Andalusian

BREED DESCRIPTION

Height: 15-15.2hh

Colour: Predominately grey (including ‘mulberry’ – a dappled, purplish grey) and bay.

Conformation: Handsome head with broad forehead and large, kind eyes; fairly long, thick but elegant neck; long, well-sloping shoulders with well-defined withers; short, strong body with broad chest and well-sprung ribs; very broad, strong rounded hindquarters with rather low-set tail; medium length limbs, clean cut and elegant and strong; long and very luxurient mane and tail.

As it’s name suggests, the Andalusian comes from the sun-baked region of southern Spain which is close to North Africa. While it is without doubt an ancient breed, it’s origins are uncertain. Whatever native horses existed in Spain when the Muslim invaders arived in 711 – they may well have rpresented the primitive Sorraian Pony still found today in Portugal – must surely have been crossed subsequently with the invaders’ Barb horses, which were in such great numbers.

After the last Muslim state, Granada, had fallen to the Christians in 1492, Spain began to assume a new importance in the western world and so, too, did her horses. Taken to the Americas by the sixteenth-century Conquisadores, Spanish horses provided the foundation stock for the majority of new breeds developed by the settlers. In Europe, however, the Spanish horse became the preferred monarchs and of the great riding masters, including the Englishman, William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, who in the seventeenth century wrote: “If well chosen it is the noblest horse in the world; the most beautiful that can be. He is of great spirit and great courage and docile; has the proudest walk, the proudest trot…the loftiest gallop and is the lovingest and gentlest horse and fittest of all for a king in Day of Triumph.” The Lipizzaner is a direct decendant of the Andalusian, while other famous European breeds influenced by Spanish blood include the Frederiksborg, the Freisian (which in turn influenced the Oldenburg), the Holstein and the Connemara.

The Andalusian is one of the most elegant of horses. Possessing trendous precence, lofty paces, agility and a gentle, willing nature, it makes an excellent all-around and is particulary well-suited to the haute ecole (high school). It can also be seen to great effect takingg part in the colourful annual ferias, or fairs, of it’s native Andalusia.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Andalusian horse’s survival down the centuries, which included some pretty turbulent times, was aided by the monastic orders, particulary the Carthusians, who became especially skilful at horse breeding. In times of danger, horses were moved from great studs to remote monasteries for safe keeping. The Carthusians were instrumental in maintaining purity of line and produced animals of consistently high quality.

The Andalusian is not particulary tall, but it’s compact, muscular frame is indicative of great strength.

Grey is one of the predominant Andalusian colours, along with bay. Spotted strains were once popular and were responisble for the founding of the Appaloosa breed in America.

The breed’s proud bearing and lofty action lend themselves perfectly to the actions of the haute encole, or high school. This horse is showing off a special aerial skill from the high school.