What breeds are included in the ranking of the most beautiful horses? Iberian horse Iberian horse
All the true connoisseurs of the true nobility, which is passed down through the genes, the true nobility of the Iberian character, of course, are real representatives of noble blood - Strabo, Xenophon, Caesar, Pliny and many warriors, knights, who doted on the difficult battles that accompanied them horse comrades.
The horses of the Iberians were able to earn such an invaluable trust of a person, thanks to the poise of their own character, their royal calmness. As well as the boundless affection and love that they develop over the years, to their own owners. The birthplace of this amazing breed is precisely the Iberian Peninsula. And, for the reason that Spain and Portugal are located on this peninsula, their significant influence on this breed is clearly visible.
Therefore, today, two subtypes of such horses are already distinguished. The first of them, "Andalusian" (or), and the second, "Lusitano" (or). In addition, we also distinguish a third type, which is called "alter real". But, for the reason that the factory that breeds horses of this breed is located in Portugal, this species Iberian, also began to refer specifically to the "Lusitano".
Light Iberian
Characteristic
Despite the fact that this type of horses directly speaks of strong influence ancient Spanish blood, not Portuguese at all. The "Andalusian" type, however, is considered much more advantageous in representatives who are with a gray suit. But “Lusitano”, it is considered to be winning for the suit with gray and bay. What is for "Alter real", it is winning for and dark bay. Horses of the Iberian breed often reach a height of 152 to 162 centimeters.
However, at times, it is quite possible to meet representatives of the breed, whose growth reaches 170 centimeters. A characteristic feature of horses of this breed is almond-shaped eyes, which are particularly expressive, as well as a wide forehead and an "eagle", that is, hook-nosed, or a straight profile.
The Iberian horse has rather long necks and well-muscled bodies. They also have strong legs. And the mane and tail are often incredibly long and wavy, moreover. Such horses are often used in various show performances, in bullfighting and show jumping, due to their inconceivable innate flexibility and elegance. Experts believe that it was these horses that actively participated in the process of formation of absolutely all breeds of riding horses.
“Of all the horses in the world, the horses of Spain are the best. Selected copies of them, I can vouch, are the most noble in the world, and there is no horse that would be better built, from the tips of the ears to the hooves, ”wrote in the 17th century. the Duke of Newcastle, whose admiration for this breed was shared by many connoisseurs and connoisseurs of horses.
The Andalusian horse is little known in our country. Domestic literature throughout not only the present, but also the last century, paid very little attention to it, and the friability of its constitution and insufficient agility were often criticized. IN. Witt and V.O. Lipping, who were hardly the only ones who wrote about Spanish horses in Soviet times, believed that this previously so famous breed had degenerated and even completely disappeared. In reality, despite the vicissitudes of fate, she survived to this day as she was, when it could be said about her that "Spanish horses are preferred for war and the arena to all other horses in the world." This breed is not only one of the oldest and most beautiful in Europe, it belongs to a whole era in the development of world horse breeding, and from the 15th to the 18th centuries. it had the same influence on most cultured breeds as the English has in our time. thoroughbred horse. And the English purebred breed itself carries a certain amount of Andalusian blood.
What are the horses of this breed, the images of which can so often be found in the paintings of Renaissance artists? First of all, their exterior strikes the eye, accustomed to the straight long lines of half-blooded horses, unusual proportions and bright, peculiar beauty. The whole figure of the horse is such that, even free-standing, it looks balanced in the maximum collection. She is large, but not too large: her height is about 160 cm at the withers. The body is distinguished by rounded shapes, compactness, width and depth, which creates a distant resemblance to the oriental horse of the Arabian type, but it is still much more massive than that of modern riding horses: Andalusians are broad-chested and “fat-bellied,” as the author of the last century rightly noted. The neck is set very high, with a picturesque bend; it is quite long, with a long occiput, but at the same time wide, with a developed crest. Head medium size and hook-nosed, with large almond-shaped eyes; a special picturesqueness is given to her by a long lush bang falling on her forehead. The proportions of the head, despite the hook-nosed and elongated nose, carry something “oriental”, perhaps due to the wide ganache. The legs are not long and bony, but, in comparison with the body, light and thin, on strong high hooves. The feeling of compactness, "collection" of the horse is enhanced by the fact that the hind legs are slightly substituted; the tail is set rather low to the rounded powerful croup. The tail and mane are luxurious, very long and thick, sometimes slightly wavy, but not coarse. In the past, Andalusian horses were characterized by a wide variety, including rare colors. Most contemporary Andalusians (80%) have gray suit; in addition, there are dark bay and black. Red, tan, nightingale and isabella colors are preserved in the Lusitanian breed, which is a Portuguese version of the Andalusian horse.
In motion, the Andalusian horse is a very special, very striking sight. Her course is naturally so high that even without a rider she walks as if dancing. At the trot, the front legs easily rise to the level of the chest. It seems that the center of gravity of the horse is shifted to the hind legs, and the front of it is raised as much as possible, which gives it a special agility, and makes movements majestic and picturesque. This pretentious splendor and at the same time ease of movement in the collection are the most striking differences of all breeds of the Spanish type. These properties are an indispensable attribute of the Spanish school of dressage, which dominated until the end of the 18th century. and from which the modern principles of the art of horsemanship have developed.
The main breeding area of the Andalusian breed has always been the south of Spain. There are various theories about its origin, even such that the Andalusian horse was formed in the Iberian Peninsula without any admixture from the outside, which, however, does not look very plausible.
Since ancient times, the population of the Iberian Peninsula had close ties with North Africa, where the Numidian cavalry enjoyed great fame. Numidian horses were of the southern type: agile and frisky. They are considered the direct ancestors of the Barbary breed. This type of horse was also common in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, which was then inhabited by the Iberian tribes. Iberian horsemen took part in the wars of conquest of Carthage, and Iberian horses were valued not only in Carthage, but also in Rome. Then the vandal conquerors (by the way, who gave the name to Andalusia) brought horses of the northern type to the peninsula. Thus, the horse of the Iberian Peninsula arose, as it were, at the junction of two large races: a heavy, rough European horse of the northern type and a dry and light eastern horse from North Africa.
In the 8th century Moors who spread Islam conquered Spain and brought with them many oriental horses, first of all, Barbary, and possibly Arabic. Under this powerful oriental influence, which lasted almost eight hundred years, the Andalusian breed began to form on the basis of local horses. From the Moors, the Spaniards even adopted a riding style that differed from the riding style of the knights in much greater maneuverability; later, on its basis, the Spanish school of riding was formed.
In the 15th century, after the liberation from the Moors, the rise of Spanish horse breeding began. Andalusian horses, called genets, became known throughout Europe. In popularity, they were second only to horses of the best oriental breeds. Relatively drier and lighter genets began to displace the breeds of heavy knightly horses of the Middle Ages: such as Frisians or Bavarian rottalers. Simultaneously with the Spanish breed, the Spanish riding school also spread throughout Europe. Its peculiarity was that the horse was required to move in maximum collection, transferring the main load to the hind legs. The elements of this dressage are very complex and require from the horse not only contact with the rider, flexibility, agility, but also a certain “strength training”, since when performing them, the horse’s hind legs withstand a lot of stress: these are various jumps, for example, landing on the hind legs , stances on strongly bent hind legs, etc.
Initially, all these techniques were needed to conduct a duel, but later they constituted, as it were, a special kind of art.
As a result of crossing with Andalusian horses, new breeds began to form. The most famous of them come from the palace factories that arose in the 16th century: Frederiksborg, Kladrub, Lippitsa. At the same time, famous riding schools arose: the Neapolitan and Spanish court in Vienna. In general, until the end of the eighteenth century. Andalusian sires were used throughout Western Europe to improve a wide variety of breeds, from carriage ponies to various ponies. In the distant ranks of the pedigree of Spanish ancestors, they even have such breeds as the Trakehner, Hanoverian and Holstein.
At one time, Andalusian, or, as we called them then, Spanish, horses were also imported to Russia, there were many of them in the palace factories. Several Spanish mares have left their mark in the Oryol Trotter and Oryol riding breeds.
The heyday of Spanish horse breeding took place during the period of the greatest political power of Spain, the spread of its influence over the vast lands of the New World. Andalusian horses were carried by the conquerors of America; then they were delivered by settlers. The blood of the Andalusian and related Portuguese breeds is still very strong in the breeds of Latin America. And, although in the breeds of North America the heredity of English and Arabian ancestors is often more noticeable, they owe many of their qualities to Spanish influence. The cowboy bridle with one mouthpiece arose even on the basis of the Spanish model.
During the Baroque period, in the 18th century, the prevailing tastes changed somewhat. Horses of more magnificent forms, heavier and taller, came into fashion. The Neapolitan breed, which descended from the Andalusian and Barbary horses, most of all corresponded to the new ideal. The features of the Neapolitan breed, which has not survived to this day, can be seen by comparing modern Andalusian horses with the Lipizzan horses of the old type and especially the Kladrubs: they are looser, somewhat stretched, they often have a soft back, the head profile is no longer with an elegant hump, but with a strongly convex starting right at the bridge of the nose. The Andalusian horse itself, although it was very close to the Neapolitan in type, was still much more dry and compact, it felt more oriental blood. However, the Neapolitan breed became so popular that even in Spain itself, crossing with it was encouraged by the king.
The Carthusian monks of the monastery of Jerez de la Frontera, founded in 1476, are to be thanked for keeping the Andalusian breed pure. Until now, the Carthusian horses are considered the best in the Andalusian breed, and the stud farm in Jerez remains the most famous place for its breeding.
Since the beginning of the XIX century. The English Thoroughbred was widely recognized. At the same time, the star of fame of the Andalusian breed began to decline. The Spanish riding school, which once originated as an integral part of the art of war, eventually turned into an attribute of the lifestyle of the nobility. Interest in it fell as the aesthetic ideals and lifestyle of high society changed. The cavalry now required horses with other qualities - frisky and hardy, and the Andalusian horse, too specialized in dressage, with a high and unproductive move, was not suitable for these purposes. In half-breeding plants, improvers of the Andalusian and its derivatives were gradually replaced by English breeds. As a result, the number of the breed has been greatly reduced, and the range is practically limited to the territory of Spain.
The Andalusian horse remained in oblivion until the end of the 20th century, when the use of a horse in the household largely gave way to sports and spectacles, and horse breeders became interested in unusual breeds, including the surviving “Baroque breeds”: Andalusian, Lusitanian, Lipizzan, Kladrub, Frisian. In different countries of Europe and America, societies of lovers and breeders of the Andalusian horse began to appear. These horses can now be found in Italy, in France, in the UK. In Germany, more than 300 representatives of this breed have already been registered, interest in which is confirmed by a study of prices for an ordinary horse: a five-year-old Andalusian costs 2.5 times more than an Arab.
Although the breed is still called Andalusian throughout the world, a new name has now been adopted in Spain: riga eider espanola, i.e. "pure Spanish breed". The fact is that in the XV century. Andalusia was the name of the entire territory of the Spanish kingdom. Modern Andalusia is only a small area in the south of the country. More than half of the total population of the breed is concentrated in Andalusia. It must be said that Andalusian horses are not brought up in a greenhouse: in the stud farms of Spain, mares remain untrained and are kept on pastures almost all year round. It is customary for them to cut their manes so that they do not get tangled in the bush.
Stallions are preferred for riding, they are almost never castrated and are used even in mounted police; Spaniards consider it below their dignity to ride geldings. However, Andalusian stallions, with all their energy and mobility, are very good-natured and obedient. Horses are driven at the age of three and are taught all the elements of Spanish dressage, the principles of which have been preserved here unchanged for centuries. In Spain, the traditional saddle and bridle with one mouthpiece are still used. In 1973 the Royal Andalusian Riding School was established.
Not the last role in the preservation of the traditions of the Spanish school of dressage was played by the national spectacle of Spain and Portugal - equestrian bullfighting. Before the appearance of the bull in the arena, the toreador rider opens the bullfight with a cascade of dressage elements, showing his skill and horse riding. Then the horse will have to show exceptional dexterity, agility and understanding in order to escape from the horns of an angry bull. For such a complex task, the horse must be ridden in such a way as to represent, as it were, an extension of the rider; it takes 6-7 years to prepare it.
By the way, the Andalusian horse has to deal with bulls not only in the arena. True, vaqueros - Spanish cowboys - often prefer not purebred Andalusians, but more frisky horses with a share of Arab or English blood, but it is Andalusian heredity that gives these crossbreeds the necessary sovok, maneuverability and a developed sense of balance. All the qualities that a bullfighting horse should have turn out to be very useful in other cases. For example, the French stuntman Mario Luracci considers the Andalusian horse to be the most suitable for his work.
Andalusian horses are sometimes called in for harness. The traditional harness consists of five horses: three in front and two in the back. Brightly decorated, it looks very impressive.
Of the "baroque breeds", the Andalusian seems to be the most numerous: while there are only 500-700 heads of Lipizzans and Kladrubs, in Spain in 1996 there were 32.159 purebred Andalusians, including 15.045 stallions and 17.114 mares.
Lusitano and royal alter
The name of the Lusitanian breed was given by one of the tribes of the Iberians - the oldest population of the Iberian Peninsula. The Lusitanians occupied almost the entire territory of modern Portugal. In 61 BC. e. they were conquered by the Romans, and Lusitania became a Roman province. However, this ancient name The best Portuguese breed of horses officially received quite recently - in 1966, the Andalusian and Lusitanian breeds are very close. They have a common history, are little distinguishable in appearance and are used in the same way; they are separated by state borders rather than by any external or internal differences. Sometimes, however, it is noted that the Lusitanian horse has a lower tail, a more convex profile and longer back. Like the Andalusian, Lusitanian horses are widely used in bullfighting; By the way, in Portugal, unlike Spain, since the 19th century. a bull is not killed in a bullfight.
Back in the 70s. in Western literature one could find statements about the decline of horse breeding in Portugal. However, at present, the number of fans of the Puzitan breed is growing not only in its homeland, but also in other countries of Western Europe. Since 1992, the Lusitanian Breeders Association has also existed in Germany.
In 1748, a royal stud farm was founded in the small town of Alter do Shan in the Portuguese province of Alentejo. He was supposed to supply horses suitable for the higher riding school and for carriages to the royal stables of Lisbon. Initially, the stud had only five mares brought from Andalusia; V better times the number of queens reached 300 heads. The horses of the plant were called alter real, that is, "royal from Alter." However, during the Napoleonic wars, the plant was looted, after which its decline began. In 1834 it had to be closed. To recreate the breed, attempts were made to cross with Hanoverian, Norman, English, Arabian horses, but they did more harm than good, especially the passion for Arab blood.
Only the purchase of pedigree Andalusian mares at the end of the 19th century. saved the day. The overthrow of the monarchy in 1910 again brought the royal alters to the brink of extinction. By 1942, only two stallions and 11 mares remained. Then one of the most famous Portuguese equestrians, Ruy d "Andrade, took up the rescue of the breed. The revival of the Alter plant began after it was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Now there are 54 mares and 16 stallions in the stud farm. Modern Altera horses have only bay color. They are prepared for the Portuguese High School of Riding in Lisbon.
Royal alters, Lusitanian and Andalusian breeds are sometimes united by a common name - the Iberian horse, named after the tribes that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula in antiquity. True, in Spain and Portugal, aboriginal rocks, garrano, sorraio, etc., are also bred, which should be more like Iberian horses. But their noble "distant relatives" are better known and rightfully occupy a special place in the vibrant and distinctive culture of Spain and Portugal.
In the ranking of the most beautiful horses includes at least 25 breeds. Some breeds are the result of selection. Others were created by nature itself. In addition to external attractiveness, these horses are distinguished by many other qualities for which their owners love them.
The formation of the breed was influenced by the civil strife of the Arab tribes. The Bedouins used horses for military purposes. For armed conflicts, more than just beautiful horses were needed. The animals had to be very hardy.
The formation of the breed was influenced by the civil strife of the Arab tribes
Arab tribes of nomads moved from one place to another, and therefore they considered horses their main wealth. Animals could be easily distilled during the move. The prosperity of the family was determined by the number of individuals in the herd. Fine horses were to remain a national treasure. They were forbidden to sell to neighboring nations under pain of death. In addition, they could not be crossed with other breeds. Thanks to this approach, it was possible to achieve purity of the blood.
In Europe, Arabian horses appeared during the Crusades. Going on a long journey to liberate the Holy Sepulcher, the Europeans were looking for animals that could survive in the climate of the country they were going to. One of the main advantages of the Arabian horses was that these animals needed much less food than the breeds of horses common in European countries. At the time of the Crusades, representatives of the Arabian breed were smaller in comparison with their modern descendants.
Thanks to the Arabian thoroughbreds, breeds such as the Lusitano (bred in Portugal), the Shagiya (bred in Hungary), and the Andalusian (bred in Spain) arose. In Russia, the Streltsy breed originated from Arabian horses, from which the Terek breed originates.
The most incredible and beautiful horses in the world (video)
Knabstrupper
After looking at the Knabstrupper horse, many people can agree that this is the most beautiful horse in the world. The color of this animal resembles the color of a Dalmatian dog: black spots on a white background.
Denmark is considered the birthplace of knabstruppers. According to legend, a butcher named Klebe bought a horse, which he brought to a small town called Knabstrup. The animal was distinguished by agility and endurance. The offspring that the mare gave were endowed with the same qualities. Thus arose new breed horses, named after the village where the butcher Klebe lived.
Knabstrupper is considered a rare breed, not only because of its color. When the village that gave it its name fell into disrepair, the number of knabstruppers declined sharply. From complete extinction, they were saved by an ordinary veterinarian from Denmark, who founded the association spotted horses. A series of experiments aimed at improving the breed led to the fact that knabstruppers not only survived, but began to look much more attractive.
To date, not all representatives of the breed are similar to Dalmatians. Among them there are individuals with a leopard color (red spots on a light background). Horses with trout and marble color (an admixture of white hair and small spots on the main background) are popular.
marwar horse
Otherwise, this beautiful breed is called malani. You can find out its representatives by unusual shape ears that can turn 180º. A beautiful horse appeared in India and was named after one of the regions of this country. The legend says that once an Arab ship wrecked off the coast of India, on board of which there were 7 Arabian thoroughbred horses. The animals left the place where the shipwreck occurred and were found in the Marwar region. Arabian horses mixed with Indian ponies. It is highly probable that the malani mixed with horses from Mongolia.
It is believed that the cultivation of marwari began in the XII century. Traditionally, the breed was used in agriculture and for riding. To get universal horses suitable both for working in the field and for transporting people, Marwaris are often crossed with thoroughbred riding horses. The breed is suitable for playing polo. Several centuries ago, malani were used as war horses.
In the 30s of the last century, the number of Marwar horses declined sharply. However, by the end of the twentieth century, the livestock was restored. The export of representatives of the breed outside of India has long been banned. However, in the early 2000s, an exception was made for US citizen F. Kelly. Since 2008, the export of marwari has been taken under strict control.
friesian horse
Friesians are among the most beautiful horses in the world. The breed originated in Friesland (the northern province of the Netherlands). You can recognize the frieze by the long pile at the hooves. The breed was bred during the occupation of the Netherlands by Spain. Local horses were crossbred with Spanish horses. The Frisians have repeatedly been on the verge of extinction. However, horse breeders have always managed to save the endangered livestock.
Friesians are among the most beautiful horses in the world
The first mention of representatives of the breed dates back to the 13th century. In honor of the Frisians, at the beginning of the 19th century, the Frisian races were established. The winner of the competition received a golden whip as a reward. Currently, the Frisians are used as an ornamental breed. They are often used for royal carriages, which must be harnessed by the most beautiful horses in the world. The use of friezes in sports is limited. Horses are allowed to participate in driving. Attractive appearance forces photographers to use friezes for photo shoots. Only the most beautiful individual should be in the frame next to the top model.
The friezes are human-oriented. Ease in training does them convenient for training. Horses are taught the so-called carriage ride. Animals should move gracefully and beautifully when they are carrying a carriage or a rider.
norwegian fjords
The fjords are not only the most attractive places for tourists in Norway, but also the most beautiful horses in the world. An individual of this breed is considered the oldest heavy truck on the planet. The fjords are peaceful in nature, which did not prevent the Vikings from using them during hostilities. But then the representatives of the breed began to be exploited exclusively for peaceful purposes - for riding and in agriculture. In modern Norway, fjords are used for certain sports.
There is an assumption that some breeds of horses in Iceland and England are descended from the Norwegian fjords. The Vikings brought their horses to a foreign land, which were crossed with local horses. Norwegian horses are unpretentious, and thick wool allows them to endure cold weather. Due to their compact size, fjords are often referred to as ponies rather than horses. The harsh Norwegian nature does not provide enough food for herbivores. Fjords do not need much hay or cereals. You can even feed them dried fish.
Presumably, the fjords are descended from wild horses that were tamed 2 thousand years ago. Animals have retained a considerable number of features in appearance and character from their wild ancestors. The main feature of the breed is a mane with black hair in the middle and white on the sides. The mane is usually cut very short to emphasize the unusual coloring.
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Iberian breed
Some Spanish horse breeders tend to believe that the Iberian breed of horses formed independently in the territory of modern Spain. Animals are completely purebred, because they were constantly isolated. However, it is very difficult to believe in such a version.
In the 8th century, the Moors came to Spain with conquests. They brought with them Barbary and Arabian horses, which mingled with Spanish horses. The modern Spanish school of riding was formed under the influence of the style of the Moorish occupiers. After the liberation of the country from the conquerors, the heyday of Spanish horse breeding begins. The Iberian breed was valued no less than the Arabian and Barbary horses. Representatives of this breed are beginning to replace the heavy friezes on which the knights moved. After the discovery of both Americas, Spanish horses set off to conquer new continents. On the northern mainland today you can meet the descendants of English and Arabian horses. IN South America Iberians are much more common.
In the 18th century, baroque came into fashion. During this period, tastes change dramatically. Fat horses with heavy croups are beginning to be in great demand. Representatives of the Iberian breed looked too graceful and did not fit into the idea of \u200b\u200bthe ideal horse. In the 19th century, the Spanish riding school gradually fell into decay. Iberians are no longer interested, as English thoroughbreds have received recognition.
Until the end of the twentieth century, the Iberians preferred to use for agricultural needs. However, by the end of the century, the Spaniards begin to show interest in the breed that was popular with their ancestors. Equestrian sport is in vogue. He is preferred by many people in the country. In the early 1970s, the Royal Andalusian Riding School was established.
The Iberian breed was able to win the hearts of modern Spaniards thanks to equestrian bullfighting. The skill that the rider demonstrates is no less spectacular than playing with an angry bull.
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Falabella horses
Falabella horses became popular in the 1970s. These horses are often confused with ponies due to their compact size. However, Falabella is an independent breed of horses, which has significant differences from ponies. One of the main ones is that Falabella has a physique ordinary horse: massive croup, graceful limbs, elongated muzzle, etc. Ponies have dense short limbs. The croup is not as massive as that of an ordinary horse, and the muzzle is not elongated.
The breed got its name from the name of the Argentine horse breeders, who were the first to breed mini-horses. There are several versions of the origin of Falabella:
- The progenitors of small horses were found in one of the remote valleys of the Andes. All animals and plants of this valley differed in miniature size due to the peculiarities of the local climate.
- Wild horses were isolated in one of the canyons by a landslide. Animals could not return to the habitat to which they were accustomed. Cacti became the only available food. Due to the lack of mineral components, each next generation of horses became smaller in relation to the previous one. As a result, serious genetic changes occurred. A herd of mini horses was discovered by farmer José Falabella. He freed the animals and drove the herd back to his farm. Despite proper nutrition, new generations of horses were never able to regain the growth of their ancestors.
- Great-grandfather Jose Falabella, for unknown reasons, drove his horses to land that was not suitable for pastures, and left them there forever. He bequeathed to his descendants to return the herd. When Jose and his family went in search of horses, he was able to find small specimens. It is likely that such animals managed to survive in harsh conditions. Little horses didn't need a lot of food.
- The Irish settler Newton, who was distinguished by his love for horses, saw a small horse in a strange herd. Despite its size, the animal did not look sick or handicapped. Newton stole the horse and then gave it to his daughter for her wedding. Miss Newton was going to become the wife of one of the representatives of the Falabella family, whose surname gave the name to the breed.
A graceful horse is not the result of a single genetic mutation or a successful breeder experiment. The beauty of an animal largely depends on care, balanced nutrition and a good attitude of the owner towards his pet.
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Iberian horses are characterized by such traits as exceptional nobility of character. Since ancient times, these horses have been faithful helpers knights in their campaigns, serving them faithfully. Even the ancient Greek poet Homer gave them the name "sons of the wind", considering them invincible. The list of admirers of the Iberian breed is long and can be listed indefinitely. This is Strabo, and Xenophon, and Pliny ... Gaius Julius Caesar brought representatives of this breed of horses to Rome. For example, such a historical fact is widely known when Caesar personally chose 10 snow-white horses: 1 stallion and 9 mares.Since the dawn of mankind, the Iberians have been in close proximity to all European thrones. This led to difficulty in the correct name of the breed: Andalusian, Lusitano or Iberian? In fact, this is the same breed that comes from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal are located there). It would be more correct to speak of subtypes:
- Andalusian, or purebred Spanish;
- Lusitano, or purebred Portuguese.
Something in between these subtypes is an alter real. Their distinctive qualities are: hook-nosed, high "from the knee" gait and haughty look. They were bred in one of the monastery monks. Where did the name come from - "Cartesian" type.
For Andalusians, the most common color is gray, for Lusitano - gray or bay, and for alters - bay and dark bay. The height of horses is 1.52-1.62 m (on average), but there are also larger individuals up to 1.7 m.
The character of the Iberians is distinguished by amazing poise and courage, and the mind is quick-witted. They have a well-developed braking moment, which, by the way, made it possible to consider this breed as the best military horse. What is especially good is that they are endowed with a rare kindness to the person himself, which very much binds the horse to the owner.
They have incredible flexibility, along with rare balance and elegance. Today, when the cavalry is not suitable for hostilities, the main areas of application of the Iberians have become graduate School, various show performances, of course, bullfighting, of course, sledding and show jumping.
Numerous other riding breeds are descended from this breed, for example: Lipizzan, Appaloosa, American Horse, Quarter (quarter mile breed), Peruvian Paso and Paso Fino, Criollo, Cladruber
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True nobility, nobility of character is an exceptional feature of the Iberian horses. Since time immemorial, they have been faithful companions of warriors, knights "without fear and reproach", fulfilling their duty in war and in the arena. Homer called them "sons of the wind" and considered them invincible. Strabo, Xenophon, Pliny... The list of fans of the Iberian breed is endless. Gaius Julius Caesar took representatives of the breed to Rome. For example, the fact is known that Caesar personally selected 10 snow-white hook-nosed horses: 1 stallion and 9 mares.
So, from pagan to Christian times, the Iberians have always been in close proximity to all European thrones. What is the correct name of the breed: Andalusians, Lusitanos or Iberians? In fact, this is one breed originating from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal are known to be located in the Iberian Peninsula). It would be more correct to speak of subtypes:
- Andalusian, or purebred Spanish;
- Lusitano, or full-blooded Portuguese (Lusitania is the old name for Portugal in the era of the Roman Empire).
The boundary position between these subtypes is occupied by the alter real, conditionally attributable to the Lusitano for geographical reasons (the stud farm where these horses are raised is located in the town of Alter do Xao, in Portugal, almost on the border with Spain), although in their characteristics the alters are close to the old Spanish lines. These lines are traced already on the Greek mosaics: hook-nosed horses, with high "from the knee" gaits and haughty eyes. They were bred by monks in one of the monasteries. Whence the name, or "Cartesian" type.
For Andalusians, gray is considered the most advantageous suit, for Lusitano - gray and bay, for alters - bay and dark bay. The height of horses is 1.52-1.62 m (on average), although there are individuals larger up to 1.7 m. The characteristic features of the Iberian breed include a wide forehead, large, often almond-shaped expressive eyes, a straight or aquiline (hook-nosed) profile , long steep neck, short and strong body, strong loin, rounded croup, strong legs, long tails and manes (often wavy).
The character of the Iberians is distinguished by poise, courage, quick wit. They have a well-developed braking moment, which made it possible to consider the breed as the best military horse. The Iberians are endowed with a rare kindness to a person, they are very attached to the owner.
They are distinguished by incredible flexibility, rare balance and elegance. Today, when horses have disappeared from the theater of operations, the main areas of application of the Iberians have become high school, show performance, bullfighting, harness, show jumping (for example, the stallion Novilliero, one of best horses J. Whitaker, in 1983, according to the world ranking, he was 12th in the best twenty jumping horses in the world).
The Iberians participated in the creation of all riding breeds of horses, and the Lipizzans, Cladruber, Appaloosa, Quarter (quarter-mile breed), American Horse, Peruvian Paso and Paso Fino, Criollo descended directly from them.
Such is the glorious history of the past ... But times have changed, tastes have changed, schools and the level of training of riders. What used to take years, now they are trying to give in hours.
Take, for example, the work of contemporary Lipizzans in their homeland of Lipice. Quiet measured life of the royal stud farm, foundations
which have been formed over the centuries. No one is forcing events here - 1.5 years (!) on the lunge, provided that you are something of yourself as a rider - and you may be accepted into the circle of the elite. Further - daily many hours of classes, a whole life in the saddle for the mere right to be called a Rider.
In pre-revolutionary Russia, which, thanks to James Phyllis, “traveled along Bosch,” the first spurs were handed over to young officers only after graduating from the cavalry school, when, by modern standards, riders already reached sky-high heights in the art of riding. Today, the spurs "cling" almost in the second lesson...
Rapid pace modern life dictate their terms. The measured Middle Ages, when the concepts of "horseman" and "knight" merged not only in sound in the Latin group of languages, but also in the approach to working with a horse, came tough german school with an arsenal of sheets and martingales, with large heavy horses, devoid of balance, flexibility, subtlety and sensuality. The concept of riding, built on the theory of balance of the horse, shifting the center of gravity, the perception of riding not as a brute manifestation of one of the many sports disciplines, but as an art with an appropriate worldview, aesthetic requirements, and education, it no longer suited the instructors of the "new wave" who occupied public arenas after the end of the First World War.
But the balance of the horse, on sensitive contact with which the whole principle of riding is built, is one given by God (either it exists or it does not exist). Therefore, there should be only one school, which can be called "classical". A living illustration of this school is due to its wonderful natural balance and even temperament of the horse of the Iberian breed.
Art galleries of all European countries are full of images, and museums are full of statues of Iberian horses. That is why the classical canon of beauty runs counter to the modern concept of it. These horses accompanied civilization, the manifestation of which was the wonderful monuments of architecture, painting and literature, which we still admire.
Involuntarily, the horse becomes the object of a collision of two incompatible worldviews: the sporting one, where the pattern and the result reign, and the artistic one, where virtuosity, originality and imagination knows no limits, where everything is individual. Hence the strictly individual approach to both the student and the horse. The artistic worldview corresponds to the way of thinking of humanism, which covers the entire system of values, where the concept of honor is put at the forefront. It is not for nothing that the institutions that teach the Latin school (it can be called Romanesque or old French) have a name, and the whole concept is academic or classical.
Why have disappeared from modern dressage such gaits as the Spanish walk, Spanish trot, three-legged canter, backward canter, true piaffe and passage, half-passes in counter-canter, etc.? The official version says that these gaits are not natural. Is it natural to jump under 2 m? I don't think so.
The real reason is that the modern German school, not owning the technique of changing the natural imperfect balance, cannot control the movement of the axis of the center of gravity. Therefore, there is no need to talk about driven horses here. That is why martingales, chambolas, gogs, grooves are included in normal riding techniques. Therefore, animals are systematically mutilated by castration.
But still, the Lord God created 2 sexes - stallions and mares, the third, as you know, he did not create. True, it was created by the German school and patented as practically the only correct method use of the horse modern sports. It's a sad situation, but I think the process is reversible.
I would like to believe that these wonderful horses will be imported to Russia, that numerous authors who created the concept of the Latin school for 600 years will be translated into Russian. Already in 1914, the bibliography of the works of this school included 1,400 authors.
