Andalusian Horse

A horse breed also called the Pure Spanish Horse, Pura Raza Espanola or PRE, from the Iberian Peninsula in Spain, where ancestors of the breed have lived for thousands of years; it has been recognized as a distinct breed since the fifteenth century and its conformation has changed very little since. Andalusians served historically as war horses favored by European nobility, and Spanish kings gave them as diplomatic gifts so that kings across Europe rode and owned Spanish horses; the breed declined during the nineteenth century through warfare, disease and crossbreeding, and exports from Spain stayed restricted until the 1960s. The horses are strongly built and compact yet elegant, with long, thick manes and tails, most commonly gray though found in other colors, and are intelligent, sensitive and docile, becoming quick to learn, responsive and cooperative when handled well. Modern Andalusians are used in classical dressage, show jumping and driving, remain popular for bullfighting and ranch work, and their arched neck and energetic movement have made them favorites for historical and fantasy films.