Andalusians/Lusitano Disciplines?

[iAMASHOWJUMPER]

I know that Andalusian and Lusitano horses can make fab dressage horses!
But can they turn their hoofs to show jumping too? I thought they might be similar to friesians (not saying friesians can't jump!) but because they're quite chunky they're often not good with the sharp turns and sometimes landing can put pressure on the hocks? A genuine question, please don't feel offended anybody!

 

[iconique]

John Whitaker thought so perhaps? His horse Noviheiro?

 

[tallyho!]

Andalusian horses make fabulous jumpers! You only have to YouTube and you will find a few stunning examples.

After all, they are the country horse of Spain, used for cattle work and war! check out Working Equitation and you will see how nimble and light they are across jumps and turns!!

Wish I could post a youtube link but don't know how cut n paste on an iPad... I will try...

... No it's useless. Just search on YouTube working equitation. Beja 2008. Golega.

 

[TheMule]

Although not bred to jump really, many can and do very well. A bit like their dressage though, theyre very good at aspects but don't have the specialism of a warmblood- eg they are generally very, very neat and tidy with plenty of height in the jump but can lack a bit of scope to jump across a big wide oxer.
Turning is no problem and I would not call them chunky- as for the hocks, jumping is nothing compared to high school dressage movements like levade for wear on the hocks!

 

[showqa]

Firstly, depends at what level jumping you're talking about. Yes, Novilhero was top class but there haven't been so many that have made it to that level. Having said that, I have a PRE who I started to jump literally just to vary his life away from dressage and he has totally surprised me with his natural, raw ability. Very keen and puts in a beautiful shape over a 3ft 6 upright.

 

[iAMASHOWJUMPER]

Thank you allI Never realized John Whittaker jumped an AndalusianHad I realized that there would've been no need to askI guess some Spanish horses are just suited to different things, just as fjord ponies can make great happy hackers but can also make it as pretty impressive dressage ponies, thank for the replies everyone

 

[tallyho!]

Although not bred to jump really, many can and do very well. A bit like their dressage though, theyre very good at aspects but don't have the specialism of a warmblood- eg they are generally very, very neat and tidy with plenty of height in the jump but can lack a bit of scope to jump across a big wide oxer.
Turning is no problem and I would not call them chunky- as for the hocks, jumping is nothing compared to high school dressage movements like levade for wear on the hocks!

I used to think that but That's a load of rubbish, they are bred to be whatever you want!

Yes obviously, you will be better off searching for breeders who breed them for jumping. Just like you would select a wb breeder for jumping or dressage.

You don't see many because there are not many around in UK and Europe and USA where jumping is popular. In Spain, they like to parade and prance about. However, they are exceptional dressage and jumping horses. also, they do not come cheap so that is another reason you don't see many.

If trained well, they excell under the right hands.

 

[iconique]

Noviheiro was a Lusitano, not an Andalusian, my instructor in Portugal would die if he read otherwise!!!!

 

[tallyho!]

Noviheiro was a Lusitano, not an Andalusian, my instructor in Portugal would die if he read otherwise!!!!

He's not one of "those" is he???

 

[mik]

He bred some nice foals as well http://www.endhousestud.co.uk/associate/crowncornelion.htm

 

[stencilface]

Apparently my horse's uncle is Novilhiero, although I'm pretty sure its a lie (mine was born in 2000, and Novilhieros only full brother apparently never made it to the UK) - nothing to prove it! (I would bet money he's not, closest possible is Crown Cornelian....)

Anyhoo, regardless, but my horse is definitely of the type, with build etc. He is a great jumper, ok, so we only ever did Newcomers, and did struggle with a more forwards canter, but thats likely more my fault! He is ridculously careful, and has always had a v neat technique, and I've had him since being a 4yo

I don't ever think of them as being chunky, they tend to have longer legs ime and tend to be slender and long through the body afaik

 

[iconique]

Yes! Years ago he was quoted when asked what is the difference between a Andalusian and a Lusitano "the Andalusian speaks spanish and I speak Portuguese"

There are differences between the breeds, but its a bit like cars you have to be a spotter to really understand lol!

 

[tallyho!]

Yes! Years ago he was quoted when asked what is the difference between a Andalusian and a Lusitano "the Andalusian speaks spanish and I speak Portuguese"

There are differences between the breeds, but its a bit like cars you have to be a spotter to really understand lol!

Well, the luso v andy snobs does make life more interesting... They are almost genetically identical with the Lippizaner. The breeders of lusos prefer them taller, stockier and more sporty and work very hard to improve the breed so I don't blame them and I love them too but I couldn't ever say I preferred one over the other. Whereas the Spanish work very hard to keep the horse of Spain exclusive so I can see why they may spit feathers at each other

 

[JCWHITE]

Disciplines ?
Mine has to be an allrounder. In these parts that means, Endurance, Trec, Western, Jumping and lots of hacking.....

 

[suzied]

Lusos are excellent all rounders. As well as dressage - you can see them doing affilliated PSG & higher & have competed at the Olympics - & showing, you can find them show jumping, hunting, eventing, doing endurance & le trec. They are top level carriage horses, fight bulls & are world champions at working equitation, a discipline which involves dressage, cow cutting & negotiating 2 obstacle courses, one against the clock, which can be described as a cross between Western riding, handy horse, mounted games & working hunter, only harder. At top level, all phases are performed ridden with one hand! They are very athletic, agile, proud horses with natural balance & speed, sensitive, intelligent, quick to learn & easy to train. After all, Lusos & their Spanish cousins were renowned war horses throughout history - hence their ability for airs above the ground, which were originally battle movements, and the reason why Iberian blood can be found in many of the native breeds of Europe & the Americas. Once ridden forever smitten!!!

 

[MagicMelon]

You get the odd one who jumps well like the Whitakers had a lusitano top showjumper for a while and a girl rode one round Badminton a couple of years ago. I think the problem is that most Iberians are aimed at dressage so very few are tried at jumping or other disiplines. I have a lusitano x TB which IMO is a fantastic mix, he actually lacks on the dressage side as he has the high knee action which eventing isn't a huge fan of but to jump he's brilliant - he was placed top 10 CIC* last summer and is £10 off being grade B BSJA. He's extremely careful, yet the most agile horse I've ever had. He's so quick thinking that going XC I can trust him to jump from the buckle end, if he's pointed at it he'll jump it! He's very easy as is very willing which I believe most Iberians are. I would definately buy another, but probably the same again - a cross rather than a pure because with mine the TB makes him lighter. I think its a bit riskier to get them to a half decent level jumping if they're a bit on the chunky side. (although I think its andy's that tend to be a bit chunkier than luso's).

 

[noblesteed]

I have a connie x andi x luso and he has a cracking jump! Jumps far bigger than I would ever dare. He is very brave and will jump anything you point him at, so he is ace xc. He is very careful BUT not fast enough to win in a jump-off - that is what we are working on! Downside is he is small at 15.1. Great for little me though and a super allrounder, can do all the dressage moves but gets bored of it! He has heaps of stamina, and I know his full brother does endurance and his half brother does BE90. I think he is a good mix!

 

[*Maddy&Occhi*]

They were generally not bred for jumping, used for dressage because of their natural, beautiful movement, eagerness to learn etc. I know many iberian breeds that have made fab alrounders. Have a look on youtube. Dont rule it out- there the same as any other breed when it comes down to a certain discipline, all comes down to their training. The good thing about Iberians is there so willing to learn and please you can really manipulate that for jumping.

 

[tallyho!]

I would really like to know where this information is... About Iberians specifically being bred NOT to jump?

I just want to know... I have been involved with Iberians only for a short time, and been obsessed with them for much, much longer and I have heard this quipped many a time. Yet you follow certain studs, here and abroad and nowhere does a breeder say they breed for prancing about with their balls intact and bullfighting only. I would really quite like to be proved wrong...

Also, manipulating a horse sounds really mean... You could try 'encourage'... Picky I know.

 

[ClobellsandBaubles]

You might not see them jumping so much over here but in Spain and Portugal a lot of lower level jumpers all rounders are of / PRE/ Hispano Arab type and do very nicely a bit like our native /native x alrounders here. My friend in Portugal bought a Lusitano recently and he has made a lovley BN level schoolmaster. There was a stallion, a palomino I think that I read about on here recently who was an Iberian x Arab competing BE?

 

[tallyho!]

Exactly!

 

[dressagedreamer]

one of my andalucian's show jumps and I even hunt on him, he is fantastic, never backs off and can turn on a pin head. He is also brilliant at dressage, my other boy, although loves jumping I only allow him that for a bit of fun, he is my SERIOUS dressage pony

 

[tallyho!]

Nice!

 

[showqa]

I regularly ride a grandson, maybe great grandson (he's only 9) of Novilhero and it's said that he's the closest in looks. He's also an incredible horse to ride and teaches me soooo much (this is dressage mind you).

 

[Herts05]

I have a PRE who does 1m10 easily and he is no more than 15' 3". He hates to touch a poll so has to be jumped in a stud guard. He's done Sponsored Rides - went around Burghley last September - is a great hack, has done a bit of Working Equitation and Dressage. Oh and I was told when I bought him 3 years ago that he was broken to harness (haven't tested this out though)

I've also bred a lovely soon to be 2 year old Luso x Warmblood who is out of Novilhero (and Orphee who represented France in the Olympics). The sire is Quilate who stands a mighty 17' 2"

The Iberian horse is truly a work horse and the more you give them to do the happier they are!

 

[Piglet]

I don't ever think of them as being chunky, they tend to have longer legs ime and tend to be slender and long through the body afaik

Re the above comment, that is a modern way of breeding, the old style Luso was a compact little horse standing between 15-15.2hh with the occasional bigger one, as with most breeds, they are now been bred finer and bigger to meet the demand. Personally I think it is a shame that they are been bred this way, I have a little Luso P/B who is compact and chunky and when he jumps (although he is very chicken sh#t due to a bad accident in his youth), he really is neat and tidy - I love him.

 

[siennamum]

You might not see them jumping so much over here but in Spain and Portugal a lot of lower level jumpers all rounders are of / PRE/ Hispano Arab type and do very nicely a bit like our native /native x alrounders here. My friend in Portugal bought a Lusitano recently and he has made a lovley BN level schoolmaster. There was a stallion, a palomino I think that I read about on here recently who was an Iberian x Arab competing BE?

Icon is the stallion you are thinking of. He is very beautiful, we are breaking in one of his sons at the moment, who is charming, if a little daft. He has very elevated paces, though will not make an eventer, he should be a lovely all round horse.

 

[siennamum]

I used to think that but That's a load of rubbish, they are bred to be whatever you want!

Yes obviously, you will be better off searching for breeders who breed them for jumping. Just like you would select a wb breeder for jumping or dressage.

You don't see many because there are not many around in UK and Europe and USA where jumping is popular. In Spain, they like to parade and prance about. However, they are exceptional dressage and jumping horses. also, they do not come cheap so that is another reason you don't see many.

If trained well, they excell under the right hands.

I suspect themule is aware of this, having a rather tasty Lusitano stallion at home, probably their comments aren't actually rubbish.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Re the above comment, that is a modern way of breeding, the old style Luso was a compact little horse standing between 15-15.2hh with the occasional bigger one, as with most breeds, they are now been bred finer and bigger to meet the demand. Personally I think it is a shame that they are been bred this way, I have a little Luso P/B who is compact and chunky and when he jumps (although he is very chicken sh#t due to a bad accident in his youth), he really is neat and tidy - I love him.

^^ this, mine is barely 15.2, extremely compact and pure bullfighting pony (grand son to Novilheiro's full brother, Opus 72). although he's not meant to any more due to stifle problems, he quite routinely jumps the post and rail out of his field. He was alway a very careful and athletic jumper (and bold!).

Novilheiro was a GP dressage horse in Europe and also won his first and only ODE here in the UK before becoming the top earning sjer in 1983. Opus 72 was the champion bullfighting horse in Spain for 5 consecutive years and was given a standing ovation when retired. these horses are smart, athletic and make great allrounders-it's not their fault that the people who mainly buy them here, are slightly older and don't care to jump any longer (including myself in that lol ). it's a major regret that I never had the bottle to jump him as I should have.

 

[templewood]

Nolvilheiro was a Lusitano, but his sire, Firme, was almost entirely PRE (Andalusian). Lipizanners are descended from Spanish stallions (hence, Spanish Riding School of Vienna) which were crossed with native, probably cold blooded, mares. They are still occasionally crossed back to a Spanish stallion, to introduce fresh blood.
Most PRE's are very capable of jumping and can turn quickly and on a sixpence, very useful when facing a black fighting bull! Some, however, can't see the point in going over something when you can go around it! Unfortunately, there is a fashion to breed PRE's with WB paces, and, as with a lot of WBs, they have long backs and lose the ability to collect.