Revision (inspection and approval by Spain to get papers on your Purebred Spanish Horse) is optional in the United States. It is ONE way to get papers on your Andalusian horse. The other way is to file through the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA). You can also get papers known as PRE Mundial from the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse based out of Califorina, US. In Spain, getting papers on a breeding horse is not optional. For without these papers, your Spanish horse is basically considered "grade".

Many people in the U.S. double-register their pure Spanish horses with IALHA and Spain. Some people ONLY register their Andalusians with IALHA (because that's what they want to do or their horses are not eligible to be registered in Spain). And some people ONLY register their horses with Spain. All of this is optional. However, in my opinion, a Spanish horse's value on the market increases when it has papers in Spain. You only have to look at the advertisements for PREs vs. SPs and non-PREs (non inscribable or not revised) to see a difference in the asking prices.

Why do some people "follow" revision and others not?

Expense and Distance

One reason some people don't do revision is that revision for Pure Spanish horses can be expensive. It may require you to trailer your Andalusian horse across the country or through several states to get to a site where there is an official who can inspect your mature PRE horse. Some people fail to plan in advance for this extra expense and trouble. In the long run, however, revision is an investment in your horse.

Failure to See Value in Revised Horses

Some people believe that non-revised horses are "just as nice" as revised horses. They have seen examples of very nice "non-revised" Andalusians. And perhaps, examples of very bad revised Andalusians. One person has said "Intelligent people will be able to see that just because a horse isn't revised doesn't mean it isn't a quality horse." While this is true, remember that many people are seeking revised ONLY horses and will not consider Spanish horses that don't have these papers.

PRE horses are, indeed, an exclusive club. For someone who can't belong to the club because of bloodlines or lack of papers, they may think "If we can't belong to the country club of Revised horses so be it." Others, however, once realizing that they are being left out of the club eventually come to the realization that they need to sell off their non-PRE horses and trade up to the next thing - the PREs.

Failure to See Value in the Revision Process

The revision process is not perfect. Alot depends on how your horse looks that day (round or Arabian?) or who was doing the inspection (someone who is having a bad day and doesn't like Arabianized horses). Just some examples. In fact, horses at the Basic Level of revision can be "failed" clearly on only a few points - such as a fallen crest or retained testicle. The rest can be ambiguous. However, for the most part, revision is simply there to keep the race pure and to cull out the horses with extreme Arabian or Thoroughbred characteristics. These characteristics most commonly include a dished face, protruding eyes, pointed-in ears, small bone, and angular lines.

Revision for Spanish horses has changed over the years. Nowadays there are three levels. As you proceed up the levels it becomes harder to earn that level's status. Most horses that appear "Spanish" and lack serious defects can pass Basic Revision. Only about half of those will make it through the "Qualified" level of inspection. And even fewer can reach Elite Status which includes show records of offspring.

Still some people insist that they just "don't like" the revised Spanish horses they've seen and conclude that the process must not be "all that". Or they say things like they wouldn't breed to "some of the horses revised in the US if THEY paid ME!!".

Here are a few more reasons...and quotes from people opposed to revision.

We’re Not Breeding for Spain

"When was the last time the Spaniards imported a PRE from the US to Spain?"

It's true, the Andalusian horses bred in the U.S. typically stay in the U.S. However, is this a reason to Americanize the breed? Many many many people feel a connection to Spain through this horse - they may have an Hispanic heritage, may have traveled to Spain in the past, or just like things "European". These people seek out the "TRUE" Spanish breed as it is preserved in Spain. Breeders of PREs are able to provide a product to these people. Breeders of Americanized and non-revised horses do not come as close to providing a product that is desired by these investors.

Its About Money and Status

"It always was and always will be a status symbol and tool to attempt to get higher prices for our horses and breed fees simply because they have Spanish Cartas.

". . . it just seems to me to be an excuse if you will for breeders to add on an extra few grand."

The expense and trouble it takes to find and acquire and revise a good PRE horse is not miniscule. It WILL be reflected in the asking price of the offspring. This is a fact of life. You get what you pay for.

It's Too Difficult

And finally, for some people inscription (baby papers) and revision is just too difficult and messy to deal with. Perhaps they can't see the long term goal and don't place value on Spain's stewardship of this special breed of horse. Perhaps they just don't have the time. Therefore, the extra effort is not put in to get "those papers." Some people are okay with this. Your competitors certainly are!

Because fewer PREs means more business for those who HAVE PREs. Unfortunately where some good horses are concerned, not inscribing or revising is creating a PRE dead end for that particular horse's future offspring. And some people will be disappointed they cannot purchase such horse's offspring (because they have already set their standard and must have the Spanish papers).

Words of Advice

If you, as a prospective buyer, decide that YES, REVISION is IMPORTANT to me. Be sure when you go shopping to convey this clearly the the seller. And be SURE that the papers are accounted for on the young horses and that the horse can "BE INSCRIBED" and can "BE REVISED" without any trouble. Watch out for embryo transfers, horses with deceased grandparents/parents, ANY horses with parents that are not revised, etc. Also, be VERY CAREFUL if a horse is called "pure Spanish" but no reference is made to inscription or revision. There are plenty of horses considered pure Spanish who have fallen through the cracks and cannot be revised.

If you, as a prospective buyer, decide that NO, REVISION is NOT IMPORTANT to me (and I don't have a clue as to what it is, anyways), then you will have MORE OPTIONS. There are more horses to look at in this category and at much lower prices, too.

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.