Andalusians/Lusitano Information

The Andalusian Name | International Andalusian Lusitano Horse Association

The Spanish-Portuguese Horse

Portugual was established earlier than any other country in Europe. After the Moorish occupation, it might never have been possible for the boundaries of this ancient territory known as LUSITANIA to be redrawn had it not been for one very effective native weapon: the Lusitano horse and the superior method of combat on horseback.

Engravings and wall paintings in the Esoural cave date between 17,000 and 13,000 B.C. in the provence of Aletajo in central, southern Portugal are the oldest known reference to the existing Lusitano horse. The engravings portray horses depicting the unique convex head still present in today’s breed.

The people in the region are known for their special relationship to the horse. The relationship has an ancient and rich history. They are decendents from the Cynetes (Kynetes or Conis) from Okeano, the Atlantic Ocean, whose territory comes from antiquity, having its center in the Romans Coimbriga (land of Conis). According to several authors and folk history, the people originated in the legendary Atlantis, described by Plato. The most romantic notions and sacred beliefs about the horse are rooted in the stories from the mythic city of Atlantis. Purportedly, Atlantis was idyllic for equestrians because the island was ruled by the Roman God Neptune (Poseidon to the Greeks), the god of the sea and the patron saint of the horse. In mythology, Neptune’s horses represent the cosmic forces of primordial chaos, which can either destroy people or lead them to their inner powers of divinity. The symbolic figures of the cross and the circle are still culturally important in Spain and Portugal today and represent a mystical place believed to be on the island of Atlantis where four rivers converged symbolizing the restful center of our being.

This spiritual center was also integrated in the training of horses. It is through a state of oneness, that Iberians work to achieve the relationship with the horse even today. Ancient horse handlers knew this inner work required not only equestrian skills, but spiritual cross-training to become one, or “one spirit” with the horse. The result is described as “an invisible thread” connecting the horse to the rider, and sensitivity to one another’s subtle energy shifts. The rider rides not only physically, but also with his or her mind, spirit, and innermost soul. Truly a oneness between horse and rider. It is no wonder the mythical centaur creature arose from this area of the world.

The incredible ability of the Spanish-Portuguese horse to react to the thoughts of the rider is genetically imprinted on the horse’s alert and willing mind and body. The breeding of this horse is entangled with the breeding of bulls. And horses in Portugal are still bred and trained for bull fighting even today.

Known and registered as either Andalusian, Lusitano, or a blend signified by the PSP (Spanish-Portuguese) on the registration papers, this horse is a single breed. Noble and beautiful with an outstandingly kind temperament, it represents the “original” representatives of the breed, thousands of years before the establishment of the studbooks by Spain and Portugal. They are noted for excellent trotting ability stemming from energetic forward-going hock action that has both suspension and extension. They are also famed for their acceleration over a given distance, and the ability to collect and gather into a position of extreme balance. This athletic control has led to success in not only bull fighting, but the demands of high school dressage, representing the greatest performance horse of history.

These "original" Iberian horses were highly sought after as the premier European warhorse. They were highly prized by the ancient Romans, and consequently stud farms were set up in what is now southern Spain and Portugal to supply their elite cavalries instrumental in expanding the Roman Empire. Napoleon emptied the Iberian horse stud farms when he invaded the Iberian Peninsula, taking these highly prized horses as war trophies.

The Spanish-Portuguese horse is the heart of the birth of the classical style of dressage. Many royal houses established riding academies that featured the Iberian horse. Known for its intelligence, elegance and natural collection abilities, these horses were used to begin such illustrious schools like the "Spanish Riding School of Vienna".

An unfortunate by-product of its popularity as a warhorse and sought-after horse for nobility resulted in the Iberian horse becoming an extremely rare breed. Spain and Portugal established their current borders and this caused a division of the Iberian horse’s genetic pool into the Purebred Spanish Horse (P.R.E.) and Lusitano (P.S.L.). Each country closed their respective studbooks, (Spain in the 1960's and Portugal much later) permitting each country access to only part of the Iberian horse package.

Some breeders, both inside as well as outside of these two countries, refused to give up access to the whole genetic package of the "Original" Iberian horse. They wanted the freedom to continue to breed the "best to the best", utilizing the already rare Spanish and Portuguese bloodlines.

Whether Spanish, Portuguese or PSP, these horses are elegant, special and unique. The International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) acknowledges all lines as pure today.

At One Spirit Ranch we believe the more traditional blending of the Spanish and Portuguese lines produces the best this fabulous breed has to offer. Phenomenal athleticism, beautiful propulsion and movement, combine to create a horse acutely in tune with the rider – an ideal combination for a “One Spirit” connection with a horse.

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