Andalusian Horse History

Named after the Spanish region of Andalusia, the Andalusian shares a bloodline with Iberian horses, which appear in cave paintings as old as 20,000 to 30,000 BCE.

Throughout the years, the Andalusian and other Iberian breeds heavily influenced the native Spanish and other cultures inhabiting the region including the Romans and Celts. It is thought by some that the Andalusian was the first “warmblood” developed in Europe, which combines the mild temperament of heavy work horses such as the Clydesdale with the refinement of saddle horses such asthe Arabian. Although the Andalusian has ancient bloodlines, the current breed is the work of a select few breeders during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, most Andalusians (about 66 percent) exist in Spain, with only 8,500 registered in the United States.

The spanish horse, the horse of Andalusia. the star of the spectacle “Como bailan los caballos andaluces” (How the Andalusian Horses Dance), registered in the Stud Book of the Breed as Purebred Spanish Horse, is one of the most noble and the most appreciated animals in the world.

Easy to train and truly spectacular in the development of the airs required in Classical Dressage and in the Spanish High School of Riding, is also very beautiful, furthermore, its good character, elevated movements and an extraordinary capacity for collection make it useful for many different forms of sports and leisure activities.

Because of those qualities, the great masters of equitation have regarded it as the horse of highest perfection. This is the statement Barron d’Eisenberg, director of the School of Pisa, made in 1770.

“The experience has shown it clearly that the Spanish horse is without a doubt the most perfect in the world for the High School, and not only with respect to its shape, which is most beautiful, but also with regard to its qualities”. However, just as it happened with other breeds of horses, the ignorance of its origin led to its mythification and, in the course of time, gave rise to different myths and legv ends.

Overview

Is the Andalusian the Right Breed for You?

• Suitable for Slightly Experienced Owners: As a warm-blooded equine, it combines the quickness and agility of their hot-blooded counterparts with the heavier build and milder temperament of cold-blooded breeds. These type of breeds are considered to be the best for riding and can be found in Olympic sporting events like Dressage.

 

• Generally Healthy: This breed is perceived as a generally healthy breed. With no known breed-specific health issues, owners just have to ensure their horse maintains a healthy lifestyle with regular veterinary checkups.

 

• Multi-Talented: The Andalusian is capable of performing various tasks very well. The most common ones are
  • dressage
  • general riding
  • jumping
  • mounted athletics
  • work

. With a diverse set of abilities, this breed can accommodate the various needs of horse owners. Other tasks this breed is good at include bull fighting.

Description

Native to the Iberian peninsula, the Andalusian is an ancient horse breed that has existed for thousands of years. A popular breed among Spanish nobility, the Andalusian was historically used as a war horse, and was often given as a gift in order to aid Spanish diplomacy. Strong, agile, and intelligent, Andalusians were historically used as stock horses and for cart driving. Today they are used in a variety of equestrian events such as dressage and jumping, and have appeared in a number of Hollywood films.

Breed Development

This ancient breed has been believed to exist over 20,000 years ago. Once under the threat of extinction, the horse was exported from Spain in 1962.