PRE horses

[Covidwedding123]

Hello, I’ve seen Andalusians/Lustos advertised quite a lot recently. Has anyone had any experience with this breed ?

What you pay for a green 6 year old just out of interest ? I saw one advertised for 10k, is this the going rate ?

Also, is it better value to import? I’ve heard vetting on the continent can be a bit iffy because vets aren’t regulated as highly as they are here and would there be any implications for insurance? Also, with Brexit, is it difficult to import ?

Finally, does anyone know any importers ( the further North of the U.K. the better )?

[Rivergreen]

Have you ridden one before? (I assume you're wanting a ridden horse) They're a bit marmite: you either love or hate them i think. They are beautiful to look at though, but can be difficult to manage (care-wise)

I can't comment on prices, but they do seem to be increasingly fashionable, so I can imagine prices are high. Lockdown has had the same effect of horse prices and puppy prices too unfortunately.

Have a search on the horse and hound forums, there's a few posters on there, and one in particular, with huge experience of Spanish horses

[Covidwedding123]

I haven’t ridden one yet, but I heard really good things. Although I know what you mean.... I’m not a fan of Fresians at all, they look beautiful, but I just don’t like riding them.

I’m not looking seriously yet, just eyeing up the for sale columns and I want a palomino that is an allrounder, but with a focus on dressage. Happy to buy something green ( not a first time owner of a youngster). I also like the look of the quarter horses/QH x, they seem to be versatile and amiable. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve owned a horse and there seem to be a lot more imports now than when I owned before.

Have you ridden a PRE? If yes - how are they ?

[maxelly]

I've ridden one once, a dressage schoolmaster - absolute incredible horses, very intelligent and athletic, powerful, sensitive, beautiful to look at too. Ever since then I've been a bit obsessed with the breed and if I was ever going to have a warmblood (in my dreams) I'd get a PRE over a hanoverian or one of the other north european types anyday. That being said, like all warmbloods, all that power and expression comes with a good dose of sensitivity and sharpness too, I don't think many PREs would be a novice ride, and with them being notably clever I think you'd need to keep them busy as well, I doubt they'd manage well on an hours gentle hacking or plodding around the school a day (not a criticism if that's you, I think that's all most of us are managing right now). Also, another sweeping generalisation, but on the whole they don't jump well although should be capable of popping around a little course, but their main job would usually be dressage or working equitation or similar so if you wanted more of an all rounder a different type might be a better bet...

Re buying and importing, agree with the suggestion to ask on H&H, who knows re horse prices atm, everything is a bit up in the air, £10k seems not unreasonable for a nicely bred 6 year old that's been well started, you'd certainly pay a lot more for a more conventional warmblood or sports horse of the same age. I always heard previously that importing was the way to go with lusos and PRE for choice and value for money, as there aren't many (any?) people that breed or deal in them in the UK, but that you'd def want to hire an experienced person to guide you through the process, someone that speaks the language and knows the local breeders/dealers or you stand a good chance of being ripped off or simply not knowing where to start. Also, bear in mind that Spain and Portugal have different customs and expectations of how they keep and rear their horses, esp youngstock, for instance they usually don't geld the colts until much later/at all, turnout is less of a thing, it's common to break and start them at 3 and sell them on just broken/ridden away at 3 or 4, and some of the handling can seem (or actually be!) quite rough by UK norms. So you need to be confident and experienced in how you'd acclimatize and settle your youngster when s/he arrives in UK as it will be a culture shock for them!

[maxelly]

@Covidwedding123

I haven’t ridden one yet, but I heard really good things. Although I know what you mean.... I’m not a fan of Fresians at all, they look beautiful, but I just don’t like riding them.

I’m not looking seriously yet, just eyeing up the for sale columns and I want a palomino that is an allrounder, but with a focus on dressage. Happy to buy something green ( not a first time owner of a youngster). I also like the look of the quarter horses/QH x, they seem to be versatile and amiable. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve owned a horse and there seem to be a lot more imports now than when I owned before.

Have you ridden a PRE? If yes - how are they ?

See the thing is, all the breeds you mention there are quite unusual in the UK so that would be why you are seeing so many imports - you don't like Freisians which is fair enough (not that many ridden ones in the UK anyway, they're carriage horses properly), QHs obviously an american breed that's never really caught on over here, and PREs are probably too much horse for your average UK amateur rider, german, dutch or French bred warmbloods are far more common/popular with dressage pros than PREs. So if you are fixed on one of these breeds, AND you want a palomino, I think you are going to struggle to find something suitable and are def going to be looking at an import which obviously is going to be a bit of a hassle right now.

If your main aim is a general, easy, fun all rounder with a focus on dressage, is there a reason you've zoned in on those particular breeds? I wouldn't have thought the quarter horse for instance would be particularly suitable for dressage although I'm sure they're lovely horses and obviously at the lower levels pretty much any horse can do well. Have you considered one of the more common European breeds, something like an ISH makes a great all rounder, a UK native pony like a Connemara or Welsh D would be nice (or if you are small/light weight a Fell pony has something of the spanish 'look' and movement but less hot and difficult to keep), or a european warmblood like KWPN, Hanoverian, Oldenburg or similar would be the best for higher level dressage, or perhaps a cross breed with some of the above in the mix would fit the bill and be far far easier to source so you wouldn't be narrowing down your options so much?

[Covidwedding123]

I’m really just browsing and seeing what’s out there tbh.

There is a stud that breed QH/QH x in the U.K. They mostly sell yearlings and colts though, but they have followed many of their horses through to adulthood and many have gone on to be successful in various spheres. There stallion is cremello QH so throws out lots of palominos.

I like the PRE, but ofc I wouldn’t buy without seeing many many.

I say an allrounder, but something capable of BE 90. They don’t have to be the best, but capable.

I like ISH, but I just feel there are so many unsound ones. I mean, I think generally there seems to be A LOT of unsound horses on the market. ( at my current yard anyway) I’m not sure if when a mare becomes unsound they just take a foal and the problem is actually genetic.

Next year when I’m buying the horse will be on full livery and I can pay someone to exercise on the weeks I’m busy at my job, so something that needs a fair bit of exercise is not a deal breaker for me.

[Covidwedding123]

Here is the beautiful QH stallion.

[Delamero]

If you are particularly looking for a palomino look up Gold Horse Stud in Kent. Although they are warmbloods, but she has good young stock.

[lastqueenofscotland]

Agree with the previous poster who said they are a bit like marmite! My mum had one when I was in my early teens (a long time ago now!!) she was stunning but over the top in every way, good and bad!
She was very flashy, with huge paces but also a right drama queen, had a real buck on her and was stupidly spooky to hack alone (and I say this as someone who reschools ex racers who’ve never hacked alone!)
I’d definitely ride one, I like thoroughbreds as I like their more efficient and workmanlike way of going. So a super flashy horse is wasted on me.

With regards to importing its increasingly very difficult and very expensive, I’d definitely not be doing it to buy a horse unseen.

[lastqueenofscotland]

However Juliet Clarke who is a very well renowned dealer has something in that sounds exactly like what you are looking for in colour and type.

[SansaSnark]

I think 10k seems reasonable- you'd probably pay a premium for the colour too.

A PRE wouldn't be my first thought if I wanted something to event at 90. I'm sure plenty would be capable, though!

I'd definitely try to ride a couple first, before committing though!

[Rivergreen]

Hi OP, no I haven't ridden one myself. Although I know someone with one and he sounds very similar to @lastqueenofscotland's. She says you have to ride his mind not his body, and keep him mentally engaged, which means never sloping around chatting on a loose rein. She also has to be very careful of his weight, he is a surprisingly good doer! No idea whether either of these things are breed traits or just him though.

[Feawen]

I have a PRE, he’s a nice horse, but sharp and sensitive.

He struggled to adapt to his new environment and routine in the UK. For most of our first year we had one thing after another, with health niggles, behaviour problems and high anxiety nearly all the time.

I’ve had him for 18 months now and he is finally thriving and settled, and is mostly a pleasure rather than a worry. But don’t underestimate how hard the change can be for imported horses.

My boy certainly wouldn’t be an eventing prospect; he doesn’t cover ground efficiently, isn’t a natural jumper, and nor is he particularly sure footed. I’ve ridden a few other PREs and wouldn’t have pegged any of them as potential eventers to be honest, though some did jump a bit.

I think a palomino PRE who could do BE 90 would be maybe not an impossible find but a rare one.

All that said, they can be lovely horses, and mine has several good points. He’s very brave and forward out hacking without being strong, his paces are good and his flat work is coming along. He’s also incredibly friendly, affectionate and playful in a nice way. He had dramatic paces and a dramatic attitude, which is fun if that’s what you like . He’s very agile and quick physically and mentally.

Their paces are...different...and not everyone likes riding them as much as they think they will, so worth having a sit on a few before you set your heart on one.

[midnightstar66]

I used to work for a well known owner/trainer of Lusitanos. They are very different to your average riding horse. Very trainable but also very easy to train the wrong thing if you don't do it perfectly right and can go very badly wrong. They are extremely sensitive and frequently quirky. If you do get it right they can be amazing but you really need to know what your doing. They are wonderful dressage horses but rarely get placed above the warm blood is etc and they have very different movement and build which isn't usually liked by UK judges.

[Heyha]

If you like PRE and QH and dilute colours you might find something with these guys that you like, I've never dealt with them myself but I follow them on Facebook and the stock they breed does seem to go off and do a variety of 'normal' jobs m.facebook.com/AztecAndalusianStud/

[dugupdeadcat]

I breed QH's and used to own/breed Lusitanos. Lusitanos are very definitely marmite horses as a PP says. I like them, because I like a horse that thinks, but as stated further up thread, they can be very quirky and not everyone gets them.

QH's are a different cup of tea entirely - they're well known for a calm and sane temperament. Having said that, the cutting and reining lines can be quirky and very hot. If you're interested in a QH, it would be worth you speaking to David Deptford at Sovereign Quarter Horses or Lee Rutter at Oakridge, because they both teach and give lessons on school master QH's and they'd be able to advise you properly about the breed as a general all round rider.
Soverign Quarter Horses
Oakridge Quarter Horses

@midnightstar66 sums up Lusitanos very well. If it's the breeder/owner I think she's referring to, again, it would be worth going there to try the breed and have some lessons to see if you like them. Pen Llyn Lusitanos

[Sarahlou63]

I've got a couple of pure Luso's and a couple of X's (Arab/Luso and Hano/Luso) - lovely looking, easy doers and sensible rides as long as you ask nicely rather than insisting!

Anne Langan is a well known breeder of top quality Lusitanos here in Portugal, well worth having a chat with her.

[Sarahlou63]

Oh and BTW, foreign vets are as good or as bad as UK ones...