The Andalusian horse originated in the Iberian Peninsula near the Spanish province of Andalusia. Its ancestors are the Spanish Barb and Jennet, which eventually became the Iberian horses of Spain and Portugal. The distinction was made between an Andalusian and a Lusitano horses less than 60 years ago. The Spanish now refer to their horses as Pura Raza Espanola (Pure Spanish Horse or PRE) and keep their own studbook. In much of the world, this horse is now referred to as the Andalusian. The Portuguese horse is called Lusitano, taking its name from the ancient Roman name for Portugal, Lusitania.

Evidence of the Andalusian dates back to prehistoric times, cave paintings of horses have been discovered on the Iberian Peninsula in southern Spain dating to 20,000 to 30,000 BC. These prehistoric horses are considered the foundation of the Andalusian. Many experts agree that the breed was sculpted over the centuries by the various people and cultures who occupied Spain throughout its long history. Throughout the centuries, the Iberian horse has been influenced by the horses brought to the Iberian Peninsula by various groups like the Celts of France, the Carthaginians from North Africa, the Romans, various Germanic tribes and the Moors. By the 15th century, the Andalusian itself began to influence various other breeds. Renowned as one of the world's premier war horses, the ancestors of today's Andalusian played prominent roles in the service of some of history's greatest warriors.

Some researchers believe that the Iberian horse was being ridden perhaps as early as 4,000 - 3,000 BC. When the Phoenicians arrived in Iberia in 2,000 BC and the Greeks in 1,000 BC, the Iberian cavalry was already a formidable foe, and the Iberian horse was regarded as the war horse without equal. Homer mentions the Iberian horses in the Iliad, written about 1,100 BC. Xenophon, the famous Greek cavalry officer, highly praised the "gifted Iberian horses" and their role in helping Sparta defeat the Athenians around 450 BC. In the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), Hannibal defeated the invading Romans several times through the use of the Iberian cavalry. The military use of the Iberian horse continued unabated with William the Conqueror ultimately riding an Iberian horse in 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.

When heavily armored knights began to constitute the majority of the armed forces of Europe the Andalusian was briefly displaced as the most popular war horse. However, after the introduction of firearms, the Iberian horse once again became the mount of choice for royalty and cavalry officers. New means of riding were introduced, often drawn from the writings of Xenophon. The Iberian horse was the favorite horse of the new, rapid and agile mounted armies.

Soon thereafter, the Iberian horse became the "royal horse of Europe" present in every royal court. Grand riding academies were formed in countries such as Austria, France, Italy and Germany. It was in these academies where dressage and high school riding began and flourished. The Iberian horse was the favored mount of these academies because of its impulsion, forward motion and catlike agility. The Duke of Newcastle, in 1667, wrote of the Andalusian, "it is the noblest horse in the world, the most beautiful that can be. He is of great spirit and of great courage and docile; hath the proudest trot and the best action in his trot, the loftiest gallop, and is the lovingest and gentlest horse, and fittest of all for a king in his day of triumph." It was the Andalusian that served as the foundation for the Lipizzaner of the famed Spanish Riding School in Vienna. It also played a role in the development of most of the German warmbloods, Ireland's Connemara and England's Cleveland Bay, as well as many breeds developed in the New World like the American Quarter Horse and Peruvian Paso.

Today, the Andalusian horse displays an amazing versatility that has, in fact, been present for centuries. The Andalusian's age old attributes of strength, athleticism, impulsion and kind temperament are still the fundamental characteristics of the breed. In the United States, the Andalusian horse competes in dressage, jumping, driving - both pleasure and competitive, trail, saddleseat, western pleasure and English pleasure. In addition, it is a parade and exhibition horse without peer. Of course, we cannot forget that the Andalusian, with its love of people, is an absolutely wonderful family horse. In Spain and Portugal, the Iberian horse displays the ultimate courage, agility, collection and cunning as it faces the fierce Iberian bull, both in and out of the bull-fighting arena. But wherever the Andalusian is found and whatever the Andalusian does, it displays the proud, docile temperament for which it has been prized for millennia.

The Andalusian is strongly built, yet extremely elegant. The typical Andalusian stands 15.2 to 16.2 hands. Its head is of medium length, rectangular and lean, and in profile, is slightly convex or straight with a broad forehead and well-placed ears. The eyes are large and kind, alive, oval and placed within an orbital arch. 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 usually abundant, long, set low and lies tightly against the body. Approximately 80% of Andalusians are gray, 15% are bay and less than 5% are black. Historically all colors were found including spotted. Recent changes have allowed all colors back in to the registry which makes for an exciting future when recessives start popping up and are able to be registered and bred.

The Andalusian possesses a proud but docile temperament. The Andalusian is sensitive and particularly intelligent, responsive and cooperative, learning quickly and easily when treated with respect and care.

Today, there are only about 4,500 Andalusian horses in the United States. Worldwide, these majestic horses number less than 20,000. Each year, the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association registers only 400 new foals in this country. These are very small numbers relative to other breeds. In fact, the Andalusian is one of the rarest breeds in the United States. As a result, many Americans have never seen an Andalusian, or, perhaps, have seen only a very few in person.

Luckily we have Hollywood's love affair with the Andalusian to thank for bringing this larger than life horse to the silver screen. The following is a partial list of movies that have scenes with Andalusian Horses: Legend, The Phantom, Zorro, Lord of the Rings, Battlefield Earth, Van Helsing, Man In The Iron Mask, Sleepy Hollow, Braveheart, The Patriot, Kingdom Of Heaven, The Three Musketeers, The Musketeer, Rob Roy, Ever After, First Knight, Bedazzled, The Brothers Grimm, LadyHawke, A Knights Tale, King Arthur, Merlin, Gladiator, Troy, and Alexander

The Andalusian horse is one of the most ancient horse breeds in the world with evidence of its existence on the Iberian Penninsula dating back to pre-historic cave paintings.  The Andalusian is called a Pura Raza Espanola (PRE) in Spain, which simply means The Pure Spanish Race. The term Andalusian is used in many countries to refer to the Spanish horse and it apparently arose from the fact that there are a concentrated number of stud farms located in Andalucia. 

The breeding is carefully regulated by The Jefatura de Cria Caballar who hold the Spanish State Studbooks where the ancestry of many horses can be traced back to the famous Cartujano lines established 600 years ago by the Carthusian monks.   Stud book accuracy is maintained through a long paper chain and every registered foal must be microchipped and its parentage verified both through DNA testing and microchip identification.   Then at 3 years and above, they must pass a strict exam (Revision) to be registered and approved for breeding (APTO) in the Spanish Stud Book.

Although the population of Andalusian horses in the UK (and internationally) is very small in comparison to other breeds, the Andalusian has captured the imagination of thousands with its overwhelming beauty, elegant carriage and wonderful temperament.  There are just over 500 registered Andalusians in the UK out of a total of 1.35 million horses kept privately in the UK.  Making up only 0.04% of the UK horse population, the Andalusian is one of the rarest breeds in the UK. 

The Andalusian has a small population, not only in the UK, but worldwide.  There are only about 12,500 pure bred Andalusian horses in Spain and only 4,000 Lusitanos in Portugal (IALHA).  Much of this rarity can be attributed to history and to European wars as the Iberian horse was the warhorse of choice and regarded without equal.  The compact conformation, strong neck, powerful hindlegs and strong hooves made the horse extremely resilient, flexible and agile.  Coupled with a trusting and kind disposition, the horse soon became the premier mount for royalty and grand riding academies were formed all over Europe where dressage and high school riding flourished with the Iberian horse at their foundation.  After 2,000 years of European warfare, the pool of Spanish and Portuguese was very small and the breed was threatened with extinction.  Consequently, exportation was very restricted and the export ban was only lifted in 1962.

Many other breeds have been founded and improved by the Spanish horse. The Lippizaner of the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, the Quarter Horse, Appaloosa, Connemara, Cleveland Bay and many others owe much of their characteristics to its strong and prolific genes. This can also be seen in the many part-breds of today giving to the equestrian world a variety of talented, spectacular horses that can successfully compete in any sphere.

The Andalusian breed is experiencing a rapid growth in popularity all over the World.  At present the old Carthusian bloodlines are much in demand as are the more “functional” bloodlines suitable for competitive dressage such as Escalera and Bohorquez.  Other breeders however, take pride in producing a very "classical" or “baroque” style horse, true descendants of the original Carthusian horses with their specific physique. The colour of the coat also influences the price of the horses. Some breeders are now specialising in producing bigger sporthorses types, particularly as horses are being exported to countries where riders are often taller than in Spain.  Big horses with a lot of bone are more expensive because they are harder to find.  In Spain dark coats are very much in vogue at the moment, whereas internationally grey coats are often preferred.

There are many revered bloodlines in Spain, however, these are some of the oldest and/or most prestigious:

• Hierro del Bocado (also known as Cartujanos or Carthusian lines from the Cartuja stud)

Founded in the XV century by Carthusian monks whose genetic heritage has been safeguarded to the present day.  Known for their baroque characteristics, extreme elevation, impulsion, beauty and gentle temperament.  Revered bocado breeders today include: Romero Benitez (who produced Invasor III who represented Spain in the Olympics), Cardenas, Guardiola, Roberto Osborne, Terry, Lovera, Pallarés, Urquijo and others.

• Escalera

One of the oldest and most prestigous bloodlines, famed for breeding bay horses of uniformity and functionality .  When the father died the son and daughter split the brand into Jose Luis de la Escalera and Maria Fernanda de la Escalera.  Escaleras have a little less elevation, but have better extension, impulsion and suspension and as such are sought after for dressage.

• Yeguada Militar

The Spanish Military Stud and the hallmark synonymous with quality in pedigree and performance.  Evento, the olympic dressage horse was bred by the YM and still stands at stud in Jerez.

• Guardiola

Famous carthusian lines bred in the salt marshes of the Guadalquivir.  Known for tradional flea bitten coats and black coats.

Typically an unregistered PRE is called an Andalusian or a 'Spanish type' horse, they do not have P.R.E. papers but do have their specific looks including the full mane and tail, and the elevated movements.

Lusitanos
Lusitanos are the Portguese Pure Bred horse, but originate from the same gene pool as the Andalusian or the Iberian horse and are also bred in Spain too.  The Portuguese started their own stud book to breed the characteristics they sought.  The Lusitano breed’s original purpose was also as a warhorse and later for bullfighting. The horses are noble, brave, powerful and quick, with compact conformation which inspired the description, "a horse for a King in days of victory".  Lusitanos range from the larger, heavier-set, Spanish-looking ones, to the more traditional, finer, agile, almost ethereal and "hotter" Veiga type.  A Lusitano is similar to an Andalusian, distinguishing features are a narrower and sub-convex head and a more slanting croup.  They are considered to be more serious than Andalusians with a great aptitude for concentration, whereas Andalusians are considered bolder and even more tolerant.

The main Lusitano origins are:

• Andrade (RA/SA)

Tall, powerful horses with rounded croup, nearly straight head profile and very functional elegants gaits.  Excellent fo bullfighting and dressage.

• Portuguese State Coudelaria Nacional (CN)

Longer, stronger horses with high croups that are very good for dressage and driving.

• Alter Real (AR)

Famous for breeding the bay horses used by the Portugues Riding School

• Veiga (MV)

The most typical characterisitics of a Lusitano with the convex heads, flat, thin legs with strong hocks, fantastic impulsion and beautiful, flexible necks.  Nervous and gallant.

Novilheiro is one of the most internationally famous lusitano stallions, who took the showjumping world by storm with John Whitaker.  He had Veiga and Andrade origins. Sylvia Loch, internationally-recognised classical rider, trainer, and judge and internationally published author of numerous books and videos on classical riding, is one of the most famous Lusitano enthusiasts and is considered an authority on the Iberian horse.

Cross-Breeds
Hispano-arabs (Andalusian cross Arab) are a strong, resilient type with great presence and beauty often bred for Doma Vaquera due to their strong quarters and ability turn on the haunches and accelerate at pace.  They make excellent all rounders and good endurance horses.  A Tres Sangres (meaning Three Bloods) is an Andalusian cross Anglo-Arab and is a cross favoured for the Bull Ring and Doma Vaquera: combining speed, height, beauty and strength.  Other notable crosses to be found are the Iberian horse crossed with Quarter Horse (also known as an Azteca) or a Percheron cross known as the Spanish-Norman, however, generally the Spanish are very loyal to the pure breed of their country and thoroughly devoted to securing its future.