The Pura Raza Espaola (P.R.E.) or Pure Spanish Horse, has been linked with a history and the culture of Andalusia since time immemorial. There are cave drawings dating back to 5,000 BC based in the caves of Altamira and Canforos de Penarubia in northeastern Spain depicting native horses whose physique are remarkably like today’s horse. These drawings depict the predecessors with the Pure Spanish Horse. Originally utilized in warfare, as a technique of transport as well as other work, the economic revolution changed his role to that of man’s companion in sport and leisure activities, where he could be one with the leaders in the Andalusian region. The Pure Spanish Horse has become a fundamental piece of Spain from the beginnings and contributes much to better knowledge and comprehension of its landscape, customs and individuals.
The Andalusian is Known for its courageous spirit and magnificent paces. They are used as sport horses in jumping and eventing in addition to bull fighting and cattle operate in their native Spain. It is a spectacular horse for dressage and Haute Ecole; higher level dressage movements where they leap off the ground. These High School jumps are popularly known as the ‘airs over the ground’.
Some researchers believe that the Iberian horse was being ridden perhaps around 4,000 3,000 BC. When the Phoenicians come to Iberia in 2,000 BC and the Greeks in 1,000 BC, the Iberian cavalry had been a formidable foe, as well as the Iberian horse was regarded as the war horse without equal. Homer mentions the Iberian horses within the Iliad, discussed 1,100 BC. The famous Greek cavalry officer, Xenophon, highly praised the gifted Iberian horses as well as their role in helping Sparta defeat the Athenians around 450 BC. Hannibal, inside Second Punic War (218-201 BC), defeated the invading Romans repeatedly by making use of the Iberian cavalry. This military technique Iberian horse continued unabated with William the Conqueror ultimately riding an Iberian horse inside the Battle of Hastings in 1066. While hailed as the premier war horse, the Iberian horse was also well known for its trusting and kind disposition.
The beautiful Andalusian horse got it’s name from where it originated, inside the Province of Andalusia in Spain. It descended from Iberian horses in Spain and Portugal. The Iberian horses from Spain and Portugal include the Andalusian’s ancestors. More recently, there was clearly a split made between your Andalusian and also the Lusitano horses, using the Andalusian being Spanish along with the Lusitano being Portuguese. The name “Lusitano” arises from “Lusitania”, which is the old Roman good name for Portugal.
Over the next few centuries, however, the excitement was for heavier and heavier armor for that mounted knights. As a result, the Iberian horse was gradually replaced as the premier warhorse by larger, slower moving draft and warmblood horses. This trend was later reversed within the fifteenth century with the continuing development of firearms and also the need for rapid and agile horses. The most devastating period for the Iberian horse began in 1492. Spain during those times began the conquest of the New World, invaded Portugal, attacked England, and was involved within the Dutch Wars. Following this period of sustained conflict, Napoleon invaded Spain and the horse was central inside the country’s defense. Finally, internal revolt contrary to the Church (which owned major stud farms) in the 1830’s along with the revolution of 1936 continued the dispersal from the stud farms. After 2,000 a lot of European warfare and internal strife, the pool of purebred Spanish and Portuguese horses was really small and also the horse was threatened with extinction. Consequently, exportation from Spain and Portugal was very restricted (some kings threatened execution for all those secretly exporting mares) so as to give Spanish and Portuguese breeders the ability to develop and expand their stud farms.