Tell me about your Spanish bred horses

[CanteringCarrot]

I’ve recently begun riding a PRE stallion, and I find myself really enjoying him. There are two other PRE’s at my barn, and they both have great demeanors too. Honestly, the one that I ride is a nice break from my big warmblood. I’m considering looking for a PRE or possibly an Andalusian.

What do you do with yours? Trails? Jumping? Dressage?

If I do by one, I’d like it to be an all arounder. Dressage, trails, and small jumps (less than 3ft). It seems that these horses are bred to have good minds, and are pretty intelligent.

[rizzodm]

I own a Lusitano and do mainly dressage with him. I have done a little jumping with him and plan to do more. I just ordered him a custom jump saddle so I’m pretty excited to do some more jumping.
I bought him as a two year old and have done almost all his training with the guidance of a pro. He is the most forgiving and kind horse I have ever had the privelage to own. My trainer has offered to buy him on several occasions. He is six this year and just went to his first big multi day show finisnhing with scores of 64 at training level. He was almost completly sane at the show but he is still young and did act his age, lol.

[2DogsFarm]

Not mine, but I rode Andalusians in Spain & loved them.
One was my Trail horse, the other for Dressage & both had good minds, comfy gaits & were a joy to ride.

Also met a gal with pair of Driving Lusitanos at Villa Louis ADS show last year.
Gorgeous horses, drove single & double - looking Gaw-Juss doing both!

[pluvinel]

The Eastern Region Andalusian Horse Club (ERAHC) is having its 25th Anniversary Show at the VA Horse Center, Lexington VA, on Aug. 30-Sept 3.

You can see or compete your Iberian horse in an Open Dressage Competition. Then stay to look at the breed show. I happen to like their Saturday “barn party.”

It is a USEF Recognized “Open” dressage competition, held on a Wednesday, so you can come and be judged against mostly other Iberian/Baroque horses.

I have found the ERAHC people more friendly than straight “dressage” folks…if you are close, stop in.

[khall]

I’ll keep you posted! I bred a Lusitano X filly (oo Han/TB mare that also had a lovely temperament) who is 3 this year. Up to this point I love her. She is very different than my WBs (have bred WBs off and on since '89) very thinking horse, sensitive but sensible (her dam was too though) very connected to people without being pushy like the WBs can be. I am just starting ground work with her and have not found anything that takes me aback yet. She is not a dead head but not the wild one like my WBs can be. Even if she gets yee haw, it is short lived. I love her gaits, exactly what I was looking for, more animation than my WBs but not so much as many of the full baroque tend to have. Only thing I can see a future problem is she is short back and a wide load already. Saddle fit may be fun, NOT!

BTW she is a buttermilk buckskin!!

[pluvinel]

@khall

I’ll keep you posted! I bred a Lusitano X filly (oo Han/TB mare that also had a lovely temperament) who is 3 this year. …

You know…ERAHC has classes for part-breds too…

[Scribbler]

My coach has Andies and Andy and lusitano crosses. I’ve been to a couple of Andy breed shows, once as judge’s helper , so watched two ten hour days!

I love love love what I’ve seen in that they are cattier than even a quarter horse and then shine in upper level dressage. They also are generally friendly and people oriented, though they can be hot too.

They however do not tend to have the long warmblood stride that is so popular in the dressage arena now and tend to do better with more training to extend. They are less likely to win Training level on the base of gaits and promise I think.

Also as with all breeds there is variation in natural stride length and suspension.

They are not typically used as jumpers but can certainly compete under 3 feet.

You can also get very nice Andy or lusi crosses with TB or warmblood, if you want more sport horse. The most common cross is with qh, the quality of which will depend on the qh factor. Seen nice ones that look like Andies, others that look like qh. The sport horse crosses I’ve seen are very Iberian, don’t look at all TB or WB.

I took on a Paint, but would definitely upgrade to an Iberian if something happened to her. She had a stunning half Andy collt early in life, so I’m also considering maybe trying the build your own Iberian route at some point.

[Guilherme]

The Mangalarga Marchador is of Iberian blood (from the Alter Real stud in Portugal via the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil). They are used in Brazil as a general purpose horse. They are “gaited” but some are very lateral (like most North American gaited breeds) and some are quite diagonal giving them the athleticism to work in the Classical disciplines as well as Eventing, Working Equitation, Enduro, etc.

G.

[Hulk]

These horses are amazing. They are so easy you can train them from the ground up in your sleep. They are smarter than smart. They are loyal and obedient beyond belief. There is just no way I can put into words how lovely these creatures are.
They are one of my favorite breeds. And the more cartujano blood the better. I have had my share of other breeds, TBs Arabs, WBs but Andies are really that special. My barn would not be complete without an Andie stallion. If you are thinking of getting one, don’t wait, life is too short.

[joiedevie99]

I have a 10 coming 11 y/o PRE imported from Spain. I adore him. He’s the most charismatic, fun horse to have around. He’s always game for whatever you want to do. He’s also a bit of a clown. He’s quite hot, but in a good way.

He’s been pretty competitive in dressage. He finished 11th in the country in the 4th Level Amateur Finals. He was Reserve Champion in a massive Regionals class at PSG and qualified to go back to KY, although we didn’t make the trip. He finished 3rd in his first CDI, and I think in time he’ll be able to move up from there.

[2tempe]

I have a lusitano stallion - He is the most fun I’ve ever had w/ a horse! Brave and unruffled beyond belief, smart, worker bee, solid and sound as can be at 15. Barn favorite where I board. He also is pretty competitive dressage-wise. Showing PSG currently, he got me my silver scores and regional scores.
His biggest fault is that he is an over achiever and tries to anticipate rather than waiting for the next aid. This is most apparent in our walk work - once the walk pirouettes are done, he’s all about moving on - wants to trot on the extended walk and the last 8 steps of collected walk prior to canter sometimes turn into piaffe.

He loves to go hacking and especially enjoys when I let him pick a route. We play around w/ a couple obstacles on the farm property.
I can’t imagine buying anything other than a PRE or Lusi ever again. Love affair beyond my wildest imagination.