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This blog post was written by Jessica Abrahamse and the photos were provided by her.
Let’s start this story with a little background. I am a jumper, hunter, equestrian and rider in his 40’s with over 30 years experience in the dressage ring. When I was 14 years old I bought a wonderful imported Dutch Warmblood mare with FEI experience up to 145m in Canada. She was my heart horse and an extraordinary talent. I had an amazing trainer at the time who helped me find her through situations that would not have been possible with my budget under normal circumstances. After a few years of success with her in the jumper ring, it was time for me to take her down to easier work and find her next competition horse. problem? My mare was so good that I had a hard time finding one locally that met my standards and wasn’t very expensive (over six figures in Canadian dollars).
After several disappointing trials and failed veterinary exams (cha-ching!), the best course of action for me was to find a young 2 or 3-year-old with no proven show track record. After several years of training, the horse may be able to move up to the upper level jumper ring. This seemed like a risky proposition.
I started asking horse-savvy people in my network about Europe and what they could find on a budget. I was surprised to find out how many well-bred athletic jumpers are available in North America at a fraction of the cost that I was considering. My first step was to be clear about what was the deal breaker, what type of horse I was looking for, its age, height, ability and how much it would cost to import including the worst case scenario. . The summer I did my research, I wasn’t riding with a trainer, so I asked a few trusted friends to watch the videos and get their opinions instead. This was the fifth horse I would buy in my life, but the concept of buying one myself was new to me. As an amateur who had always been under the guidance of a trainer, I was a little scared about making this kind of big decision, but I also felt empowered by trusting my intuition and judgment. I was looking forward to being able to choose a horse based on my feelings and connection with the horse.
My vet supported my journey to find a horse and took dozens of x-rays. This was an important part of the process of deciding which horses to try, and I quickly learned that North American standards were different from European standards. Several horses were quickly eliminated. Another difficulty was that although I was able to find a horse that I liked and the x-ray results were good, it was sold before I could come and try it. This happened to me a few times, so the next time I found a horse I liked and the X-ray results were good, I put down a small deposit of 1000 euros to keep him until I came to try him out. This turned out to be an expensive lesson. When I tried the horse, it was smaller than advertised and didn’t fit me at all. The owner did not refund my deposit.
Finally, in September 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I made plans, booked a flight, and began my quest to find a new horse. What’s remarkable is how different watching a horse on video is compared to trying one out in person. real life. There were several horses that I wanted to buy to save me the hassle of traveling abroad, but when I tried them on, some horses had cut legs, others were too sharp for me, and some had spooks. , there were also horses that were sharp. Bolt, several horses bulged to one side. This is information that cannot be quantified unless you actually try the horse. It’s no exaggeration to say that European riding styles are different, and most horses won’t adapt to the North American style right away, so it’s important to find a horse that can adapt.
Nearing the end of my previous failed trips, I decided to try 11 trips.th Horse. He was a last minute addition since Private Farms wasn’t near any other farms I tried, but something about his ad struck a chord with me. He had very big, kind eyes. . I parked at the ranch and met the horse’s owner, an 18-year-old boy. He was a man who trained horses himself. The horse was a beautiful dark gelding, like a statue with a star on it. He was tall, 17.2h, and a bit strong-looking. His owner rode him first, and I was immediately fascinated by the amount of movement and canter gait he had. He got over some jumps, but it was clear that 1 meter was easy for him. This horse raced to 1.20 meters and was aiming even higher.
When I tried riding it, it had just the right sensitivity and was very easy to ride. I got over a few jumps and was hooked right away. He forgave my amateur tip and didn’t miss a beat. he was perfect I finally found a horse! His name was exactly Hope.
I went through the importation process for Hope and he finally returned to Canada. It took some time for him to settle down and find the right program, but we had a great partnership and have now owned him for his 2 years and are happy we found each other. I can truly say that. I wouldn’t say I bought the horse completely on my own, as I relied on the opinions of close friends and my veterinarian, but the final decision was my own and I am happy with my decision.
Taking this journey on my own has taught me to believe in my abilities as a rider, the judgment and horsemanship that I have put into this sport over the years, and to believe in the connection I have with the horse by taking chances when I feel like it. It taught me something irreplaceable. that. The idea of what a trainer’s role is in the horse buying process for amateurs has changed. I think of trainers as conduits for finding horses and weeding out unsuitable horses, but their role is not to direct or control the process, but rather to help amateur jockeys do their best based on information. Our goal is to provide you with the experience and knowledge to help you make decisions. Amateur jockeys should be able to provide trainers with horses they find interesting and ask trainers for feedback. Transparency regarding commissions and fees should be discussed up front, and the focus should be on finding quality horses for jockeys and adding good horses to the program.
About the author: Jessica Abrahams is a lifelong rider who loves competing in the jumper and dressage rings with her horse Hope. If her car doesn’t smell like a barn and there aren’t random bits of hay stuck in her hair, something is wrong. Outside of horses, she is an avid traveler and she loves exploring different cultures and urban and rural landscapes. She is generally an animal lover and lives with her husband, a shepherd, a bobel, and a supporter of her horse lifestyle. You can follow her on FB her or her Instagram @european_equestrian_ experience.
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