Horse Breeds: Andalusian

Thought to be from the Iberian Peninsula, the Andalusian (also called Pura Raza Espanola or Pure Spanish Race) is named for the Province of Andalucia. The Andalusian is truly an ancient breed. Cave paintings thought to be 20,000 years old show a horse remarkably similar to this stunning breed and even Homer mentions them in the Illiad (which was written in approximately 1100 BCE). In 711 CE (Common Era or AD), during the Moorish invasion, the Andalusian was bred to the Spanish Barb.

The Andalusian is the foundation for many of the most graceful breeds around the world, including the well-known Lipizzaner and the Peruvian Paso. Their natural grace, elegance, and beauty make them perfect for dressage and traditional Spanish equestrian sports. They are also heavily utilized for bull fights and ranching.

With a strange and, in all honesty, creepy ability to bring his haunches far underneath his body to elevate the forehand, the Andalusian can perform many of the complex movements of dressage such as airs-above-the-ground, passage, and piaffe with relative ease. This breed moves with a distinctive trot and canter full of upright steps and elegance. Most Andalusians are grey in color (they are NOT white even if they appear so), though you can also find black, dun, bay, and palamino. The typical Andalusian stands 15 to 16.2 hands high.