The Portuguese Lusitano Horse

This is one of the oldest and rarest breeds of horse in the world today.  The official stud book is closed, that is to say, only animals whose parents are already registered as pure bred can be admitted.  Worldwide there are  approximately only seven thousand registered pure bred Lusitanos.

Their history goes back well before Roman times, but by the time of the Empire, the horses of the Iberian Peninsular were the most sought after military mounts in the whole of the ancient world.  Their compact, athletic and powerful frames being ideally suited for the lightening reactions  and strength needed in close contact warfare.  In addition, they had the  ability to survive long campaigns on frugal rations without loosing  condition, and a temperament  that was easy and forgiving .

Over the centuries  as close combat warfare became redundant  these horses became status symbols of the rich and powerful European royal houses and the aristocracy.   The movements taught to these animals when they were effectively weapons of war, were then developed and refined, and practiced  as an art form by the higher echelons of society.

Today you can still see these arts performed in Portugal at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art in Queluz (keloosh) nea Lisbon by Lusitanos, the Royal school of Equestrian Art in Jerez (hereth)by a mix of Andalusian and Lusitano horses, and at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, by the Lipizzaner horses, descended from Iberian stock.

In Portugal, the modern Lusitano horse is still considered a great status symbol, and many gentlemen ride and train their own horses In to the highest level of dressage as a private hobby.

 But he is also now used for cattle herding on the huge estates famous for beef production, and  for bullfighting, where,  incidentally, exactly the same qualities prized by the Romans 2000 years ago are selected for today. 

This why the Lusitano  can make such a fantastic endurance horse.  Not only is he tough and strong and built to last for weeks on campaign, but he has this level headed approach to life.  He is brave when faced with what a horse perceives as danger, will actually turn to face the threat, and if asked to, will generally take it on, and last, but not least, he is the most comfortable horse to sit on! 

He is also a fantastic jumper, some of the larger examples of the breed being very successful show jumpers.  Novilhero, John Whittaker's famous mount  was a pure bred Lusitano, his sire Firme appears twice in our stallion's pedigree.