol_Ila]

Vetting scheduled for Thursday. Yikes!

So many horses I have sat on are stiff and heavy in the bridle. Mine sure was when I bought her over 20 years ago. I spent years and years with different trainers, the good, the bad, and the ugly, backtracking and fixing stuff, but I finally achieved true lightness with her. Never tons and tons of collection, because she is a Shire-TBX and long in the back, but as much as she could manage without injuring herself, but oh, so light and supple! We’d turned another corner last year, and she was even lighter, even suppler, but then at 27, her arthritis got the better of her. I’ve had to retire her from all dressage.

I would prefer avoiding all the backtracking and some horribly wrong turns (could have done without the trainer who put a fairly uneducated seven-year old horse in a double bridle to get her off the forehand – not ideal, but I was 17 at the time, so what did I know?), and ideally, have this horse beautifully light and supple before its 20s.