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Dedicated to the welfare of the Andalusian Horse in Canada

www.CanadianAndalusian.org – canadianandalusianhorse@gmail.com

THE ANDALUSIAN HORSE’S INFLUENCE ON SPANISH HISTORY

AND CULTURE

The ‘Andalusian’ is an ancient name that has been used since the 4th century BC to

describe the horses from the Iberian Peninsula (modern day southern Portugal and

Spain). In early history, the entire peninsula was called ‘Andaluz’. This horse has

been known by many names throughout history but has always been spoken of

with respect for its uncanny agility, courage, presence, tractability and beauty.

If you’ve ever been to Spain, it is easy to see that these magnificent horses have

played a critical role in the formation of Spanish culture… and even its livelihood.

THE WAR HORSE

The Andalusian horse has been documented throughout European history and, by

450 BC, was praised as the finest horse of war by the Romans and Greeks in

ancient times.

Xenophon, considered by most as the founder of classical equitation, wrote of the

Iberian horses that they had the ability to gather the hind legs under the fore,

falling back on their hocks and raising the forehand, so that the belly can be seen

from the front. This ability, which we now call collection, was impressive in that it

allowed warhorses to be swift and agile and to stop and turn quickly in any

direction. The Iberian horses and their riders undoubtedly gave Xenophon his first

glimpse of classical riding. Iberian cavalry was one of the most important weapons

of generals from Hannibal to Julius Caesar. The Iberian horse both shaped the way

mounted warfare was conducted and was shaped by it. Its speed, agility, and

courage were unequalled and lent themselves to the mastery of mounted fighting.

The Romans were so impressed by the Iberian Celts that, after meeting them in

battle, they adopted both their weapons and fighting style and set up remount

breeding stations for their legions in Baetica (modern Andalucia) to take advantage

of the fine horses to be found there. There is also mention of mares brought from

the Tagus valley region (Portugal) who were described by Pliny the Elder, a Roman

cavalry officer and writer, as “fine, docile and impregnated by the west wind,

(which) brought forth offspring of surprising fleetness.”

The Roman cavalry used the natural agility, flexibility, collection and willingness of

the Iberian horses to great advantage. The horses were presented in battle

formation, tightly ranked together, in shoulder-in position with shields to the fore.

This allowed the shield to protect both horse and rider, presenting little to an

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opposing enemy to hit while allowing the rider’s lance or javelin to be used

effectively. These horses were also able to perform the spectacular movements of

defence and offence we now call the “Airs Above the Ground.”

The Andalusian’s famed ability as a warhorse was to spread and grow with history.

The horse became the favoured mount of most European kings and generals. By

the middle ages, the Spanish horse was spread throughout Europe in the stables of

every king.

Spanish battle stallion

THE HORSE OF KINGS

In 1527, King Philip II wrote a Royal Decree proclaiming them “The Horse of

Spain”. Then, using taxpayer funding to finance a new breeding program with the

justification that the new breed would represent an abundance of public wealth,

choice horses were brought to the royal stables in Cordoba and the most intensive

breeding program in history was begun. Philip’s purpose was to create a horse that

was purely Spanish and the result was a breed that became the most prized by all

European monarchies. It was at this time that the Andalusian horse truly became

the people’s horse and a source of national pride for Spain.

King Philip II Louis XIII Louis XIII

Royals began giving these horses as gifts to each other - Henry VIII (1491 – 1547)

and Charles V (1500 – 1558) would often send each other Andalusian stallions as

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honourable gifts. By 1575, a third of the horses belonging to the royal families of

Europe were Andalusians. Louis XIII (1601-1643) and Louis XIV (1638-1715)

preferred the Spanish horse to others and were often seen painted in portraits with

their favourite Andalusian stallion.

Charles I Charles V Louis XIV

These horses continued to be used as currency and as gifts between nobleman and

royalty throughout the 17th and 18th centuries during which time countries would

acquire Andalusian mares or stallions at very high prices to use as base breeding

stock and create their own breeding programs with their own native stock.

THE CARTUJANO HORSE

It is unclear how the Cartujano, or Carthusian, line of Andalusians began. Some

say it was around the time that Don Alvaro Obertus de la Valeto willed to the

monks of the Carthusian order approximately 40 square kilometers of land outside

the city Jerez de la Frontera in 1476. And some say it was more likely that the

horse breeding by the Carthusian monks began around 1730 when they impounded

the horses of a debtor, Pedro Picasso, who, in 1682, had taken over the horse

breeding farm of the Zamora brothers. The ‘Zamoranos’, as the horses were called,

were considered to be a certain quality and type of horse that were highly sought.

Regardless, because the monks were able to read and write, some of the oldest

pedigrees for the breed come out of Carthusian monasteries. The monks also were

largely responsible for keeping records of the commercial breeding for members of

the nobility.

After the French invasion of Spain in 1808, Napoleon seized all valuable horses to

use as breeding stock back in his homeland. The Carthusian monks successfully hid

and secured many of their horses and spared them this fate.

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However, in 1834, all church properties in Spain were nationalized and the

Carthusian monks were forced to give up their “Carthusian horses” or “Cartujanos”.

The monks gave parts of their stud to various breeders from the Jerez de la

Frontera area which changed hands several times over the years (see photo below).

History of the Cartujano horse (as seen on the wall at Yeguada de la Cartuja)

In 1990, the Spanish government decided to keep the Carthusian breed officially as

a cultural heritage site and founded the State-owned company Expasa which took

over the stud and the Bocado brand and named it “Yeguada de la Cartuja – Hierro

del Bocado”. Today, this site is open for tours on a seasonal basis by visitors. The

Yeguada puts on a fabulous exhibition of their horses to the crowds.

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Exhibition of a cobra of 12 mares, handled by 2 men riding stallions, at Yeguada de la Cartuja

THE SPANISH MILITARY

In 1847, the Spanish Military created state stud farms for breeding Andalusian war

horses. Once the need for war horses declined in the 20th century, the Military

focused on genetic improver stock for the breed and to stand quality stallions to the

public.

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For almost 100 years, the Spanish Government managed the studbook for the

breed for all breeders of Spanish horses. In 2007, the Spanish government gave

management of the studbook to Spain’s largest breed association, ANCCE

(Asociacion de Criadores de Caballos Españoles).

FARMING

Traditionally, Andalusians were used for farming and as carriage/driving horses.

The mares were used for ‘la trilla’ which is the traditional practice of threshing corn.

The mares, often with babies at their sides, were linked together in groups using

neck collars with bells and moved around, by someone on foot or horseback, over

an enclosed area filled with corn. It became a test of endurance and willingness for

the maternal line for breeding purposes because the mares had to walk and trot all

day. In modern times, mares can be shown in ‘cobras’ in resemblance to the days

of ‘la trilla’.

‘La trilla’

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Modern ‘Cobras’ of mares

The stallions, known for their bravery as warhorses for the Spanish cavalry, made

them ideal riding horses, cattle horses, and herders for Iberian bulls.

LA GARROCHA

If you’ve seen a live garrocha performance just once in your life, you will never

forget it. It is an amazing artistic blending of skills of both a horse and a horseman

displayed in a beautiful dance accompanied by the emotion of a Spanish guitar.

And, if you’re lucky, there might be some flamenco dancers in the performance,

too. But La Garrocha’s history isn’t all innocent.

Centuries ago, the garrocha was used as a weapon for those mounted on horseback

during battles. These lances were sharply pointed with the intention to both

dismount and/or injure/kill opposing riders. But once the era of mounted cavalry

diminished, the weapons, which numbered in the thousands, searched for a new

purpose. The sharp end was blunted and then used by the vaquero (cowboys) on

farms to move and sort cattle. It was used as an alternative to roping and to help

herd and separate stock as well as to keep the bulls off the horses while riding

around the pastures on stock checks.

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The garrocha is especially useful with handling and testing of the bulls used for

bullfighting. The length of the pole gives protection to the horse and rider while the

limited flexibility of the pole can either provoke a fight or flight response from the

bull. The reaction of the bull gives vaquero the ability to gauge the bull’s suitability

for the bullfighting ring.

The garrocha is also used in competition called ‘acoso y derribo’. This is where two

men on horseback chase a bull and, with one rider keeping the bull running straight

(the amparador), the rider with the garrocha (the garrochista) uses it to knock the

bull down with a single clean push.

THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF EQUESTRIAN ART

The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art or “Fundación Real Escuela Andaluza

del Arte Ecuestre” is an institution located in Jerez de la Frontera and is known all over the world for its devotion to conserving the ancestral qualities and abilities of

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the Andalusian horse, maintaining the classical traditions of Spanish classical

horsemanship, preparing horses and riders for international dressage competitions, and providing education in all aspects of horsemanship, driving, blacksmithing, the

care and breeding of horses, saddlery, and the manufacture and care of horse

harnesses.

Like the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, the Royal Andalusian School is well

known for its "dancing stallions" exhibitions put on for the public which are a unique

demonstration of the work which the institution has carried out since its establishment.

In May of 1973, his Majesty King Juan Carlos I – then Crown Prince of Spain –

awarded Don Alvaro Domecq Romero the 'Caballo de Oro' (Golden Horse) trophy in

Jerez de la Frontera. This is the most prestigious equestrian trophy awarded annually in Spain in recognition of dedication to, and work carried out in favour of,

the horse. In honour of this award, Alvaro Domecq presented his show "How the

Andalusian Horses Dance" for the very first time, and this event represents the origin of the Royal School of Equestrian Art.

Although the Royal School’s exhibition "How the Andalusian Horses Dance" is

considered the maximum exponent of the School's work, there are other aspects which are regarded as equally, or even more important, for the Institution.

Among these, the school’s role as a social and cultural vehicle for Spain’s

equestrian heritage, the selection and promotion of horses, the training of Haute École riders, the preservation and promotion of Classical and Country Dressage

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(Doma Vaquera), maintaining the prestige of horsemanship, the breed of Spain’s

Spanish horses, Spanish traditions and culture.

Sources:

https://spanishspeakingworld-

12b.wikispaces.com/Andalusian+Horses?responseToken=27fc1a13dceb5cc88cbf47cd2d17f903

http://cartujano-pre.de/en/cartujano/die-pferdezucht-philipps-ii/

http://andalusiansdemythos.com/breed/index_files/page3.htm

http://www.viva-iberica.com/printable/The%20Cobra.pdf

https://www.realescuela.org/en/historia.cfm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeguada_Militar_de_Jerez_de_la_Frontera

http://poetasmuertosjinetes.blogspot.ca/2011/09/cria-caballar.html

http://www.equusite.com/articles/breed/breedAndalusianInfo.shtml

http://www.spanishvisionfarm.com/Articles/History/conquistadors.html

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/features/sh-spanishhorses.shtml#axzz4pqG9PiK2

http://www.bapsh.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Yeguada-Militar-Article-by-Terry-Waechter.pdf

Photos:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/92/62/17/926217efc600686408830831f977c467.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/48/e0/12/48e0123b84fc7e63313863636d3e6608.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/48/e0/12/48e0123b84fc7e63313863636d3e6608.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/de/9f/1a/de9f1a8383cf1cfb57de795d298f3ba8.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/21/62/c6/2162c6bae8ef27d667a78192572cf826.jpg

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XktawY1oj4E/U5n062HRAaI/AAAAAAAAYBE/3yFqDB5MXg4/s640/1+jerez.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeguada_Militar_de_Jerez_de_la_Frontera#/media/File:Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Spanis

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