The Horse of Kings

 Surrender to imagination, and you can picture a fairy-tale horse trotting proudly across the mountains and plains of long ago. A hot Spanish breeze ruffles his long mane and tail. Then close your eyes and see this same horse cantering boldly into danger—the deadly horns of an angry bull. The bullfighting horse and the beautiful fairytale horse are the same.

The Andalusian. The Horse of Kings.

You’ve seen them in movies, on TV in various shows, and in art. The hero on the white stallion is probably mounted on an Andalusian. Although in the old movie “Lady Hawk”, the villain rode one into a battle in the cathedral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIl9IFcIXlg

The Andalusian is an ancient pure breed that has been carefully preserved over the centuries.  In Northern Spain, cave paintings depict men leading Mesolitic horses with convex heads, solid muscular bodies, elegant necks, and luxurious manes.  Circa 1,100 B.C., Homer refers to the Iberian horse in his “Iliad”. Xenophon, the 'father' of modern equitation’, praises the gifted Iberian horses and horseman who fought in the Peloponnesian Wars in 431 B.C. Julius Caesar wrote of the noble steeds of Hispania in "Del Bello Gallico". The Iberian horse carried Hannibal across the Alps in his invasion of Italy (though the elephants got all the credit!). Richard I and many of his knights rode "airy Spanish Destriers".

In the heyday of European monarchies, the Andalusian's flair, style, and formidable carriage made him the mount of choice for the aristocracy.  Not only did the Spanish horse excel in battle but he was a fancy parade horse and an elegant fine harness animal. This popularity earned them the title, "Horse of Kings" or "Royal Horse of Europe". Indeed, there was a time when no crowned head would consider having a portrait painted on any horse other than an Andalusian.

The 17th-century Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens, chose the Spanish horse, with its robust body and flowing mane and tail, for his paintings. The artist is noted for his voluptuous, full-bodied nudes, and the Andalusian horse epitomizes the term "Rubenesque."  The Spanish horse and Rubens' passionate style were the quintessence of the opulent Baroque era.  As a popular painter and a pro-Spanish diplomat, Rubens' work and his pro-Spanish politics accompanied him on his diplomatic missions, and on canvas the Spanish horse was introduced to the high courts of Europe.

Rubens painted portraits of such famous people as the governors of the Spanish Netherlands, King Charles I of England, King Philip IV of Spain, the Spanish Duke of Lerma, Kings Henri IV and Henri XIII of France, the Polish Princes Ladislas Sigismund and the Duke of Lerma.  In "Capture at Juliers", Rubens allegorically depicts Marie de Medici mounted on a Spanish horse.  Many of his works, including "St. George and the Dragon" (c. 1606-1610), feature them in powerful and fierce battle poses, which seemed to satisfy his taste for depicting violent action and lovely women.

Van Dyke, Rubens' most celebrated pupil, depicted Charles I on an Andalusian, and the Spanish painter Velazquez painted Philip III and Queen Isabel of Bourbon riding Andalusians.  But in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the trend to greater size and scope in horses began to adversely affect the Andalusian's popularity.

Then a tragic plague followed by a devastating famine nearly swept the breed into oblivion, but, fortunately, in a few mountainous areas of the country, the Carthusian monks carefully preserved the depleted bloodstock and began the long journey to re-establishing the breed.  In order to conserve these rare horses for breeding, the Spanish government placed an embargo on their export, and for over 100 years, the Andalusian was virtually unseen by the rest of the world. Only a scattered one or two Andalusians came to this country prior to the 1960s, and it was virtually impossible to see one outside art or film.

Throughout history, the Spanish horse has remained remarkably pure. The Andalusian is very sturdy, with a long sloping shoulder which gives him a lofty and pleasant trot.  Some lift up in the front, making the canter very graceful and dramatic. The horse’s wide chest, deep heart, strong, short back and well-rounded hind quarters give him the ability to sit down on his haunches and balance on his hind legs. The crested neck with its curtain of silky mane and the thick, long tail add elegance and a story-book beauty. Though most people imagine the Andalusian as the dancing white horse, the Spanish Registry recognizes both  blacks and bays. The Andalusian ranges in size from 15 hands to 17 hands, with the average being 15.3-16.0. 

In an era when the mounted soldier trusted his life to his horse, the Andalusian's strength and natural gift for collection made him the premier warhorse of Europe. When mortal conflict waged hand-to-hand, the Andalusian was the soldier's best friend or worst nightmare, depending on which side of the battle you faced him.

Dressage, today's fastest growing sport, developed as a means to school the superior warhorse.   The so-called airs-above-the-ground, capriole and courbette, were designed to strike terror in the enemy foot soldiers.  In capriole, the horse leaps into the air and kicks out with his hind feet.  In courbette, he rears and jumps forward on his hind feet. Can you imagine how frightening either of those moves must be to a man on the ground looking up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIFL8brQlK0

It is easy to see why a horse, so bold and quick, that he can dart near enough for a mounted bullfighter to place a rose between the horns of a maddened bull then whisk away before being gored, is a definite advantage in battle.

For many years, I bred, trained, and showed these kind, gentle, and loving horses. My stallion’s name was Bonito and twice he won the national championship at halter. I rode him in musical freestyle exhibitions and dressage classes—and about anytime the gate opened. We rode to the thundering music of Phantom of the Opera. In a musical freestyle or exhibition, the horse’s movements are choreographed to the music. This photo was taken at the horse show grounds in Asheville, NC.

The International Association can be reached at:  info@ialha.org or at 205-995-8900.  Many. many videos of the Andalusian can be found on YouTube and Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNpeQVTIL2V/?igshid=1n8lrs78g1nqx

~**~

If you are a horse lover, perhaps you'd enjoy my book Gambler's Choice about two people who love horses.  Gambler's Choice takes you to the glittering world of three-day eventing.  An English aristocrat and a Virginia socialite go head-to-head—and feet-to-feet—in a battle for ownership of a very special horse.  Here's the cover and blurb.

Blurb:

Becca McQuaid came to England to find the perfect horse but instead met a darkly mysterious challenge in Austen Heath, Baron of Hampton. She’s determined to buy Austen’s stallion Gambler’s Choice. He’s determined not to sell, but the rivals are thrown together by an accident that leaves Austen with a broken leg and the threat he’ll never ride again.

Austen Heath has the title, heritage and manor house…but not the fortune. Becca is wealthy. Her charms are irresistible, but he believes she’s shopping for a Ladyship to go with her money. He has another reason to hold the sexy blonde at arms’ length—the unexplained disappearance of an old friend everyone thinks was his lover. When her body is discovered on his property, he becomes a suspect in her murder.