Looking for a superior dressage prospect AND an Andalusian horse in the same package? Be prepared for sticker shock.

Must you buy an Andalusian in the US?

"I heard they were cheaper in Spain".

Miriam Frenk, internationally renowned sales agent and exporter in Spain says at her website, "Buying horses is a chancy affair even on home ground and therefore purchasing a horse in Spain could prove to be an adventure".

Its true. Buying horses in the USA is difficult enough, imagine going to Spain with the language and culture barrier and trying your luck. If that's what you want to do, then find some help.  You can contact us for a lead on how to get started.

Is It True that You Get What You Pay For?

Sometimes, but not always.

I remember in the early days of my Andalusian horse experience in Texas how I would gasp when I heard what someone had paid for an Americanized horse they bought in California. The person who had paid too much was equally awed when they took a look around and were astounded with the quality and looks of the true typey Andalusians WE were selling. And for half of what they had paid in California. They had spent a fortune on a lousy horse and couldn't even register it in Spain!

Miriam says "The price of a horse often also depends on who is selling and who is buying." In many cases, you get what you pay for. But there's always that seller who is on the lookout for the novice with a big pocketbook. Be careful what you drive when you arrive to go horse shopping :) And always do your research.

Do your research. Do your research. For, "even if you are quite happy with a traditional specimen, with loads of mane and tail, preferably a grey coat and elevated gaits, it would still be advisable to obtain information on the breed, its characteristics and its qualities, before actually deciding on your purchase" says Miriam.

No Duh, research will help prevent you from being "burned" by an unscrupulous seller. Experience, however, is the best prevention and experience can only be gained, not bought. If you don't have an eye for a horse, you could research for years and still buy the wrong horse.

Why are some Andalusian horses more expensive that others?

"Any horse that has been approved for breeding purposes (Apto como Reproductor) by the official Grading Committee [of Spain], will be more valuable than a horse that has not been graded yet let alone one that has been rejected by the "Comisión de Valoración", " Miriam says of the Pure Spanish Horse.

Also, because it is rare to find an Andalusian with the movement for Grand Prix competition, "if an animal shows adequate movement for competition dressage, its price will flare up." You bet ya!

Regarding large lots of "Andalusians" being exported abroad to countries like Germany, France, and Holland, "the true image of the PureBred Spanish Horse, which has been launched abroad under the trade name ""Andalusian"", or the well bred Iberian type horse has been distorted by the export of inferior quality animals."

And buyers go abroad expecting to see cheap prices like those of the cheap horses they've seen advertised. You might not see cheaper prices once you get there. Plus, you've got to add on importation costs. We've not seen that many large loads of cheap horses coming into the USA from Spain, but it did happen once through Mexico.

Now that you've started looking at Andalusian horses, are you surprised by the different looks?

Miriam says, "Andalusian" horse fans, are so much used to seeing a different type of conformation of this breed, that they do not actually appreciate the traditionally correct looks of the antique Spanish Horse." Its true.  

The Spanish horse as it is in Spain can look very different from a domestically bred horse in the great ole' USA.

There is something to be said for tradition.

As for the fully trained horse, "Neither owners nor riders will be easily tempted to part with these animals, which will give a lot of prestige," says Miriam.

You thought the trained horses were expensive? The young ones can also cost as much as a car or down payment on a house.

Many people wonder why young horses can be so expensive. A lot can be explained by basic breeding practices. Breeders put a tremendous amount of time, hard work, and cash into each foal they are responsible for. It is unrealistic for someone shopping for a good quality young horse (with excellent bloodlines and conformation) to expect to find a weanling that costs $1000. Six times that amount just barely covers basic expenses.

Take into account, also, that to actually import a horse would cost thousands upon thousands of dollars. A nice set of three broodmares from Spain could set you back six figures.