HORSE BREED
The lovely luxury of the Lusitanos One of the stars of the dressage arena the Lusitano has a presence that can only be described as absolutely mesmerising, writes AMANDA MAC.
T
here’s something about the Lusitano that holds your gaze. Whether that’s down to their superb conformation, the intelligence in their eyes, or the exotic history that flows through their aristocratic veins (the Lusitano is one of the world’s most ancient breeds), is hard to tell – but it’s almost impossible to look away once you’re under their considerable spell!
The Lusitano history The Lusitano is a Portuguese breed. A close relative of the Spanish Andalusian, both bloodlines were originally developed in the southwest corner of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula (territory which is essentially split between Portugal and Spain) and were, at that time, generally referred to as Iberian. Thanks to cave paintings in the area, we know that horses were roaming the peninsula as far back as 25,000 to 20,000 BCE – and DNA compar- isons show that the modern Lusitano C group contains
maternal lineages also present in wild Iberian horses from the Early Neolithic period (the last stage of the Stone Age). These horses were famously used for war by the invading armies of the Phoenicians of western Asia around 1100 BCE, and by the Celts of central Europe around 600 BCE. Historians think that the invaders brought their own horses with them, adding new blood to the existing Iberian breed, which was also expanded when Muslim invaders imported Barb horses into the peninsula in 711 CE. The result? In short, a horse that was strong, agile and swift – all
the hallmarks of an outstanding war horse. Around 370 BCE, the Greek philosopher and historian Xenophon wrote admiringly of the riding techniques displayed by Iberian horsemen – techniques that were largely only possible due to the agility of their horses. Later, when the Carthaginians and Romans invaded the peninsula, they brought a degree of formality to the local bloodlines by establishing stud farms to breed cavalry horses for the Roman army.
Moving on Take a quantum leap forward to the 16th century, and horses were regularly moved between Spain and Portugal, with stock from the Spanish Andalusian studs being used to improve the Portuguese cavalry horses. However, when Portugal went to war against Spain with their mounted troops riding war horses of Spanish blood, the Spanish were understandably miffed. So much so, that during the reign of Philip III of Portugal (who was also Philip IV of Spain), Spain outlawed Portugal’s production of cavalry horses. Although their breeding program was now at a virtual standstill, some Portuguese stud farms continued to operate in secrecy with horses smuggled in, or stolen from Spain. And it is these clandestine farms that we have to thank for establishing the bloodlines of the modern Lusitano.
