Testimonials

Hi Dawn,

Apologies for not writing a review sooner – there is always so much going on around here!

But here goes.  Please feel free to edit this.

Back in 2024, I owned two horses – my very old Danish Warmblood dressage horse and my superstar Dutch Warmblood dressage horse.  Physically, my circumstances had changed and I could no longer compete my superstar at the high level we had achieved and so he went out on permanent loan to my trainer, who took him up to Inter 11.

Meanwhile, I had always said that my last horse would be a Spanish boy, having started my dressage journey with Lucero 20 years ago.  With that in mind, I had started to do my research and found many a site with extremely expensive horses that were way out of my reach.   Last time I bought a Spanish boy, things were not quite as simple as this time.

I came across Dawn West at Andalusian Horse Direct. At the same time time, my lovely husband gave me some money to buy my little Spaniard – out of the blue!  Well.  No stopping me then.

I contacted Dawn and gave her my budget, which had to include everything and told her what I was looking for – 15.1-2, grey with black mane and tail preferably, or possibly black, within my budget it needed to be young, but preferably already backed.  A tall order.

Dawn was fantastic.  She put together videos of horses that she thought would be suitable, also keeping in mind that I was experienced enough to bring on a youngster.  I organised a flight out to Malaga on the Thursday, dragging my sister along for company. I was also under orders not to ride as I had just got my arm out of a six week sling the day before!

We were picked up at the airpor, all part of the organisation, t and taken off into the wonderful countryside to visit the horses that I had picked out from the videos, that I wanted to see.  Jan, the chap who picked us up,  was very knowledgeable and helpful in answering all the questions I was asking.  First day – about 8 horses to see – not all of them on my list, but the owner thought I might be interested in other horses he had on site – all way too big or too young.  A big 3 year old 16.2 bay was really not on my list, but I felt I had to be polite and have a quick look!

So back to the hotel with one very nice possible in mind, although he was only 3.

The next morning Leah picked us up and we whizzed off to see a little black horse that had taken my eye on the videos.  Another that I had wanted to look at had been sold, so just one visit on Friday.  Thats all that was needed.  Everything about this little black horse, at 5, but very green, seemed to tick my boxes.  Confirmation, feet, attitude, calm, happy.  Leah rode him for me and I asked specifically for the comfort of the sitting trot.  Just watching I could see what I needed to see and she confirmed that it was a typical Spanish horse stride pattern and very easy and comfortable to sit.

A few glasses of wine and chatting through what we had seen, that evening with my sister, made my mind up.  This little PRE was coming home.

Dawn then took over all the necessary details – vetting was sorted and I have all the x rays taken and the videos of the vetting.  The transport was all sorted for me.  A lady who could organise insurance whilst the horse was in Spain was recommended to me, which I took up as you can’t get insurance in the UK for a horse that is in Spain.  They will insure the horse once it is on the transport though. The payment system was all very easy and receipts and all the paperwork were very very efficient. Dawn also sent me a very informative new arrival information document which helped a lot to get him settled into his new life with me in UK.

The transporters were very good and sent pictures every day of the horses on the lorry and  in their layerage stables and updates on the travel.  I did have visions of how on earth they would back the 40 ton transporter down our lane on delivery of my horse, but they arrive in the UK and put the horses in 3.5 ton lorries to be dispatched over the UK to their final destinations – phew.

The lady driving the small box kept in touch with me and arrived within the half hour that she said she would.  And this travel weary horse

walked into his stable, totally confused!  She had all his paperwork with her and handed it over to me.  Then getting in touch with BASHP to register him in the UK was up to me. That was Ok, but not so smooth!!

He has walked into my heart and a year on he has made huge strides and adapted to life in the UK, hacking, puddles and mud,  and learnt so much.  He has filled the space that my two warmbloods left, with the old boy(who also taught him respect and how to behave!) departing us in June.There is no rush for him to do anything amazing, but he keeps suprising me with his ability to learn new things.  Yes, he does have his funny quirks, but which ‘new to you’ horse doesnt? Just working through them and building his confidence makes him the horse he is.

Keeping Dawn up to date with what we are up to, is, I hope, a bit of fun for her – it just proves she can find the right horse for the right person.

Thank you Dawn for finding me such a sweet heart and making the whole excercise so simple.

I can only recommend the whole process that she organised very highly.  

Sue