“Andalusians are typically very flexi- good character— they’re courageous, but the rider asks, con gusto, with pleasure.
ble in their striding and very willing to they’re easy to sit, which is very attractive
Character, a sense of fun, of longing to do
adjust the length at their rider’s direction. for amateurs and juniors,” he says. “Their
what their people desire of them, is a hall-
Consequently, it is relatively easy for a temperament is unlike that of many warm-
mark of this ancient breed. Cattiness,
rider to adjust and ‘hit’ the critical take-off bloods, in that they’re never spooky, but
smarts and courage play a big role in the
point going into each jump,” he says. are definitely not cold or dull. “Of course,
classy showing made by Andalusian hors-
“Every Andalusian that I have tried leg structure plays a good share into the
has enjoyed jumping. They all seem to success of jumpers, and as a rule these
es against all comers, even those
instinctively tuck their legs very nicely as horses have very good feet. One thing
gravity-defying warmbloods.
they jump. At the lower levels, where the that’s particularly important is a good
most important thing is temperament, front end; that ascending neck makes
I would expect a high percentage to be riding them easier.” About spotting talent-
successful. At ed horses for ama-
higher levels, teurs and young
I would riders to enjoy over
expect that fences, Paul adds,
individuals “If a horse is green,
with more not jumped much
sporthorse- yet, I’ll check the
type confor- prospective Andi
mation would jumper’s technique
be more suc- over some small
cessful than crossrails, a little
the more vertical, to see
round what they do with
baroque their legs. If, like a
type.” lot of these horses,
Brennan they reach for their
believes that chins in front and
too many peo-
Photo courtesy Pat Brennan
are good behind,
ple limit their that’s what you’re
horses to a sin- after.
gle discipline and he has trained his hors- “Educating Andalusian jumpers is
es to drive and to compete in dressage as like teaching any other horse; after they
well as Western competitions like barrel learn to balance in the canter well, and we
racing and pole bending. “To me, the ben- confirm canter, we start with simple sin-
efits of cross-training are both physical gles. As soon as they’re ready, we do lots
and mental,” he says. “Physical because of gymnastics, cavaletti, crossrails. First,
the more a horse is ‘used’ the better off he we built up to trot and then canter four or
is. The more and different things he does, five in a row.”
the more he uses different muscles and Mathews says that he sometimes
remains well balanced. The worst thing is hears people say Andalusians lack scope,
for him to be standing in a stall all day. but he believes it depends on the individ-
“The mental benefits of cross-training ual horse and that many Andalusians have
are twofold. First, it relieves stress and/or become excellent international showjumpers.
boredom. Like any natural creature, a Eventers and jumpers in the big leagues
horse responds positively to variety. have included Andalusians and Lusitanos
Second, the more a horse is exposed to, like Adelante, Banbury Brio, Ariana RL,
the better off he is mentally. Cross-train- Novilheiro and Opus.
ing in multiple disciplines exposes the Mathews likes the Andalusians’ atti-
horse to a wide range of experiences. tude and care they take while jumping. “I
Consequently, he is able to handle new especially like their being very careful if
and surprising situations without panick- they rub a rail, so conscious of it next
ing or blowing up somehow.” time,” he says. “That’s extremely impor-
Brennan adds that his horses seem to tant with show jumpers, and it’s worth a
enjoy the cross-training experience he lot. I’m a big fan!”
provides and believes it adds to the
Perhaps Mathews is correct and a
Andalusians’ willingness and attitude.
secret to Andalusians’ and Lusitanos’ suc-
Paul Mathews of Virginia, a frequent win-
cess may be not simply their eye appeal,
ner and trainer of top horses and riders in
but the work ethic bred into these horses
venues like Wellington in Florida, agrees
for thousands of years. Andalusians,
with reports of the breed’s stellar work
ethic and demeanor. “My experiences so
Lusitanos and their partbreds show
far show that Andalusians have a very
tremendous generosity of heart, that will-
ing desire to go all day and do anything
ANDALUSIAN Issue 2, 2009 7
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