Alter-Real
Origin
Portugal
History
The Alter-Real , based upon 300 Andalusian mares imported from around Jerez de la Frontera in spain, was first bred at the royal Vila de Portel stud in 1748 located in the small town of Alter do Chao, in the Portuguese province of Alentejo. This area is noted for its mineral-rich soils and for the high nutrient content of the grazing. The purpose of the stud was to provide the royal stables at Lisbon with horses that were suitable for classical equitation, a pursuit followed with enthusiasm by King Dom José I, as well as with quality carriage horses for court purposes. Soil , grazing conditions and the close proximity of Spain´s Andalusian breeding centers were advantageous to the raising of top class stock, and for many years the stud produced a particularly fine stamp of horse. Alter and its horses were also famous because of the association with Portugal´s most reknown Master of Horse, the Marquis of Marialva (1713-1799).
Between 1804 and 1814, where the Peninsular War took place, the stud suffered, much of the stock being dispersed by French troops. In 1834, the stud was closed by royal decree. Afterwards, the attempts were made to resuscitate the Alter, unfortunately with ill-advised crossbreeding experiments such as Hanoverian, Norman and English blood and the introduction of massive Arabian infusions was particularly disastrous. That the breed survives is due to the reintroduction of the Andalusian blood toward the end of the 19th century. At that time recourse was had to mares of the purest Andalusian strain, the Zapateros bred by the Zapata family.
After the end of the Portuguese monarchy at the beginning of the 20th century, the stud and the Alter breed would have disappeared entirely had it not been for the active intervention of Portugal´s greatest equestrian authority, Dr. Ruy d´Andrade, who managed to save two stallions and a few mares. In 1932, he was able to turn a small but thriving herd over to the Ministry of Agriculture, and today, though small, the Alter stud thrives and remains a significant part of the country´s cultural heritage.
Description
- Head:
in profile, it is typical of the Iberian horses - Conformation:
-neck, muscular and fairly short and in movement, naturally high carriage
-chest, particularly wide and deep
-croup, sloping characteristically toward a low-set tail
-powerful and well-positioned hock joints with an articulation being exemplary
-the action is extravagant, with notable knee flexion - Average height:
15.1 to 16.1 h.h. - Colour:
the principal and accepted colours of the Alter breed are bay or brown - Today:
the Alter horses are trained to perform High School work. They are preserved in the performances given by the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art.
