Sensibility is the Trademark of the PRE

Most important, Boyer stresses, is the disposition of the PRE and its trainability. “At HGF, we breed for both professionals and amateurs, and we have identified lines that best suit either category. However, the trademark of this breed is its sensibility, its love for the rider and for the work, and its gentleness. We are obligated to continue that tradition here in the US as we craft the breed into the kind of athlete that our sport requires.” photo: Susan Sexton

Boyer keeps all these traits in mind when she selects mares for her stallions. All of her mares are approved for breeding by the Cria Caballar in Spain and pass along the unique beauty of the PRE breed to their foals. The mares and babies stay year-round at the breeding facility located in Fruitport Michigan. Here the young horses grow up in enormous pastures and stay in herds until three years old. This year, they are expecting another seven foals by early July, a number of whom were sold in utero. The demand for the PRE is very high in Europe (Germany was the number one exporter of horses from Spain in 2006), and with the Euro at its present rate, domestic breeders are experiencing a new surge of interest from American dressage riders.

Last year was a milestone for the breeding program at HGF. German Olympian Martin Schaudt purchased two weanling colts from them, sons of Idilio and Grandioso, sires who competed this past winter in Wellington. Boyer sees this as a sign that the breed has achieved the recognition it deserves in the international world of dressage, and is promising a bright future. “I am excited to see what Americans will do with these horses. I hope that HGF will someday be seen as a foundation breeding farm for a horse that will impact our dressage community and help to continue its winning traditions.”

For more information, please contact Hampton Green Farm at www.hamptongreenfarm.com.