The PRE Horse: The History of the Spanish Horse
By Anita Alfaro
Courtesy of ANCCE, Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballos de Pura Raza Española.
The true origin of the Spanish Horse is not a certain science; what is known is that in the pre-Roman era, there were already references to horses in what is today known as Spain. Roman authors such as Plutarch, Pliny the Old and Seneca speak of the Hispanic horse as a beautiful, docile, arrogant and brave horse, ideal for war and for the sports that were carried out in the circuses at that time.
During the reign of King Philip II, the equine realm of his Kingdom was organized, laying down definitive bases so that the Purebred Spanish Horse was able to reach its peak during subsequent years. This was possible with the creation of the Royal Stables in Cordoba, where he gathered together the best stallions and mares from all the provinces bordering the Guadalquivir River, which at that time, were the most productive in the breeding of horses.
Thus, the Royal Stud Farm was created, which after time became known as the National Stud Farm. A multitude of horses were exported to the American continents; these horses played a decisive role on its exploration, and were the origin of and the basis for most of the breeds that have subsequently been raised there.
In Europe, Spain was enjoying its Golden Age; at that time, the most treasured gift from a Spanish monarch was one of the nation’s magnificent horses. Spanish horses soon earned repute and were decisive in the birth of many Central European breeds. There are currently more than 1,300 Purebred Spanish Horse breeders in Spain, and more than 400 throughout the rest of the world. Today, there are about 80,000 PREs throughout the whole world, bred in more than 60 countries.
Important data about the Purebred Spanish Horse:
Name: Purebred Spanish Horse. It is also known by its initials (PRE). Other names such as Andalusian or Iberian horse do not represent this horse. These breeds do not have the official documentation of the Spanish Stud Book. Those known as Carthusian horses are a family (or line) within the Purebred Spanish Horse breed.
Official documentation for Purebred Spanish Horses. There is only one official stud book for the PRE in the entire world, now managed by ANCCE in Spain. This single Registration Book is internationally authorized, to produce the official documentation for Purebred Spanish Horses. This is the one and only guarantee for breed purity and which applies the internationally accepted controls for the breed: DNA confirmation of the paternity, completed graphic description and microchipping at weaning, evaluation as breeding stock as a 3 year-old, assignment of a registration code in the Stud Book, etc. The passport produced by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and ANCCE is the only documentation that guarantees that the animal is a Purebred Spanish Horse and it fulfills all the requirements for the identification of horses as established by the European Union.
Colors of the Purebred Spanish Horses. According to the breed description in the PRE Stud Book, all colors are permitted except piebald or skewbald.
Artificial insemination. This is currently only permitted in the case of qualified breeding stock.
Approval for breeding. Three classes of breeding stock exist within the Purebred Spanish Horse selection scheme.
Basic breeding stock. It is necessary to request the evaluation from ANCCE, which administers the Stud Book. PREs undergo this evaluation, during which it is decided if they are suitable for breeding, as of the age of three, and the requirements are:
Stallions must measure more than 1.52 meters at the withers (approximately 15 hands) and 1.50 meters in the case of mares (approximately 14.3 hands).
There must be no sign of a fallen or broken crest or an ewe neck.
They must be neither monorchide nor cryptorchide.
They must remain true to the breed standard’s outline of conformation.
As of that moment, their descendants will be registered in the Stud Book. If they do not pass this evaluation, they retain their original registration papers and they continue to be considered as Purebred Spanish Horses, but lack the right of having their progeny registered.
If a horse’s registration papers have not been stamped and signed to prove that said horse is approved as breeding stock, it means that said horse has not yet passed its evaluation legitimizing its use for breeding purposes within the breed’s legal selection scheme. Any horse that does not pass this evaluation may be presented a second time, if the owner should so desire.
Qualified breeding stock. Having passed the basic approval, the breeders can present their animals for an additional evaluation, at one of the Tribunals for Qualified Breeding Stock (TQB) in which their conformation and natural paces are analyzed.
Requirements in order to pass the evaluation for as qualified:
