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BUYER'S GUIDE
Why Buy a PRE Horse? --Beauty The PRE Horse has been bred and prized for centuries for its unique beauty. The characteristic features of the PRE Horse--the high-set neck and proud head, the short back and rounded croup, the refined leg and luxurious mane and tail--have defined the standard for equine beauty since the Renaissance. --Temperament The PRE Horse is unmatched in its intelligence, trainability, and sensibility. --Athleticism Modern breeding standards have improved the strength of the back and hindquarters of the PRE Horse resulting in more ground-covering gaits and forward movement, while keeping the breed’s trademark high-stepping expression and aptitude for collection. --Rarity The PRE Horse is the world’s newest developing sport horse breed. Demand for well-bred and well-trained PREs exceeds the supply in the US as well as in Spain. Why Buy a PRE Horse from Hampton Green Farm? --Proven Sires in World-Class Competition HGF selects for breeding only those stallions who have proven themselves in dressage competition as well as in the morphology circuits, as HGF believes that the mentality and ability to do upper level work are inherited. In the past three years alone, HGF sires and offspring have taken first or have been in the ribbons in over 25 CDI classes in the US and Europe, 3 HGF horses have placed in the top five in National Dressage Championships in both the United States and Spain, including achieving National Grand Prix Champion of Spain in 2011. Most recently HGF sire Grandioso was appointed to the Olympic Dressage Team for Spain, finishing 29th of 50 in London 2012. --Modern Movement HGF horses embody the most sought-after traits of the modern Dressage horse—natural roundness conveyed by a ground-covering rhythmic trot with suspension, freedom of the shoulder with knee action in front, and a quick hind leg to match; a canter that is supported by a powerful hind-quarters with flexibility of the croup and a natural propensity to carry the weight underneath the body; a clear four-beat walk with moderate over-stride. The trademark style of movement historically associated with Iberian horses has now become desired by FEI-level riders and pursued by warmblood breeders . --Ideal Environment for Young Horses All HGF young horses are kept in herds and live outside in large pastures for the majority of the year, exposed to all the conditions of the outdoor life. They are handled and started by our experienced staff, who do not introduce stress or isolation into the young horses’ experiences. As a result, HGF horses are confident, social and sensible. --Clientele--HGF is the PRE breeder of choice for Olympians Martin Schaudt, Robert Dover, Courtney King-Dye, Jose Daniel Martin Dockx and Lendon Gray. The majority of HGF buyers are professional dressage riders. How to Evaluate a Young Horse: 1. Look for 3 good gaits. 2. Keep in mind that size is not as important as quality and scope of movement. 3. Evaluate the young horse’s temperament, in the context of the situation. 4. Look for a conformation that will assist your riding goals, or that will best represents the breed standards. 5. Judge the young horse for overall Harmony—of conformation, temperament and movement. 6. Consider the qualities of the parents, view siblings and training sessions with sires if possible. 7. Consider the age of the young horse and its state of development. Scope, strength, suspension and balance improve as the horse reaches physical maturity—6 or 7 years old in the PRE breed.
"Andalusians Three Day Eventing?"
by: Eric Smith (Reprinted from ) When I was asked to write an article on why Andalusians would make good event horses, I had to reflect on our decision to event our mare, Carina HGF. Although the Andalusian is often thought of as a dressage horse, many of the qualities that are sought after in dressage, such as intelligence, athleticism and temperament, are the same qualities that have helped our mare succeed in eventing. We acquired Carina HGF from Kim Boyer at Hampton Green Farm in Michigan. Her intent was to keep Carina as her own mount until we persuaded her to sell her to us as a performance horse and possible breeding companion to our stallion, Decoroso HGF. Although the Andalusian is not typically known for jumping, we saw Carina’s athleticism as a three year old and Cindy suspected, given her twenty two year background in eventing that she would excel over fences. Carina’s dressage training started immediately upon her arrival in California. Twice she scored in excess of 75% in training level test in her first year of showing. Six months later we started showing her over fences. She first showed in the hunter ring and then dabbled in show jumping. She proved to be a brave and careful jumper. Carina competed in her first combined event at a schooling show in January and finished second by less than a point in a field of thirty two. Last weekend, Carina took the lead on day one in dressage with a score of 76.5% and never relinquished it, as she went double clear in both stadium and cross country jumping for a first place finish in the beginner novice division at the USEA sanctioned Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials. At any level of eventing, a three day horse trial is extremely stressful– both for the horse, and the rider. Even if your dressage is spectacular on day one, the specter that you could have a refusal on cross country on day two or have a rail down in stadium jumping on day three is always present and foremost on your mind. Since scoring is cumulative over three days, there is as much pressure on the leader to keep the lead as there is on the rest of the field to move into the lead. Carina’s temperament, focus and determination are some of the attributes that are well suited for eventing. In the high octane world of eventing—a world dominated by thoroughbreds and warmbloods– we are often complimented on the bold and confident nature of our horse. We are counting on Carina’s athleticism, focus and determination as we move up to Novice level later this Spring. Wish us luck! For more information, contact Pedro Nadales at 011-34-617-39-25-93 or yeguadanadales@gmail.com or contact Hampton Green Farm.