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About the Breed  |   Video Library   |  Resources 

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What is an Andalusian?

The name Andalusian originated from the 8th century for the region in Spain, Andaluz, later called Andalucia, and is a hold over today for the Pure Blood Spanish Horse also known as Pura Raza Espanola or P.R.E.  

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What is a Lusitano?

The Pure Blood Lusitano hails from Portugal also known as the P.S.L. which stands for Puro Sangue Lusitano. The term Lusitano originates from the original Latin name for the country, Lusitania. 

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Popular Cross Breeds

Cross breeds are very popular.  The wonderful qualities of the Spanish and Portuguese horse enhances the breed they are crossed with.  These include but are not limited to the Azteca (Andalusian X Quarter Horse), the Spanish Arabian (Andalusian X Arabian), the Warlander (Andalusian X Freisian), and the Spanish-Norman (Andalusian X Percheron).  Andalusian bloodlines can also be found in today's Mustangs.

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Versatility of the Iberians

These very athletic horses can do it all! The Iberian horses are highly versatile breed, making it a suitable mount for dressage, English pleasure, Western pleasure, eventing, working cattle, reining, jumping, trail riding, driving, working equitation, bullfighting, endurance, competitive trail and more.

 

Iberians are an ever popular choice for parades and exhibitions with their bravado and commanding appearance. They are often used as a bullfighting mount in Spain, Portugal and Mexico as well as traditional disciplines of Alta Escuela (high school) and  Doma Vaquera.  The Iberian is a horse for all seasons, all purpose breeds with exceptional trainability and easy going nature that makes them an ideal riding partner. 

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Where can I get one?

You don't have to travel all the way to Spain or Portugal to own one of these beautiful horses!  

There are many distinguished breeders here in the States, both large scale and boutique offering top quality Iberian purebreds and crosses.  Many are members of ERAHC. 

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Where can I see them?

Our club puts on several events a year.  The most popular of these events is the annual Classic Breed Show held each August in Lexington, VA at the Virginia Horse Center. We are also having a show in New England in July.  Not only will you have a chance to see these horses in action, you can learn about them by attending the educational seminars as well as speaking to many knowledgeable, friendly owners and breeders at this event.

Standard

BREED STANDARD

Read more about the breed characteristics here:   

 

PRE (Spain) Breed Characteristics:  

ANCCE breed standard

Lusitano (Portugal) Breed Characteristics:

APSL Breed Standard

 

Videos

VIDEO LINKS

Educational and Entertaining Videos 

Escola Portugesa de Arte Equestre - "Bolero dance of the horses"
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Escola Portugesa de Arte Equestre - "Bolero dance of the horses"

"Bolero dance of the horses" Excerpts from the Gala of the Escola Portugesa de Arte Equestre on the occasion of the 40th anniversary at the riding arena of the stud farm Alter The performance took place on 26 April 2019 at the Alter do Chao State Stud. In 1979, the Ministry of Agriculture founded EPAE – the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, set up by Guilherme Borba and João Costa Ferreira with the simultaneous objective of both teaching and raising the profile and the practices of the traditional Portuguese Equestrian Art. The School remained temporarily housed at the Portuguese Equestrian Society in Campo Grande, Lisbon, and has made sporadic performances in Queluz ever since 1984. In 1996, stables were built in the Gardens of the National Palace of Queluz to which the School relocated and has remained ever since whilst having also inaugurated the renovated Henrique Calado Riding Ring, where the school’s public performances take place, in July 2015. EPAE represents the sequence to what was formerly the Royal Riding School, the equestrian academy of the Portuguese court that was closed down in the 19th century and housed in the Royal Stables of Belém, currently the National Coach Museum. The continuity of equestrian bull-fighting practices surviving through to contemporary times ensured that the same type of horse has been in usage since the 18th century and in conjunction with the same horsemanship, the same riding harnesses and the same uniforms. The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art has also restored Baroque riding exercises such as the “ares altos” or “airs above the ground”. The horses ridden in the School are bred by the Alter stud farm with Portuguese School of Equestrian Art undertaking regular public performances and as well as exhibitions both elsewhere in Portugal and internationally and constituting a key means of promoting both the Lusitanian horse and Portuguese culture. info@parquesdesintra.pt alterreal.pt
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RESOURCES

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Image by Markus Spiske
resources

Breed Registries, Equestrian Organizations 

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