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Andalusian horses originated in Spain, where they are also known as Pure Spanish Horses or PRE (pura raza española) horses.They have turned out to become a breed with a huge global following. Breeders of Andalusians are passionate about preserving the unique attributes of these noble horses, and will only sell an Andalusian that meets the strict breed characteristics. Many equestrians aspire to buy an Andalusian, because these beautiful horses, with their magnificent head carriage, flowing manes and tails and elevated, elegant movement, are seen as an outstanding breed for the advanced horseback rider. Andalusians have contributed to the creation of many other breeds. Their influence is particularly noticeable in American breeds, where both the domesticated descendants of the original Spanish imports and feral herds of mustangs of Spanish origin have had a lasting beneficial effect on horse populations.
Andalusian horse breeding in Spain is strictly controlled by government legislation to ensure that the valuable qualities of the breed are retained. Other countries have taken on these standards as well, which is important to anyone planning to buy an Andalusian outside Spain, since they can rely on the breeders who sell an Andalusian. Andalusian stallions and geldings average around 15.1 1/2 (61.5 inches/156cm) and weigh around 512 kilograms/1,129 lb. Mares can be slightly smaller and lighter. There is a minimum height restriction for breeding stock, which is divided into “qualified” and “elite”. Breeders who sell an Andalusian of the elite type have very strict standards of height and quality. While the majority of Andalusians today are gray, there are also bay Andalusians, and other colors are permitted. Their magnificent profiles should be straight or slightly convex, but never concave like the Arabian. Andalusians are powerful horses, with mighty chests and strong hindquarters. They are intelligent and willing, and will bond closely with a sensitive rider.
The quality of modern Andalusian horses is a testament to the skill and dedication of diverse horse breeders over the centuries. Iron Age tribes, medieval monks, and the ruling houses of Europe have all had a part to play in the development of the breed. It was originally thought that Andalusians were the descendants of wild horses that had been in the Iberian peninsula for thousands of years, though the latest DNA research suggests this is not the case. Carthage, the powerful Phoenician state in north Africa, had horses of high quality and traded with the Numidian Berber population who were some of the most formidable cavalries in the ancient world. These are probably the origin of the genetic links between the North African Barb Horse and the Andalusian. Spanish horses and cavalry were referenced in Roman military texts. Andalusia has always been a diverse region, showing the influence of many people, from Vandals and Visigoths to Arabs and Greeks, all with their own outstanding equestrian traditions. By medieval times, horse breeding was one of the great successes of Carthusian monasteries of Spain. When the Hapsburgs dominated Europe, Spanish horses became the horse of choice for kings and nobility throughout the continent
Beautiful, powerful and intelligent, Andalusians are equally accomplished as working horses or media stars. In Spain, they have traditionally been used to draw carriages, to work with bulls, and to take part in equestrian spectacles and displays of skill such as the garrocha (lance-work) of the Spanish vaqueros. The famous Lippizaners of the Spanish Riding School are the descendants of Andalusian horses, and both are Baroque breeds. Andalusians also excel in classical dressage.
