Spanish Horse Riding

The Andalucian horse is also perhaps the most pure-bred Spanish horse, and in Spain is called “Pura Raza Espanola”- horse of pure Spanish race.Of late its popularity has risen throughout Europe and America. It is a horse that has always been famous for its great courage, intelligence, graceful movement and calm temperament. The Andalucian has been used to improve (amongst others) Warmblood, Freisian and Lipizzaner stock. (Andalucian’s have influenced the development of more breeds of horse than any other except for the Arabian and the barb)

The Andalucian is one of the oldest breeds in the world, it originates from the Moors invasion when Arabian and Berber horses were crossed with the Spanish native horses.. They generally stand at about 15-16.3 hands, and are predominantly grey but can occasionally be black or bay and in very rare cases chestnut.

In the Middle Ages, the Andalucian was the favoured mount for European nobles. Andalucian horses owe a great deal to the Carthusian Monks who bred them, beginning in the late Middle Ages. In the late 1400's, studs were founded at monasteries in Terez, Seville, and Cazallo. The monks were superb horse breeders and trainers, and kept the blood of their horses quite pure. The Andalucian's purity was threatened in the 1800's when Napoleon's army invaded Spain and stole many horses. One herd of Andalucians was hidden and used to renew the breed. In 1832, an epidemic devastated Spain's horse population. Only a small herd of Andalucians at the Monastery of Cartuja survived. No Andalucians were exported until 1962.

Andalucians tend to have wonderful temperaments, and the Spanish refer to them as being 'muy noble' . They are obedient and a pleasure to ride in any degree. Their conformation of strong neck and quarters and short back, coupled with wonderful paces and good balance means that they are more than suitable for the demands of more advanced schooling.

A direct descendant of the Andalucian is the Lipizzaner.

Lipizzaner

Four hundred years of selective breeding have made the Lipizzaner one of Europe's oldest breeds of horse.

It was the Hapsburg monarchythat developed the breed, for use in both war and peace, to this end it has always been considered a horse of royalty as the Lipizzan stud farm remained a private possession of the Hapsburg monarchy until 1916.

It was during the Renaissance, when the art of classical riding was revived in Europe, that a demand for a light, fast horse for use in the military and the riding school arose. The Spanish horse, was originally produced during Moorish rule, they crossed the Iberian horse, primarily with Arab stallions, as well as with Berber stallions. This produced a horse that was not only beautiful and intelligent, but also sturdy and athletic, and so it was this horse that was chosen.

In 1562, Maximillian II brought the Spanish horse to Austria and founded the court stud at Kladrub. His brother Archduke Charles established a similar private imperial studfarm with Spanish stock in 1580 at Lippiza (nowadays: Lipizza [Italian], or Lipica [Slovenian]) near the Adriatic Sea. It was there on the Karst plateau near Triest that the type of horse which was bred in Lippiza was given the name Lippizaner. Today in Europe the breed is called Lipizzaner or, in America, Lipizzan.

Lipizzaners are born as dark as almost black, brown or a steel grey, As they grow so their coats lighten until they are the characteristic white that the breed is recognisedfor. This is usually when they are between 6 and 10 years old. It is very rare that a Lipizzaner will remain with a dark coloured coat as the white is dominant, but is does happen occasionally. Although only two hundred years ago, black, browns, chestnuts, duns, piebalds, and skewbalds were found in the adult herd. This breed is noted for its sturdy body and proud carriage, and the Lipizzaners head is remarkable for its small alert ears and large appealing eyes. Although they are not especially tall horses (usually 14.2 to 15.2 hh) They present a picture of strength with powerful shoulders, short arched neck complete with silky flowing mane, high head carriage, muscular hind quarters, and strong legs, not to mention their balletic elegance. It is also these characteristics which led them to become world famous as the horses of the Spanish riding school, as their physique, made them capable of performing all the movements of dressage including such movements as the Airs Above the ground.

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is the oldest surviving institution of its kind in the world. Throughout its history, their purpose has always remained the same, to capture and continue the art and skill of classical horsemanship in its purest form and pass it on from generation to generation.

Paso Fino

The Paso Fino has been called "the smoothest riding horse in the world" and "the Rolls Royce of the Riding World".

Primarily the result of the cross-breeding of three breeds of Spanish horses -- The Andalusian, the Spanish Barb and the Spanish Jennet.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus took the breed to America on his second sailing to the "new world." These Paso Finos became the preferred horse of the Conquistadors -- displaying an incredible indurance to travel for long distances while providing a very comfortable ride.

A distinguishing characteristic of the Paso Fino is its gentle and friendly demeanor. The ease of handling makes them excellent horses for show, circus, or specialized work on the ranch. When compared to other types of horses the Paso Fino generally displays more affection, intelligence, companionship, and loyalty.

The Lusitano

The Lusitano is more native to Portugual, and actually means Portuguese in old Latin. It is very similar to the Andalucian in height and build, but there is more convex in the profile of the head, giving a slight roman nose, although in many breeds this is considered to be a fault, it is not so with the Lusitano. It also shares with the Andalucian the same splendid movement and agility as well as hardiness and stamina. However the Lusitano unlike the Andalucian may have any coat colour except pinto and any appaloosa coat pattern. Both breeds are magnificent and are adorned with magnificent flowing manes and tails.

Through out its history it has been most widly used a War horse. But is confirmation has meant that it is suited to almost every disapline such as,dressage, show jumping, carriage driving, endurance, bullfighting, and working equitation. In Portugal the breed is also used for "trabalho no campo", or working in the fields in the traditionalways. It is very rare breed with only 5000 mares world wide, but is seeing a rise in its popularity.

Sorraia

The Sorraia horse has no history as a domestic breed, but is the last remnant of the indigenous wild horse of southern Iberia. It stands around 14 h.h. Captured animals have been broken to ride and used for herding the fighting bulls and other livestock. This small horse was the primary ancestor of the famous horses of Andalusia and Lusitania and, both directly and indirectly, ancestor to many horses throughout Europe and the Americas. The Sorraia is found portrayed faithfully in prehistoric cave art, displaying the classic Iberian convex profile, also found in the old-time North African Barb. The Portuguese scientist Ruy D' Andrade, who had discovered them in 1920 in the lowlands of the Portuguese River Sorraia, named these horses "Sorraia".

The Sorraia is nearly extinct. A few herds are maintained in half a dozen places in Portugal and a few places in Germany.

The Sorraia is noted for its ability to withstand extremes of climate, particularly dry, hot climates, and to survive on very little forage while at the same time maintaining its health. Its' hardiness, as well at its agility and ability to collect and work in the bridle, once made the Sorraia highly valuable to local stockmen. Too long-legged to be seriously considered a pony type, the Sorraia is a small horse.

The Sorraia is always dun or grullo in color, with a dark face/muzzle area, black dorsal stripe, black-tipped ears, usually zebra stripes on the legs, and sometimes a stripe across the shoulders, or even stripes across neck, shoulders, and back. The black mane and tail are fringed by lighter-colored, often almost white, hair. The pure Sorraia does not have white markings, and does not show infusion of either Oriental or North European blood. Sorraia foals are born with a zebra-like pattern all over.

The head is somewhat long, with a convex profile. The eyes are set high, the ears are fairly long; the neck is long and slender, the withers are prominent and well defined; the back is of medium length and straight; the croup is sloping, but not steeply dropping, and rafter-shaped when viewed from front or behind; the tail set is not particularly high or low, but the tail is never held very high, not even when the horse is excited; the chest is deep and narrow; the shoulder is long; the legs are straight with rather long, round cannon bones, well defined tendons, long, sloped pasterns, and hard hooves of dark colour. The Sorraia and the North African Barb probably had a common root due to the pre-historic land bridge at Gibraltar.

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