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

The Andalusian possibly traces back to the ancient steppe horses of Turkmenistan. Others believe they developed from Prezwalski's horse (the Asiatic horse) and were refined years later by breedings with Arabianss and Barbss when the Iberian peninsula was invaded in the 8th century.

The Spanish Horses were known for their use as cavalry mounts by the Ancient Greeks, 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.

It was during this time that Colombus sailed west to the New World (where horses had been extinct for thousands of years), taking Spanish stock with him. These Spanish horses became the foundation stock for many American breeds, including the Criollo, Paso Fino, Mustang, and Appaloosa.

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 preformed 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.

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