Andalusian Horses

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At the time of writing, 44 nations all over the world have royal families. Other than the luxurious lives they’re living, did you ever wonder what they have in common? Well, they share something in common and that is their passion for horses. They all love the Andalusian horses.

Otherwise known as the Pure Spanish Horse or Pura Raza Española (PRE), the Andalusian hails from Iberian horse of Spain and Portugal. It takes its name from its place of origin, the Spanish region of Andalusia. Back in the 13th century, the Carthusian monks were mainly responsible for breeding these horses. In the 15th century, the Andalusian became distinct as it was mainly used for developing other breeds. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, once wrote and recognized the Andalusian as "... the Spanish horse is the noblest animal in the world..." In 1832, the Andalusian population was greatly affected with an epidemic of disease. In 1962, they began to be exported from Spain. In 1971, the first Andalusians were imported to Australia.

To register these horses, the Andalusian Horse Association of Australia was formed in 1973. For many years, Australia prohibited the importation of new Andalusian blood. However, the regulations were lax in 1999, allowing the importation of over half a dozen new horses. In the United States, it’s a rare breed since the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) also registers around 400 new young horses yearly.

The Andalusians are a favorite of the royalties because of its strength, power and beauty. Aside from the royalties, they have widely recognized by European sculptors who used them as models for several centuries already. They have a strong built but they always stand proud and elegant. They are highly spirited and acquiescent to the person who controls them. They are known for their majestic head, large kind eyes, broad forehead, long neck, lavish man and tail. Their usual colors are white, gray, and a few blacks. They stand 15.2 to 16.2 hands high.

Over the centuries, the Andalusians were greatly appreciated for athletic purposes such as driving and riding. Today, they are widely used for show jumping, Western Pleasure and other horse shows and even in films and fantasy epics. They have been present in films like Interview with a Vampire, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, The Cradle of Life, Braveheart; and in epics such as King Arthur, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and so many others.