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History
and Origin of the Breed
 The
Andalusian originated in and gained its name from the
Spanish province of Andalusia. Its ancestors are the
Iberian horses of Spain and Portugal. Less than 60 years
ago, the distinction was made between an Andalusian and
a Lusitano horse. The Spanish now refer to their horses
as Pura Raza Espanola (Pure Spanish Horse or PRE) and
keep their own studbook. In much of the world, this
horse is now referred to as the Andalusian. The
Portuguese horse is called Lusitano, taking its name
from the ancient Roman name for Portugal, Lusitania.
The roots of the Andalusian reach
back to prehistoric times. Cave paintings of horses have
been discovered on the Iberian Peninsula in southern
Spain dating to 20,000 to 30,000 BC. These prehistoric
horses are considered the foundation of the Andalusian.
 Most
experts agree that the breed was sculpted over the
centuries by the various people and cultures who
occupied Spain throughout its long history. Throughout
the centuries, the Iberian horse has been influenced by
the horses brought to the Iberian Peninsula by various
groups like the Celts of France, the Carthaginians from
North Africa, the Romans, various Germanic tribes and
the Moors. By the 15th century, the
Andalusian itself began to influence various other
breeds. Renowned as one of the world's premier war
horses, the ancestors of today's Andalusian played
prominent roles in the service of some of history's
greatest warriors.
Some researchers believe that the
Iberian horse was being ridden perhaps as early as 4,000
- 3,000 BC. When the Phoenicians arrived in Iberia in
2,000 BC and the Greeks in 1,000 BC, the Iberian cavalry
was already a formidable
 foe,
and the Iberian horse was regarded as the war horse
without equal. Homer mentions the Iberian horses in the
Iliad, written about 1,100 BC. The famous Greek
cavalry officer, Xenophon, highly praised the "gifted
Iberian horses" and their role in helping Sparta defeat
the Athenians around 450 BC. Hannibal, in the Second
Punic War (218-201 BC), defeated the invading Romans
several times through the use of the Iberian cavalry.
This military use of the Iberian horse continued
unabated with William the Conqueror ultimately riding an
Iberian horse in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. While
hailed as "the premier war horse," the Iberian horse was
also well known for its trusting and kind disposition.
When heavily armored knights began to
constitute the majority of the armed forces of Europe
the Andalusian was briefly displaced as the most popular
war horse. However, after the introduction of firearms,
the Iberian horse once again became the mount of choice
for royalty and cavalry officers. New means of riding
were introduced, often drawn from the writings of
Xenophon. The Iberian horse was the favorite horse of
the new, rapid and agile mounted armies.
Soon thereafter, the Iberian horse
became the "royal horse
 of
Europe" present at every royal court. Grand riding
academies were formed in countries all across Europe
including Austria, France, Italy and Germany. It was in
these academies where dressage and high school riding
began and flourished. The Iberian horse was the favored
mount of these academies because of its impulsion,
forward motion
 and
catlike agility. The Duke of Newcastle, in 1667, wrote
of the Andalusian, "it is the noblest horse in the
world, the most beautiful that can be. He is of great
spirit and of great courage and docile; hath the
proudest trot and the best action in his trot, the
loftiest gallop, and is the lovingest and gentlest
horse, and fittest of all for a king in his day of
triumph." It was the Andalusian that served as the
foundation for the Lipizzaner of the famed Spanish
Riding School in Vienna. It also played a role in the
development of most of the German warmbloods, Ireland's
Connemara and England's Cleveland Bay, as well as many
breeds developed in the New World like the American
Quarter Horse and Peruvian Paso.
 Today,
the Andalusian horse displays an amazing versatility
that has, in fact, been present for centuries. The
Andalusian's age old attributes of strength,
athleticism, impulsion and kind temperament are still
the fundamental characteristics of the breed. In the
United States, the
 Andalusian
horse competes in dressage, jumping, driving - both
pleasure and competitive, trail, western pleasure and
English pleasure. In addition, it is a parade and
exhibition horse without peer. Of course, we cannot
forget that the Andalusian, with its love of people, is
an absolutely wonderful family horse. In Spain and
Portugal, the Iberian horse displays the ultimate
courage, agility, collection and cunning as it faces the
fierce Iberian bull, both in and out of the
bull-fighting arena. But wherever the Andalusian is
found and whatever the Andalusian does, it displays the
proud, docile temperament for which it has been prized
for millennia.
Breed Characteristics
The Andalusian is strongly built, yet
extremely elegant. The typical Andalusian stands
 15.2
to 16.2 hands. Its head is of medium length, rectangular
and lean, and in profile, is slightly convex or straight
with a
 broad
forehead and well-placed ears. The eyes are large and
kind, alive, oval and placed within an orbital arch. The
neck is reasonably long, broad, yet elegant and
well-crested in stallions. The mane is thick and
abundant. Well-defined withers precede a short back; the
quarters are broad and strong. The croup is rounded and
of medium length. The tail is usually abundant, long,
set low and lies tightly against the body. Approximately
80% of Andalusians are white or some shades of gray, 15%
are bay and less than 5% are black, dun or palomino. In
the early history of the breed all colors were found
including spotted.
The Andalusian possesses a proud but
docile temperament. The Andalusian is sensitive and
particularly intelligent, responsive and cooperative,
learning quickly and easily when treated with respect
and care.
Breed
Organizations
The International Andalusian and
Lusitano Horse Association brings together owners and
breeders with the interested public who wish to know
more about the breed and where an Andalusian can be seen
and purchased. IALHA is the largest Andalusian member
organization in the world with about 1,800 members -
expecting to top 2,000 members by the end of year 2006. IALHA
is dedicated to education, promotion and preservation of
the Andalusian breed. In addition to sponsoring clinics
and sanctioned shows, IALHA publishes a bi-monthly
magazine, the Andalusian, and an annual
Directory and Handbook.
(Article Ref:
International Museum of the Horse, 1999-Andalusian.
Pictures by:
Conquistador Magazine)
For More
Information, Contact Our Local Show Committee:
IALHA
Region One Show Committee
Paula Brand
818-842-9165
Nancy
Nathanson 805-688-8014
Or
Contact the
Main Office:
International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association
101 Carnoustie N. #200
Birmingham, AL 35242
205-995-8900 |
