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This summer, a friend, a trainer, and I traveled to Germany and the Netherlands with an agent to see dressage horses. After getting ready for the trip and preparing for the trip itself (visiting 20 stables and riding his 28 horses), the fun part came. What happens after you find the horse you want?
make a decision
I planned to see the horses for five days, but I scheduled days to revisit the horses I really liked and days to inspect them if I found a good fit. . Our Dutch agent, Norbert Gierling of Giering Dressage Horses, advised us to choose two or he said three horses, as sometimes vetting the first choice just doesn’t work out. .
By day 3 I had a top 2 and by the end of the week I decided to set up a second ride at my first choice (I’m glad I did, there were others in line behind me!) . Not only were my top two horses smooth and bouncy, but I felt connected to them. I know a little about breeding, but my friend and Norbert were more knowledgeable, so we talked about horse pedigrees that I liked and how they could help with my goals, etc. . I looked critically at the videos of these horses and tried to see if what I felt could be observed in the videos (interestingly, the videos seemed to match what I felt with some of the horses). (and it was really fun to ride those horses). However, he was the only one to receive recognition. It’s like “I’m home”).
I rode 28 truly wonderful and talented horses ranging in age from 4 to 12 years old. But the two horses that made it to the top of my list were more than just talented. They were kind, smooth and made me feel at ease. I felt at home when riding them. After riding her a second time in the car I originally chose, this time in an outdoor arena, I went outside to see how she would react to traffic, but she didn’t . We set up her PPE. We all met at a wonderful veterinary hospital and I ended up participating in PPE. The vet there took me an x-ray and sent it to his home vet. Both men agreed that the 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Noah (Furstenbor-Wabora, Crack C) was a great horse, and a deal was signed.
come to a nearby farm
Because I chose a mare, I knew it would take me longer to get a new horse than if I had bought a gelding. This is because breeding livestock (mares and stallions) must go through a stricter quarantine process. We decided to have her stay in the same barn in Holland until all her blood work was completed. During that time, Norbert gave me all kinds of updates, including her diet, her work schedule, and pictures of the hami she was used to. more.
After quarantining locally, he was scheduled to fly from Amsterdam to New York. At Norbert’s suggestion, I contacted the ladies at Horseflight.com to make sure my mare was well taken care of and to keep her informed about how she was doing on her flight to the US and subsequent quarantine here. I signed the document. they were great. When my mare finished her quarantine in the Netherlands and headed to the United States, she updated me with photos almost every day about how she was doing.
I also consulted with the insurance company. I wanted to make sure my horse was insured not only after landing, but also during the trip. Horses want to make our lives interesting, right? My mare is no exception. She cut her left rear coronet band when she landed in the United States. Her wound wasn’t too bad (she didn’t need stitches), but we decided to keep her safe and give her an antibiotic shot. She unfortunately had to wait nearly two more weeks to get her blood tests done as her antibiotics can be a masking agent, making her isolation period almost twice as long as normal. Ta.
And the long-awaited match began in earnest.
It felt like an eternity since I had the opportunity to sit this wonderful horse, and I had been waiting agonizingly for permission to arrange a move to the barn. Once she finished her quarantine, I used her Equine Express to ship her to my farm. Her travels were easy and she quickly adapted to her new life.
Take-out
My horse shopping trip was a success for several reasons. First of all, riding these wonderful horses for a short period of time with the trainer’s attention was like attending his week-long clinic for my friend and Norbert. I started working on my position, my contact, my “presence” with 28 different horses and came back a better jockey than when I started. My friend, her trainer, and I all valued Norbert’s insight so much that we invited him to our clinic in Dallas in early December. (I also attended and had a nice drive there with my new partner.)
Second, my trip to Europe was amazingly cost-effective. I don’t live in California or Florida, the horse racing capitals of the United States, so traveling to see horses domestically is time-consuming and expensive, especially when you include the cost of bringing a trainer with you. But thanks to Norbert’s research and connections, he was able to see more than 20 horses in less than five days, and the rental car and fuel cost far less than a plane ticket. Even after paying for the flight, I was ahead of the curve.
Third, my “team” (my friend, her trainer, and Norbert) provided a support network that made my trip smooth and successful. I was lucky with my choice of agents, teammates and horses. If you’re an amateur and want to take a trip like this, find a team that makes you feel supported, do your pre-trip preparation diligently, and enjoy your trip.
I prepared to go to Europe to look for horses and had a great experience. I found the most amazing horse for me that met all my criteria including being within my budget. Thanks to my team, family and Norbert, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and my new partner.
Recommended checklist for a successful shopping experience
Preparation before traveling
- Find your team: friends, trainers, agents
- Establish mandatory standards and more flexible settings.
- consider timing
- Check your passport, adapter, etc.
- Purchase tickets/accommodation (and possibly car rental)
- Pack your clothes inside your boot/helmet bag in case your luggage gets lost
- find what you like
- Create a master sheet for keeping your horse straight
- Communicate clearly and often with your agent/team
travel suggestions
- Ride as you like at home (with/without spurs, snaffle/double, etc.)
- Stay hydrated
- Take proper notes/record a video
- Keep the criteria in mind when examining the video/notes.
- Have your top two or three horses available in case one horse doesn’t get as much scrutiny as you’d like.
- Recognize that mares/stalles will take longer to quarantine
- Please be sure to purchase insurance before shipping your horse.
Rebecca Rickley, 63, is a retired professor of rhetoric and technical communication at Texas Tech University and currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has been riding horses since she was nine years old, but she took her first lesson when she was 45 years old. When she finally decided to follow her dream and “do” eventing, she was living in Lubbock, Texas, and there were no eventing coaches 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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