Buying For A Dressage Horse In Europe: An Amateur’s Experience
This previous summer months, I used a week in Europe—specifically, the Netherlands and Germany—shopping with an agent for a horse. In four and a 50 % times we visited 20 barns, and I rode 28 horses. I was in a position to come across the excellent horse for me with extremely tiny trouble and inside of my budget.
In the ensuing three content, I’m heading to relate my (extremely effective) knowledge, beginning with my pre-trip preparation, the true working day-to-day program of the journey, and how I brought my new equine husband or wife residence. I hope my story will assistance other amateurs who are wondering about having the plunge to get a horse overseas.
I was an eventer for the earlier 20 a long time, but just after two profitable knee surgical procedures, I made the decision that probably it was time I retire to primarily dressage with my amazing Irish Activity Horse. That is when I started definitely taking dressage significantly: I browse books, viewed movies, took a lesson once—often twice—a week, and I started out going to shows, to start with nearby, then rated.
My Irish horse was an not comfortable experience, in particular at the sitting trot, as we moved into 2nd amount tests. He truly wished to make sure you, even while I really don’t consider he at any time understood why we did so numerous circles with no jumps. My target was to get our USDF bronze medal together, and we received scores up to second stage (hardly). At 63, with retirement from my vocation as a university professor on the horizon, I resolved I last but not least had time for two horses. I’d been saving for about 15 years for a “retirement horse,” so I was enthusiastic to look for for one particular that was intent-bred for dressage. I was confident that I’d have my decide of extravagant horses provided my lengthy-time period personal savings. Then I started off hunting.
Why Europe?
I actually required to acquire a horse in the United States. I hoped to obtain a schoolmaster, but even the older ones with maintenance were being at the really prime of my price range (and went quickly). I followed various Facebook groups, scoured a number of horse sale sites, and put feelers out among the pals, but all the things was possibly out of my value range or was a $400-600 aircraft ticket away. I went to see a several of the horses, but none were being a fantastic match. I took a trainer, which intended purchasing an more aircraft ticket and shelling out a working day fee, too. I discovered that the only factor I could afford was what I presently experienced: an average-transferring horse who was schooling 3rd stage. Because I live in the center of the region, the expense of domestic vacation to see these horses was presently ingesting into my cost savings.
I had a long discussion with a superior buddy (yet another eventer turned thriving dressage rider) who located her wonderful spouse in Europe as a 3-year-outdated. Five a long time later, they are showing fourth stage and schooling Prix St. Georges, and they are quite competitive. She encouraged me to do what she did: employ a European agent to help me discover my next lover. She place me in contact with Norbert Gieling of Gieling Dressage Horses. I was enthusiastic because her expertise had been so favourable (nicely, other than for the chilly February temperature and lost luggage … much more on that in a bit), so I contacted Norbert and commenced a conversation.
What I Want … What I Seriously (Truly) Want
We all have stars in our eyes when we imagine about what we want for our using, but receiving there takes time, determination and tricky operate. Who has not watched Olympic riders and marveled at how fluidly and effortlessly they seem to journey, their horses supple athletes who look to defy purely natural legal guidelines like gravity? I realized I was beginning out at the reduce degrees, but I hoped I could possibly find a husband or wife with whom I could get paid my bronze medal, and potentially my silver medal—one who would support me to come to be a much better, more in-tune and in-the-moment rider. I’d experienced really a several horses in my time, from previous cow horses to OTTBs to warmbloods. I discovered that, as a senior rider, lifetime is much too shorter to spend time on a horse that wasn’t the correct match, no make a difference how fancy it was.
I commenced my record of standards for horse shopping, and I had quite a few conversations with Norbert about what type of creature would mesh very best with me and my objectives.
Initially and foremost, I wished to be protected. Becoming above 60 with two new knees, I understood I was a little bit much more breakable than I could have been before, and whilst almost nothing is positive in the equestrian world, I needed to hedge my bets—so on the top of my list was Safe.
Though I nonetheless value expertise in both folks and horses, as I develop more mature what I truly respect is kindness. I wished my new companion to be form, with a excellent brain and a forgiving nature. My preferred horse of all time, my soulmate who taught me the most about eventing, dressage, and myself, was a usually bred Irish Sport Horse named My Shamrock Paddy. Even though I have uncovered factors from all of my horses, “Paddy” was a purposeful teacher. He was kind and forgiving. My current ISH is as effectively, so that was No. 2 on my record: Sort/Great Intellect.
Though functioning towards my bronze medal on my present-day ISH (correctly named Paddy 2.), I realized that dressage, when accomplished suitable, is a lot extra physical than I’d offered it credit history for as an eventer. Sitting the trot well requires tone and manage, and I was dedicated to getting better at it. Unfortunately, Paddy 2.0 was a bit of a jackhammer to sit. Even my coach complained about his tough trot. I’d ridden other horses who weren’t as challenging to sit, so I understood they have been out there, and I made the decision to involve that on my list: Easy GAITS.
Although showing second degree, Paddy 2. and I have been schooling third, which meant I was living in flying direct alter hell. Funny how I could get a lilting direct change in excess of a leap or a pole, but consider it absent and we equally had been clueless. I obtained thoroughly clean changes about 30% of the time, and it by no means appeared to get any better. I’d ridden a friend’s horse who could “do” modifications, and I was ready to get them on a qualified horse (though I was not so great at multiples—that took counting, a ability I’m continue to functioning on), but my horse and I ended up getting hassle putting it alongside one another. As a final result, I requested that the horses I see had at least a Green Transform.
Once I experienced my record of what I was wanting for (and some choices, which included the two geldings and mares, ages from 5-12, 16 to 17.2 palms large, and no grays—just also hard to retain clean), we commenced nailing down the travel.
Vacation Planning: Uncover My A-Staff
When searching for a horse, it is critical that another person who knows you—who seriously knows you—comes along for ethical assistance, reality checks, and for additional sensible uses I’ll examine below. I realized I wished my mate to accompany me—she’d been by means of this method right before, soon after all, and we’d normally served as every single other’s cheering area in both eventing and dressage. When I had my doubts (Who am I to be likely to Europe to locate a horse? Am I excellent ample to do this? What if I make a negative decision? etc.), my close friend was rational, comforting and regularly served me to see beyond my uncertainties.
Future, I wanted someone with experience—someone with an eye for great horses, fantastic motion and prospective problems—who could experience the horses prior to I received on to serve as a form of “translator” in between the horse and me. (Sidenote: the riders in most of these barns are magnificent, and make it appear simple, even when it is not, so getting somebody like this alongside proved to be priceless.) My coach could not depart her barn for an overall 7 days, so I questioned my friend’s trainer to occur. She knew me, simply because I’d labored with her at several displays, and I genuinely favored her—and, additional importantly, I respected her information and talent, and she was informed of my background and what I was on the lookout for.
Lastly, I needed an agent. As I reported over, my close friend had fantastic achievements with Norbert Gieling and his son, Jannik. Norbert allows amateurs and specialists alike discover horses in Europe (largely in the Netherlands and Germany). He’s what I’d phone a matchmaker: He can make positive that each and every shopper sees horses that go well with their character, goals and price range. Norbert lives part of the time in the Netherlands, and section of the time in the U.S. He retains tabs on horses at demonstrates, sales barns and at breeding services, and if will need be, he’ll hop on to make certain a horse is what it’s explained as. He has a broad set of connections to barns, trainers and breeders, and he’s an excellent horseman with a excellent eye for high-quality horses. He has been using since age 6—and he was in Pony Club with Steffen Peters, who he nonetheless phone calls a close buddy. I spoke with Norbert numerous situations prior to my journey, and I felt self-assured he knew and would enable me to find what I desired.
Pre-Trip Planning: Educating Myself
Even though my close friend and I talked about the journey for above a yr, it was only after I experienced both of those knees changed efficiently that I thought I could truly do it. Just as I prepared for knee substitution by strengthening my quads and performing the publish-operative exercises in advance of medical procedures, which served my restoration go easily and a bit quicker than ordinary, I wanted to get ready myself physically for this journey.
I study every little thing I could I spoke to persons who experienced acquired horses overseas, and commenced working out to make confident I was in the greatest condition achievable. I hit the gym 2 times a week, went to a mat Pilates course twice a 7 days, and did yoga once a week. I also rode my horse just about every day. But my group and I agreed that I would need to have a lot more than just using a single horse, so we organized an “educating my a**” tour.
It commenced with me seeking numerous horses in the U.S. that I was interested in (and had just one been a great fit and inside of my budget, I would have referred to as off the European trip). These horses were all definitely awesome but not rather what I preferred.
About a thirty day period in advance of our vacation, I put in four times with my buddy, riding her horse (each in a lesson and just riding), as very well as using her trainer’s Intermediaire 1, Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix horses. I took notes about what I favored and did not like about each and every horse. It turns out I truly relished riding a horse with suspension—something some amateurs battle with. What I experienced issues with was connection: Riding only my horse, I was utilised to a certain experience, 1 that was a bit lighter than what these horses ended up made use of to, and it was tough for me to obtain a good, constant, elastic get hold of. Driving her horses served me get to the position exactly where I could begin to study.
Last but not least, at my individual barn, I rode as numerous of my friends’ horses as I could. With each and every horse, I assumed about my seat, my relationship, and what I preferred/did not like about the feel.
In the future segment, I’m heading to chat about how we created positive our final-minute journey specifics had been in put to continue to keep us at ease through our flight, and how we had been in a position to fulfill the grueling challenge of hoping 4 to 7 horses a working day (and continue to continue to keep them all straight).
Rebecca Rickly is a retired professor of rhetoric and technological communication at Texas Tech College who now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. When she’s ridden considering that age 9, she only experienced her very first lesson at age 45, when she ultimately made a decision she would follow her desires and “do” eventing whilst residing in Lubbock, Texas, there ended up no eventing coaches in the area. She’s now enjoying her new willpower of dressage with the 5-yr-aged Dutch Warmblood mare she discovered in Europe, as well as popping in excess of the occasional soar on her devoted Irish Activity Horse Paddy 2., who, together with his predecessor, taught her how to find out.
