Andalusian[1] Although the population of the Andalusian horse breed in the United States is very small, the Andalusian has a reputation, image, and, yes, a mystique that is enormous. Many know of the breed, but few have direct contact with the Andalusian. As President of the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association, perhaps the most frequent comment and question I hear is "I've heard of the Andalusian horse, but I've never seen one. ..what is an Andalusian horse?" That question is then usually followed by the second most frequently asked query which is, "What do Andalusian horses do?" In the following article, I shall try to address these and a few other most often asked questions.

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What Is An Andalusian Horse?

The Andalusian horse is one of the most ancient of horse breeds. It has lived on the Iberian Peninsula since pre-history and is represented in cave paintings dating back 25,000 years. In the United States, all purebred Andalusian horses can be traced back directly to the Stud Books of Spain, Portugal, or to a combination, or crossing, of those two stud books. Specifically, to register an Andalusian horse with The International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association, a paper trail of registration certificates and transfers must exist which trace the horse's pedigree back to Spanish and Portuguese papers. For a foal born to parents already registered with our Association that trail has, of course, already been established and the registration is straightforward.

Where Did the Name "Andalusian" Come From?

In Spain, the horses are known as the Pure Spanish Horse. In Portugal, the horses are known as Lusitanos. The term Andalusian is used in many countries to denote the Iberian horse. The term Andalusian arose from the region in southern Spain, Andalucia, in which many noted stud farms are located.

What Does an Andalusian Look Like?

The Andalusian is strongly built, yet extremely elegant. The typical Andalusian stands 15.2 to 16.2 hands. His head is of medium length, rectangular and lean. The head in profile is slightly convex or straight with a broad forehead and well-placed ears. The eyes are alive, oval, and placed within an orbital arch. The face is straight or softly convex, moderately narrow, and without excess flesh. The neck is reasonably long, broad, yet elegant and well-crested in stallions. The mane is thick and abundant. Well defined withers precede a short back; the quarters are broad and strong. The croup is rounded and of medium length. The tail is abundant, set low, and lies tightly against the body. About 80% of Andalusians are grey or white, 15% are bay, and 5% are black.

Why Haven't I Ever Seen An Andalusian Horse? or "Why Don't I See More Andalusian Horses Competing?"

Today, there are only about 2,500 Andalusian horses in all of the United States. Each year, the International Andalusian Horse Association registers only 225 new foals in this country. These are very small numbers relative to other breeds.

Also See Breed