Andalusian horse

TheAndalusian, also known as thePure Spanish HorseorPRE(pura raza española), is ahorse breedfrom theIberian Peninsula, where its ancestors have lived for thousands of years. The Andalusian has been recognized as a distinct breed since the 15th century, and itsconformationhas changed very little over the centuries. Throughout its history, it has been known for its prowess as awar horse, and was prized by the nobility. The breed was used as a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government, and kings across Europe rode and owned Spanish horses. During the 19th century, warfare, disease andcrossbreedingreduced herd numbers dramatically, and despite some recovery in the late 19th century, the trend continued into the early 20th century. Exports of Andalusians from Spain were restricted until the 1960s, but the breed has since spread throughout the world, despite their low population. In 2010, there were more than 185,000 registered Andalusians worldwide.
Strongly built, and compact yet elegant, Andalusians have long, thick manes and tails. Their most commoncoat colorisgray, although they can be found in many other colors. They are known for their intelligence, sensitivity and docility. A sub-strain within the breed known as the Carthusian, is considered by breeders to be the purest strain of Andalusian, though there is no genetic evidence for this claim. The strain is still considered separate from the main breed however, and is preferred by breeders because buyers pay more for horses of Carthusian bloodlines. There are several competingregistrieskeeping records of horses designated as Andalusian or PRE, but they differ on their definition of the Andalusian and PRE, the purity of various strains of the breed, and the legalities ofstud bookownership. At least one lawsuit is in progress as of 2011, to determine the ownership of the Spanish PRE stud book.
The Andalusian is closely related to theLusitanoof Portugal, and has been used to develop many other breeds, especially in Europe and the Americas.Breedswith Andalusian ancestry include many of thewarmbloodsin Europe as well aswestern hemispherebreeds such as theAzteca. Over its centuries of development, the Andalusian breed has been selected for athleticism and stamina. The horses were originally used forclassical dressage,driving,bullfighting, and asstock horses. Modern Andalusians are used for manyequestrianactivities, includingdressage,show jumpingand driving. The breed is also used extensively in movies, especially historical pictures and fantasy epics.
Andalusiansstallionsandgeldingsaverage15.1⁄2hands(61.5 inches, 156 cm) at thewithersand 512 kilograms (1,129 lb) in weight;maresaverage15⁄2hands(60.5 inches, 154 cm) and 412 kilograms (908 lb).The Spanish government has set the minimum height for registration in Spain at 15.0hands(60 inches, 152 cm) for males and 14.3hands(59 inches, 150 cm) for mares – this standard is followed by the Association of Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders of Spain (Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballo de Pura Raza Españolaor ANCCE) and the Andalusian Horse Association of Australasia. The Spanish legislation also requires that in order for animals to be approved as either "qualified" or "élite" breeding stock, stallions must stand at least 15.1hands(61 inches, 155 cm) and mares at least15⁄4hands(60.25 inches, 153 cm).
Andalusian horses are elegant and strongly built with a straight or slightly convex profile.Ultra convex and concave profiles are discouraged in the breed, and are penalized in breed shows.Necks are long and broad, running to well-definedwithersand a massive chest. They have a short back and broad, strong hindquarters with a well-roundedcroup. The breed tends to have clean legs, with no propensity for blemishes or injuries, and energeticgaits. The mane and tail are thick and long, but the legs do not have excessfeathering. Andalusians tend to be docile, while remaining intelligent and sensitive. When treated with respect they are quick to learn, responsive, and cooperative.
There are two additional characteristics unique to the Carthusian strain, believed to trace back to the strain'sfoundation stallionEsclavo. The first is warts under the tail, a trait which Esclavo passed to his offspring, and a trait which some breeders felt was necessary to prove that a horse was a member of the Esclavo bloodline. The second characteristic is the occasional presence of "horns", which are frontalbosses, possibly inherited from Asian ancestors. The physical descriptions of the bosses vary, ranging fromcalcium-like deposits at thetempleto small horn-like protuberances near or behind the ear. However, these "horns" are not considered proof of Esclavo descent, unlike the tail warts.
In the past, mostcoat colorswere found, including spotted patterns.Today most Andalusians are gray or bay; in the US, around 80 percent of all Andalusians aregray. Of the remaining horses, approximately 15 percent arebayand 5 percent areblack,dunorpalominoorchestnut.Other colors, such asbuckskin,pearl, andcremello, are rare, but are recognized as allowed colors by registries for the breed.
In the early history of the breed, certainwhite markingsandwhorlswere considered to be indicators of character and good or bad luck.Horses with white socks on their feet were considered to have good or bad luck, depending on the leg or legs marked. A horse with no white markings at all was considered to be ill-tempered and vice-ridden, while certain facial markings were considered representative of honesty, loyalty and endurance.Similarly, hair whorls in various places were considered to show good or bad luck, with the most unlucky being in places where the horse could not see them – for example the temples, cheek, shoulder or heart. Two whorls near the root of the tail were considered a sign of courage and good luck.
The movement of Andalusian horses is extended, elevated, cadenced and harmonious, with a balance of roundness and forward movement. Poor elevation, irregular tempo, and excessive winging (sideways movement of the legs from the knee down) are discouraged by breed registry standards. Andalusians are known for their agility and their ability to learn difficult moves quickly, such as advancedcollectionand turns on the haunches.A 2001 study compared thekinematiccharacteristics of Andalusian, Arabian andAnglo-Arabianhorses while moving at thetrot. Andalusians were found to overtrack less (the degree to which the hind foot lands ahead of the front hoof print) but also exhibit greater flexing of both fore and hind joints, movement consistent with the more elevated way ofgoingtypically found in this breed. The authors of the study theorized that these characteristics of the breed's trot may contribute to their success as a riding and dressage horse.
A 2008 study found that Andalusians experienceischaemic(reduced blood flow) diseases of thesmall intestineat a rate significantly higher than other breeds; andstallionshad higher numbers ofinguinal hernias, with risk for occurrence 30 times greater than other breeds. At the same time, they also showed a lower incidence oflarge intestinalobstruction. In the course of the study, Andalusians also showed the highest risk oflaminitisas amedical complicationrelated to the intestinal issues.
The Andalusian horse is descended from theIberian horsesof Spain and Portugal, and derives its name from its place of origin, the Spanish region ofAndalusia.Cave paintings show that horses have been present on theIberian Peninsulaas far back as 20,000 to 30,000 BCE. Although Portuguese historian Ruy d'Andrade hypothesized that the ancientSorraiabreed was an ancestor of the Southern Iberian breeds, including the Andalusian,genetic studies usingmitochondrial DNAshow that the Sorraia is part of agenetic clusterthat is largely separated from most Iberian breeds.
Throughout history, the Iberian breeds have been influenced by many different peoples and cultures who occupied Spain, including theCelts, theCarthaginians, theRomans, variousGermanic tribesand theArabs. The Iberian horse was identified as a talentedwar horseas early as 450 BCE.Mitochondrial DNAstudies of the modern Andalusian horse of theIberian PeninsulaandBarbhorse ofNorth Africapresent convincing evidence that both breeds crossed theStrait of Gibraltarand were used for breeding with each other, influencing one another's bloodlines.Thus, the Andalusian may have been the first European "warmblood", a mixture of heavy European and lighterOriental horses.Some of the earliest writtenpedigreesin recorded European history were kept byCarthusianmonks,beginning in the 13th century. Because they could read and write, and were thus able to maintain careful records,monasticswere given the responsibility for horse breeding by certain members of the nobility, particularly in Spain.Andalusianstud farmsfor breeding were formed in the late 15th century in Carthusian monasteries inJerez,SevilleandCazalla.
The Carthusians bred powerful, weight-bearing horses in Andalusia for theCrown of Castile, using the finestSpanish Jennetsasfoundation bloodstock.These horses were a blend of Jennet andwarmbloodbreeding, taller and more powerfully built than the original Jennet.By the 15th century, the Andalusian had become a distinct breed, and was being used to influence the development of other breeds. They were also noted for their use ascavalryhorses.Even though in the 16th and 17th centuries Spanish horses had not reached the final form of the modern Andalusian,by 1667William Cavendish, theDuke of Newcastle, called the Spanish horse of Andalusia the "princes" of the horse world, and reported that they were "unnervingly intelligent".The Iberian horse became known as the "royal horse of Europe" and was seen at many royal courts and riding academies, including those in Austria, Italy, France and Germany.By the 16th century, during the reigns ofCharles V(1500–1558) andPhillip II(1556–1581), Spanish horses were considered the finest in the world.Even in Spain, quality horses were owned mainly by the wealthy.During the 16th century, inflation and an increased demand for harness and cavalry horses drove the price of horses extremely high. The always expensive Andalusian became even more so, and it was often impossible to find a member of the breed to purchase at any price.
Spanish horses also were spread widely as a tool of diplomacy by the government of Spain, which granted both horses and export rights to favored citizens and to other royalty.As early as the 15th century, the Spanish horse was widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean, and was known in northern European countries, despite being less common and more expensive there.As time went on, kings from across Europe, including every French monarch fromFrancis ItoLouis XVI, had equestrianportraitscreated showing themselves riding Spanish-type horses.The kings of France, includingLouis XIIIandLouis XIV, especially preferred the Spanish horse; the head groom toHenri IV, Salomon de la Broue, said in 1600, "Comparing the best horses, I give the Spanish horse first place for its perfection, because it is the most beautiful, noble, graceful and courageous".War horses from Spain and Portugal began to be introduced to England in the 12th century, and importation continued through the 15th century. In the 16th century,Henry VIIIreceived gifts of Spanish horses from Charles V,Ferdinand II of Aragonand theDuke of Savoyand others when he wedKatherine of Aragon.  He also purchased additional war and riding horses through agents in Spain.By 1576, Spanish horses made up one third of British royal studs atMalmesburyandTutbury.The Spanish horse peaked in popularity in Great Britain during the 17th century, when horses were freely imported from Spain and exchanged as gifts between royal families. With the introduction of theThoroughbred, interest in the Spanish horse faded after the mid-18th century, although they remained popular through the early 19th century.TheConquistadorsof the 16th century rode Spanish horses, particularly animals from Andalusia, and the modern Andalusian descended from similar bloodstock.By 1500, Spanish horses were established in studs onSanto Domingo, and Spanish horses made their way into the ancestry of many breeds founded in North and South America. Many Spanish explorers from the 16th century on brought Spanish horses with them for use as war horses and later as breeding stock.By 1642, the Spanish horse had spread toMoldavia, to the stables ofTransylvanianprinceGeorge Rákóczi.
Despite their ancient history, all living Andalusians trace to a small number of horses bred by religious orders in the 18th and 19th centuries. An influx ofheavy horseblood beginning in the 16th century, resulted in the dilution of many of the bloodlines; only those protected by selective breeding remained intact to become the modern Andalusian.During the 19th century, the Andalusian breed was threatened because many horses were stolen or requisitioned in wartime, including theWar of the Oranges, thePeninsular Warand the threeCarlist Wars.Napoleon's invading army also stole many horses. One herd of Andalusians was hidden from the invaders however, and subsequently used to renew the breed.In 1822, breeders began to addNormanblood into Spanish bloodlines, as well as further infusions ofArabianblood. This was partially because increasing mechanization and changing needs within the military called for horses with more speed in cavalry charges as well as horses with more bulk for pulling gun carriages.In 1832, an epidemic seriously affected Spain's horse population, from which only one small herd survived in a stud at the monastery inCartuja.During the 19th and early 20th centuries, European breeders, especially the Germans, changed from an emphasis on Andalusian andNeapolitanhorses (an emphasis that had been in place since the decline ofchivalry), to an emphasis on the breeding ofThoroughbredsandwarmbloods, further depleting the stock of Andalusians.Despite this change in focus, Andalusian breeding slowly recovered, and in 1869, the Seville Horse Fair (originally begun by the Romans), played host to between ten and twelve thousand Spanish horses.In the early 20th century, Spanish horse breeding began to focus on other breeds, particularlydraft breeds, Arabians, Thoroughbreds and crosses between these breeds, as well as crosses between these breeds and the Andalusian. The purebred Andalusian was not viewed favorably by breeders or the military, and their numbers decreased significantly.
Andalusians only began to be exported from Spain in 1962.The first Andalusians were imported into Australia in 1971, and in 1973 the Andalusian Horse Association of Australasia was formed for the registration of these Andalusians and their offspring. Strict quarantine guidelines prohibited the importation of new Andalusian blood to Australia for many years, but since 1999, regulations have been relaxed and more than half a dozen new horses have been imported.Bloodines in the United States also rely on imported stock, and all American Andalusians can be traced directly to the stud books in Portugal and Spain. There are around 8,500 animals in the United States, where the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) registers around 700 new purebred foals every year. These numbers indicate that the Andalusian is a relatively rare breed in the United States.In 2003, there were 75,389 horses registered in the stud book, and they constituted almost 66 percent of the horses in Spain. Breed numbers have been increasing during the 21st century.At the end of 2010, a total of 185,926pura raza españolahorses were recorded in the database of the Spanish Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, y Medio Rural y Marino. Of these, 28,801 or about 15% were in other countries of the world; of those in Spain, 65,371 or about 42% were in Andalusia.
The Carthusian Andalusian orCartujanois generally considered the purest Andalusian strain, and has one of the oldest recorded pedigree lines in the world.The pure sub-type is rare, as only around 12 percent of the Andalusian horses registered between the founding of the stud book in the 19th century and 1998 were considered Carthusians. They made up only 3.6 percent of the overall breeding stock, but 14.2 percent of the stallions used for breeding. In the past, Carthusians were given preference in breeding, leading to a large proportion of the Andalusian population claiming ancestry from a small number of horses and possibly limiting the breed'sgenetic variability. A 2005 study compared thegenetic distancebetween Carthusian and non-Carthusian horses. They calculated aFixation index(FST) based on genealogical information and concluded that the distinction between the two is not supported by genetic evidence. However, there are slight physical differences; Carthusians have more "oriental" or concave head shapes and are more often gray in color, while non-Carthusians tend toward convex profiles and more often exhibit other coat colors such as bay.
The Carthusian line was established in the early 18th century when two Spanish brothers, Andrés and Diego Zamora, purchased astallionnamed El Soldado and bred him to twomares.The mares were descended from mares purchased by the Spanish king and placed atAranjuez, one of the oldest horse breeding farms in Spain.One of the offspring of El Soldado, a dark graycoltnamed Esclavo, became the foundation sire of the Carthusian line. One group of mares sired by Esclavo in about 1736 were given to a group of Carthusian monks to settle a debt. Other animals of these bloodlines were absorbed into the main Andalusian breed; the stock given to the monks was bred into a special line, known as Zamoranos. Throughout the following centuries, the Zamoranos bloodlines were guarded by the Carthusian monks, to the point of defying royal orders to introduce outside blood from theNeapolitan horseand central European breeds.They did, however, introduceArabianandBarbblood to improve the strain.The original stock of Carthusians was greatly depleted during thePeninsular Wars, and the strain might have become extinct if not for the efforts of the Zapata family.Today, the Carthusian strain is raised in state-ownedstud farmsaroundJerez de la Frontera,BadajozandCórdoba,and also by several private families. Carthusian horses continue to be in demand in Spain, and buyers pay high prices for members of the strain.
Spain's worldwide military activities between the 14th and 17th centuries called for large numbers of horses, more than could be supplied by native Spanish mares. Spanish custom also called for mounted troops to ridestallions, nevermaresorgeldings. Due to these factors, Spanish stallions were crossed with local mares in many countries, adding Spanish bloodlines wherever they went, especially to other European breeds.
Because of the influence of the laterHabsburgfamilies, who ruled in both Spain and other nations of Europe, the Andalusian wascrossbredwith horses of Central Europe and theLow Countriesand thus was closely related to many breeds that developed, including theNeapolitan horse,Groningen,LipizzanerandKladruber.Spanish horses have been used extensively in classical dressage in Germany since the 16th century. They thus influenced many German breeds, including theHanoverian,Holstein,East FriesianandOldenburg.Dutch breeds such as theFriesianandGelderlandalso contain significant Spanish blood, as do Danish breeds such as theFrederiksborgandKnabstrupper.
Andalusians were a significant influence on the creation of theAlter Real, a strain of theLusitano,and theAzteca, a Mexican breed created by crossing the Andalusian withAmerican Quarter HorseandCriollobloodlines.The Spanish jennet ancestors of the Andalusian also developed theColonial Spanish Horsein America, which became the foundation bloodstock for many North and South American breeds.The Andalusian has also been used to create breeds more recently, with breed associations for both theWarlander(an Andalusian/Friesian cross) and theSpanish-Norman(an Andalusian/Percheroncross) being established in the 1990s.
Until modern times, horse breeds throughout Europe were known primarily by the name of the region where they were bred.Thus the original term "Andalusian" simply described the horses of distinct quality that came fromAndalusiain Spain.Similarly, theLusitano, a Portuguese horse very similar to the Andalusian, takes its name from the ancient Roman province ofLusitania,now part of western Spain and most of Portugal.
The Andalusian horse has been known historically as the Iberian Saddle Horse, Iberian War Horse, Spanish Horse, Portuguese, Peninsular, Extremeño, Villanos, Zapata, Zamoranos, Castilian,andJennet.The Portuguese name refers to what is now the Lusitano, while the Peninsular, Iberian Saddle Horse and Iberian War Horse names refer to horses from the Iberian Peninsula as a whole. The Extremeño name refers to Spanish horses from theExtremaduraprovince of Spain and the Zapata or Zapatero name to horses that come from the Zapata family stud. The Villano name has occasionally been applied to modern Andalusians, but originally referred to heavy, crossbred horses from the mountains north ofJaen.The Carthusian horse, also known as the Carthusian-Andalusian and the Cartujano, is a sub-type of the Andalusian, rather than a distinct breed in itself.A common nickname for the Andalusian is the "Horse of Kings".Some sources state that the Andalusian and the Lusitano are genetically the same, differing only in the country of origin of individual horses.
In many areas today, the breeding, showing, and registration of the Andalusian and Lusitano are controlled by the sameregistries. One example of this is the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA), claimed to have the largest membership of any Andalusian registering organization.Other organizations, such as The Association of Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders of Spain (Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballo de Pura Raza Españolaor ANCCE), use the termpura raza españolaor PRE to describe the true Spanish horse, and claim sole authority to officially register and issue documentation for PRE Horses, both in Spain and anywhere else in the world. In most of the world the terms "Andalusian" and "PRE" are considered one and the same breed,but the public position of the ANCCE is that terms such as "Andalusian" and "Iberian horse" refer only to crossbreds, which the ANCCE considers to be horses that lack quality and purity, without official documentation or registration from official Spanish Stud Book.
InAustralasia, the Australasia Andalusian Association registers Andalusians (which the registry considers an interchangeable term for PRE), Australian Andalusians, and partbred Andalusians. They share responsibility for the Purebred Iberian Horse (an Andalusian/Lusitano cross) with the Lusitano Association of Australasia.In the Australian registry, there are various levels ofcrossbredhorses. A first cross Andalusian is a crossbreed that is 50 percent Andalusian, while a second cross Andalusian is the result of crossing apurebredAndalusian with a first cross – resulting in a horse of 75 percent Andalusian blood. A third cross, also known by the registry as an Australian Andalusian, is when a second cross individual is mated with a foundation Andalusian mare. This sequence is known as a "breeding up" program by the registry.
The namepura raza española(PRE), usually rendered in English "Pure Spanish Horse" (not a literal translation) is the term used by the ANCCE, a private organization, and the Ministry of Agriculture of Spain. The ANCCE uses neither the term "Andalusian" nor "Iberian horse", and only registers horses that have certain recognized bloodlines. In addition, all breeding stock must undergo an evaluation process. The ANCCE was founded in 1972. Spain's Ministry of Agriculture recognizes the ANCCE as the representing entity for PRE breeders and owners across the globe, as well as the administrator of the breed stud book.ANCCE functions as the international parent association for all breeders worldwide who record their horses as PRE. For example, the United States PRE association is affiliated with ANCCE, follows ANCCE rules, and has a wholly separate governance system from the IALHA.
A second group, the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE Mundial, has begun another PRE registry as an alternative to the ANCCE. This new registry claims that all of their registered horses trace back to the original stud book maintained by theCria Caballar, which was a branch of the Spanish Ministry of Defense, for 100 years. Thus, the PRE Mundial registry asserts that their registry is the most authentic, purest PRE registry functioning today.
As of August 2011, there is a lawsuit in progress to determine the legal holder of the PRE stud book.The Unión de Criadores de Caballos Españoles (UCCE or Union of Spanish Horse Breeders) has brought a case to the highestEuropean Unioncourts inBrussels, charging that the Ministry of Spain's transfer of the original PRE Libro de Origen (the officialstud book) from theCria Caballarto ANCCE was illegal. In early 2009, the courts decided on behalf of UCCE, explaining that theCria Caballarformed theLibro de Origin. Because it was formed by a government entity, it is against European Union law for the stud book to be transferred to a private entity, a law that was broken by the transfer of the book to ANCCE, which is a non-governmental organization. The court found that by giving ANCCE sole control of the stud book, Spain's Ministry of Defense was acting in a discriminatory manner. The court held that Spain must give permission to maintain a breed stud book (called aLibro Genealógico) to any international association or Spanish national association which requests it. Based on the Brussels court decision, an application has been made by the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse to maintain the United States stud book for the PRE.As of March 2011, Spain has not revoked ANCCE's right to be the sole holder of the PRE stud book, and has instead reaffirmed the organization's status.
The Andalusian breed has over the centuries been consistently selected for athleticism. In the 17th century, referring to multi-kilometer races, Cavendish said, "They were so much faster than all other horses known at that time that none was ever seen to come close to them, even in the many remarkable races that were run."In 1831, horses at five years old were expected to be able to gallop, without changing pace, four or five leagues, about 12 to 15 miles (19 to 24 km). By 1925, the Portuguese military expected horses to "cover 40 km over uneven terrain at a minimum speed of 10 km/h, and to gallop a flat course of 8 km at a minimum speed of 800 metres per minute carrying a weight of at least 70 kg", and the Spanish military had similar standards.
From the beginning of their history, Andalusians have been used for both riding anddriving. Among the first horses used forclassical dressage, they still compete in international competition indressagetoday. At the 2002World Equestrian Games, two Andalusians were on the bronze medal-winning Spanish dressage team, a team that went on to take the silver medal at the2004 Summer Olympics.Today, the breed is increasingly being selectively bred for increased aptitude in classical dressage.Historically, however, they were also used asstock horses, especially suited to working with Iberian bulls, known for their aggressive temperaments. They were, and still are, known for their use in mountedbull fighting.Mares were traditionally used forla trilla, the Spanish process of threshing grain practiced until the 1960s. Mares, some pregnant or with foals at their side, spent full days trotting over the grain. As well as being a traditional farming practice, it also served as a test of endurance, hardiness and willingness for the maternal Andalusian lines.
Andalusians today are also used forshow jumping,western pleasureand otherhorse showevents.The currentTraveler, the mascot of theUniversity of Southern California, is an Andalusian.The dramatic appearance of the Andalusian horse, with its arched neck, muscular build and energetic gaits, has made it a popular breed to use in film, particularly in historical and fantasy epics. Andalusians have been present in films ranging fromGladiatortoInterview with the Vampire, andLara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of LifetoBraveheart. The horses have also been seen in such fantasy epics asThe Lord of the Ringsfilm trilogy,King Arthur, andThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.In 2006, a rearing Andalusianstallion, ridden by SpanishconquistadorDon Juan de Oñate, was recreated as the largest bronze equine in the world. Measuring 36 feet (11 m) high, the statue currently stands inEl Paso, Texas.