Andalusian
Origin
Spain
History
For 300 years up to the end of the 18th century, in the pattern of equine development, the influence oh the Andalusian, officially known as the Purebred Spanish Horse was extremely pervasive, and such was the prepotency of “the world´s most noble horse” that this influence persists today.
So widespread was the use of this horse that it became known by many different names, resulting in a good deal of confusion. The Andalusian is represented by the names Iberian Saddle Horse, Iberian War Horse, Jennet, Ginete, Lusitano, Alter Real, Carthusian, Spanish Horse, Portuguese, Peninsular, Castilian, Extremeno, Villanos, Zapata and Zamoranos.
Invasion by the Arabs brought fresh infusions of Oriental blood to the already renowned horses of Andalusia. Prior to the Muslim invasion, however, the Iberian Peninsula had been invaded and occupied by many others, and the indigenous horses of Spain and Portugal had already received infusions of hot eastern blood as well as cold northern blood.
The native or indigenous Iberian Horse was the ancient Equus Stenonius, still represented by a small remnant of the Sorraia breed.. It was one of the types of original horse believed to have inhabited Spain in prehistoric times.
Infusions at various times of European and Oriental blood influenced the native horses of Spain, and the Andalusian developed. The addition of Berber blood produced the horse breed: the Andalusian. Every army desired it. The fist Andalusians recorded in England were two black chargers ridden by William the Conqueror at Hastings. The Andalusian was the weapon of the Reconquest against the Arabs and of the conquistadores against the Incas; the prized amount of El Cid and of Pizarro; the charger of the Christian armies of the Danube when confronting the Turks.
The first real error in its breeding seems to have come during the reign of King Philip III. In 1600 slow-moving, huge Norman, Danish, Flemish, and Neapolitan stallions were brought to the royal stud and were crossed with the light, agile Spanish mares. The result was that the Andalusians lost their speed and refinement, gaining muscle and slow, lethargic movements. Fortunately, a few individuals continued to breed the classic horse and the bloodlines were preserved. The most important remaining center of breeding was the Carthusian monastery of Jerez de la Frontera, founded in 1476.
But it was in the hands of the bull owners that the Andalusian earned its reputation as the greatest stock-working animal in the equine world.
Andalusian horse breeding is still centered in the province of Andalusia in southern Spain and particularly around Jerez de la Frontera. In fact, although other countries still use the name Andalusian, the” Spanish Breeders Association” stopped using it in 1912 and replaced it with Pura Raza Espanola, meaning “the pure Spanish breed”.
Description
- Head:
finely sculptured with subconvex profile; short, active ears; vivacious eyes with a quiet and kind expression - Conformation:
-elegant,arched neck
-strong,well-defined withers
-well-sloped shoulders
-sloping back
-wide, well-developed chest
-rounded quarters with low tail-set-strong legs with broad joints
-well formed, strong hoof - Average heigt:
15.1 to 15.3 h.h. - Colours:
grey is the predominant colour today, with chestnut next, then bay - Temperament:
highly courageous and spirited, uniformly gentle and docile - Today:
they are still used in the bullring, and are particularly suited to the Haute École, although their high, round action is not much appreciated in modern competitive dressage.
