Andalusian horse

The Andalusian horse is one of the purest breeds of horses in the world today. It is also known as PRE [pura raza Espanole] in most countries because of the work done by the Spanish studbook in promoting the pure bred horses around the world. It is one of the breeds of Iberian horses.

Andalusians have been used for all manner of riding horses, and were the preferred mount of kings over many centuries. They excel in high school dressage and are used in cattle work and bullfighting in their native Spain. They are highly intelligent and learn very quickly.

Partbred Andalusians are popular as sport horses in most countries. They also excel at dressage and are used for showjumping and other equestrian activities.

History of the Breed

Archaeological evidence in the Iberian Peninsula, modern day Spain and Portugal, indicates that the origins of the Iberian Horse date back to at least 25,000 B.C. in the form of its primitive ancestor, the Sorraia. Cave paintings in the Iberian Peninsula dated from around 20,000 B.C. depict portraits of horses and activities related to a horse culture.

The Sorraia remained isolated for several millennia in the southern part of Iberia, the Alentejo and Andalusian regions of modern Portugal and Spain. Noted Portuguese historian Mr. Ruy d'Andrade suggested that by the Neolithic period (4000 B.C.) the native tribes of the area may have used horses in war. Around 3000 B.C., Iberian tribes from North Africa migrated into the peninsula, which would be later named after them.

They were soon to be followed by Phoenician traders and Celts from northern and eastern Europe, who were largely responsible for a two way exchange of horses which brought an influx of oriental breeds from Libya, Egypt and Syria to the Iberian peninsula. By the time of the first trading expeditions of the Greeks, around 900 B.C., a mixed Celtiberian culture dominated all of Spain apart from the south coast, which remained Iberian. According to Lady Sylvia Loch, "It was the horses of the Celtiberian that were to become famous throughout the civilized world.

The Spanish Horses were known for their use as cavalry mounts by the Ancient Greeks and Romans, but were not as popular in the Middle Ages when the use of heavy armor required stronger breeds. In the 15th century, the invention of firearms called for a lighter, and more agile cavalry horse, and the Andalusian's popularity rose.

From this period onward, we find many references to the Iberian or Celtiberian horses and riders of the peninsula by Greek and Roman chroniclers. Homer refers to them in the Iliad around 1,100 B.C. and the celebrated Greek cavalry officer Xenophon had nothing but praise for the gifted Iberian horses and horsemen". Xenophon, in one of his books written about 370 B.C., admiringly describes the equestrian war techniques of Iberian mercenaries who were influential in the victory of Sparta against Athens in the Peloponnesian wars. This type of warfare consisted of individual horse charges with fast starts, stops and pirouettes followed by retreats and renewed attacks. A form of riding that was made possible by the use of incredibly agile horses and curb bits.

Looking further back into the evolution of the horse, we find that the most ancient ancestor of the horse was a small, herbivorous mammal of the genus Eohippus from the Eocene Epoch, having four-toed front feet and three-toed hind feet, which existed fifty million years ago in an area that is now the western United States. Eohippus eventually became modified into what we know as the horse. These horses then migrated from America through the land bridge connecting Alaska and Siberia and entered Asia where they established themselves and from where they disseminated to Europe and Africa. When the Spaniards arrived in the New World however, the horse had been extinct in the American continent for about 8000 years.

During the Renaissance, the great Classical Riding Academies took an interest in the breed. Because of the Andalusian's agilty and natural balance, it excelled in the High School Dressage performed in many courts of the day. The Andalusian went on to develop many other breeds suitable for High School Dressage, including the Lipizzaner, Alter Real, Lusitano, Kladruber, and many European warmbloods of today.

During the 19th century, the use of the Andalusian declined. However, Carthusian monks continued to breed the horse, and preserved the purity. Today, the Spanish government promotes the Andalusian, and the breed is gaining in popularity for High School Dressage demonstrations. They are also popular for bullfighting, and have recently been used for dressage, showjumping, driving and endurance, although Thoroughbred blood is often added to give the breed more scope.

Breed Characteristics

Andalusian horses are found in a number of colours although the most common colour is grey. They are popular in bay and black, however chestnut is not regarded as a legal colour for purebreds in most countries. Roan is also found. They are compact horses, yet very elegant. Their legs are clean, with good bone, and they have a high, round action, which makes them particularily suitable for High School Dressage. They usually have a large head with a convex profile, short cannons, a long, sloping shoulder, and a long, flowing mane and tail. The Andalusian generally stands 15.1-15.3 hh. Template:Commonsde:Andalusier es:Caballo español pl:Koń andaluzyjski