...A little about the Lusitanian horse

Lusitanian horse

It is fitting that a horse as fascinating as the Lusitano has an equally fascinating history... It has carried heroes and kings. History has shaped the lusitano as we know it today - a horse with a bold and intelligent mind, a willing spirit and a unique ability to collect and perform high school dressage, including dramatic heights off the ground.

To understand the passion, devotion and interest the Portuguese have for their horse, the Puro Sangue Lusitano or PSL Lusitano, we must understand how the history of the country, the people and the horses are intertwined.

The Lusitano, also known as the PSL, or Puro Sangue Lusitano, is a Portuguese horses breed closely related to the Spanish Andalusian horse. Until the creation of the Spanish studbook, all horses in the Iberian Peninsula were known as Iberian, Hispanic or Andalusian horses. Dr. Ruy D'Andrade wrote the most important book on the history of the Iberian horse, entitled "Alrededor del Caballo Español", and within this book the horses are often referred to as Andalusians. In 1966 they were then divided into the "Puro Sangue Lusitano" and the "Pura Raza Española".

Although the Spanish Pura Raza Española and the Portuguese Puro Sangue Lusitano share a common history and are closely related, they are now different in many ways. This is partly due to selective breeding which has created different types. After King Philip V of Spain banned mounted bullfighting in the early 18th century, breeding in Spain focused on sport horses with upright, exuberant movements. The Spanish chose horses for parades, fairs, light carriages and presentations. Beauty became more important than functionality. These Spanish horses became more exuberant at the trot and less functional at the canter. Spanish breeders also selected for colour, with grey and brown being the preferred colours. The differences can also be partly attributed to the fact that Arab blood was widely used in Spanish breeding programs in the late 19th century.

In Portugal, however, equestrian matches are still an important tradition. Meanwhile, the Portuguese have continued to breed functional horses for field work, ranching and bullfighting with an emphasis on intelligence, suppleness, functional gaits; especially a balanced trot, the ability to change direction quickly, with a character that is brave, kind and gentle. These qualities were literally a matter of life and death for the horse and rider. Both today and in the past, breeders of Toro Bravo bulls and working horses are very aware of the importance of the Iberian factor and breed them to retain the Iberian factor. Thus, a horse that possesses a combination of muscular strength with progressive movements that allow for explosive sprints, agility and sharp stops has been retained. The preservation of these Portuguese traditions and values has made it possible to bring the lusitano into our time in its original form, with a history that is clear to all; with a courageous mind and a willing spirit; with a strong hindquarters and confirmation that allows speed, ease of collection and an excellent trot.

Lusitano is a horse for kings.

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Although Lusitanian horses have long been selected for their courage and agility, today they are widely appreciated for the quality of their gaits (especially their remarkable ability to rally), exceptional mentality and generosity, making them excellent allies in a wide range of disciplines. Lusitanian horses are intelligent and studious, and love to work.

The Lusitano is an excellent horse for bullfighting, horsemanship, and working equitation and dressage. It is in the latter discipline that he has gradually gained his reputation in recent decades, thanks in particular to the French rider Catherine Henriquet, who paved the way for him and Orphée to compete in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Since then, a number of Lusitano horses have made their mark at the highest level of dressage, including Rubi AR, one of the breed's most influential stallions, Galopin de la Font, Alcaïde, Fogoso, Fenix de Tineo, Escorial and Equador, who competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. No less than 14 Lusitanian horses took part in the Tokyo Olympics and in the latest WBFSH dressage ranking the Lusitanian stallion was ranked 6th, ahead of the Holsteiner and BWP, for example. This performance is all the more remarkable given that the Lusitanian studbook is closed and numbers just over 4,000 mares worldwide...

This makes them very flexible, with fast acceleration, which is great to use especially in bullfighting. These are held regularly from spring to autumn in many cities, but the bull is never killed. The toreador on horseback, or cavaliero, takes on the bull in 18th century attire - a satin nobleman's coat. The audience then judges his style and courage.

They can also be seen in performances at the Escola Portuguesa de Arte and are increasingly being used on the coliseums. The Belgian Felix Brasseur won gold with the Lusitanian four-horse team in the FEI World Cup Driving in 1995 and became World Champion in 1996. Lusitans are also used in shows by the Hasta Luego family, whose performances we could admire several times during the Apassionata, or by Frederik Pignon.

If you want to buy a lusitano, we always have a selection of quality horses to choose from. Contact us or check out our horses for sale page.

SOURCES:
Tina Veder; Horse Talk New Zealand; Cavalo Lusitano no século I nos Hipódromos Romanos, J. Alexandre Matos; IALHA; Horse Channel; International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds by Bonnie L. Hendricks; The Origins of the Lusitano Horse by Juan Valera-Lema, Ph.