Five things to consider when buying a dressage horse

With interest in dressage at an all time high, an increasing number of riders are looking to buy a ‘dressage horse’ and who better to ask about the priorities than dressage ‘icon’ Richard Davison FBHS, whose eye for a horse is matched by his ability as a successful international rider and highly respected trainer of both horses and riders. He offers this advice…..

1. Try to list your priorities. You have to face the fact that you cannot have everything in one horse and you must compromise on some things. Getting the order of your priorities and compromise right can be critical.
2. Be realistic and honest about your own capabilities, ambitions, available time, facilities and experience. The younger the horse or the greater the challenge, the more you will need regular access to a trainer who can hop on your new purchase and maintain its current standards. Don't expect one horse to take you from zero to hero, because it doesn't work like that in real life. If you are ambitious, then have a five year and 10 year goal and plan your horses into that to help upgrade your skills.
You also have to budget realistically - do not look at your purchase as an investment; the inland revenue doesn’t, so why should you! On the whole, horses do not increase in value (it is only a small percentage that do) so plan for the worst case scenario, including the value you will get if you come to re-sell - when he'll be older and maybe even have lost his competition form. Keep your own horse as your hobby and make your living from your work. After all if you play golf you don't expect to sell your clubs for more than you paid and the same applies to your horse.
3. Buy from a reputable seller and check out your rights in case you need to return the horse. Obtain a written description of the horse; the advert helps but more detailed information on the horse's background and suitability to match your list of 'needs' is important. Always keep communication open between yourself and the vendor long after you have purchased the horse. If you need to return the horse then be honest as to the reasons. Do not try to run down the horse, or blame the vendor if it is really your riding that has deteriorated, or your circumstances that have changed - maybe you do not have as much time as you had originally hoped in order to manage the horse's needs. It is definitely in your best interest to try and avoid accusing the vendor if it is not genuinely his fault, contrary to what some advisors might lead you to believe! If you want to avoid a lengthy, costly and stressful few years then be honest and work together with the vendor to find a solution, but always keep paper trails to help clarity and reduce misunderstanding and conflict.
4. Especially if you are not experienced, tell the vendor as much information as possible about yourself and what your goals are for the kind of horse you are looking to buy. Again confirm this by email to ensure clarity. Buying horses is all about suitability for the rider and purpose; it is not a one size fits all. So many purchasers get carried away with the excitement of it all. They start out sensibly by looking for a mature horse that has seen the sights and sounds and will offer the rider confidence. But then they spot the flashy looking black four year old stallion that they simply can't resist. The trouble is that without the handling skills, turnout facilities, time and back up team, it is not realistic and is hardly ever a success. Like all things there are exceptions, but do not be comforted by them; instead try to narrow down the 'risk' factor and stick to your plan.
5. Always take an experienced trainer or rider with you. Offer to pay them for their opinion as to the horse's suitability as it will be money well spent. Ensure there are a wide range of trial facilities available and if not, ask for the horse to be transported to a more suitable venue. Don't just try the horse in the indoor school, but ask them to ride the horse outdoors - in a field, down the lane etc. before you do the same (never get on a horse, or challenge a horse you don't know first - make the vendor provide a rider to do that). Spot any spooky stuff lying around and see what the horse’s reaction is to it. Test out if the horse is relaxed being ridden and kept on his own. Try the horse at least twice and take as much video as you can so it helps when you are reviewing everything later at home. Ask to see old videos of the horse in different environments, such as at shows or training sessions and of course, check out his record and do some research with previous owners.

I'm sure you wanted me to tell you the most important quality is this gait or that gait, or this type of movement and so one But it’s down to the needs and goals of the individual rider. The only thing in common that we are all looking for, be that in a weekend dressage horse or Olympic star, is temperament. Sure, the higher up the scale you go, then the range of physical talent becomes more critical but, if you ain't got a horse who tries for you and enjoys his job, then it doesn't matter how beautiful he is, or flashy, because it won't be a happy time. So go for temperament every time - and that’s the hard bit to assess!

Good luck and take your time. Remember, they are easy to buy and difficult to sell.

Allerton Park Estates Chooses Suregrow

One of the last northern one day events at Allerton Park enjoyed pleasant autumn weather and fabulous grass cover added to the obvious enjoyment of horses and riders.
Having applied Suregrow Fertiliser this year to the Estate's land used for the one day event, the estate office confirmed "the grass had never looked as good", a comment echoed by competitors throughout the busy weekend.
The land used for the event will be grazed by sheep during the winter months and Suregrow's slow release nutrients have ensured a dense sward of grass that has grown steadily and will provide good quality wintering.