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This summer I spent a week in Europe, specifically the Netherlands and Germany, shopping with horse agents. In four and a half days, we visited 20 barns and rode 28 horses. I was able to find the perfect horse for me within my budget and with very little effort.
The next three articles will describe my (very successful) experience, starting with the pre-trip preparation, the actual day-to-day schedule of the trip, and how I brought home my new equine companion. To do. I hope my story helps other amateurs who are thinking of taking the plunge and buying a horse overseas.
I have been an all-around athlete for the past 20 years, but after two successful knee surgeries, it is probably time to retire and pursue dressage, primarily with fine Irish Sport Horses. I decided not to.That’s when I started Really I take dressage seriously. Reading books and watching videos, a week he took lessons once, often twice, and began going to shows, first local and then rated.
My Irish horse had an uncomfortable ride when he moved to the second level of testing, especially when sitting and trotting. He really wanted to please, but I don’t think he understood why we did so many circles without jumps. My goal was to get a bronze medal for the Self-Defense Forces together, and I (barely) managed to score up to the second level. At 63 years old and nearing retirement from his career as a university professor, he decided he finally had the time to care for two horses. I had been saving up for a “retirement horse” for about 15 years and was excited to find a horse bred for dressage. I was confident that with my long-term savings, I could choose any horse I wanted. Then I started looking.
Why Europe?
Actually, I wanted to buy a horse in America. I wanted to find a schoolmaster, but even an old one that required maintenance was at the upper end of my budget (and was quickly over). I followed various Facebook groups, looked at multiple horse sales sites, and spread my tentacles to friends, but all were either out of my price range or over his $400-$600 for a plane ticket. It was either going to take or not. I went to look at a few horses, but I couldn’t find any that matched. Since I rode on a trainer, I had to buy an extra ticket and also pay a day fee. It turns out that the only thing I can afford is what I already have: an average movement horse that is teaching 3rd level. I live in the middle of the countryside, so the cost of traveling domestically to see these horses was already eating into my savings.
I had a long conversation with my best friend (another eventer turned successful dressage rider) who found a great partner in Europe when he was 3 years old. Five years later, they are showing the fourth level, developing the Prix Saint-Georges and are very competitive. She advised me to do what she had done and hire a European agent to find her next partner. She put me in touch with her, Norbert Gieling, of Gieling Dressage Horses. I was excited because her experience was so positive (well, other than the cold February weather and lost luggage…more on that later). So I contacted Norbert and started a conversation.
What I want…what I really (really) want
We all have stars in our eyes when we think of what we want from riding, but getting there takes time, determination, and hard work. Who hasn’t watched an Olympic athlete and marveled at their smooth, effortless running, lithe, athletic horses that seemed to defy the laws of nature such as gravity? I knew I was starting from a low level, but I hoped I could find a partner who could help me win a bronze medal, and maybe a silver medal, someone who would help me become better, more harmonious, and harmonious. I was there. -Current rider. I’ve owned quite a few horses over the years, from ex-cow horses to his OTTBs and warmbloods. As a senior rider, I have learned that life is too short to waste time on a horse that isn’t right for you, no matter how flashy it is.
I started making a list of criteria when buying a horse and had several conversations with Norbert about what kind of creature would best fit me and my goals.
First and foremost, I wanted to be safe. Now that I’m over 60 and have two new knees, I knew I was a little more fragile than before. Nothing is certain in the equestrian world, but I wanted to avoid risks. So at the top of my list was safety.
I still value talent in both people and horses, but what I really appreciate as I get older is kindness. I wanted my new partner to be kind, have a good heart, and have a forgiving personality. My favorite horse of all time, and the one who has taught me the most about eventing, dressage, and myself, is my soulmate, a traditionally bred Irish sport horse, My His. Shamrock was his Paddy. I learned a lot from all the horses, but “Paddy” was a teacher with a purpose. He was a kind and generous person. My current ISH is similar, so that was #2 on my list. kindness/good heart.
As I worked towards a bronze medal in my current ISH (aptly named Paddy 2.0), I realized that dressage, when done correctly, is a much more physical sport than I had appreciated as an eventer. Sitting the trot well requires tone and control, and I worked to get better at that. Unfortunately, Paddy 2.0 was a bit difficult to sit. My trainer also complained about his rough trot. I’ve ridden other horses that weren’t as hard to sit on, so I knew they were out there, so I decided to include it on my list. smooth walking.
While I was showing the second level, Paddy 2.0 and I were studying the third level. So I was living in flying lead change hell. The funny thing is, we could have made a quick lead change over a jump or pole, but it was taken away from us and we were both clueless. I got a nice change about 30% of the time, but it didn’t seem to get any better. I’ve ridden friends’ horses that could “make” changes, and I was able to get them on trained horses (I’ve never been very good with multiples, though; this includes It requires some math and I’m still working on that skill). But the horse and I had a hard time putting it together.As a result, I have at least green change.
Once you have a list of what you’re looking for (and a few preferences, including both geldings and mares, ages 5-12 years, hand height 16-17.2 hands, no grays, difficult to keep clean) too), we started nailing. In the middle of a journey.
Travel Planning: Find My A-Team
When buying a horse, it’s important to know who you are – who is buying the horse. Really I know you — I come for emotional support, reality checks, and more practical purposes, which I discuss below. I wanted a friend to accompany me. As it turns out, she has been through this process before, and we often served as each other’s cheerleaders in both eventing and dressage. When I had doubts (who am I to go to Europe to look for horses? Am I qualified enough to do that? What if I make the wrong decision? etc.), my friends were reasonable, reassuring and always helped me. See beyond my doubts.
Next, the experience where I act as a kind of “translator” between the horse and me, looking out for good horses, good movements, and potential problems that I can ride before I ride. I wanted someone with. (Side note: most of the riders at these barns are great and make it look easy, even when they aren’t, so I found having someone like this to accompany me was invaluable.) The trainer was unable to leave the barn for an entire week. I asked my trainer friend to come over. She knew me because we had worked together on several shows and I really liked her. And more importantly, I respect her knowledge and skills and she knew my background and what I was looking for.
Finally, I needed an agent. As I mentioned above, my friend achieved great success with Norbert Giering and his son, Jannik. Norbert helps both amateurs and professionals find horses in Europe (mainly the Netherlands and Germany). He is what is called a matchmaker. We make sure every client finds a horse that fits their personality, goals, and budget. Norbert lives part of the time in the Netherlands and part of the time in the United States. He monitors the horses at shows, sales barns, breeding facilities, and hops on over to see what the horses are like if needed. It is explained. He has extensive connections with barns, trainers and breeders and is an excellent horseman with a great eye for quality horses. He has been riding since he was 6 years old and was in a pony club with Stephen Peters, whom he still calls his closest friend. I spoke with Norbert many times before the trip and felt confident that he understood what I wanted and would help me find what I was looking for.
Pre-travel preparation: Self-development
My friend and I had been talking about this trip for over a year, but it wasn’t until I had successful double knee replacement surgery that I thought it was really possible. Just like I prepared for my knee replacement by strengthening my quadriceps and doing pre- and post-op exercises, that made my recovery go smoother and a little faster than normal. I wanted to be physically prepared for this trip.
I read everything I could. I talked to people who had bought horses overseas and started training them to keep them in the best condition possible. I went to the gym twice a week, took a mat Pilates class twice a week, and did yoga once a week. I also rode horses every day. However, my team and I agreed that riding one horse was not enough, so we arranged an “Education for Me” tour.
It started with me trying out some horses I was interested in in America (and one was a good fit) and If it was within my budget, I would have canceled the trip to Europe). All of these horses were really nice, but just not what I wanted.
About a month before the trip, I spent 4 days with a friend, riding her horses (both for lessons and riding), and also for her trainer’s Intermediate 1, Prix Saint-Georges, and Grand Prix horses. rode. I took notes on what I liked and disliked about each horse. I found that I actually enjoyed riding horses with suspension. This is difficult for amateurs. What I was having trouble with was the connection. Because I only rode my own horses, I was used to a certain feel that was a little lighter than what these horses are used to, and it was difficult to achieve a good, stable, springy contact. . Riding her horse helped me get to a place where I could start learning.
Finally, I rode as many of my friends’ horses as I could in my barn. I thought about each horse and what I liked and didn’t like about his seat, connection, and feel.
In the next section, you’ll learn how we prepared last-minute travel details to stay comfortable during the flight, and how we met the grueling challenge of testing 4 to 7 horses on a single flight. I will explain about Taka. (Still keeping everything straight).
Rebecca Rickley is a former professor of rhetoric and technical communication at Texas Tech University and currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has been involved in equestrian since she was 9 years old, but she took her first lesson when she was 45 years old. It was while she was living in Lubbock, Texas that she finally decided to follow her dream and “do” eventing. She didn’t have an eventing coach in the area. She is currently enjoying the new discipline of dressage with a five-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she found in Europe, as well as her loyal Irish Sport Horse Paddy, who along with her predecessor taught her how. I also occasionally jump around on the 2.0. to learn.
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