Andalusian Horse Breed Profile

Once you’ve seen an Andalusian horse, it is a breed you won’t forget. Its long, flowing mane and tail and animated, graceful movements command attention. While the Andalusian is a natural pro in the dressage ring, it adapts beautifully to other activities as well. You’ll find Andalusians on rugged mountain trails, in pleasure classes, and even being driven. This breed's beauty and seemingly boundless competence have earned it enduring popularity through the ages.

Andalusian Horse History and Origins

The Andalusian descended from Spanish and Portuguese Iberian horses in the province of Andalusia, where it gets its name. Also referred to as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE, the Andalusian is closely related to the Lusitano, which was named after Portugal’s ancient name of Lusitania.

The Andalusian’s history spans thousands of years, originating with the prehistoric horses that populated the Iberian Peninsula in Spain during prehistoric times. The Iberian horse was influenced by horses brought to the peninsula by explorers, culminating in the Andalusian breed during the 1400s.

The Iberian horse was known as a tremendous warhorse, and the Andalusian continued that legacy. Armies favored the Andalusian for its agility and speed, and those same traits made the breed a popular horse among European royalty. As riding academies formed and the art of riding became popular, the Andalusian made a popular mount and influenced breeds like the Lipizzaner, the Cleveland Bay, and the Connemara.

Andalusian Horse Size

Andalusians are strong, compact horses that average 15.1 hands high. Stallions and geldings tend to weigh approximately 1,100 pounds, while mares weigh slightly less at approximately 900 pounds.

The Association of Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders of Spain requires mares to be at least 14.3 hands and stallions and geldings to be at least 15 hands to be registered. For horses to be approved as elite stock, mares must be at least 15 ¼ hands and stallions must be at least 15.1 hands.

Breeding and Uses

The Andalusian is a highly versatile breed, making it a suitable mount for dressage, jumping, trail riding, Western pleasure, English pleasure, and even driving. It’s a popular choice for parades and demonstrations, thanks to its eye-catching looks and commanding appearance. This breed is often used as a bullfighting mount in Spain and Portugal.

Colors and Markings

The Andalusian was once found in many coat colors, but those colors have been refined over time. Today, Andalusians are most likely to be gray or bay, though minimal black, dun, chestnut, and palomino colors do occur. Andalusians with rare buckskin or cremello colorations can be registered.

Unique Characteristics of the Andalusian Horse

The Andalusian is favored because of its naturally elevated, elegant movement. The breed’s compact body and great flexion of the leg joints make for an animated, forward-moving mount. These horses tend to naturally learn collection and because of their intelligence, they often learn difficult moves easily and quickly. 

Diet and Nutrition

Andalusians are a relatively low-maintenance breed, but they are prone to developing metabolic issues that are exacerbated by being overweight. A horse’s diet will need to be carefully monitored to ensure healthy weight maintenance. Horses will benefit from quality hay and may need supplementation with grain or with a ration balancer. They may need to be restricted from grazing on too much lush grass, especially if metabolic issues emerge.

Common Behavior and Health Problems

The Andalusian is known for being well-mannered, intelligent, and largely agreeable. However, the breed is spirited, so in the wrong hands, these horses can become too much for their riders to handle.

Andalusians are prone to certain health issues:

• Small intestine issues: Andalusians tend to experience issues with reduced blood flow to the small intestines more often than other breeds do.
• Laminitis: Andalusians who do experience intestinal issues are also at a higher risk of developing laminitis, a highly painful hoof condition that requires long-term management and treatment.
• Metabolic issues: Andalusians tend to be prone to metabolic issues, like Cushing’s, which often emerge as the horse ages. These issues often require careful dietary management and may require medication.

Grooming

Andalusians require significant grooming, mainly because of their thick, flowing manes and tails. Regular detangling, conditioning, and maintenance are necessary to keep this hair healthy. Some owners choose to braid manes daily to help minimize tangles, and tails may need to be tied up to keep them off of the ground when horses aren’t being shown or displayed.

Like any breed, Andalusians will benefit from regular grooming, especially currying, which can help to bring out the natural oils and shine of the horse’s coat. With so many horses being gray or white, keeping them clean can be a challenge. Be prepared for regular bathing or spot-treating if you own a horse with a lighter-colored coat.

Champion and Celebrity Andalusian Horses

There are many well-known Andalusian horses:

• Babieca, a white Andalusian stallion, was a prized mount of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar in medieval Spain. He was a favored warhorse and, for 30 years, was instrumental in his owner’s victory in each battle.
• Opus, an Andalusian stallion, was a tremendous bullfighting horse. When he retired, fans filled the stadium to see him take his victory lap.

Andalusians have been heavily featured in the media, too. Clint Eastwood rode them in many of his movies, and the breed has appeared in hits including "Gladiator," "Interview with the Vampire," "Braveheart," and "The Lord of the Rings" films.

Is the Andalusian Horse Right for You?

The Andalusian is highly intelligent and often agreeable, but this breed is also known for its forward movement, so these horses are best suited to intermediate riders and above. It’s a natural fit for sports like dressage and carriage driving, and its animated movement and striking appearance command attention in the show ring or parades.

Trained, purebred, and registered Andalusians start around $10,000, though those prices can easily double or triple, with premium horses fetching even higher prices. Because these horses carry higher price points, they may be impractical choices for riders working with smaller budgets.    

How to Adopt or Buy an Andalusian Horse

There are a few different options when buying an Andalusian:

• It’s possible to identify a quality breeding program and buy a horse directly.
• Andalusian show barns often sell highly trained horses with established competition records, though these horses can fetch higher prices.
• It’s also possible to buy an Andalusian from a private seller since these horses are popular and well-established within the United States. Consider joining an Andalusian club in your area, since the club may be able to connect you to reputable breeders and sellers in your area.

Andalusians are valuable horses, so they rarely come up for adoption through a rescue. Andalusian crosses may come up for adoption more often. When adopting a horse, it’s important to treat the process with the same caution you’d use when buying a horse. Research the rescue and read reviews by others who have adopted horses.

It’s a good idea to have a pre-purchase veterinary exam performed on any horse, whether you’re buying it or adopting it from a rescue.

More Horse Breeds

If you’re interested in similar breeds, check out:

• Arabian
• Thoroughbred
• Paso Fino

Otherwise, you can check out other popular horse breed profiles.