UP AND OVER—ANDALUSIANS
JUMP FOR JOY!
By Jeannette Barnes Lessels
important to go clean and move forward and not have to be pushed.
have a good time with I would want a horse that is sensitive
your horse.” Vermaas to his rider and is eager to learn and to
notes, “Choosing a suit- please.”
able Andalusian, Brennan adds, “The mental aspect is
Lusitano or crossbred, where Andalusians are especially well
you don’t want a washing suited for jumping. Simply put, they
machine, but a forward love to jump. And, because they are so
mover. To stride longer trainable and anxious to please, they are
is better; the horse must extremely willing and honest. It is very
not be hyper, but noble rare for an Andalusian to refuse a fence.”
and want to please. Look Brennan believes that Andalusians
for bigger hindquarters are superb mounts for children and adult
with good angulation, a amateurs and says that the Andalusian’s
Photo courtesy Pat Brennan
good engine. Many I’ve mental assets more than compensate for
had in Portugal did very well against the any physical shortcomings they may have
Mostly, it’s that look of startled pleas- warmbloods.” as jumpers.
ure on the faces of suddenly clued-in He advocates solid basics and a thor- “The Andalusian’s general athleti-
horse show audiences which delights ough foundation in training. “Andalusians cism and agility is a big advantage,” he
many Andalusian fanciers’ hearts. who get to do suppling exercises, gymnas- says.
There’s a tremendous buzz after a round tics, bounces, become very athletic. They
with Andalusian pure or partbreds show- can tend to go on forehand at first, so they Photo courtesy Pat Brennan
ing their stuff around a challenging jump need time to adjust and strengthen. Then
course. It’s as if the world’s been waiting they become extremely athletic. We use
for everything old to be new—as if, just shorter distances to start, and increase that
because these horses are born to do to teach more scope. We do lots of dres-
dressage, many horse people who enjoy sage basics, bending, but also encourage
jumping have never before considered our horses to move long and low, truly
that Andalusians could show special abil- stretch, and then pick them up gradually.
ities over fences. We can then ride in 1
st
or 2
nd
level dres-
Dutch-born, European-trained classi- sage type frame. Also, I have noticed
cal horseman Michael Vermaas, a student Andalusians who jump look leaner in
in Portugal of the late Lord Henry Loch, is neck than upper level dressage horses,
now based in Texas. Vermaas is a bona- because different muscles are used.
fide member of the Andalusian fan club. Hacking and hill work is very good for
“One very big advantage to amateurs and development.”
young riders is these horses’ exceptional Pat Brennan of Bravata Andalusians
kindness,” he says. “Another is that they in Ohio, owner of two successful
have a wonderfully tight jump, hard to Andalusian jumpers, concurs that
beat. There’s simply no way a warmblood Andalusian conformation and attitude as
can beat the turn on a coin which well as cross-training are important facets
Andalusians can make. Andalusians, of a successful jumper. “Conformationally, I
Lusitanos and their crosses cut corners on would look for a strong back and loin,
turns very well. Of course, if you let them hindquarters with the equilateral triangle
go too fast they can tend to fall apart, so .to provide the coiling and spring, a well- Most Thoroughbreds and warm-
it’s truly important to teach them to col- placed lumbrosacral joint, and a neck that bloods have a longer length of stride than
lect, to wait ‘till you ask. For example, a is not too short or heavy. I would want an most of the typical Andalusians. This
double jump that’s set for warmbloods exceptional canter with no excess eleva- gives them some speed advantage in the
might have two long; on an Andi you tion or lateral movement (the walk and straight-away. However, the Andalusian’s
might want to do that as three strides. trot are not important in jumping.) Most agility often allows him to take the turns
Andalusians’ typical movement is so of all, I would want the proper tempera- much tighter and thereby make up for any
much more round. In jumpers, it’s most ment. I would want a horse that wanted to lost time.
6 ANDALUSIAN Issue 2, 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52