Buy Lusitano

Lusitano for sale: Buying and selling Lusitano

There’s a particular feeling you get the first time you sit on a good Lusitano – that combination of power, balance, and willingness that makes you think, “Oh, this is different.” This Portuguese breed has been shaped for centuries for war, bullfighting, and classical dressage, and you can still feel that heritage every time they step under the rider and offer to carry themselves.

Originating on the Iberian Peninsula, Lusitano horses were bred to be quick, brave, and extremely rideable. Compact but athletic, they typically have a strong, well-set neck, a short back, a powerful hindquarter, and an expressive, mobile back. You’ll see a lot of greys, but bays, chestnuts, and palominos are also common. In modern sport, you’ll find Lusitanos in dressage, working equitation, driving, and even as reliable pleasure and trail partners. Their natural ability for collection, sit, and lateral work is a big reason they’re so sought after in the dressage and working equitation markets.

What sets the Lusitano apart in today’s marketplace is their combination of brain and body. They tend to be sensitive, intelligent horses that like to work with the rider, but they’re not usually dull or “push button.” When you see a Lusitano for sale, you’re often looking at more than just a competition horse; you’re looking at a partner that can progress in training, turn heads in the arena, and still hack out quietly on a loose rein if correctly produced. That versatility is a big part of their appeal for both amateur and professional riders.

Buying Lusitano - what you need to know

When you’re buying a Lusitano, start by looking at the same fundamentals you’d look for in any performance horse: straight, correct legs; a well-set neck; a strong loin connection; and a hindquarter that looks capable of carrying weight, not just pushing forward. Because Lusitanos excel in collected work, pay attention to the croup and lumbosacral area – you want a strong, well-muscled top line and a hind leg that naturally steps under the body. Temperament-wise, you’re looking for a horse that is alert and sensitive but not explosive, one that recovers quickly from surprises and shows curiosity rather than panic.

When you go to try a Lusitano, ask to see it in all the situations you care about: tacked up, in the stable, being mounted, and if possible, out of the arena. Many are very well schooled in the sandbox but less experienced outside. For less experienced riders, I usually recommend looking for a Lusitano that has been produced by an amateur or at least ridden regularly by different riders, not just a professional. An educated, competition-ready Lusitano with solid dressage basics will often fall in the €25,000–€60,000 range in Europe, with elite FEI horses or top bloodlines going well into six figures. Youngstock with basic handling might start around €4,000–€8,000 depending on pedigree and movement, while older, safe, lower-level horses for leisure riding can often be found from €8,000–€20,000.

Always ask sellers for registration papers (APSL or recognized studbook), breeding information, and a clear training history: who has trained the horse, what level of work it is schooling, and whether it has competition results. Lusitanos can sometimes mask discomfort because they’re so keen to please, so a thorough pre-purchase exam is important. I like to see detailed flexions, back palpation, and good imaging of hocks and stifles, especially on horses already working in collection. Be cautious of horses that are “very hot but will calm down with work,” or those that are constantly ridden in strong bits to “control the power.” Also be wary of sales videos that show only highly collected work with no basic walk-trot-canter on a soft contact; you want to see relaxation and swing, not just tricks. Take your time, ride the horse more than once if you can, and remember: a slightly plainer mover with a generous brain is often a far better purchase than the flashiest trot in the barn.

Everything about selling Lusitano

On the selling side, most Lusitano horses on the market come from a mix of stud farms, professional trainers, and private owners who have imported or bred their own horses. If you’re selling, your first job is to present a clear, honest picture. Buyers of Lusitano horses are increasingly educated; they will ask for registration papers, DNA verification where applicable, vet records, and proof of show results. Have all of that organized before you advertise. A Lusitano that is consistent in its work, with clean basic gaits, soft contact, and at least solid lateral work and transitions, will always be easier to sell than one that only knows piaffe and passage in a double bridle.

Pricing a Lusitano for sale depends heavily on age, rideability, and type. Young, well-bred colts and fillies from recognized lines may sell in the €6,000–€15,000 range. A nicely started 4–6-year-old with correct basics and amateur-friendly temperament can justify €15,000–€35,000 depending on movement and pedigree. Horses competing successfully at Small Tour and above, particularly with clean X-rays and an amateur-friendly ride, often move into the €50,000–€120,000 bracket or higher. Stallions with approved breeding status and attractive bloodlines can command premiums, but only if they are manageable and well trained under saddle; a difficult stallion is far harder to place, no matter how impressive the pedigree.

In terms of where to sell, online platforms, social media, and specialized Lusitano or Iberian horse marketplaces have become the main shop window, especially for international buyers from the USA, UK, and northern Europe. Good videos are crucial: show the Lusitano being handled on the ground, working in all three gaits on both reins, and, if relevant, hacking out or working equitation obstacles. Most buyers expect transparency about any veterinary findings, so if you have recent X-rays, say so. The best time to list tends to be early spring through late summer, when riders are planning their competition and training season; however, serious buyers look year-round. Before advertising, tune up manners, ensure the horse loads, stands for the farrier, and is rideable in a simple bit. Present your Lusitano realistically: highlight the genuine strengths—rideability, comfort, trainability—without overselling, and you’ll attract buyers who are a good match and more likely to give your horse a long-term home.