What is a good Iberian horse? We we will talk about how we select and what objective qualities we look for when we select horses for our clients (and for ourselves).
The overall quality of the horse within the race standards. This is where 9 out of 10 won't be selected by us, they are not healthy or simply does not fullfill the criteras for correct composition, good temperament and movements, which are the three pillars for the breeding of the PRE Andalusian and the PSL Lusitano. Of course there are horses of more or less quality, this is also reflected in the price, but our general criteria is one of high standard as the horses we select will most likely be sold abroad and be representatives for the race, and for us.
1. Conformation. When we choose looks we want both a correct and a beautiful horse. Beauty is a personal concept, but as we are to represent the horses, we select what we like and we are pedantic. Horses is a passion and it it impossible to represent anything you do not genuinely believe in yourself. I am not going to get into the race standards as they are defined by respective association for each race. As long as the horse has a correct and beautiful conformation, we choose the barock, the sporty and the traditional carthusian type of horses.
PRE Carthusian
PSLusitano Sporty
2. The temperament has to be a healthy one that for sure can vary from hot to quiet but never be complicated and based on some kind of trauma. The eyes and body language says it all. Here it is important to know that a good quality, classy Iberian does express himself with flashy gestures, energy and flair, but only when he is let to do so. It is a fundamental trait that he is naturally cooperative and concentrated, even if he a moment ago was behaving like a wild horse. The breeding has been very strict considering temperament and generally the temperament of the Iberian is gentle, cooperative and sensible.
PRE Nr 216
3. The movements. Ok. This is where we get interesting discussions with our clients! We do not choose exclusively from the judges point of view, even though they are important guidelines. Taking for granted that the movements are healthy, regular, balanced with the typical expression of elevated in front and tucked-in behind, we can choose from two types;
PRE cartujano line
- The traditional carthusian PRE has a very distinct movement pattern with much expression and high knee action. This is original for the race, for the traditional PRE/carthusian which is now a rare type to find as the breeding tendency has gone through faces of change, and now aspires different qualities. We think it is important to also support the use/breeding of this type of PRE, as it carries the essence of the race. We do select horses with high knee actions and much elevation, but we want suspension and elasticity added to these. Depending on the type of paddling/winging, this is ok or not.
Moorlands Tootilas
PRE Andalusian
- The movements good for dressage but still within the race standards are what we select for our sport-clients. We all love the natural skill for the collective movements of the Iberian and added a good engine/hind that makes the powerful projecction of the movement forward, makes a very talented dressage horse. So far there are not many PRE and PSL that has this set of quality of movement and therefore this horse is a exclusive one. But there are a few talents, see above and compare. Many clients asks for; a beautiful horse, tall, this or that colour, expressive movements for dressage, cooperative, energetic and sweet character and lets say trained level 4. This is a very exclusive PRE! Hard to find, few available and even less reasonably priced. If the horse has merits from dressage/show competitons and/or breeding added to that, this also reduces availability.
PRE Nr Nr 352
The movements we do not want;
- The ones that when pushing with their hindlegs they go back and out, a shuffling movement like the trotting horses. The hindlegs should always tucked-in naturally underneath, not 'behind-outwards'.
- The front and back should be well coordinated, be together, we want to see the same horse in the front as in the hind.
- The 'ticky-tick' with no push from behind and a empty foreleg movment is a typical example (and there are many) of poor quality in movement and not what you want for neither sport nor breeding, however for pleasure riding it would be ok.
Classy Delegado Mac
Then there is the subtle concept for 'class' that we look for in the horses we select, as that is fundamental for a Iberian horse. Class is not only elegance, the body can be perfect in angles etc but we want the horse to look like a Iberian in it's expression and have a lot of presence. The Iberian horse is a horse for kings and they have to look it. The coat has to be skinlike-short and shiny. He/she has to have expressive movements, a strong personality, have some fire in temerament yet be gentle.
'Hortelano' CDE
A CDE - Caballo Deporte Español or CDL - Caballo Deporte Lusitano are not purebred Iberians. They are crossbred Iberian horses, or Iberians without full registration documents and therefore purely for sport and the breeding of this kind of sporthorses. When we select these we follow the same criteria as for the PRE and the PSL.
Not all
APTO (Approved for breeding) stallions are good enough for breeding, even though they are approved. The stallions/mares we select are quality horses and recommended for breeding. If we think they are not good enough we do say so and why, as the horse can be good for another purpose.
PSLusitano
To add to this is that we also select the
owners/breeders of the horses. There are many serious, professional and correct owners/breeders and these are the ones we choose to work with!
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