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Spanish Andalusian
Horse Articles > Articles to Start With
What is an Andalusian? A Spanish Horse?
Ahh. What exactly is an Andalusian? And what the heck
is a Spanish horse? What's a "preee"??? or a "Pee Are Eee?"
An Andalusian, Spanish horse, or Lusitano all have
certain traits in common - typically grey (sometimes bay or
black), they have a
straight or convex (rounded) nose, medium ears, triangular eyes, an arched neck,
rounded outline, compact body, elevated movements, luxurious mane and tail, and
a disposition that is noble and highly trainable.
The Andalusian NAME itself is the common name used in
the United States for the horse breed which originates in Spain and/or Portugal.
Most people recognize Andalusians as the Spanish version and Lusitanos as the
Portuguese version. Some people call both types Andalusians (the generic name).
Andalucia is a province in Southern Spain and many of the horses are bred there
- hence getting the name Andalusia-ans.
Over there in the "mother country", the horses are
known as a type of thoroughbred. Not Thoroughbred in the sense of a racing
horse on the track descended from Arabians. But a thoroughbred in the
sense of "pure blooded" or "pure bred". This is how it's Spanish name comes
about - Pura Raza Espanola (PRE) - or purebred (thoroughbred) Spanish horse. And
also the Portuguese name for THEIR horse - Puro Sangue Lusitano (PSL).
Confused?
Don't be.
Just remember PURE Spanish or "PRE" which stands for
Pura Raza Espanola and you are looking at a SPANISH horse. Or PURE Portuguese or
PSL and you are looking at a PORTUGUESE horse.
Even if a horse isn't PURE Spanish or PURE Portuguese,
he may still be recognized as an "Andalusian"! As long as he's either one or the
other or a mix of both. The blending of the two lines is known as the Pure
Spanish Portuguese (PSP or SP) horse.
So, keep in mind, there are TWO basic breeds abroad -
the Andalusian (Spanish horse) and the Lusitano. Minor variations occur between
the breeds. The Andalusian was mainly bred as a parade and pleasure horse, a
horse for working cattle, and as a king's mount. They are mostly grey with some
bays and blacks and the very rare buckskin/palomino. The Lusitano was bred to be
a more "athletic" type horse, sometimes having a more Roman head, and come in
all colors.
By crossing the two basic breeds, you get an Iberian
horse recognized in the United States as a "purebred Andalusian horse" - because
both parent lines are purebred.
When it comes to registering your Andalusian or
Lusitano - you have several options.
Spain provides an inspection and grading service known
as "inscription and revision". These services are only for Pure Spanish horses
(Lusitanos and SPs cannot apply). This service is currently overseen by the
breeders group known as ANCCE. If your horse passes inspection, you will receive
PAPERS FROM SPAIN! known as a "carta" or green card. This process is tricky.
Only inspected/approved parents will produce offspring that can be
inspected/approved. A horse thus approved is correctly termed a "PRE".
The Foundation for the Pure Spanish horse, a California
based group, also provides inspection and grading services. A horse receiving
papers from this group will be considered a PRE Mundial (or world PRE).
These papers are only for Pure Spanish horses (Lusitanos and SPs cannot apply)
and do not transfer over to the true Spanish registry. A horse thus approved is
also termed a "PRE" but in reality may not be approved through Spain - which
claims to hold the honors of using the term PRE.
The International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse
Association issues papers to horses of any pedigree - including Andalusians
(Spanish horses) that are not in the Spanish studbook or PRE Mundial as well as
issues papers to Lusitanos and Spanish/Portuguese horses. The IALHA does not
require an inspection process.
Finally, Portugal also has an inspection program for
PSLs.
Note: Many of our articles are now available in "blog"
format. The blog allows you to leave comments and share articles. To visit our
blog (a work in progress), go to
Skyhorse Ranch
Blog - Your Source for the Spanish Horse.
Looking for Andalusian horses for sale?
Contact us for more info
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