Our Aim

The trauma of buying dressage horses! What am I paying for? Under which circumstances have the horses grown up and been educated? How have they been handled? Are they correctly produced with dressage in mind or pushed to appear well built with big extensions? Has the full medical history been disclosed? Will it be necessary to give the horses substantial time off to "recover" before trying to re-educate them?

How many horses have you sat on (at any level), carrying themselves with diligence and active hind quarters maintaining rhythm, suppleness and impulsion? We are proud to offer horses for sale of very high quality, gently and correctly produced for dressage by established dressage Tour riders (ridden mainly by them, not just under their supervision). Any able rider buying our horses will later be able to continue the training of a beautifully educated horse at home. That is what you pay for when you buy one of our horses.

We are very proud to have started a close relationship with one of the British Dressage Team riders which we hope will develop in to a successful partnership for both of us.

Our Aim is to produce the type of modern dressage horses favoured by International riders and trainers. These horses must have correct conformation, excellent gaits and good temperament. They must work naturally forward, carrying themselves with diligence and active hind quarters maintaining rhythm, suppleness and impulsion. We do not necessarily look for exuberant paces as youngsters but we certainly wish to see great future potential. Neither do we try to produce show and/or riding class type young horses. Our young horses will always be given the care and time we believe each horse needs to later develop to his or her full potential. When the time is right, these horses are backed and trained by very good riders. It is important that our horses are impressive at a later stage, not necessarily so when they are still growing.

We try to engage our heads, not our hearts when choosing which horses to use for breeding. The horses from Hannover have produced more Grand Prix dressage horses than any other studbook. We have found that their knowledge and long history of rigorous studbook requirements are invaluable.

We are extremely fortunate over the years to have been able to acquire Hanoverian broodmares in Germany with the outstanding proven damline qualities we were looking for. The stallions we chose for our mares are most carefully selected. Recorded success with the damlines is ready available and very useful. Proven or potential international Grand Prix stallions are given preferential consideration.

Our young horses and broodmares are happy and relaxed living outdoors in herds, all year round, in large hilly grass fields, handled and looked after in the fields and are regularly brought in and handled using halters and ropes. They are not only used to but appreciate human contact. They have rugs on when required and are given individual hard-feed as well as year-round access to grass and quality hay/haylage.

Light basic handling training in the schooling arena starts at the age of three. Over-exited colts may get a few careful lunge lessons earlier to focus their attention. Further light training in hand in bridle including long-reining will thereafter take place. Careful backing and basic early riding thereafter.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank particularly Natalie Hobday and Jonny Hilberath for their support over many years. Our approved stallion Don Bubano was established on the International CDI *** Dressage Tour with both Natalie and Jonny (Grand Prix included) when sold to the UK. Our St.Pr. Florentina was actively competing on the Small Tour when she was moved to Mette Assouline at Assouline Dressage in Essex and later sold to a UK buyer.

We would also like to thank Mette & Michel Assouline at Assouline Dressage, Colne Engaine, Essex for their friendship and support. Horses left with them for training have developed the qualities prospective buyers are looking for. Their ability to find buyers for the horses in training with them is excellent. Michel's is of course the chef d'équipe of the highly successful British disabled dressage team. Both Michel & Mette are established GP competitors. Their head groom Jess Thompson is an accomplished rider and competitor. We can most warmly recommend Assouline Dressage for the training and sale of quality dressage horses.

We also wish to thank Christian Heinrich, Harbergen for helping us to locate the horses we were looking for to start our breeding program all those years ago. See http://www.christianheinrich.com