What is an Andalusian

What is an Andalusian Horse? . . . As seen from This Side - an overview from the Spanish perspective

There are two Iberian pureblood breeds. The PSL - Puro Sangue Lusitano - a Purebred Lusitano, registered in the Portuguese Stud Book, and the PRE - Pura Raza Espanola, Pure bred Spanish horse, registered in the Spanish Stud Book. So what is an andalusian?

The Spanish and Portuguese National stud books are well kept. Every horse who is Pure Lusitano or Pure Spanish is registered in these two stud books.

Spanish Stud Books for horses that are not PREs

The other stud books in Spain administered by the FESCCR - Fondo de Explotacion de los Servicios de Cria Caballar y Remontar, the official organisation for all stud books, are for the races

CDE - Caballo de Deporte - sports horse
PRa = Pura Raza arabe - Pure bred Arab
PSI - Pura Sangre Ingles - pureblood english = thoroughbred
PRAa - Pura Raza Anglo arabe - pure race anglo arab
PRHa - Pura Raza Hispano arabe - pure race spanish-arab
TE - Trotones Espanoles - spanish trotters

There is NO register for Spanish-portuguese and NO register for andalusians.

What is an Andalusian - from the Spanish Perspective

This is the accepted / unspoken / implied categorisation - the way people speak about horses in everyday conversation.

In Spain we will speak of a horse as ’Portugues’ or ’Español’. Then we will add ’con papeles’ = with papers, i.e. registered in the stud book, or ’sin papeles’ = without papers.

Is an Andalusian a cross breed spanish horse

A cross between a PRE and a PSL will be called ’Hispano-Portugues’, or perhaps ’Hispano-Luso’, a PRE x Lusitano. It is not a breed.
Neither Spain nor Portugal have a breed called, or a registry for anything called ’andalusian’.
If a horse has one pureblood parent of either breed, he may be referred to as ’medio-español’ or ’medio-portugues’ - This means ’half spanish’ or ’half portuguese’. It is an unofficial recognition of his blood. It is not a breed.
Media carta’ - literally means ’half papers’. Read more on spanish horse with media carta
Did I happen to mention that there is no breed here called andalusian . . . .

What is an Andalusian from other Perspectives

As a registry, there is a flourishing Andalusian Society in America. I know many people there and strongly support what they are doing to promote the Iberian horse in America.

A quick quote here from an active member of IALHA: "In the IALHA we recognize the Andalusian as a purebred with bloodlines to include the Spanish and/or the Portuguese bloodlines because of the history of the Iberian horse. We have a studbook that includes both purebred spanish and/or purebred portuguese horses. Our purebred registry includes both."

Or You Could Say . . . .

In everyday talk, Andalusian is a term used as a reference in the States and elsewhere for the spanish, spanish-portuguese and lusitano horses en masse.

However, it is not a reference in such common use in Spain, Portugal - or even Andalucia, where we have the famous display of caballos andaluces who bailan.

We in Spain have adopted the term when talking to those outside, because this is their frame of reference. We have no problem with the word, but within us at all times we carry the distinctions above.

What of History

They - that ubiquitous they - say ’this was the term always used in history’. Well, you know what they say about history - it was written by the victors, the survivors, or those who stayed home to write.

Anyone who can add to the facts here is invited to contact us. We don’t ’do politics’, and are confident that things will remain within our site ethos of courtesy and generosity of mind.

Our Articles about the Spanish Horse

Using, Reproducing or Copying our Articles

Spanish and Portuguese Stud Books

There are two National Stud Books that relate to the Iberian pureblood breeds.

A PSL is a Puro Sangue Lusitano - a Purebred Lusitano, registered in the Portuguese Stud Book.
A PRE is a Pura Raza Espanola, Pure bred Spanish horse, registered in the Spanish Stud Book.