ANDALUSIAN and LUSITANO

These two Iberian breeds have a long, parallel and storied history dating back as far as 25000BC. Ridden for over 5000 years, they are thought to be the oldest saddle horses in the world. They originated in the Iberian Peninsula (today's Spain and Portugal) from the Sorraia breed and were first used as warhorses around 4000BC by native tribes. Around 3000BC, tribes from North Africa invaded the peninsula, which would later be named after them.

Following those tribes were the Phoenicians and Celts who brought with them oriental breeds from Libya, Egypt and Syria to mix with the Iberian horse. It was this horse that the Greeks and Romans referred to so much in their writings. Homer mentions them in the IIiad around 1100BC and the Greek cavalry officer Xenophon praised the Iberian horse in his books written around 370BC. He described the war techniques of the Iberian equestrians who participated in the Peloponnesian wars on their great Iberian horses.

Invasions by the Carthaginians and Romans followed and the Romans were so taken by the Iberian horse and the display of horsemanship that they adopted the Iberian equestrian style and set up breeding farms in the conquered Iberian territories.

Then came the Berber (Barb) influence, or did it? In 711AD the Muslims invaded the peninsula, then ruled by the Visigoths. It is said that while politically this was an Arabian invasion, ethnically the invaders were Moors led by the Moslem Berber, Tariq ibn Ziyad. He led 12,000 Saracens (Berbers from Algeria and Morocco) into Spain via the Strait of Gibraltar. The Saracens brought some of their Berber horses with them, but the number is unknown. It would have been difficult to transport a large number of horses at this time in history, therefore it is thought that the Saracen Cavalry obtained already existing Iberian stock, in the south of the peninsula, for their mounts. Add to this, that it is almost conclusively thought that the Berber (Barb) horse also originated from the Sorraia breed, which migrated into North Africa from the Peninsula in prehistoric times, we must then conclude that the Iberian is the forefather to the Berber (Barb) and not vice versa. More accurately then, the Moorish conquest 'reintroduced' Berber (Barb) blood into the Iberian horse.

Regardless of which came first, the mix of blood and 800 years of war created the ultimate warhorse and war exercises, which the Conquistadors introduced throughout the Americas. This influenced the cultures of the Gauchos, Charros and Llaneros and by the 17th century the Iberian horse became known as the Jennet.

The Jennet was an important warhorse, but it was also becoming a great riding horse in riding academies around France, Germany, Italy and Austria. In Portugal, the horse was being used in bullfighting and to put on public displays of 'High School' movements.

Fast-forward to modern Portugal and Spain and here we find where the Iberian becomes two breeds; the Spanish Andalusian (Pura Raza Espanole (P.R.E.)) and the Portuguese Lusitano (Puro Sangue Lusitano (P.S.L.)).

Due to King Felipe's prohibition of bullfights, the direction of Iberian breeding changed to a lighter type of riding horse, from the then lesser-used bullfighting type, and the Andalusian of Spain was born. Across the border though, the Portuguese continued to stick to breeding traditional bullfighting horses.

1967 saw the development of the Portuguese Studbook and an extremely strict set of guidelines. Only specified bloodlines and animals that exhibited the desired traits were entered into this book and allowed to breed and to this day these standards are upheld.

Because they share the same ancestry and many of the same bloodlines, the two breeds have many physical similarities:

The head is convex, narrow and of medium length. The eyes are large and almond-shaped. A deeply set neck with a natural arch is attached to a large, sloped shoulder. The chest is broad and deep. Withers flow smoothly into a short, strong back and the croup is round and sloped with a low set tail. Good bone with dry joints ends in large, tough feet. The mane and tail are long, thick and flowing.

The temperament can vary between the stallion lines and from individual to individual, but the Iberian is known as a highly trainable, intelligent, brave and noble horse.

Their movement is round and expressive and they exhibit superior agility and great strength, with a born ability for upper level collection and 'High School' movements.

The Andalusian can be found in just three colors; predominantly gray, and then bay and black, while the Lusitano comes is a variety; gray, bay, black, chestnut, palomino, buckskin, cremello etc…

Another difference in the breeds is their overall size. The Lusitano is the smaller and more compact of the two, standing between 15.1h-15.3h, while the Andalusian can reach heights of 16.3h. The Lusitano is also the less prevalent, with less than 5,000 purebreds in the world. The Andalusian boasts approximately 25,000 worldwide. A cross between a Lusitano and an Andalusian is known as a Pure Spanish Portuguese (P.S.P.) Andalusian.

It has been customary for only stallions to be trained and ridden, while the mares get to live out their lives as broodmares. That is changing now, but the traditionalist breeders still adhere to this custom.

The Andalusian and Lusitano are equal to the task of many equestrian disciplines. They perform easily in dressage, jumping and driving. Their bullfighting ancestry allows them to also excel in western events. The Iberian even has his own form of equitation derived from having to work cattle and bulls on ranches called Doma Vaquera, where such things as gallops from a standstill, skid stops, canter pirouettes and spins are required.

It's almost unfair that such a beautiful animal should also possess such talent. Surely the many people who have battled, ridden and watched the evolution of the Iberian are smiling down on this magnificent creation.

Written by Lana Reinhardt. - 2005 (c)

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