Barbara Klinger

Myriam Rabardy

Myriam Rabardy - France

What`s the difference between Lusitanos and Andalusians?

Question: I am just getting back into horses after selling my quarter horse four years ago. I actually am looking to get into dressage but not sure how far I want to go or can go, but I absolutely love to hack out on the trails most of all. I liked what you said in one of your articles regarding how you prefer the highschool/classical type dressage to the grueling work of high completive dressage (big baywatch type horses).

I have a friend looking at a seven year old lusitano stallion who froze in the bull ring and needs to learn to trust again. He is a very sweet guy, with no stallion type antics. The owner is asking 12K for this guy because he is lacking his papers. The horse was bought from Portugal. Does is seem weird that this horse would make it here without papers? I would think that if this horse was stallion breeding material the owner would try and get the papers. My friend is young and I don`t want her getting into something without knowing all the ins and outs. She really wants an andalusian or luisitano stallion for breeding and showing. I have no idea what to look for in a breeding stallion so I can not give her any advice. I was wondering what you might sell a really nice breeding stallion at age 7 with no prior breeding experience.

Is there a big difference in the andalusian compared to the luisitano in confirmation and movement?

Thank you for your time, and I love your mare very pretty and tall for an andalusian.

Response:
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Not at all. Papers would have doubled his price probably. Sometimes the lesser quality ones are sold without papers. They must have got this horse pretty cheap.

<<< I would think that if this horse was stallion breeding material the owner would try and get the papers.

You`re right. An ex-bullring Luso is probably not the way to go. Although some say otherwise, it is not the best breeding horses that are put into the bullring. They all ride stallions over there. So consider a bullring horse as "gelding" quality.

<<< I have no idea what to look for in a breeding stallion so I can not give her any advice.

A nice breeding stallion should have some offspring on the ground already. Or else full brothers and sisters in the breeding herd. These type are really hard to find unless you know what you`re doing. And they will be very expensive. As Andalusians cost more the older they get. Once they reach breeding age a good horse SHOULD be expensive! That`s why I encourage people to buy younger animals.

I work with a broker in Spain who has all types - from the lower quality to the very nice more expensive top of the line horses. She travels with people to see the horses and has a large network. At least 20K is needed for an aged horse of any quality.

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Now that is difficult question to answer. But yes, some Lusitanos and Spanish horses are very different. Certain lines of Lusos have larger heads with very massive roman noses. Some lines are thoroughbredy in their body type. Some lines look identical to classical modern Spanish horses. It depends on the horse. Some are thinner looking and smaller. But the best ones you cannot tell apart.



Myriam Rabardy