Andalusian horses are one of the few breeds that come from the Iberian Peninsula. Those horses are so valued, that for many years exporting horses out of Spain without government approval was punishable by death. They were present in every prince’s court and gained the nickname “equine aristocracy”. In ancient times, they were worshiped as messengers of the god of wind - Zephyr.
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Andalusian horses – history of the breed
Andalusian horses, nowadays known as Pura Raza Española (PRE), are the most renowned horses of the Iberian Peninsula. Today they are spread throughout the whole of Europe. The name of the breed comes from an area in southwestern Spain – Andalusia.
Andalusian horses are hot-blooded, also known as Iberian horses, and descend from Sorraia horses – today this breed is kept only in small numbers in Portugal. Andalusian horses also have some oriental genetics in their DNA; however, their full heritage is not known. There are three theories:
- The breed descends from mixing local horses with Barb and Arabian horses that were brought to Spain by Moors in the 8th century.
- The breed descends from 2000 Nubian mares that were brought to Spain by Carthaginian leader Hasdrubal.
- The ancestor of Andalusian horses might have been Equus Ibericus, which also started the Barb breed.
Which of these theories is correct? It’s still yet to be discovered.
For Spaniards Andalusian horses were so valuable, that transporting them out of the country was punishable by death. The best-bred horses came from monasteries in the southern part of the country. The purity of the breeding was overlooked by Carthusian monks – who were the greatest admirers of Andalusian horses.
In the beginning, Andalusians were used in wars as heavy knight horses. In the 16th century, they started to appear on prince’s courts, where they were thought to be horse aristocracy. Soon after, the breed was used in high schools of dressage (Spanish riding schools), which created dressage discipline as we know it now.
Andalusian horses helped to create some other well-known breeds: Lipizzan, Neapolitanian, Fresian, Frederiksborger, and Kladruber horses.
The studbook for this breed was created in 1912 giving it the name “Pura Raza Española”, which simply means Spanish pure breed. Today, Andalusians are mostly bred in the south of Spain and stables in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Seville, and Cordoba.
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Andalusian horses – anatomy and characteristics
Andalusians have a typical silhouette of Iberian horses – medium height, muscular and compact body. Their heads are slim and elegant with a straight or slightly convex profile. Whereas their necks are muscular and highly set. Their croup is also extremely muscular, their shoulders are sloped, and their backs are short with a well-defined topline. Their forelimbs are slim, often very delicate with a deeper heel. The coat is short, shiny, smooth, and quite thin with visible muscles and veins. Their mane is also very impressive – long, thick, slightly wavy, sometimes curly – and looks ever more elegant in magnificent hairstyles.
Another characteristic trait of this breed is big eyes and ears, which makes them look very intelligent and focused.
Height: 155-162 cm
Weight: around 400 kg
Coat colors: mostly grey (also with dapples) but other colors such as bay, palomino, and black also occur.
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Andalusian – Iberian horse – usage
Andalusians were models for baroque horses, which were often presented in paintings from that era. Strong, with extravagant movements, noble posture, and high jumping skills, Andalusian horses were used in corridas and official parades during Spanish national holidays.
For years valued for their endurance as a battle horses, Andalusians were great assets during wars. Patient, emotionally balanced, and friendly Andalusian horses can be great in recreational riding. Their impressive and fluid movements with elevated front limbs are appreciated in carriage driving, and above all in dressage. This breed, however, is not known for its speed.
This breed for centuries has been trained in Spanish riding schools, where they are schooled in classical dressage, carriage driving, and Doma Vaquera (the original Spanish working riding style – used during traditional parades and processions). The most renowned riding school in Spain lies in Jerez de la Frontera, where the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is located in. This stable also trains breeders of Andalusians in their care, and training, but also in genetics and breeding.
What’s interesting is that Andalusian horses appear quite frequently in fantasy movies and movies about ancient times (e.g., Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, and Chronicles of Narnia).
Andalusian horses – price
The price for grown Andalusian horses starts from 30 thousand PLN and reaches up to 50 thousand USD. The price depends on the horse’s pedigree, age, and level of training. Andalusian horses are one of the most desirable breeds in the world today.
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Summary
Andalusians are one of the most desirable horses in the world – because of their athleticism, elegant movements, endurance, and docile character. This breed has been part of the culture for centuries, not only in Spain – as a court and parade horse, an integral part of Spanish riding schools – but also in the cultural history of Europe. For centuries, Andalusian horses have been an inspiration for artists and appeared in many paintings and sculptures to delight audiences with their elegant and noble posture.
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