As can be deduced from its name, the Andalusian horse comes from Andalusia (Spain) where it appeared thousands of years ago, thus constituting one of the oldest breeds of horses in the world. In Spain, it is known as the "Spanish Horse" or "Spanish Thoroughbred" , being the nation's most emblematic breed of horse, despite the fact that there are other breeds that originated in Spain. These horses are a historical reference, because in addition to being the precursors of many other breeds of horses, they aroused, in the past, the admiration of many monarchs.Do you want to know the Andalusian horse? On PlanèteAnimal, we talk to you in detail about this breed of horse. Happy reading!
Origin
- Europe
- Spain
Origin of the Andalusian horse
The Andalusian horse is a direct descendant of the Iberian horse, that is to say endemic to Spain. It is a horse with more than 20,000 years of history and whose origins are distant. The Andalusian horse already existed at the end of the Neolithic period, when it began to be domesticated and ridden by warriors and nomadic tribes.
During the Roman period, these horses were very popular, participating in Roman circuses and being crossed with other breeds of horses of which they are the precursors. Some of these breeds are now well known and recognized around the world such as Mustang, Hispano-Arab or Frisian. But in order to preserve the purity of the breed, it was forbidden, from the 12th to the 19th century, to cross Andalusian horses with other breeds of horses.These horses were highly valued by nobles, who paid huge sums to obtain the "purest" specimens.
During the 18th century, due to the popularity of horse racing, the breed experienced a slight decline, with lightweight horses being preferred. However, she quickly recovered and in 1912 these purebred horses were registered for the first time, forming the National Association of Spanish Horse Breeders (ANCEE) in Seville in 1972.
Physical characteristics of the Andalusian horse
The Andalusian horse is a medium-sized horse, with a height at the withers between 155 and 175 centimeters and a weight between 400 and 650 kilograms. These horses have a life expectancy of between 20 and 35 years. The body of these horses is muscular and of harmonious and elegant proportions. Their chest is broad, their back is strong, wide and relatively short. The legs of this horse are long and very strong.Its tail is long and thick, as well as its mane, elegant, and low bearing.
The head is medium in size, in proportion to the rest of the body, with lively and expressive eyes, black or brown. It is surmounted by medium-sized, mobile, triangular-shaped ears. As for the coat, it can have different colors, although the most common and popular is the thrush. Almost all other colors are accepted, although dark colors are more popular.
Character and behavior of the Andalusian horse
Andalusian horses are generally impetuous and have their own strong character, but they are easy to tame, as they are docile and obedient if you work with them with patience and respect. In addition, this training will be facilitated by their great ease of learning and their notorious intelligence.
They are also very brave and somewhat daring horses, strong and resistant to the high temperatures reached in Andalusian summers.It is also worth noting their ability to quickly right themselves when they make great efforts. The Andalusian horse has a very balanced character.
Andalusian horse care
We will start with the care of the Andalusian horse talking about its diet, because like any other horse, this animal must receive a balanced and quality diet, consisting of hay, vegetables and grass. Exceptionally, horse feed may be offered, although it is not fully recommended, especially for continued use. The amount of daily food should be 2-3% of the animal's weight, depending on the amount and intensity of exercise performed. Fresh, clean water should also be available at all times.
Another aspect that will require our attention will be the hygiene and grooming tasks, among which we must wash our horse at least once a day, being very scrupulous with the drying if we are in winter, while in summer we recommend two showers and letting them dry naturally, refreshing them and protecting them from high temperatures.After these baths, we must do a good brushing, especially in their dense manes, which tangle easily and are often braided. We will also spend some time keeping their long tail free of tangles and dirt. As for their hooves, we will use a special brush and oil to keep them he althy, stimulating their growth and preventing dirt accumulation and infections.
Andalusian horse he alth
The Andalusian horse is susceptible to disease, like all other horse breeds. However, they have no known hereditary diseases and they are generally a strong breed that recovers easily from most ailments. Among the most common diseases of the horse, we must highlight colic, gastrointestinal diseases and dental abscesses.
In order to avoid and prevent the appearance of he alth problems, it will be essential to offer good care to the horse, and in addition, it will be advisable to carry out preventive veterinary visits every 6 or 12 months, during which we will follow the horse's vaccination schedule prescribed by our specialist.We will also carry out periodic deworming and any other treatment that the veterinarian advises us.
Bibliography- Dirección General de Investigación y Formación Agraria. (March 1992). El caballo Español. 05.08.2019, from Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Agricultura y Pesca. Website: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/export/drupaljda/1337170143El_Caballo_Espaxol__BAJA.pdf
- SICAB - Salon Internacional del Caballo. Website: http://www.sicab.org/
- ANCCE - Asociación Nacional de Caballos de Pura Raza Española, PRE. Website: https://www.ancce.es/
Andalusian Horse Pictures
