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Lusitano

A Lusitano horse
Other names	Portuguese horse, Peninsular horse, Betico-lusitano
Country of origin	Portugal
Traits
Distinguishing features	Convex profile, powerful neck and hindquarters, high-stepping gait
Breed standards
APSL IALHA (USA) LHAA (Australasia)
Equus ferus caballus

The Lusitano is a Portuguese horse breed, closely related to the Spanish Andalusian horse. Both are sometimes called Iberian horses, as the breeds both developed on the Iberian peninsula, and until the 1960s they were considered one breed, under the Andalusian name. Horses were known to be present on the Iberian Peninsula as far back as 20,000 BC, and by 800 BC the region was renowned for its war horses. When the Muslims invaded Iberia in 711 AD, they brought Barb horses with them that were crossed with the native horses, developing a horse that became useful for war, dressage and bull fighting. In 1966, the Portuguese and Spanish stud books split, and the Portuguese strain of the Iberian horse was named the Lusitano, after the word Lusitania, the ancient Roman name for Portugal. There are three main breed lineages within the breed today, and characteristics differ slightly between each line. There is also the Alter Real strain of Lusitano, bred only at the Alter Real State Stud.

Lusitanos can be any solid color, although they are generally gray, bay or chestnut. Horses of the Alter Real strain are always bay. Members of the breed are of Baroque type, with convex facial profiles, heavy muscling, intelligent and willing natures, with agile and elevated movement. Originally bred for war, dressage and bullfighting, Lusitanos are still used today in the latter two. They have competed in several Olympics and World Equestrian Games as part of the Portuguese and Spanish dressage teams. They have also made a showing in driving competitions, with a Belgian team of Lusitanos winning multiple international titles. Members of the breed are still used in bloodless bullfighting today, where it is expected that neither horse or bull will be injured.

History

Horses were known to humans on what is now the Iberian Peninsula as far back as 20,000 to 25,000 BC, as shown by cave paintings in the area. This region was also an early center of horse domestication. There is speculation that local peoples may have domesticated the horse, independently from other cultures, as early as the Iberian Neolithic period. Among the local wild horses originally used were the probable ancestors of the modern Lusitano, as studies comparing ancient and modern horse DNA indicate that the modern "Lusitano C" group contains maternal lineages also present in wild Iberian horses from the Early Neolithic period. These ancient horses were used for war, as evidenced by invasions of Iberian people around 3000 BC, Phoenicians around 1100 BC and Celts around 600 BC. It is believed that these invaders also brought horses with them, contributing outside blood to the ancestry of the modern Iberian breeds. By 800 BC, the alliance known as Celtiberians had been formed by the Iberians and Celts, and from this point on the horses bred in this area were renowned as war horses. Xenophon, writing around 370 BC, admired the advanced horsemanship and riding techniques used by Iberian horsemen in war, made possible in part by their agile horses. Legend stated that mares of the area were sired by the wind (hence their amazing swiftness, passed onto their foals), and one modern theory states that the bond between Iberian man and horse was the initial inspiration for the centaur, which was believed to come from the area of the Tagus River. Later invasions into the area by Carthaginians and Romans resulted in these civilizations establishing stud farms that bred cavalry horses for the Roman army from local stock.

When the Umayyad Muslims invaded the Iberian peninsula in 711 AD, their invasion brought Barb horses, which were crossed with native Iberian horses. The cross between these two breeds produced a war horse superior even to the original Iberian horse, and it was this new type that the Conquistadors introduced to the Americas. Called the Iberian war horse, this ancestor of the Lusitano was used both on the battlefield and in major riding academies across Europe. Bullfighting on horseback and displays of high school dressage were common entertainment for the Portuguese gentry.

Mitochondrial DNA studies of the closely-related modern Andalusian horse, compared to the Barb horse of North Africa, present convincing evidence that Barbs and Iberian horses crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in each direction, were crossbred with each other, and thus each influenced the other's bloodlines. While Portuguese historian Ruy d'Andrade hypothesized that the ancient Sorraia breed was an ancestor of the Southern Iberian breeds, including the Lusitano, genetic studies using mitochondrial DNA show that the Sorraia is part of a genetic cluster that is largely separated from most Iberian breeds. One maternal lineage is shared with the Lusitano, however, Sorraia lineages in Iberian breeds are relatively recent, dating to the Middle Ages, making the Sorraia an unlikely prehistoric ancestor of the Lusitano.

Prior to modern times, horse breeds throughout Europe were known primarily by the name of the region where they were bred. The Lusitano takes its name from Lusitania, an ancient Roman name for the region that today is Portugal. A very similar horse, the Spanish Andalusian, originally described the horses of distinct quality that came from Andalusia in Spain. Some sources state that the Andalusian and the Lusitano are genetically the same breed, and the only difference is the country in which individual horses are born. The Lusitano is also known as the Portuguese, Peninsular, National or Betico-lusitano horse.

Prior to the 1960s, the Iberian-type horse was called the Andalusian in both Portugal and Spain. However, in 1966, the Lusitano name was adopted by Portugal after a studbook separation by the two countries. Today, Lusitanos are bred mainly in Portugal and Brazil, but maintain a presence in many other countries throughout the world, including Australia, the United States, Great Britain, South Africa, and other European countries. Crossbred horses of partial Lusitano blood are popular, especially when crossed with Andalusian, Arabian or Thoroughbred blood.

Strains and sub-types

The Portuguese stud book recognizes six horses (five stallions and one mare) that are called the "heads of lineage". These six horses are the foundation horses of the three main breed lineages: Andrade, Veiga and Coudelaria Nacional (Portuguese State Stud). Although each line meets breed standards, they differ from each other in individual characteristics. The six foundation horses are:

• Agareno, a 1931 Veiga stallion, out of Bagocha, by Lidador
• Primorosa, a 1927 Dominquez Hermanos stallion, out of Primorosa II, by Presumido
• Destinado, a 1930 Dominquez Hermanos stallion, out of Destinada, by Alegre II
• Marialva II, a 1930 Antonio Fontes Pereira de Melo stallion, out of Campina, by Marialva
• Regedor, a 1923 Alter Real stallion, out of Gavina, by Gavioto
• Hucharia, a 1943 Coulderaria Nacional mare, out of Viscaina, by Cartujano

The Alter Real is a strain of the Lusitano which is bred only at the Alter Real State Stud in Portugal. The stud was founded in 1748 by the Portuguese royal family to provide horses for the national riding academy and royal use. The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art (Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre) uses these horses exclusively in their performances. The strain was developed from 300 Iberian mares imported from Spain in 1747. When Napoleon invaded Spain in the early 19th century, the Alter Real strain deteriorated due to the introduction of Arabian, Thoroughbred, Spanish Norman and Hanoverian blood. However, in the 19th and 20th centuries the strain was re-established with the further introduction of Spanish blood. In the early 20th century, as Portugal renounced its monarchy, the Alter Real strain faced extinction, as records were burned, stallions were gelded and the stud discontinued. Ruy d'Andrade, a specialist in Iberian horse breeds, saved two stallions and several mares, and was able to re-establish the strain, turning his herd over to the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture in 1942, when the stud was reopened.

Registration

Today, outside of Portugal and Spain, breeding, showing and registration of both Lusitanos and Andalusians are often closely linked. One example is the Australasian Lusitano Horse Association of Australasia (LHAA), which shares responsibility for the Purebred Iberian Horse (an Andalusian/Lusitano cross) with the Australasia Andalusian Association, as well as hosting a combined National Show for the two breeds in Australia. The LHAA was formed in 2003 to register and promote the Lusitano breed in Australia and New Zealand, and in June 2005 signed an agreement with their parent organization, the Portuguese Assoçiacão Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano, to follow that association's rules and regulations. The LHAA maintains two studbooks (for the purebred Lusitano and the purebred Iberian) and a crossbred registry for horses with one Lusitano parent.

An example of a combined registry is the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA). However, the IALHA has three bloodline designations within its stud book. It distinguishes the Andalusian or PRE (Pura Raza Española) of Spain, the Lusitano or PSL (Puro Sangue Lusitano) of Portugal, and crossbreds of with both bloodlines, but all are eligible for registry as Andalusians. However, there are internal political conflicts within the IALHA over the business methods of the registry and the registration practices regarding the differentiation between Andalusians and Lusitanos. These conflicts have resulted in the creation of watchdog groups that protest various aspects of the IALHA.

On the other hand, some organizations, such as The Association of Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders of Spain (Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballo de Pura Raza Española or ANCCE), use the term "Pura Raza Española" or PRE to describe what the association considers to be the true Spanish horse, and claim sole authority to officially register and issue documentation for PRE Horses, both in Spain and anywhere else in the world. The ANCCE takes the position that terms such as "Andalusian" and "Lusitano" refer only to crossbreds, claimed by ANCCE to lack quality and purity, and most of all, without official documentation or registration from official Spanish Stud Book.

Characteristics and uses

Lusitanos are generally gray, bay or chestnut, though they can be of any solid color, including black, dun and palomino. Only bays are bred at the Alter Real stud. They usually stand 15.2 and 15.3 hands (62 and 63 inches, 157 and 160 cm) high, although some stand over 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm). Members of the breed have narrow, but well-proportioned, heads with profiles that are slightly convex. The necks are thick and arched, leading to well defined withers, shoulders that are muscular and sloping and a deep, broad chest. The horses have short, strong backs and rounded, sloped croups, leading to a low-set tail. The legs are sturdy and muscled. Lusitanos are known as powerful horses, noted for their intelligence and willing nature. The breed's gaits are agile and elevated, but generally comfortable to ride. The Lusitano differs from the Andalusian through having a more sloped croup, a lower-set tail, and a more convex head profile. The mane and tail are extremely thick in both breeds.

The ancestors of the Lusitano were originally used for classical dressage, driving and bullfighting on horseback. Today, Lusitanos are seen in Olympic disciplines, including high-level combined driving competition. In 1995, a four-in-hand team driven by Belgian Felix Brasseur won the FEI Driving World Cup, and took the World Championships in 1996. In 2002, there was a Lusitano on the World Equestrian Games bronze-winning dressage team that went on to collect a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2006, the entire Portuguese dressage team rode Lusitanos at the World Equestrian Games, as did one Spanish dressage competitor. The Belgian Brasseur took the gold medal in four-in-hand driving at the same competition with a team comprised solely of Lusitanos. They are still used for mounted bullfighting today, in a form where the bull is not killed and it is a disgrace to the rider if the horse is injured. Horses bred for this sport must be agile and calm, remaining in the control of the rider even when confronted by a bull. Between 1980 and 1987, Lusitanos were used for breeding Colorado Ranger horses, although these crosses are no longer allowed by the breed registry. An Alter Real stallion, taken to Brazil prior to Napoleon's invasion, was a foundation stallion of the Mangalarga Marchador breed.

Notes

1. ^ "Lusitano". International Museum of the Horse. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
2. "Wild Iberian Horses Contributed to Origin of Current Iberian Domestic Stock". Science Daily. January 12, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |note= ignored (help)
3. ^ Lira, Jaime; et al. (25 Nov 2009). "Ancient DNA reveals traces of Iberian Neolithic and Bronze Age lineages in modern Iberian horses". Molecular Ecology. 19 (1): 64–78. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04430.x. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
4. ^ Royo, L.J., I. Álvarez, A. Beja-Pereira, A. Molina, I. Fernández, J. Jordana, E. Gómez, J. P. Gutiérrez, and F. Goyache (2005). "The Origins of Iberian Horses Assessed via Mitochondrial DNA". Journal of Heredity. 96 (6): 663–669. doi:10.1093/jhered/esi116. PMID 16251517. Retrieved 2008-12-15.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
5. d'Andrade, R (1945). "Sorraia". Boletim Pecuário (in Portuguese). 13: 1–13.
6. Jansen, Thomas, Peter Forster, Marsha A. Levine, Hardy Oelke, Matthew Hurles, Colin Renfrew, Jürgen Weber, and Klaus Olek (August 6, 2002). "Mitochondrial DNA and the origins of the domestic horse". Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. 99 (16): 10905–10910. doi:10.1073/pnas.152330099. Retrieved 2008-12-18.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
7. Cai, Dawei (2009). "Ancient DNA provides new insights into the origin of the Chinese domestic horse". Journal of Archaeological Science. 36 (3): 835–842. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2008.11.006. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
8. McGahern, A (2006). "Evidence for biogeographic patterning of mitochondrial DNA sequences in Eastern horse populations". Animal Genetics. 37 (5): 494–497. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2006.01495.x. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
9. Luís, C, Bastos-Silveira, C., Costa-Ferreira, J., Cothran, E.G., Oom, M.M. (December 2006). "A lost Sorraia maternal lineage found in the Lusitano horse breed". Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics. 123 (6): 399–402. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0388.2006.00612.x. Retrieved 2010-01-25.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
10. ^ Bennett, Conquerors, p. 158
11. Bennett, Conquerors, p. 159
12. Stephens, Stephanie (July/August 2005). "Dressage:Superlative Alternatives" (PDF). Equestrian: 65–66. Retrieved 2009-06-26. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
13. ^ "Lusitano". Breeds of Livestock. Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
14. ^ Edwards, The Encyclopedia of the Horse, p. 107
15. ^ "Origins of the Breed". Lusitano Horse Association of Australasia. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
16. "Lusitano Lineages in Portugal". Lusitano Horse Association of Australasia. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
17. Draper, The book of horses and horse care, p. 93
18. "Impressive Opening Ceremony Attended by 38,500 Spectators". World Equestrian Festival. July 3, 2007. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
19. "Historial" (in Portuguese). Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
20. Bongianni, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies, Entry 8
21. ^ Hendricks, International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds, p. 14
22. "Homepage". Andalusian Horse Association of Australasia. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
23. "About Us". Lusitano Horse Association of Australasia. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
24. "The Stud Books and the Crossbred Register". Lusitano Horse Association of Australasia. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
25. "Andalusian". International Museum of the Horse. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
26. "About our Breed". International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
27. "Homepage". Members for the Preservation of the Andalusian Horse. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
28. "List of Concerns". Members for the Preservation of the Andalusian Horse. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
29. "Important information about the PRE Horse". Retrieved 2009-10-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
30. Veder, Tina (September 2005). "The Andalusian & Lusitano" (PDF). Equestrian: 53. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
31. Fédération Equestre Internationale (November 4, 2007). "Lusitano Horses - The Pride of Portugal". Horsetalk. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
32. Dutson, Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America , p. 72
33. Dutson, Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America , p. 102

References

• Bennett, Deb (1998). Conquerors: The Roots of New World Horsemanship (1st ed.). Solvang, CA: Amigo Publications Inc. ISBN 0-9658533-0-6.
• Bongianni, Maurizio (editor) (1988). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 0671660683. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
• Draper, Judith (1998). The book of horses and horse care: an encyclopedia of horses, and a comprehensive guide to horse and pony care. Barnes & Noble. ISBN 0760707146.
• Dutson, Judith (2005). Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America. Storey Publishing. ISBN 1580176135.
• Edwards, Elwyn Hartley (1994). The Encyclopedia of the Horse (1st American ed.). New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 1564586146.
• Hendricks, Bonnie (2007). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806138848.

External links

• International Andalusian Lusitano Horse Association
• Associação Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano
• Lusitano Horse Association of Australasia

• Horse breeds
• Animal breeds originating in Portugal