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Andalusian Horses

The history of Andalusian horses (aka purebred Spanish horse) is the history of Spain, and it is hard to imagine Spain and Portugal without these magnificent animals. The Andalusian stallion is virtually an icon on the Iberian peninsula, and the Andalusian horse has been a staple of Spanish and Portuguese society for as long as anyone can remember. Their roots go back to prehistoric times. In Southern Spain Cave paintings of horses have been found that are considered the foundation of this breed.

Average size: 15.1 to 15.3 hands

Like the American quarter horse, the history of Andalusian horses is tied up with that of the cattle that they were used to round up. In the case of the Andalusian horse, however, those cattle were the ferocious fighting bulls of Spain and Portugal, and even today the Andalusian horse is the preferred mount of the Spanish, Portuguese and Mexican bullfighters who fight from horseback.

80% of all Andalusians are grey or white. Other colors are bay and black. Andalusian horses are one of the purest breeds in the world. In the 19th century Andalusians were bred by Carthusian monks, who guarded the purity of the breed.

The real beauty of Andalusian horses, however, is their versatility, and the Andalusian horse is as at home in the dressage arena as he is in the bullring. The Andalusian stallion excels at the movements of high school dressage, and his strong hindquarters and short-coupled build make him perfectly designed for more difficult dressage moves like the piaffe and the passage. There is little wonder that Andalusian horses are so popular, not only in Spain but in the rest of the world as well.