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Lusitano Ancient – – Rare

height Strong, sound limbs and escarpments that no other would attempt. The 15–16 h.h. abundant and tail hair. Carthaginian military commander Hannibal (c. 248–183 appearance color b.c.e.) is said to have traveled from the Iberian Peninsula over An extremely muscular horse Gray; occasionally or with a well-set, arched neck . the Pyrenees and the Alps with 12,000 of these prized . and a wide, deep chest. Withers aptitude The soldiers with their horses proved exasperating are well defined and long, Riding, working livestock, opponents for the far less skilled Roman cavalry, but once the is muscular, and croup is , , rounded and slightly sloping. historic warhorse horses were captured, the Romans recognized their worth and used them throughout their expanding empire. Their the greek poet homer (c. eighth century b.c.e.) described role as the ultimate warhorse continued throughout much of Iberian horses as “fast as the wind and sons of Podargo, the their early history and well into the Middle Ages, and they harpy that was impregnated by the wind Zephyr while were sought after across Europe to improve the heavier, grazing at the borders of the River Oceanus.” Centuries slower-moving European breeds. later, Roman historian Pliny the Elder (c. 23–79 c.e.) It was not just as a warhorse that the Lusitano excelled, reinforced this legend, writing that from Lusitania however. These horses are extraordinarily versatile, thanks were “impregnated with the West Wind, and brought forth in large part to their excellent combination of athleticism an offspring of surprising fleetness.” and obliging temperament. They were particularly noted The magnificent Lusitano horse takes its name from for their ability to learn and perform complicated Lusitania, the Latin word for Portugal, where this branch of movements that were used at first on the battlefield and the Iberian horse family developed. All the Iberian breeds, later in the Riding School as the concept of equestrian including the Andalusian and the Alter Real, share very training took off during the sixteenth century. Despite the similar foundations, but throughout their history the Lusitano’s great skill and nobility in this respect, it was also different breeds developed along varying lines according to highly prized as a working and was used by the their geographic homes. The Lusitano and the Andalusian Portuguese cowboys for working cattle and bulls. It is in particular share many similarities, although the Lusitano perhaps most famous as a horse, combining can sometimes retain a slightly more ram-like profile and a enormous bravery with dexterity and calmness. In Portugal, more sloping croup with a lower-set tail. The Lusitano is all bullfighting is conducted on horseback and the bull is arguably the purer of the two breeds and has remained not killed in the arena. The horse must avoid the bull’s relatively free from outside influence. This is most notable charges, and between charges it performs a series of high with regard to Arabian blood, which was introduced to the dressage movements with absolute grace and calmness. Andalusian to produce a horse with a finer, smaller head. were transported to the Americas during the Portuguese breeders of the Lusitano rejected this approach sixteenth century and have contributed on a founding level and remained true to their original stock. to the development of the vast majority of American Iberians were the most sought-after warhorses in early breeds. Today, Brazil is an important center for Lusitano history, but those from Portugal were singled out as being breeding and produces some of the best examples of the superlative. The Greek historian Strabo (c. 63/64 b.c.e.–24 breed. It is still bred in Portugal, as well as North America, c.e.) wrote that during the Punic Wars (264–146 b.c.e.) the the United Kingdom, and across Europe, yet in spite of this, Lusitano riders were mounted on horses that would climb numbers for the breed remain low.

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