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The Pure Spanish
Portuguese Andalusian
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Spartacus owned by Linda Crull |
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A Connoisseur's Andalusian
"During pre-history, the Iberian Peninsula was
populated by …the famous genets of the south of the
Peninsula found primarily between the Tagus River
(located in what is now the Ribatejo region of Portugal)
and the Guadaquivir River (located what is now Andalucia,
Spain)…Exchanges of horses between the two areas were
common at all times during the long history of the
Iberian Peninsula, and, prior to the official division
of the Stud Books, neither party disdained buying a
breeding animal from their neighbor. All these horses
come from the same ethnic stock."
- Michel Henriquet,
The Pure Spanish Portuguese Andalusian (PSP)
is the oldest definition of an Andalusian, that being
with no distinction between the Spanish and Portuguese
blood. This was the horse that before the 1960s and
throughout history was known as the Andalusian, The
Horse of Kings, The Royal Horse of Europe, the Iberian
Horse, etc. The PSP Andalusian represents the ancient
Iberian horse and was one of the original Andalusian
bloodlines imported to the US. Only 17 percent of the
IALHA registry is comprised of the PSP making these
bloodlines more difficult to find. Being the "Best
of Both Worlds," the PSP has a great many benefits
to offer the modern day equestrienne and the genetics of
the modern horse.
The first registered Andalusians imported to the U.S. in
the early 1960's from Spain were mostly pure Spanish,
but a few were a mix of Spanish and Portuguese
bloodlines. A few years later a handful of Lusitanos
entered the U.S. from Portugal. In the mid-1960s when
Spain closed their studbook and a few years later the
Portuguese did the same, they renamed their horses Pura
Raza Espanol (PRE) and Puro Sangue Lusitano (PSL)
respectively. In effect they began two new breeds based
on the original Iberian Horse. The "Andalusians"
of mixed Portuguese and Spanish blood were no longer
under the control of these books, but they are still
recognized and registered by the International
Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association for what they
are, purebred Andalusians of the oldest and finest
tradition of that ancient breed.
Many breeders of the Pure Spanish Portuguese Andalusian
have been involved with Andalusians from those early
days and see very little distinction between the three
bloodlines recognized by the IALHA. As these breeders
watch the PRE and PSL diverge further into different
directions, some feel that the PSP is now the foundation
of the true ancient Iberian Horse. For many, they are
all PSP's because how can you go back and sort the genes
from before the studbooks even began?
Some people think of the PSP as the American Andalusian.
What could be further from the truth! The
Spanish/Portuguese horse was imported to the U.S. from
Spain and registered in that country as an Andalusian.
But, certainly America is their adoptive home as the
IALHA, which registers them, is an American-based
registry. PSP breeders see themselves as
preservationists, just like the Foundation Quarter Horse
and Arabian people stayed truer to the origins of those
breeds.
There are other breeders around the world though who
have continued to breed the PSP, as well. One of those
is Dr. Alvaro Lebrija of Mexico who in 1972 imported the
reigning Spanish Champion Stallion and many of the
Champion mares to Mexico to be his foundation stock.
Several of those mares were Lusitano (in the early 1970s
the PRE and PSL still competed together in Spain and
Portugal). Since Dr. Lebrija was the leading supplier of
fighting bulls for the Mexican bullrings, these horses
were meant primarily to be bullfighting horses. Dr.
Lebrija continues to breed the Pure Spanish Portuguese
Andalusian to this day.
In France, Catherine Campaigne crossed the Champion of
Spain, Allegre XIX on the renowned Lusitano mares of
Roger Bouzin to create fabulous open dressage horses. At
the time, other breeders told her it was a
"mistake" to breed the PRE and PSL together.
But Catherine had faith in her decision and went on to
great success.
Most PSP aficionados see more difference among the
respective breeders of the PRE and PSL than among the
PRE, PSL, and PSP. In other words, the differences
between the Spanish breeders Cardenas, Escalera, Terry;
or the Lusitano breeders Andrade and Veiga; are as great
if not greater than the differences between the PRE, PSL,
and PSP.
The quality of the Pure Spanish Portuguese Andalusian
speaks for itself in his many National Championships and
growing popularity despite the backing of any country,
large breeding group, or "seal of approval."
The PSP breeders have always had confidence in the
integrity of their horses to quietly continue breeding
these fine animals for themselves and for posterity.
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