Draft:Purebred Spanish horse (PRE)

The Purebred Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española, in Spanish) or Pure Spanish Breed, also known as the Andalusian horse, belongs to an ancient saddle horse breed originating from Andalusia. Its structured breeding began in the 16th century under the impetus of Philip II of Spain and the Carthusian monks. It experienced a period of great renown in the European courts during the 17th and 18th centuries when it influenced numerous breeding programs and represented the ideal horse for classical dressage. The breed lost some significance in the 19th century with the new enthusiasm for Thoroughbreds. Once relatively unknown until the 1960s to maintain sufficient numbers, the Purebred Spanish Horse has experienced a renewed interest. Although most of these horses are bred in Andalusia, they are also raised in many other countries such as France.

This horse is easily identifiable by its often grey coat, has a compact body, a massive neck, and a very elegant appearance, particularly thanks to its long, wavy mane. Its gaits are characteristic, often elevated, with a natural aptitude for piaffe and passage.

Longtemps utilisé pour tout le travail de haute école, dont l’héritage est assuré par l'école royale andalouse d'art équestre, le Pure race espagnole est recherché pour le dressage de compétition jusqu'au plus haut niveau. Également employé en équitation traditionnelle, où sa présence dans les arènes est remarquable, ainsi qu’en attelage, il a la faveur des écuyers de cirque et de spectacle. Il sert souvent de monture au cinéma, où son allure et son bon tempérament sont appréciés.

Etymology and terminology
Several terms designate horses from the Iberian Peninsula, with confusion between different types and breeds being common. There are appellations like "Iberian", "Villanos", "Zapata", "Zamaranos", Castilian, or even Spanish jennet in documents, although this breed is mostly known as the "Spanish horse" and "Andalusian horse". "Extremeno" refers to Spanish horses from Extremadura, and Zapata or Zapatero is the name of horses from the Zapata family's breeding program. The name "Villano" is occasionally encountered in modern Spanish horses, but originally referred to a crossbreed of heavy horses from the mountains north of Jaén. From the Middle Ages to the seventeenth century, the term "Spanish horse" was common. Many horse breeds in Europe were first known by the name of their region of origin; thus, the name "Andalusian" was used for superior-quality horses from Andalusia. The Cartujano (Carthusian) is a lineage of the Purebred Spanish Horse, not a distinct breed. A common nickname for the Andalusian (both Spanish and Portuguese) is the "horse of kings", due to its frequent use by European nobility.

In 1913, during the official publication of the studbook, the name Caballo de Pura Raza Española, or "Purebred Spanish Horse", was chosen. This designation was a consequence of the expansion of breeding outside the breed's cradle. The Spanish government considered the name "Andalusian" to refer only to the lines bred in Andalusia. Another phenomenon consolidating this name is linked to the history of Portugal. In the 1970s, after the return of democracy to the country, nationalist fervor led to the separation of "Andalusian" breeding in the Iberian Peninsula, creating the Lusitano breed. "Purebred Spanish Horse" is the official name of the breed in Spain. It is recognized and used worldwide, but the term "Andalusian" is still frequently encountered. However, "Andalusian" tends to be misused, defaulting to refer to any horse with a long mane and elevated gaits, while it precisely refers to horses from the Iberian Peninsula before 1912, the official separation date between the Purebred Spanish Horse and the Lusitano. For many breeder associations in Europe and the American continent, "Andalusian" and "Purebred Spanish Horse" are considered equivalent names for the same breed. The official position of the National Association of Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders (ANCCE) is that the names "Andalusian" and "Iberian Horse" refer only to crossbreeds, which they consider lacking in quality and purity without official papers from the Spanish studbook. The possibility of a return to the "Andalusian" appellation is debated in Spain, with many professors at the University of Cordoba advocating for the recovery of this historic, traditional, and international name. The topic is sensitive due to independence sentiments in Andalusia.

History
hroughout its history, the "Spanish horse" has been influenced by the various peoples (and their cultures) who have occupied the Iberian Peninsula: the Celts, the Carthaginians, the Romans, various Germanic tribes, and then the Moors. It is noted for its skills as a war mount as early as 450 BC.

Origin
The Purebred Spanish Horse and the Lusitano share the same genetic origin. The presence of horses in the Iberian Peninsula is documented as far back as prehistoric times, evidenced by, among other things, cave paintings in the Pileta Cave (Cueva de la Pileta) in the territory of Malaga. According to the Portuguese historian Ruy d'Andrade, Spanish tribes may have been using horses as early as the 4th millennium BC. A cave painting discovered in Spain dating back 15,000 years before our era depicts what appears to be harnessing on a horse. While some have cited this as evidence of horse use in the Iberian Peninsula long before the commonly accepted period, this hypothesis is not widely accepted by the scientific community. The artist would only have wanted to accentuate the demarcation of the mouth and the lateral lines describing the side of the skull. Researchers studying ancient DNA have found traces of horse domestication dating back to the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age on the Iberian Peninsula.

While Ruy d'Andrade hypothesized that the Sorraia is the ancestor of current Iberian horses, including the Purebred Spanish Horse, genetic studies on mitochondrial DNA show that the Sorraia belongs to a gene cluster that is largely separate from most Iberian breeds. Research on mitochondrial DNA demonstrates that the Andalusian of the Iberian Peninsula (both PRE and Lusitano) and the Barb are very closely related: these two breeds crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in one direction or the other to be bred, each influencing the other. Despite their supposed antiquity, it has been shown that almost all current Purebred Spanish Horses descend from a small number of horses bred by religious orders starting from the 18th century.

Antiquity and the Middle Age
During antiquity, the various invasions of the Iberian Peninsula facilitated the mixing of horse breeds. This began with the North African Iberians who brought with them small Berber horses, followed by the Celts and Aryan tribes. These crossbreeds formed a small Celtiberian horse that was likely physically similar to the Sorraia. The peninsula was later invaded by numerous other peoples such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Alans, Suebi, and Vandals. The Vandals settled in the 5th century in the region known as "Vandalusia", which would later give its name to the region of Andalusia.

The progressive use of armor led to the search for heavier horses for combat. However, this equine production orientation proved to be a poor choice. During the Muslim conquest of Hispania in 711, Spanish riders faced the agility and speed of Berber horsemen. While the horses had different morphotypes, they also represented two different styles of riding: a la brida versus a la jineta.  The latter involved a very short stirrup length and the execution of sudden stops and rapid movements, laying the groundwork for what would later become Renaissance horsemanship. This conquest led to crossbreeding between local breeds and the Barb horses of the invaders. The resulting horse, characterized by its lightness and maneuverability, became a highly valued war mount. The Andalusian, in this respect, likely represents the first European "Warmblood" breed, a blend of heavy European horses and lighter Oriental horses.

The war horses of Spain and Portugal began to be introduced into England in the 12th century, a trend that continued until the 15th century. The first purebreds in history were kept by Carthusian monks as early as the 13th century. These monks, literate and skilled in record-keeping, maintained precise monastery records and were entrusted with breeding responsibilities by nobles, particularly in Spain. The first true studs in Andalusia were established at the end of the 15th century in Carthusian monasteries in Jerez, Seville, and Cazalla. Diplomatic contacts developed by the Spanish government included the gift or trade of horses, which fostered loyalty among citizens and other royal courts. Consequently, the breed spread throughout the Mediterranean and into Northern Europe during this century, although it remained rare in the latter.

16th century
The influx of work horses starting from the 16th century led to a dilution of most bloodlines; only those protected by selective breeding remained intact and gave rise to the modern PRE. At the initiative of Philip II, a structured breeding program began in 1571 in the royal stables of Cordoba in Andalusia, a region that would lend its name to the breed for centuries, and established the first standard. The Carthusian monks from the monasteries of Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, and Santa María de la Cueva implemented a selection process that resulted in the creation of the Carthusian horse, known as "Cartujano". There were notable regional differences based on the breeding area; horses from the vicinity of Jerez were more often gray, while those from Cordoba were bay, taller, and more rounded.

The 16th century also marks a period of conquest for the Spaniards. The vast territorial empire stretching from the Netherlands in the north to the Strait of Magellan in the south led to numerous equine mixings that influenced most of the major breeds of the time. Henry VIII of England received Spanish horses as gifts from Charles V, Ferdinand II of Aragon, and the Duke of Savoy, as well as other animals through Catherine of Aragon. He acquired additional war mounts and saddle horses from his agents in Spain. In 1576, Spanish horses made up a third of the mounted royal troops in Malmesbury and Tutbury.

Through the conquests of the New World, the Spanish horse, later referred to as the "Colonial Spanish horse", also entered American soil with the advance of the conquistadors. In 1500, the first breeding of Spanish horses was established in Santo Domingo. Over time, the Spanish horse gives rise to numerous breeds born on the American continent, both in the North and the South. The conquistadors particularly choose animals from Andalusia, direct ancestors of the current PRE. Many Spanish explorers bring mounts with them for use as war horses, and later as breeding stock.

17th century
In the 17th century, the Cordoba lineage received the influence of the "Guzman horse", likely of Berber origin. This century marked the beginning of a golden age for the Spanish horse. It gradually replaced the Neapolitan horse (very popular in the 16th century) in all European courts, thus becoming a new equine ideal. The kings of France, notably Louis XIII and Louis XIV, showed their interest. Henri IV of France's equerry, Salomon de La Broue, in 1600 compared the types of horses of his time and gave it the first place: "'The horse of Spain [is], as a horse, the most beautiful, the noblest, the bravest, and the most worthy of being ridden by a great king.'" The Spanish horse is "the horse of kings". From Francis I to Louis XIV, all sovereigns own and ride them. Antoine de Pluvinel, the riding master of Louis XIII, wrote:

"'Sire, it is very reasonable, being the greatest monarch of Christendom, that Your Majesty takes his first lesson on the most perfect horse in Europe.'"

William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, expressed in the same way:

"'... the noblest horse in the world, the most beautiful that can be. He is of great spirit and of great courage and docile; hath the proudest trot and the best action in his trot, the loftiest gallop, and is the lovingest and gentlest horse, and fittest of all for a king in his day of triumph'"

The Spanish horse was a prestigious horse used for haute école, a discipline in which its flexibility and balance are ideal. Exported to many European countries to bring blood and lightness, the Spanish horse also contributed to the improvement of other breeds, notably among the warm-bloodc German breeds such as the Hanoverian, Holsteiner, and Oldenburg. It was also used for the production of war horses, but only wealthy lords managed to procure them. The Spanish horse reached the height of its popularity in Great Britain during this century when it was freely imported from Spain and exchanged as a gift between royal families. In 1642, it reached Moldavia through the stables of Prince George I Rákóczi of Transylvania.

Si l’élevage est prospère, certaines orientations ont parfois conduit à d’immanquables ratés. Ainsi le roi Philippe III charge le napolitain Juan Jeronimo Tiuti d’assurer la tenue de l’élevage espagnol. Celui-ci fait venir à Cordoue des étalons normands, danois, flamands et napolitains, et les croise avec des juments espagnoles. Le résultat s’avère catastrophique, les produits de ces croisements perdant la vitesse et le raffinement caractéristiques de la race pour gagner en muscles et en lourdeur.

If breeding is prosperous, some orientations have sometimes led to inevitable failures. For instance, King Philip III tasked the Neapolitan Juan Jeronimo Tiuti with managing the Spanish breeding program. Tiuti brought Normandy, Danish, Flemish, and Neapolitan stallions to Cordoba and crossed them with Spanish mares. The result proved catastrophic, as the offspring of these crosses lost the speed and refinement characteristic of the breed, gaining muscle and heaviness instead.

18th and 19th centuries
The 18th century marks the beginning of the decline of the breed. With the introduction of the Thoroughbred, interest in the Spanish horse waned after the mid-century in Great Britain, although it remained generally popular across Europe until the beginning of the next century. François Robichon de La Guérinière, a riding master under Louis XV, agrees with all authors who prefer the Spanish horse, considering it the best of all. Buffon shares this opinion.

In 1789, the first studbook of the breed was established in Spain, but the Napoleonic Empire severely impacted Spanish breeding, taking away and using the best specimens. Many horses were stolen or requisitioned, including during the War of the Oranges, the Spanish War of Independence, and the three Carlist Wars. A herd of Andalusians was hidden from the French invaders and later used to rejuvenate the breed. Breeding lost quality and declined dramatically. Reporters of the time (1821) even feared the disappearance of the Andalusians. The political instability in Spain until the mid-20th century was a significant factor in the decline of the breed.

In 1822, breeders began to crossbreed with the Anglo-Norman and Arabian breeds. Increasing mechanization and evolving military needs demanded more speed in cavalry charges and more power in artillery horses. In 1832, an epidemic severely affected the Spanish equine population, with only a small herd surviving in a stud farm at the Cartuja monastery. Meanwhile, the Spanish horse suffered a decline in popularity. Found too robust, the trend shifted towards lighter and more slender horses, much more suitable for racing and hunting, which were very fashionable at the time. Until the early 20th century, European breeders, especially Germans, turned away from Andalusians and Neapolitans (which had been fashionable since the decline of chivalry) to focus on breeding Thoroughbreds and half-breeds, further depleting the Andalusian stock. Despite this shift, breeding slowly recovered. In 1869, the Seville Horse Fair (originally started by the Romans [not clear]) welcomed between ten and twelve thousand Spanish horses. Some Carthusian monasteries in Andalusia, including the Jerez de la Frontera Carthusian monastery, as well as royal stables, continued breeding and maintained a quality genetic heritage.

20th and 21st centuries
In the early 20th century, horse breeding in Spain began to focus on other breeds, particularly draft horses, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and crosses between these breeds or with the Andalusian. It no longer had the favor of breeders and the military, and the population decreased significantly. A Spanish studbook was created in 1912, with a deliberate intention to select a national breed and distinguish it from its "cousin" in Portugal. During the 20th century, this horse, now known as the Purebred Spanish Horse (PRE) in its country of origin, was reconstructed. The government had frozen exports for nearly a hundred years. This ban was lifted only in 1962. The first PREs were exported to Australia in 1971. Two years later, the Andalusian Horse Association of Australasia was formed for the registration of these horses and their offspring. Strict quarantine regulations prohibited the importation of new PREs into Australia for many years, but since 1999, regulations have been relaxed, and half a dozen new horses have been imported.

The United States also imports these horses. All American "Andalusians" can be directly linked to the registries of Portugal and Spain. The Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballo de Pura Raza Española (ANCCE) was founded in 1972. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture recognizes ANCCE as the representative entity of all PRE breeders and owners worldwide, as well as the administrator of the official studbook of the breed. A second group, the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE Mundial, opens another PRE breeding registry as an alternative to ANCCE. This new registry claims that all registered horses trace back to the original studbook maintained by the Cria Caballar, which was a branch of the Spanish Ministry of Defense, for 100 years. Thus, the PRE Mundial registry describes itself as more authentic. The French Association of Breeders of Purebred Spanish Horses was created in 1986.

In August 2011, a legal action was initiated to determine the legal holder of the PRE studbook. The Unión de Criadores de Caballos Españoles (UCCE, union of Spanish horse breeders) brought the case before the highest legal authorities of the European Union in Brussels. The dispute concerns the transfer, by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, of the studbook (Libro de Orígenes) maintained by the Cria Caballar to the ANCCE, which was denounced as illegal. In early 2009, the courts ruled, on behalf of the UCCE, that the Cria Caballar did indeed create the studbook. It was formed by a government entity and then transferred to a private entity, which is contrary to European Union law regarding studbooks. This law was violated by the transfer of the studbook to the ANCCE, which is a non-governmental organization. The court found that by giving exclusive control of the studbook to the ANCCE, the Spanish Ministry of Defense acted discriminatorily. It ruled that Spain must grant permission to maintain a studbook (called Libro genealógico in Spanish) to any international association or Spanish national association that requests it. Based on the decision of the Brussels court, a request was made by the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse to maintain the PRE studbook held in the United States. In March 2011, Spain did not revoke ANCCE's right to be the sole holder of the PRE studbook; instead, the country reaffirmed that it is a state organization.

The crisis that has hit Spain since 2008 has had negative effects on the breeding and welfare of these horses. Andalusia, being particularly affected by financial difficulties, has seen many owners attempting to keep them by cutting costs or selling their PRE horses at very low prices, including for slaughter.

Morphology
Its overall conformation is that of a compact, powerful, well-built yet very elegant horse. Indeed, it is a very refined horse with a strong presence. A slight lack of speed is noted, but this is compensated by very great agility. The height at the withers is a minimum of 1.50 meters (4.92 ft) for mares and 1.52 meters for males (5.02 ft), with an average of 1.60 meters (5.25 ft). PRE horses have long remained small, but the breed has evolved significantly in recent decades, and some individuals exceed 1.70 meters (5.58 ft). The breed exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, with mares being much finer than males, particularly in the neck region.

Head
The head is of medium to long length, well-proportioned, and rather fine, especially in mares. The forehead is broad, and the profile is straight or slightly convex. The eye is large, with a lively and expressive gaze. The ears are small, active, and pointed outward. The nostrils are well-formed and can expand to obtain a large amount of air during exertion. The upper lip is mobile, and the mouth is very sensitive. The tip of the nose is slightly dished.

Body
Its body is short and robust. The neck is slightly arched, of medium length, and well attached in harmony with the rest of the body. Long and thick, it remains very elegant. The chest is broad, deep, and muscular. The shoulders are sloping, well-muscled, long, and ample. The withers are well defined, broad, muscular, and well-pronounced. The backline is straight, and the back is short. The loin is short, muscular, horizontal, and wide, perfectly united with the back and rump. In some individuals, the back may appear slightly swaybacked. The ribs are slightly curved, and the flank is short and full. The abdomen is fairly round. The rump is well-rounded, powerful, and sloping, of medium length and width, with the tail set low, which remains close to the pace of the walk.

Limbs
The limbs are of medium length, clean, and refined, yet robust. The forelimbs have muscular arms in a harmonious angle with the shoulder. The forearms are well-directed and strong, with dry knees, rather long cannons, fine skin, and sharp tendons. The fetlocks are dry and strong, with relatively long and sloping pasterns. The thighs and buttocks are muscular, with slightly angled and high-set hocks. The regions of the hind limbs below the hock are similar to the forelimbs. The alignment of all limbs is good. The joints are wide. The hooves are well-formed, and the hoof is hard and well-proportioned.

Manes
The manes are long, shiny, and very abundant. They are generally wavy. A tail touching the ground and very long manes are appreciated, which requires special care. Soft braids are made to prevent the manes from tangling or breaking.

Coats
The most common coat color in this breed is gray, with nearly 75% of the horses being gray. This predominance can be explained by the selection of the gray coat color made by the Carthusian monks over the centuries. As it is a dominant gene, the selection process was facilitated, and the coat color spread.

Bay and black coats are rarer but are becoming more common. Chestnut has long been considered a fault. Since a Spanish Royal Decree issued in December 2002, all coat colors have been accepted in this breed. Chestnut is included, but this decree primarily means that all coat colors and characteristics are now accepted, including blue eyes and primitive markings. This openness has led to a commercial craze for rare coat colors, and some horses with unusual colors can fetch very high prices at sales. The pinto coat pattern seems to have completely disappeared from the breed. However, traces of it can still be found in high white stockings or large facial markings in some individuals.

In 2020, the official coat color designations in the breed were revised to better reflect genetic reality.

Gaits
The gaits are historically elevated, with a natural aptitude for piaffe and passage; the latter being one of its most brilliant gaits. Selection leads to subjects with more extended gaits, with a lively and energetic movement. "Billarde", a defect frequently encountered in the breed, is tending to disappear.

The Purebred Spanish Horse has been the subject of a study to determine the presence of the DMRT3 gene mutation responsible for additional gaits. The study of 46 subjects detected the presence of this mutation at a very low frequency, without confirming the existence of horses with additional gaits within the breed.

Temperament
In terms of character, the PRE is an easy and intelligent horse. While proud and courageous, it always maintains a pleasant temperament. Docile, sober, and resistant, it adapts well to training. Its delicate mouth makes it a refined and obedient horse when ridden correctly.

Genetics
The Purebred Spanish Horse has been the subject of several genetic studies. Analysis of its blood has shown the presence of six rare allele variants. The PRE is genetically very close to the Lusitano but does not show a marked proximity to Thoroughbred, Connemara, and Arabian breeds. An analysis of its muscle tissues, compared with those of Thoroughbreds and Arabians, demonstrates that it has less endurance than these two other breeds.

Lineages and Types
The Purebred Spanish Horse known as "Carthusian" or "Cartujano" is generally considered the purest strain of the breed and possesses one of the oldest genealogical records in the world. Pure Cartujano horses are rare, comprising approximately 12% of registered Andalusian horses between the establishment of the studbook in the 19th century and the year 1998. They represent only 3.6% of the overall breeding population but 14.2% of the stallions used for reproduction. In the past, Cartujano horses were favored in breeding, leading to a large proportion of the breed's population descending from a small number of horses, which may have limited genetic diversity. A study conducted in 2005 compared the genetic distance between Cartujano horses and other PREs. They calculated a fixation index (Fst) based on genealogical information. The distinction between the two is not supported by genetic evidence. However, there are slight physical differences. Cartujano horses have a more "oriental" or concave head shape and more often exhibit the gray coat color, while non-Cartujano horses tend to have convex profiles and more frequently display other coat colors such as bay.

Selection
The Purebred Spanish Horse is subject to selection pressure to accentuate certain morphological traits. In many regions around the world, breeding associations manage both the studbook of the Andalusian and that of the Lusitano. This is the case with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA), which claims the largest number of members and registered horses in the breed. Others, like the Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballo de Pura Raza Española (ANCCE) in Spain, use the name Purebred Spanish Horse or PRE and claim to be the sole authority to officially register and provide documentation on PRE horses, both in Spain and worldwide. In Australasia, the Australasia Andalusian Association registers the "Andalusians" (the breed registry considers this name interchangeable with that of PRE), including Australian-bred horses and those resulting from crosses with other breeds. They share responsibility for the "Purebred Iberian Horse" (crosses of PRE and Lusitano) with the Lusitano Association of Australasia. In the Australian registry, several levels of crossbreeding are distinguished. The first level of crossbreeding is at 50% Andalusian, and a second level of crossbreeding with a pure Andalusian produces a horse at 75% Andalusian. The third level of crossbreeding, known in this registry as the Australian Andalusian, is that of an individual at the second level (at 75%) with a pure Andalusian. It is listed as a "breeding reserve" in the registry. ANCCE only registers horses from certain recognized lineages. Additionally, all breeding animals must undergo an evaluation process. ANCCE serves as the international parent association for all breeders worldwide who register their horses as PRE. For example, the United States PRE association is affiliated with ANCCE, follows ANCCE rules, and has a completely separate management system from that of the IALHA.

Uses
The PRE has always been selected for its physical qualities over the centuries. In the 17th century, the Englishman Cavendish testified that they were much faster than all other known horses at the time. In 1831, five-year-old horses were reputed to be able to gallop without changing pace for four or five leagues, approximately 15 km. In 1925, the Portuguese army required horses capable of "covering 40 kilometers over rough terrain at a minimum speed of 10 kilometers per hour, and galloping a flat course of 8 km at a minimum speed of 800 meters per minute while carrying a weight of at least 70 kg". The Spanish military had similar standards.

Dressage
Through its breeding and selection, the Purebred Spanish Horse is above all a saddle horse. Its natural predispositions make it highly appreciated for dressage, whether for lower or upper-level training. This upper-level training is still practiced and highlighted, mainly through the notable action of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. As the direct and natural custodian of Spanish Renaissance academic horsemanship, among its many missions is the promotion of the Purebred Spanish Horse. Its movements are agile, elevated, extended, energetic, and gentle, allowing it to adopt numerous postures, including on the bit. This makes it suitable for executing high-level dressage maneuvers. The PRE is increasingly sought after for classical dressage. In dressage competitions, the Purebred Spanish Horse regularly appears on the international stage. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, it was the first time that the Spanish dressage team reached a final phase of the Olympics, and for the first time, PRE horses participated. Their names were Event, Flamenco, and Invasor. The latter was the youngest of all the dressage horses registered, which is a sign of the intelligence and willingness to work of the breed. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, it was the next step. Invasor and Distinguido, with the team, managed to finish in 7th place. Two PRE horses were part of the Spanish national team that won bronze at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. Some individuals have made their mark in the history of Spanish dressage. This is the case with Invasor, who, with his rider Rafael Soto, won numerous national and international dressage competitions, including a silver medal in the team event at the 2004 Athens Olympics. This medal-winning team also included another PRE, Oleaje, ridden by Ignacio Rambla. More recently, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, two PRE horses took part in the competition: the stallion Rociero XV for the United States and Fuego XII for Spain. However, the Purebred Spanish Horse struggles to assert itself in major international competitions where the competition against German and Dutch horses is very difficult. Official competitions are indeed subject to a Germanic approach to dressage, where forward movement, expansive gaits, and straightness are favored. With its short back and compact model, the Pure Spanish Horse is morphologically penalized by the limited extent of its gaits, but also by its great flexibility, which makes it difficult to maintain straight. Some figures, such as changes of lead at the canter, are made complicated. To overcome these inherent difficulties of the breed, particular care has been taken in breeding in recent years to improve it, including producing larger horses with more extended gaits.

Traditional and Working Horsemanship
Closely tied to Spanish culture, the PRE has been extensively used as a stock horse with bulls, known for their aggressiveness. Until the 1960s, mares traditionally participated in "trilla", a method of threshing grain. The mares, sometimes pregnant or with foals at their side, spent full days trotting over the grain. In addition to being a traditional agricultural practice, trilla also served as a test of endurance, ruggedness, and will for the maternal lines of the breed. The PRE remains present in several forms of traditional horsemanship, including working equitation, "doma vaquera", and bullfighting. Its sense of cattle and strong lateral mobility are assets in these different practices. "Doma vaquera" is a discipline in which the Pure Spanish Horse excels. This cattle work requires specific, highly technical, and even artistic movements, demanding great responsiveness from the horse and perfect harmony with its rider. During bullfights, "rejoneadors" also ride Purebred Spanish Horses. These horses are of great quality and extremely well-trained.

Equestrian Shows and Mascots
Due to its charisma and ease of learning, the Purebred Spanish Horse is a very good show horse. It is frequently encountered in circuses, equestrian shows, and also in cinema. In circuses, Alexis Grüss and the Knie family employ Iberian horses in their shows. In the shows and films he participates in, Mario Luraschi also uses a large majority of Iberian horses, and therefore pure Spanish horses. The equestrian academy of Puy du Fou also uses PRE horses in its shows. The equestrian cabaret Zingaro, Yves Bienaimé at the Living Museum of the Horse of Chantilly, and many others have used Iberian horses for one or more equestrian show productions. Traveler, the mascot of the University of Southern California, is an Andalusian.

Carriage driving
The Purebred Spanish Horse has always been used for carriage driving in Andalusia. Traditional carriage driving, known as a la calesera, features horses adorned and harnessed with numerous pompons and bells in various colors. This type of carriage driving is frequently seen during festivals. The participation of the PRE in competitive carriage driving is still relatively recent, but there are already individuals competing at high levels in the sport. In this discipline, the maneuverability test is its strong point. However, it still struggles in the marathon test, which requires great endurance qualities that the PRE has not developed over the centuries. Special selection has been gradually implemented to improve this quality in the breed. Spanish driver José Barranco Reyes participated in the 2014 World Equestrian Games with his Purebred Spanish Horses in four-in-hand carriage driving.

Other disciplines
The Purebred Spanish Horse is also suitable for other disciplines. It is a good leisure and trail riding horse, where its stable character and comfortable gaits are highly appreciated. In Spain, PRE horses can also be found in show jumping competitions, with some individuals performing well over heights of 1.40 meters. However, their use in this discipline is much more anecdotal in the rest of the world, as breeds specifically selected for show jumping are preferred.

Crossbreeding and Influence on Other Breeds
The Purebred Spanish Horse is sometimes used in crossbreeding to create other breeds. It is involved in the formation of the Hispano-Arab, known as Aralusian in the United States, which is a crossbreed of PRE and Arabian Thoroughbreds. It is also the origin of the Azteca, resulting from a crossbreeding with Quarter Horses and Criollo horses practiced in Mexico, and more recently of the Ispazon (in Europe) or Warlander (in the United States), resulting from a crossbreeding with Friesians. Similarly, it has contributed to the Spanish Norman breed (crossbreeding with Percheron) since the 1990s.

Between the 14th and 17th centuries, the military activities of Spain required a large number of horses, more than the country could produce. The Spanish government authorized its troops to ride stallions, never mares or geldings. This favored the crossbreeding of Spanish stallions with local mares from different countries, wherever the troops went. As a result, the genetic influence of the Andalusian is present in other European breeds. The last members of the Habsburg family who ruled both Spain and other countries in Europe promoted the crossbreeding of the Andalusian with other Central European and Dutch breeds. Many breeds originate from this Iberian influence, including the Neapolitan, Groningen, Lipizzan, and Kladruber. Highly present at the German court for classical horsemanship in the 16th century, Spanish horses showed their influence on many breeds such as the Hanoverian, Holsteiner, East Friesian, and Oldenburg. The Dutch bred the Friesian and Gelderland from Spanish horses, as did the Danes with the Frederiksborg and Knabstrup.

The Andalusians have a significant influence on the birth of the Alter Real, a lineage of the Lusitano. The Spanish Jennet, the ancestor of the Andalusian, is the origin of the Spanish colonial horse on the American continent, which in turn gave rise to a large number of American horse breeds, such as the Paso Fino, Criollo, Mustang, and even the Quarter Horse.

Breeding Dissemination
The Purebred Spanish Horse is a transboundary breed with global dissemination. The book "Equine Science" (4th edition, 2012) categorizes it among internationally recognized Spanish-origin saddle horse breeds.

While Purebred Spanish Horse is closely linked to Spain and Andalusia, the PRE is present and bred in around sixty countries, particularly in France. In 2003, 75,389 horses were registered in the international studbook of the breed, including 6,318 of Cartujano lineage. By the end of 2010, a total of 185,926 PRE horses were registered in the database of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, y Medio Rural y Marino). Among these, 28,801, or approximately 15%, were stationed in countries other than Spain, with 65.371, or about 42%, located in Andalusia.

In Spain
The PRE represents nearly 66% of the horse population in Spain, accounting for two-thirds of the national herd. This population has increased during the 21st century. Primarily concentrated in its historical region, Andalusia (especially in the provinces of Seville, Cadiz, and Cordoba), its breeding is very rigorous and selective. Only a certain number of breeders are officially recognized to breed the breed. The offspring are the result of a strict selection of breeding stock. A studbook is managed by the Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballo de Pura Raza Española (ANCCE), and another by the Jefatura de cria caballar y remonta, a military administration, which also has its studs and stallion depots. Private breeding establishments consisted of nearly 3,000 mares and 800 stallions in 2006. The studbook of the breed is considered "closed", meaning it cannot be crossed with any other breed. The European PRE Championship takes place every year in June in Valencia, during the Fiecval trade show.

In France
In France, the breed was recognized by the National Stud in 2005, and the breeding registry was managed locally until January 2013, when this management reverted to the Spanish studbook (ANCCE), which then transmits its information to France, under a European directive. Breeding is very important in the country. France is the second-largest breeder of PRE horses in the world. It is heavily represented in the Mediterranean Basin, but some breeding operations also exist north of the Loire. The French Association of Breeders of Purebred Spanish Horses is responsible for promoting the breed throughout the territory; it also organizes the French national PRE championship in Beaucaire every year.

Other countries
There are approximately 8,500 animals in the United States, where the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) registers about 700 new purebred foals each year. However, these numbers indicate that the Andalusian remains a relatively rare breed in this country.

In culture
The Purebred Spanish Horse is considered the oldest and purest horse breed after the Arabian. A typical representative of Hispanic folklore and culture, it is present in all traditional events, whether it be festivals or pilgrimages. Its charisma and physique make it a very popular and highly appreciated horse, well beyond Spanish borders. Since the Renaissance and over the centuries, kings from all over Europe, including all the kings of France from François I to Louis XVI, have had equestrian portraits made of themselves riding Iberian-type horses.

The PRE is often chosen as a model in photography, compared to other breeds, to symbolize strength, wisdom, and freedom, inseparable elements of the popular horse imagery. Its impressive appearance, with its strong and arched neck, musculature, and energetic gaits, has also made it very popular in the field of cinema. It appears in many historical or fantasy films, ranging from Gladiator to Interview with the Vampire, and from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Cradle of Life to King Arthur. In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the characters Gripoil and Asfaloth are played by Purebred Spanish Horses. The same goes for the unicorn ridden by Peter in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, as well as Mel Gibson's mount in Braveheart or the two unicorns in Ridley Scot t's film Legend.

In 2006, a rearing Andalusian stallion, ridden by the Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Oñate, was chosen to create the world's largest bronze statue. With its 11 meters (36.08 feet) in height, this statue is located in El Paso, Texas.

Related articles

 * Lipizzan
 * Neapolitan
 * List of horse breeds