Dressage star and Horse Deals columnist Spencer Wilton is still searching for his perfect partner after owning his first pony aged 12.
“He was Mr Shandy, a palomino, and I’ve been looking for the perfect palomino ever since” he said, tongue firmly in cheek – “so my ideal would be a palomino Uthopia [Carl Hester’s latest dressage star].”
Spencer’s number one priority in looking for his ideal is surprising – conformation isn’t top of the list.
“It’s important that the horse is self-motivated” he explained, “Horses that don’t have the desire to move are difficult to ride.
“Natural suppleness is essential, as is a willing, helpful temperament, but perfect conformation is difficult to insist on. Many top horses don’t have amazing conformation, but they can work with their bodies to produce the goods anyway.”
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