The Andalusian Horse
Spain was famous for the horses from the province of Andalusia from antiquity to the Middle Ages. This breed developed during the 700 years of Moorish domination. The native horses of Spain were crossed with the Barbs brought in by the Moors. Also in the seventeenth and eighteenth century the heavy stallions from Denmark, Holland and Naples were crossed with the hard but beautifully proportioned smaller Andalusian mares to form the modern Andalusian. The horses from Portugal are called Lusitano Horses. There are only about 1500 registered horses in the United States.
The Andalusian is a strong, elegant horse approximately 15.2 to 16.2 hands tall, usually grey or white, but occasionally bay or black. The mane, tail and forelock are thick and abundant.
In the show ring, Andalusian horses show in a variety of classes, demonstrating their versatility. They are shown in hand on the basis of a conformational standard to preserve the integrity of the breed. They are also shown in both hunt seat and saddle seat classes, western pleasure, as an elegant pleasure driving horse, a formal driving horse and in costume classes, which generally represent the Moorish or Spanish periods of the horses background. They are shown at the three natural gaits, the walk, trot and canter.
The headquarters of the breed is:
International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association
101 Carnoustie, Box 115, Shoal Creek, AL 35242
The Andalusian is the official magazine of the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse association -- address above.
Western Pleasure Horse
This is a western pleasure Andalusian Horse being shown to a
National Reserve Championship at the National Championship
Show in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
English Pleasure Horse
Mr. Bruce Howard is shown here on an Andalusian Horse in an
English Pleasure class riding on a flat english saddle. There
are also classes at which forward or hunt seat saddles are
used. Photo is from the National Championship Show in
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A Costume Class
This is a photo taken at the National Championship Show in
Albuquerque, New Mexico of a contestant during a costume
class.
Exhibitors tend to show in a costume which is reminiscent
of the middle ages the period in which these horses were
developed.
Classic Andalusian Cadence
This photo was taken during the Colorado Classic Horse
Show in Denver, Colorado of a costume stallion showing his
classic Andalusian cadence at the trot.