Andalusian horse: description of the breed, pros and cons, rules of keeping

Andalusians are among the elite horse breeds, famous for their spectacular exterior, endurance, easy movement, agility and agility. Breed improvement has been practiced in Spain for many centuries. As a result, the Andalusian (Pura Raza Espanola) horse turned into a graceful animal, the best for ceremonial trips and military operations. Nowadays, Andalusians win equestrian competitions, are bred for walking and pleasure.

Origin

The ancestors of the Andalusian horse were the wild horses of southern Spain, and the name corresponds to the province (Andalusia) where the animals were bred.The breed was formed 2-3 millennia, it is one of the oldest types of horses. The turbulent history of the Iberian Peninsula had a significant impact on the development of the breed - after the capture of the territory by the Moors, local horses were crossed with Barbary horses. Frankish and Germanic horses also contributed to improving the characteristics of local animals.

In the 15th century, Andalusian horses gained European fame and served to improve many breeds of horses. The Andalusians had impressive working and external data, thanks to their easy handling and maneuverability they were ideal in battle. Royal houses and the top of the aristocracy used Andalusian horses for parade trips. Bold and hardy horses helped the conquistadors conquer America.

Pros and cons of the Andalusian

For many years, with the help of the Andalusian horse, the status of European horses was corrected, used to improve many breeds. Beauty, grace, an unusual move with a high rise of the front legs makes the Andalusians an adornment of parades, shows.

The horse is classified as a universal breed. Andalusians are hot and temperamental, but obedient, obey the rider well, quick-witted, willingly follow commands. The combination of agility and agility, attachment to the owner, learning ability - the properties of elite horses with impressive intelligence and good docile disposition.

Cons of Andalusian riding horses:

Training and training of horses begins at 3-4 years old, Andalusians do not belong to precocious breeds.
High prices for horses, late training make the business unprofitable. It is difficult to sell an expensive thoroughbred Andalusian in Russia.
Horses are not used at the races.
Horses are thermophilic and require regular walking. In winter, the Andalusian needs insulated stables, blankets to go outside.
Horses of light color often suffer from skin diseases.

Andalusian horses are actively bred in Spain and many countries, their number in the world exceeds 200 thousand heads.

Features and description of the Andalusian horse

The horses of the Andalusian breed are distinguished by a peculiar step due to the structure of the limbs and body - the front legs rise to the chest, the croup is smooth and compact. Features of addition and training turn every exit of a purebred Andalusian into a breathtaking spectacle, almost a dance. The shift of the center of gravity to the croup gives the horses mobility and easy handling, which was a plus in battle.

Exterior

The rounded croup of the horse is reminiscent of the presence of oriental blood in Andalusian horses. The Spaniards differ from the Arabian and Akhal-Teke horses in their power and larger body. Exterior features:

height - 1.5-1.6 meters;
medium-sized head with a slight curve of the nose;
high neck with a comb and a noble fit of the head;
back straight, croup rounded, tail set low;
broad chest with pronounced muscles;
legs of medium length, dry, with strong large hooves;
almond eyes;
mane, bangs, tail - lush, silky.

The horse gives the impression of power and grace at the same time, smart eyes indicate intelligence, quick wits. The weight of the Andalusian is 400 kilograms.

Varieties of the color of Spanish horses

75-80% of all gray Andalusian horses. The stud book also allows other colors, among which black and bay colors predominate.

Temper and learning ability of the animal

Andalusians have a hot Spanish temperament, but are easy to train, distinguished by devotion to the owner. The main features of the horses:

courage, fearlessness, persistent character;
discipline, the ability to quickly execute commands, obedience and willingness to work;
high intelligence, quick learner, ability to behave with dignity - Andalusians will not be confused with a large crowd of people at parades, shows;
hard work, endurance, willingness to share with a person the difficulties of a long hike.

Andalusians live in close contact with man for many centuries. Long-term selection and harsh upbringing led to the development of devotion and fidelity in animals, the ability to quickly and accurately execute commands, and serve the owner. Riding horses can walk in a harness, participate in a retro carriage show at home.

Reference: learning a new element should take an Andalusian no more than 20-30 minutes a day.

Wildlifestyle

The horses of the Andalusian breed have long been tamed, they do not live in nature, they do not need to look for food on their own. They are hardy, he althy animals that are kept and trained under harsh conditions. Andalusians have been brought up by man for centuries, and weaned from the wild, despite their endurance and original adaptability to living in the Pyrenees.

Where apply

In recent years, interest in breeding Andalusian horses has grown. Handsome horses, having lost their military and representative significance, have found new areas of application:

spectacular shows, parades, processions and carnivals;
circus performances;
horseback riding, tourism;
sports - dressage, show jumping, driving;
mounted police;
entertainment for children, rehabilitation of patients.

For many years, Andalusians have been bred and trained for bullfighting, Spain's national show. Nimble, disciplined, smart horses have repeatedly saved people from bulls, demonstrating courage, endurance and devotion to the owner. We althy owners of country houses keep Andulusians for entertainment, prestige, pleasant walks in the fresh air.

Features content horse

Andalusians come from hot Spain, they are thermophilic, they need warm stables and enhanced nutrition when the temperature drops to -5 °. Horse breeders consider the cultivation of expensive horses in Russia unprofitable, they breed horses out of love for beautiful animals.

Arrangement of the stable

Free-spirited horses require an individual stall with high partitions and sufficient area (9 square meters). The height of the stable is at least 3 meters. The room is equipped with a ventilation system, do not allow high humidity and overheating of animals.A feeder and a drinker are installed in the stalls, they provide illumination for 9 hours in winter and 13 hours in summer. The cool floor is made waterproof, covered with dry straw, which is changed regularly.

Feeding and watering

When feeding, they observe the regimen so that the Andalusians do not have problems with digestion. After eating, the horses are allowed to rest. Horses are watered 3 times a day, the volume of water is 30 liters in the cold season, 50 liters in the warm season. High quality food is chosen, laid out in carefully cleaned feeders.

Basic diet

Most of the diet is solid food:

hay, straw;
cereals without strong grinding - oats, rye, wheat;
legumes (peas, vetch);
root vegetables - carrots, potatoes;
apples.

Food high in sugar (beets, molasses), protein and barley is not recommended.

Feeding standards - 2-3 kilograms of feed per centner of animal weight. The diet is made up using different types of feed - rich in fiber, minerals, trace elements. Horses are given water before feeding.

Green juicy fodder Andalusians get when grazing or in the form of haylage. It is important to include bran rich in phosphorus, B vitamins in the diet.

Food supplements

Industrial mixtures can provide horses with substances that are not enough in the feed. The following additives are used:

cake, meal - corn, flax, soy;
for young and weakened horses products of animal origin - bone, fishmeal, reverse;
s alt, chalk;
fish oil;
yeast.

Premixes are given to horses to improve their appearance, to support animals in the winter, when in the absence of fresh herbs there is a lack of vitamins, the he alth of horses worsens.

Hygiene and horse care

Daily care protects the horse from infections, prevents skin diseases, abrasions from the saddle and harness. The horse is tied before cleaning or an assistant is called. Essential care items:

cleaning hooves, cleaning dirt from under horseshoes;
sides and withers are cleaned with a rubber scraper;
soft brush clean the face, ears, knees, crotch;
with a stiff brush from the neck to the tail, remove dead hair, dirt on the back.

The muzzle is washed with a sponge or microfiber, the mane and tail are combed. Once a week, the hooves are thoroughly cleaned using special hooks and hard brushes.

Grazing

Physical activity is an indispensable condition for the physical development and he alth of Andalusian horses. It is necessary to walk them even in frosty weather. Horses are taken out in a blanket that does not let water through. For the convenience of walking, paddocks are equipped, fenced glades or a meadow for grazing are provided.

Horseshoe

Check the quality of horseshoes on a horse daily before and after physical exertion in order to track problems in time and avoid injury to the hooves. Andalusians, who are intended for dressage, put horseshoes on their front hooves, the rest of the horses are forged all legs. The frequency of changing horseshoes is once every one and a half months.

During the year, they choose a time for the Andalusian to rest and run without horseshoes.

Disease prevention

The best preventive measures are daily care, inspection, hygiene and cleaning. Compiling a complete diet with nutritional supplements will help to avoid digestive problems, keep the horse in good physical shape and good mood.

Danger for Andalusians are colds during the cold season. Walk horses in blankets, protect from drafts in the stables, change the bedding. Regularly inspect the horse's hooves, monitor the condition of the skin.

Breeding

Andalusians are versatile horses, they can walk under the saddle, perform different work. The high price makes horses unsuitable for breeding for meat and milk and performing draft work. English horses are bred for racing.

Andalusians are traditionally bred for use in certain sports - show jumping, dressage. Seasoned obedient horses proved to be excellent in driving. The Andalusian horse is in demand among the owners of private stables, companies organizing shows and horse trips. Tourist organizations purchase horses for walks and cross-country hikes.

Where to buy and how much?

Andalusians are bred by many stud farms in Europe, USA, Mexico and other countries. You can buy a horse:

at the breeding stud farm - the most reliable place where they will provide a true pedigree, talk about the features of the Andalusian;
at exhibitions;
through equestrian clubs that cooperate with breeding farms;
in private farms - with the risk of overpaying and getting low-quality goods.

Prices for thoroughbred horses are high, depending on the pedigree, training, age, and many other indicators. Estimated cost by age:

2-3 years (before training) - 8-15 thousand €;
4-6 years - 15-25 thousand €;
6-8 years - 25-35 thousand €.

The most expensive are horses raised in Spain, the price increases depending on the genealogical line and Andalusian training.

Reference: an Andalusian horse, one of the best representatives of the breed, was sold in the USA for 180 thousand dollars.

Interesting facts

Some interesting facts about Andalusian horses:

Traditionally, in Spain, stallions were not castrated, as a real macho will not sit on a gelding. The mares were not driven around, they just ran in the herd.
For many years Andalusians have been cultivated to participate in bullfighting.
The monasteries of Seville and other Spanish cities made a great contribution to the development of the breed, in which the monks raised horses, developed training, and monitored the purity of blood.
The loss of the Andalusian population began during the Napoleonic Wars. French soldiers took out horses, ruining the tribal fund.
The beauty of the Andalusians was celebrated by sculptors and artists of the Renaissance in immortal statues and paintings.

White marks on the body of the Andalusians were considered a good sign, "Fortune's kiss".Andalusians harmoniously combine courage, enthusiasm with good nature and peaceful disposition. Severe upbringing contributed to the formation of a complaisant and executive character in horses, animals became devoted to the interests of man. A beautiful horse will decorate any stable, bring joy to the owner, raise prestige and status in the eyes of others.