You've seen him in museums, represented in marble statues and dark, dramatic oils. His proud, heavy neck arches with nobility, and his mane and tail cascade toward the ground. He bears riders whose names are fixtures in human history: El Cid, Hannibal and William the Conqueror. And there are many more.

He was the archetype for the wing-borne Pegasus of Greek myth many centuries ago, and even appeared as a mount in the Homeric ballads. His equine legacy knows no living match. He was present during the fall of Troy, stood by as the Greeks created the cornerstone of our civilization, and served the Romans in their conquest of Europe. This incredible animal whose portrait is so much a part of our world history is the Andalusian, a horse so beautiful and so profound, it's hard to believe he is actually flesh and blood.

Classical Heritage

The Andalusian breed "known in Portugal as the Lusitano" began with its prehistoric ancestors, whose images were painted on Spanish cave walls some 25,000 years ago. Although other prehistoric images of horses appear in European cave paintings, the images in Spain depict a horse that was led by humans, not hunted by them. For this reason, some experts think the ancestor of the Andalusian was the first horse to be domesticated on the European continent. These early Spanish horses remained on the Iberian Peninsula for centuries, their purity unspoiled. But when foreign invaders and their mounts landed on Spanish shores, the blood of the native horses became mixed with that of other breeds. Eventually, from this melding of bloodlines came a creature known through the continent of Europe as the Iberian Horse. This is the animal we now call the Andalusian, named for Andalucia, in the south of Spain.

These early Andalusians developed in the rugged Spanish countryside, wherenature gave them the ability to negotiate treacherous mountain terrain. They developed an agility and conformation that helped them not only survive in this harsh environment, but also become incredible horses of war. It wasn't long before the Iberian breed became known throughout the continent as a war horse extraordinaire. It was used in battle by the Greeks and Romans, and by the Carthaginians in the Punic Wars. Its popularity in this capacity knew no bounds until the Middle Ages, when it was slowly replaced by larger draft and warmblood horses needed to carry knights in heavy armor. The Andalusian did not die out though, despite its sudden fall from the warriors' grace. Those who appreciated the beauty and agility of this magnificent horse kept it going until the advent of firearms brought back its popularity for war.

There was a time when the future of the Andalusian was seriously jeopardized. In 1492, a series of wars between Spain and other countries had an effect on the breed's numbers. Then, centuries later, in the 1800s, there was a revolt against the Church, which controlled the country's major stud farms. A later revolution in 1936 only worsened the situation until eventually there were so few Andalusians left, Spain and Portugal restricted exportation of the breed and began an effort to rebuild it.

Despite its brush with extinction, the breed managed to maintain a stature that would touch the world over. During the Renaissance, the first military riding schools were created, and here the art of dressage was born. Based on the maneuvers of battle, this discipline was made for the Andalusian, who had the awesome ability to perform them with breathtaking skill. It was here that the Andalusian gained considerable influence, and was in turn used to create a number of other breeds. Two of these are the Lipizzan and Friesian, both of European origin. But the Andalusian's importance reached beyond its native shores. Eventually, in both South and North America, the Andalusian contributed to the birth of other breeds like the Peruvian Paso, Paso Fino and American Quarter Horse.

Preserving the Breed

What is so amazing about the Andalusian is that this horse of history is still here today, in much the same form as in the past. Look at a stallion of the breed, and you will see it: the thick, arched neck; the convex profile; the gloriously long mane and tail; the short-coupled, muscular body; the unmistakable high leg action. Compare this modern image with that of the horse seen in classical European art, and it's nearly the exact same horse.

Part of the reason for this longevity is the breed's obvious ability to reproduce itself. There's no mistaking an Andalusian, or even a half- Andalusian. But probably the biggest reason for the breed's continued purity is the people who love it. In Spain, the Andalusian is carefully protected. The Spanish military is responsible for preserving the purity of the breed, in keeping with historical tradition. An organization within the military, called the Cria Caballar, maintains the country's Stud Book. Only approved animals may enter the Stud Book, and in turn propagate the breed. To be approved, a horse must be "revised" by a three member group: one veterinarian, one breeder, and one member of the Cria Caballar itself.

Here in the United States, the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) is recognized by Spain as the group responsible for maintaining the purity of the Andalusian breed. The rules are such: Any horse registered with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association must have a paper trail of registration certificates and transfers that trace the horse's pedigree back to Spanish or Portuguese papers. While the IALHA now stands strong as guardians of the breed, there was a time when lovers of the breed found themselves divided into two separate registries. The American Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association had been in existence for 35 years, while the International Andalusian Horse Association for 25. In 1995, as part of the effort to preserve and promote the Andalusian horse, the two groups came together and merged. The result is the IALHA. "It made a lot more sense for the breed to have one voice," says Joe Skelton, president of the IALHA. "While there have been some ups and down, it was a very positive move for the breed overall."

While lovers of the breed stand strong as one voice, the Andalusian still suffers from some anonymity. There are horse people in North America who have never laid eyes on this magnificent animal, even though most have heard of it. The reason for this is simple. There are only about 2,500 Andalusians in the United States, and most of those horses are concentrated in Texas and California. Here in America, the Andalusian is a rare breed. Things are only a little bit better in its native country. While there are significantly more horses there - 12,500 in Spain and 4,000 in Portugal -the numbers are relatively small compared to other breeds.

According to the IALHA, however, the breed is growing rapidly in popularity in North America. The organization saw a large increase in membership in 1997, and notices a strong trend among horse people to cross the Andalusian with other breeds. Because there are so many new people entering the breed these days, the IALHA has started an educational program designed to help them understand the historical conformation and temperament of the Andalusian. "We felt there was a real necessity and need for this, with so many new people getting involved in the breed," says Skelton. The educational program takes the form of clinics for judges, breeders and owners in several cities in the U.S. The first clinic, conducted by Don Francisco Daza, a prominent Spanish breeder and judge at the last two National Championship shows in Spain, focused on the characteristics of the breed and their relationship to the breed's athletic abilities. The association is planning more of these clinics in the future.

In addition to the club's involvement with breed preservation, a group of American breeders has also formed a coalition that has been recognized by the Spanish Cria Caballar. Horses produced by these breeders are eligible for approval for entry into the Spanish Stud Book, provided they pass review by a Spanish three-member group.

It's obvious that Andalusian breeders take their job as guardians of the breed seriously. "The equine breeders whose horses are found in the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association Registry have an awesome responsibility in the New World,‰ says Graham Kaye-Eddie, an Andalusian breeder and owner of Gremlan Farms in Bakersfield, California. "As breeders of Pura Raza Espanola and Pura Sanguine Lusitano in the United States of America, they continue the genetics and breeding standards for these ancient and historically significant purebred Baroque horses."

Worth Saving

There's a good reason for all this effort to keep the Andalusian pure. Take one look at this horse and you'll understand. Technically speaking, the Andalusian is a moderately sized horse, standing anywhere from 15.2 to 16.2 hands. He has a head of medium length with a slightly convex or straight profile. His forehead is broad, and his eyes are oval. His neck is long and broad, and his mane thick. A short back is desired in the breed, with broad quarters and a rounded croup. Most Andalusians are grey or white; a few are bay, and even less are black.

In this breed, the head is important. "It is the beautiful head that specifically outlines the racial characteristics of each pure-bred line," says Kaye-Eddie. "The eyes set in a triangulated orbital arch, the upright yet rounded outer edge shape of the ears, the long narrow (inverted comma) nostrils, the almost prehensile-shaped longer upper lip forming a rounded profile with a proportionately rounded jowl have been measured extensively for hundreds of years."

But the Andalusian is much more than just a beautiful head and the sum of its parts. There is something incredibly regal about this horse, in the way it carries itself and the way it moves. There is a spirit there that is hard to define, a sense of confidence and majesty that can only exist in an animal who has undergone centuries of fine breeding.

Modern Uses

The Andalusian is rich in heritage, but what can it do in today's world? Plenty. Though they are few in numbers, the breed is being seen in a variety of disciplines, in show rings throughout the country.

Many horse lovers had the pleasure of seeing the Andalusian perform at the most recent summer Olympic and World Cup competitions. At these events, Andalusians and Lusitanos competed successfully in dressage and carriage driving against world-class competition.

Here at home, the Andalusian is proving its versatility. The breed is being shown in western pleasure classes, as well as hunter and English pleasure events. A number of Andalusian owners drive their horses, while still others show them in trail classes. In fact, the Andalusian's legacy as a Spanish mountain dweller makes it especially suited for trail riding, and a number of owners do little more than simply ask their Andalusians for companionship on the trail. But dressage is the discipline where the breed is starting to really shine, and rightly so. Classical dressage was created centuries ago with the Pure Spanish Horse in mind, and now the Andalusian is making itself noticed in the dressage ring alongside other more popular breeds. "We are now holding dressage tests at Andalusian and Lusitano breed shows, and are also seeing the breed fare well at open breed dressage," says Skelton.

It is quite a treat to watch the Andalusian perform the maneuvers of dressage, given the breed's conformation, beauty and spirit. He is a natural acrobat, a creature of profound grace, and the picture of equine elegance. He is, after all, the Andalusian.  (c)2002 PETsMART.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved