CHASING A DREAM…. By Leigh Burns

 “Too dream the impossible dream….” As the song says would just about sum up my dream of importing a Spanish stallion from Spain – a pursuit that took in much convincing of immediate ‘parties’ (i.e. husband!), a lot of hard yards saving money for the last 5 years and more than a few sacrifices! Then suddenly, it didn’t seem so impossible after all. 

When the opportunity finally arose after lengthy emails with Spanish horse broker, Miriam Frenk, and a number of videos back and forth, I felt that one stud in particular had what I was looking for in type and movement – Yeguada Ovelar. The stud basically had two lines – Military bred and Carthusian, with the Military lines mostly being by Lotero II, a stallion that seemed to transmit excellent movement. So in August 2007, I stepped out of the maelstrom that is my life, leaving behind my comfort zone, menagerie of animals and my business, and stepped onto a Boeing 747 for Madrid with my mum and young daughter!!!! Exciting?... yes. Heart in mouth???… just a little (for someone who had only ever flown to Melbourne and back!). Travelling 25 hours across the other side of the world with my 3yo child???... interesting. 

Yet we arrived in Spain, sanity intact, a little weary but otherwise looking forward to the experience. Spain, for me, was love at first sight. I immediately took to the culture, the fast driving (yes, VERY fast!!!), the food, the weather and the language, as did my daughter who greeted the porters at the hotel each day with “Buenos Dias” (Good day in Spanish!). Miriam Frenk met us at the airport and literally saw to our every need during our stay. A lady with an exceptional eye for a horse, and an even more exceptional talent for handling the Spanish! 

Tuesday dawned and we were off to Ovelar Stud, while my mum and daughter relaxed, poolside, at the hotel. Mr Ovelar , the owner of the stud collected myself and Miriam at the hotel. A stout, astute and very proud Spaniard, somewhere in his early sixties, he stopped at his property adjacent to the stud to explain in detail how he managed to have a steady supply of first grade lucerne hay year round - his irrigation system was based on a river, a well and a flood valve – old technology but nonetheless, very effective. The head of a successful printing company in Madrid, Miriam explained Mr Ovelar as a man who was constantly doing things, as was the case at the stud farm, where new stable blocks, arenas and work areas were being constructed under his watchful eye. Miriam explained that in 2008, Spanish Team rider Juan Antonio Cobo was going to be based at Yeguada Ovelar, which would be a wonderful bonus for the profile of the stud.

Finally we arrived in the courtyard of Yeguada Ovelar and I saw a number of horses lined up ready for inspection – 1 dark bay and 3 greys, all gleaming and brushed to within an inch of their lives – with grooms at the ready. Miriam explained the rest of the horses to be ridden were in the stable block – more greys and 2 more dark bays. I introduced myself to them all, but immediately took to a big, solid grey with a double mane and a curious nature. He was personable and affectionate, not to mention very beautiful – a classical Spanish horse. 

“Aaaah I can see you have become familiar with ‘Infante”” Miriam said, with a grin.  

The horses for inspection were each run out at liberty in the covered arena, then caught and held for inspection before being saddled and ridden in the indoor school.  

All were at various stages of training from green broken to quite well-schooled. One thing I noticed straight away (after hearing how “they ride horses in Spain with those long curb bits all the time”) was that all the horses were ridden in snaffles, and ridden correctly, according to their levels of education. Miriam explained that it is very hard to get good grooms/riders in Spain to work the horses but that Felipe and Jose were both good with the horses here. Jose, a young rider, was in particular, very kind and gentle in his riding style. 

It was my turn to ride, and Infante, the big grey I had taken to, was the standout. He settled for me almost immediately and worked beautifully. He was comfortable, supple and had excellent movement – there wasn’t much more I could ask for! I rode Infante for a while and I guess there was nothing that could wipe the smile off my face as I reluctantly climbed off him… Mr Ovelar, watching from the sidelines, asked Miriam, with a sly grin, if I’d like Infante “gift-wrapped”! 

We then viewed some of the younger horses at liberty, including a super moving grey, and a lovely black horse. However I felt that Infante had the type and temperament I wanted – very similar to my older stallion Zorro. I told Miriam I would get back to her with my decision the next day. 

Mr Ovelar took us to see the 2yo fillies and older broodmares. He explained that due to the heat the mares spent some of the time indoors and were moved about in ‘shifts’. All were in excellent condition, fat sleek and shiny. He had all his 3yo fillies run out for us in the covered school, and was keen to sell a number of them. Most of them had excellent movement, and were beautiful bodied horses. 

There was a lovely bay and a very nice black filly, both with excellent movement. The bay was a pretty filly of 15.3hh, and her action was just super – lots of elevation but she really covered the ground, and she was an unusual bay, a honey colour bearing some of the markings that would suggest a dun factor. Unfortunately though, my budget did not extend to a mare!!!! 

My husband rang mid morning to tell me of the equine influenza outbreak in Australia and so we made immediate arrangements with Ovelar’s to keep the horse we purchased in training, until we could confirm travel arrangements. 

We finished the day with a tour of the AI station Mr Ovelar had purpose built, with state of the art medical facilities for sick and injured horses – no expense was spared! 

I arrived back at the hotel, to mum and my daughter, later that day, exhausted but exhilarated. Mr Ovelar had invited us back to the stud on Saturday for a Spanish style barbeque and a ride on horseback over the property. I told mum all about Infante and after a lengthy discussion, I had made the decision to buy him. Over a drink with Miriam that night, I told Miriam of my decision, and left her to organise the details of the purchase. 

The following day, we were taken on a guided tour of the country outside Madrid with Miriam and Mr Ovelar’s girlfriend, Carlotti, a stunning 6 foot dark girl. Miriam explained she was a successful model and actress in Spain. We were not surprised as mum and I both said we had not seen such a striking looking person before! However that aside she was a charming, hospitable girl, who was smitten with my daughter. 

We toured Segovia and drove down cobbled streets, past Tuscan style terrace houses, some many centuries old. The Royal Palace was amazing, as was the Aqueductor, a colosseum style wall built centuries ago. Then on to Aranjuez to see the summer Palace and Royal Gardens, some 4 km of splendorous gardens, and lunch – paella, ox sirloins and bread that was superb. It was all I had ever imagined and my camera worked non-stop! 

Mum, I and Halle took a tour into Madrid city that week, and saw some of the well-known sites, museums, parks and buildings. There is so much history its astounding and the Madrilenians were all very friendly, although you had to watch the gypsies and pickpockets. But forewarned is forearmed so we had no trouble.  Saturday dawned and Mr Ovelar once again collected us all from the hotel, with mum and Halle along as well. Unfortunately it decided to rain so a ride over the property was out but he did saddle up the very beautiful Carthusian stallion “Vencejo II”, (three times Champion of the breed at Talavera in his heyday), and took my daughter Halle for a ride around the arena. Often shy with strangers, Halle took to Mr Ovelar like a duck to water, and it was mutual.

They laughed and giggled as old Vencejo cantered around the arena with Halle holding the reins and grinning from ear to ear! The Spanish are exceptionally good with children, very tolerant and affectionate with them. Mum – who has not ridden for 20 years -  also realised a dream after she was given a short riding lesson on Vencejo in the indoor school! 

Miriam and her son, Luis, took us to “Faunia” on the Sunday. It is a very ‘open-plan’ zoo with some little monkeys and prairies dogs running free. Halle was delighted by the prairie dogs which could be hand fed and patted! We saw the seals do their show, and wandered around looking at various animals, including a tour through the ‘rainforest’, complete with fog, humidity, exotic birds and monkeys, which cheekily grabbed your hair as you passed under them.   Luis & Miriam were great company, and we had many laughs and good conversations.  Early the next week, we spent souvenir shopping in various markets and shops, gathering quite a collection of pottery, flamenco dolls, and I couldn’t have left Spain without a visit to the local saddlery, where I bought Infante a new double bridle, a traditional vaquero bridle and a lovely show serretta. The quality of the leather was amazing – soft and supple.

All too soon it was time to leave and I felt a little sad. We had a lovely dinner with Miriam and her son the night before we flew out, and we gave her a gift for all her help and hard work. She truly went above and beyond and made sure our stay was enjoyable and a real experience. She broke the news that Infante had passed all the vet checks and blood testing and I promptly burst into tears as my dream became a reality. 

So, I will leave you all with a thought – I am not a rich person but I am a hard worker and a very determined person…. I believe that if you truly want something badly enough it WILL happen!!!!!!

       Yeguada Verdadero - Andalusians