Cielo Azure Farm/Jill G Malone

The Alter Real lineage of the Lusitano horse is bred only at the Alter Real Stud in Portugal. This historic Stud was created in 1748 as part of a new coudelic policy, begun in 1708 by King D. João V. of Portugal, to breed horses that could match the grandeur and pageantry of the royal court. At the time, the Catholic Church was the state religion of Portugal and involved in the running of the government, hence – the usage of Coudelic* policies to regulate the breeding of horses in the Portuguese nation. Records indicate that the Alter lineage was originally developed from 300+/- Iberian mares imported from Spain in 1747, with some Portuguese mares also being part of the original herd.

Coudelic policies of the time were dominated by the deep conviction that the national identity, and the artistic characterization of Picaria Real (the precursor of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art) were related. These polices were based on the national production of saddle horses trained in the “High School arts”, now known as “classical dressage.” As early as the mid-eighteenth century, Alter Real horses were famous across Europe. The Royal Riding School was known as the best place to acquire high school trained horses and these horses were a valuable commodity bought and traded by other royals and people of importance throughout Europe for almost two hundred years.

The equestrian statue of King D. João V, completed in 1775 is replete with what was considered the best Lusitano of the Alter stud at the time.  The story, as written at the Alter Stud is that the King’s sculptor asked the riding master Marques of Marialva to produce the best Lusitano at Alter to serve as a model of the statue.  He chose a horse named Gentil, whose image is captured by the wonderful bronze statue still found at a square in Lisbon, which has in the center the statue of João IVTerreiro do Paço on the ideal Alter horse. Also pictured is an engraving from the 1770s of King D. João V, on a Lusitano horse.

Gentil serves as a reminder of just how closely the ideal Lusitanos of Alter today compare to the horses of Alter from 240 years ago!

One important historical event happened between 1809 and 1810. During this time, there were multiple Napoleonic invasions and these armies stole the best horses from the Alter stud, as well as from other parts of Portugal. In the years after, other breeds were introduced to bring the numbers back up what they were prior to the invasions. With these introductions, the quality and consistency of the horses declined. Through careful selection, the herd was brought back to what it once was by the mid-nineteenth century.

Rui d’Andrade wrote about the horses of this era:

The horses (of Alter) were the finest production of the country from the mid-eighteenth to early twentieth century.  The stallions from Alter had a major influence on a large part of the horses produced in Portugal.

In 1910, the Lisbon Regicide of King Carlos I of Portugal and his heir-apparent, Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal, was followed by a coup of the government whereby the Catholic church was no longer the state religion. These events triggered the closing of the Alter Real stud and the line was almost extinguished.  The stallions were gelded, horses sold and all the studbook records were burned.  The destruction of these records and horses is truly a tragedy for the Lusitano breed.  During the early to mid-nineteenth century, most of the records readily available came from the Spanish studbook. lt can’t be denied that the Portuguese and the Spanish horses were considered one breed but it is also true that the Portuguese Coudelarias (studfarms) maintained separate lineages and that the Portuguese considered their horses of different lineages than that of the Spanish horses.  Genetic analysis backs this up, and is able to differentiate the difference between the two breeds in 84% of the horse genetically tested (reference).

The story of how Alter Real recovered is a fascinating one. Dr. Ruy d'Andrade (1880-1967) was a fierce defender of the monarchy and a specialist in Iberian horse breeds. In 1938, he bought two elderly Alter Real stallions at a sale, and then acquired another Alter stallion. The two stallions were named Vigilante and Regedor, and the third was named Marialva II. These are the three stallions that were used to recreate the Alter foundation lines on the sire side. Some of the Alter mares used came from horses that Dr. d'Andrade located and acquired.  For the remainder of the mares, Dr. d’Andrade’s inlaws had bred Alter Real lineage horses on their estate, and some of these mares also contributed to rebuilding the lineage.  In 1942, Dr. d'Andrade turned his small Alter lineage herd over to the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, when the stud was reopened.  With this small foundational herd, the Alter lineage was reestablished and built into what it is today.

The Portuguese state has maintained ownership of the stud since, and continues to produce horses for use in high school dressage and for sale, through their yearly spring auction of young stock.

Coudelaria Alter Real can be visited and is truly a national treasure. The Alter Real stud is a 2000 acre (800 ha) property with beautiful stables, offices, arenas and a genetics laboratory amidst the rolling hills. It is located 125 miles (200 km) east of Lisbon, close to the border with Spain.

Alter Stud, previously a foundation, is managed by Companhia das Lezírias since 2013.  Companhia das Lezírias is a publicly owned agroforestry business, specializing in cork oak and other agricultural products. It has 44,000 acres (18000 hectares) located 18 miles (30 km) north of Lisbon. At this location, the Couderalia Lezírias produces excellent quality dressage horses. Stated company goals include economic sustainability and the prevention of urbanization from spreading into the region.  Since 2013, Companhia das Lezírias has been in charge of all the public studs.  

At present, Alter Real has approximately 300 Lusitanos, most of whom are located on the Alter property, but many are loaned out to universities, equine management schools, and riding clubs. About 40 of the Alter horses can be found at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, located in the Belem district of Lisbon. The stud itself has both Alter Real (AR) and Coudelaria Nacional (CN) horses.  These days, the Alter Real breeding program incorporates other lineages to produce a horse that is more desirable for the equestrian market, particularly in dressage. Alter Real horses carry a AR brand and a horse is only an Alter Real Lusitano if it was born on the premises of the Alter Real stud. Most Alter horses are bay in color, a feature of the lineage.

At Alter, there is an equine management school and a Molecular Genetics Laboratory that certifies the identity of the Lusitanos and keeps a DNA bank of all Lusitanos registered with the APSL. Visiting the Alter stud when in Portugal is an absolute must for the Lusitano enthusiast. The ancient architecture is combined with a fantastic stable, designed pro bono in the classic Portuguese style by  Arsênio Raposo Cordeiro. Senhor Cordeiro, who recently passed away, was an architect of some fame, as well as a Lusitano horse breeder and co-founder of the APSL. Also enjoyable is the Alter Real museum and gift shop. If planned in advance, horse and carriage rides are available and there is a guest house for rent. As mentioned previously, the most important annual event is the horse auction in April, which attracts a couple of thousand people each year to view and buy young stock bred at the stud.

Getting the Lusitanos I breed into good homes is a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

Comparison of PSL and IALHA/USEF Breed standards for the Lusitano Horse

The APSL has a breed standard for the PSL that is defined in the studbook.  IALHA and USEF have a breed standard for Purebred and Half-Andalusian horses.  The USEF and IALHA consider Lusitanos as a subsection of the “Anadalusian” horse.  This breed standard can be found in the USEF IALHA division on the web.

For IALHA - USEF Andalusian/Lusitano division classes, this is the standard used.  These classes then determine downstream awards, such as USEF Andalusian of the year and breeder of the year.

Because in IALHA/USEF licensed classes,  Lusitanos are judged by a different standard than the one found in the APSL rulebook, they usually do not do well in these classes.

Having viewed years of IALHA/USEF shows results, there is a clear conclusion that Lusitanos do not excel in IALHA/USEF classes.  But it is thing to write that Lusitanos don’t do as well, but as a scientist I need to see why.  So, I broke down the components of each breed standard to see if there are significant differences in the breed standards. As the breed standards are not written in the same format, I used the PSL Breed standard (left column), then pasted in the matching parts from the USEF Andalusian standard in the middle column.  Finally,  I make a very basic assessment on the obvious differences.  I did not try to parse terms that did not use similar phrasing.  I did not overstate and for the most part, let the language of the breed standards speak for themselves. My analysis is that  there are significant differences in the breed standards, as outlined below.  Some of the more important differences are:

·      ( PSL) Ardent (passionate) temperament  versus (And) serviceable, docile.

·      ( PSL) Forward thrusting versus (And) moving forward movement.

·      ( PSL) no winging allowed (by omission) versus (And) excessive winging penalized (by omission winging allowed)

·      ( PSL) highly courageous and enthusiastic temperament versus (And) temperate and hardy, serviceable and energetic, noble and docile (see 4)

·      ( PSL) Profile: subconvex versus (And) straight or subconvex

·      ( PSL) Eye: elliptical (egg shaped), Versus (And) triangular with a permanently raised eyebrow.

·      ( PSL) Eye: huge versus (And) penalized for orbital arches protruding

·      ( PSL) Ears: Average length, narrow versus (And) ears  attached slightly lower on the side of the head but must stand up straight without a curl to the inside or falling to the outside. The size must be in proportion to the head.

·      ( PSL) No comment  about “ultra” convex nasal profiles versus (And) Penalized for the “ultra” convex nasal profiles.

·      ( PSL) with a narrow junction to the head versus (And) nor a thick throat

·      ( PSL) Withers always slightly more raised than the croup versus (And)  height to croup not defined

·      ( PSL) Long and deep versus (And) well sprung and oval rib cage

·      ( PSL) Slightly convex, well connected to the back and croup with which they form a continuous and perfectly harmonious line versus (And) not defined.

·      ( PSL) relatively slight point of the hip providing the croup with an elliptical transversal section versus (And) nicely rounded with a low set.

·      ( PSL) Relatively long and oblique pasterns versus (And) The pasterns should be of medium slope and length

·      ( PSL) Dry shin bones versus (And) Cannon bones are substantial

·      ( PSL) The angle of the latter members are relatively closed versus (And) angle not defined

Marialva (Rio) is a stunning coming two year old, from the top Portuguese blood lines. These bloodlines are recognized throughout Europe as competitive with the best Northern and Central European Sport Horses and are highly sought after in leading European breeding and performance barns.  Rio truly represent the future of the Lusitano breed.

His sire is the APSL Lusitano Champion: Soberano III.  PSL Stallion of Merit and twice Champion of Champions at the National Horse Fair at Golega, Portugal and is a dressage Grand Prix horse, who was shown and did very well in the 2014 World Equestrian Garmes, as well as other major shows in the EU.

Soberano's sire is Hostil and his grandsire is Xaquiro

Inspection score 76.

APSL Recommended Stallion

Twice Champion of Champions at the National Horse Fair at Golega (gold medalist)

Dam: APSL Haute Tantra CAL  (Rumbero sire/Nordeste grandsire) foal.  Born in June, 2016.  Bay base/Grey color. Gorgeous up-headed foal, with amazing gaits.   Will be 16+ hands, with fantastic gaits and conformation.  APSL inscribed/IALHA registered.  Advanced dressage (Grand Prix) or working equitation candidate.  This is a great investment opportunity. Rio is almost two and ready to begin training.

 Marialva is very typy, with great conformation.  Rio is a fantastic grand prix candidate and a horse for the serious amateur or the professional.  His gaits are fantastic and his trot has both lift and extension.   His personality is friendly and trusting.  Due to his fearless nature, he would be an exception working equitation prospect.

Please click here for more information

Breed to Lusitano Jade II Da Sernadinha for the 2018 season, with only a $75 booking fee until confirmed pregnancy!

The remainder of the stallion fees will be due only after confirmed pregnancy.

THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 31st!

This offer is limited to six mares, so please put in your breed contract as soon as possible.

Once pregnancy is confirmed, the remainder of the stallion fee will be due within 30 days.

To learn more about Jade and this special, visit our Stallion page 

 Stallion Fees for 2018

Purebred Fee $1,250.00

Crossbred Feeds $1,000.00

We are proud to be Standing Jade II Da Sernadinha for the 2018  season!

Performance matters, no matter what the breed.

Breed type matters for both breed characteristics and temperament.

A strong lineage is the best insurance that one can get when buying a dressage prospect.

We all love the Lusitano for it ability to collect, to perform high-school movements and its temperament.  But we also know that not all Lusitanos are created equal.

In Europe right now, there is a line of Lusitanos that are successfully competing in the Northern EU dressage arena. These Lusitanos are endowed with gaits that are spectacular.  Not only with a lot of knee but with extension also.  Because they are Lusitanos and have maintained breed type, they also naturally round and drive from behind. Because of that drive, they have the ability for collection, and an athleticism rarely found in the in WB breeds.  Their walk and canter benefit from this ability to collect also.  These gaits, combined the mind and breed type of the Lusitano make a powerful combination. Unfortunately, these lines are poorly represented in the USA. 

In 2015, we imported semen from the stallion Soberano- the best of the best from these lines.  The video below of Soberano is one of my favorites: 

 If you haven’t seen Soberano’s performance at the WEG in Normandy in 2014, please watch it – you are in for a treat.  Watch: 

We have two Soberano stallions (yearlings) from this breeding, that we have let grow up a little and we are now ready to sell one of them.  Both are talented, athletic, with great minds and are serious Grand Prix potential horses. Soberano –     *His Sire: Hostil (see below)

**Grandsire Xaquiro 

**Grandsire Zico

Soberano represents the best of these lines.  Soberano was shown in the International Grandprix level, at the WEG in 2014, and has very high scores in international Grand Prix.

Soberano – Prizes: 1st, Gold Medal and Champion of Champions, Golega Horse Fair 2002, 3 years old class; 1st, Gold Medal and Champion of Champions, Golegã Horse Fair 2003, 4 years old ridden class. APSL Recommended stallion.

Soberano is over 17 hands and passes that height onto his offspring.

As examples of what Soberano produces,  see: Csar, a Grandprix level horse ridden by Pedro Torres  ,

and Cesar D Atela 

 Soberano’s brother is Rico. Rico was ridden by Kyro Kyklund in the UK. See his dressage test here:

 Soberano’s sire is Hostil: the Godfather of the dressage Lusitano.  Hostil is one of seven Stallions of Merit in the World.

Other relatives have excelled not only in dressage but also in working equitation. 

Here is close cousin of Soberano: Bariloche (Rouxinol-Hostil) Recommended Licensed Lusitano Stallion, shown at Grand Prix level. 

 Our two yearlings (coming two year olds) have fantastic dam lineages as well.

 Mercury CAL’s dam is B-Caranja (16.1 hands).  She is a Brazilian mare, from the Interagro stud. Caranja’s sire is Nordeste. Nordeste is also a recommended stallion by the APSL, with a score of 77.50 points. An outstandingly beautiful black stallion, Nordeste was bred by Mr. Manuel Braga from Sociedade das Silveiras.  Before being exported to Brazil from Portugal, he won a number of tests at the Prix St. Georges level, and produced a populous crop of superior quality offspring, both at Sociedade das Silveiras and at several other Portuguese breeders.   

Marialva CAL’s dam is Haute Tantra Cal (16.2 hands), APSL approved.  Video below is of Tantra as a yearling.  Tantra has done well in the breed show ring, winning her mare class at the Eastern Regional Lusitano Horse show in 2014.

  Daughter of Caranja (see breeding above) and her sire is Rumbero.  Rumbero is a 16.2 hand, APSL approved, homozygous black Lusitano stallion, bred in Portugal by  Pablo Caetano.  Some of his siblings can be seen at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art.  His sire, Altivo, was trained for bullfighting and had a good career.  Altivos’s APSL revision score was 81.  Here is a video of Rumbero, who was shown at Pre Saint George, Marialva's sire: 

As you move forward in making the life changing decision of buying the horse of your dreams.  Ask yourself… why?  If your answer is that you are truly looking for a horse with the potential for competitive dressage, classical dressage or working equitation that is beyond what you would expect in a Lusitano, these colts may be for you.  If you are looking for a Lusitano that will be competitive with almost any warmblood in the USA, then we encourage you to apply for ownership of one of these very special horses.   

Take some time to watch all these videos of very close relatives (sire to the two yearlings we have for sale.  These yearlings are result of careful breeding to produce the best Lusitano dressage horses possible.  Then ask yourself, what are you waiting for?  The Lusitanos: 

Mercury CAL was born in April 25, 2016.  Grey (Black base).  Gorgeous, up-headed, elegant yearling.  Will be over 17 hands (17.2+/-), with fantastic gaits and conformation. APSL inscribed/IALHA registered. Halter trained, sensitive temperament. Grand Prix or master's working equitation candidate.  He is friendly, loves people and is trusting.  This colt is truly a stallion prospect. $15,00.00 USD

 Marialva CAL was born June 9, 2016 and will be 16+ hands, with fantastic gaits and conformation with excellent breed type.  APSL inscribed/IALHA registered.  Advanced dressage (Grand Prix) or working equitation candidate.  This is a fantastic grand prix candidate and a horse for the serious amateur or the professional.  His gaits are fantastic and his trot has both lift and extension.  He is extremely up-headed.  His personality is friendly and trusting. $14,500.00 The video below shows Marialva last summer.  

In the USA, many, if not most of the horses now "called" Lusitanos… are not.  They are horses of Lusitano descent that have fallen out of the Portuguese Association of Purebred Lusitano Horse Breeders (APSL) registry, the only registry that has the right and authority to register pure Sangre Lusitanos (PSL).  

The registry papers in the example below do not confer the status of Lusitano horse.   The only registry that has the right and authority to register pure Sangre Lusitanos (PSL) is the APSL. But what about the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) breed registration papers, people ask?  Don't they say that the horse is a Lusitano?  The short answer is...no.

If one looks very carefully at the IALHA Lusitano registry papers (example below), one will note that the certificate does not use the word Lusitano.  Those registration papers do not register a Lusitano horse!  Look carefully: 

The documents state: "...Has been entered into the Registry of the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Assocation as a PUREBRED" See –this certificate DOES NOT REGISTER a Lusitano Horse! These registry papers do not use the word Lusitano on them. This is intentional.

IALHA registration certificates only confirm PUREBRED status, not breed status.  For horses only registered with IALHA, the registry certification does not say ANYWHERE that the horse is a Lusitano – only that it is purebred.  Purebred within IALHA means that the horse is an “Andalusian,” as defined by IALHA to mean that it can be pure Spanish or Portuguese descent or a mix of the two. 

There you have it.  The IALHA papers do not confer the breed status of Lusitanos.  That simple.

Many horses of Lusitano descent are not in the APSL studbook because they did not PASS inspection or were never inspected.  The APSL has strict inspection criteria for all breeding animals. By the protocol (contract) with the APSL and IALHA, these horses that are descendants of non-inspected horses are not to be named Lusitanos and IALHA, as stated above does not describe use Lusitanos on their registry papers.

Just the same as any other breed of horse that does not have registry papers, if a horse or a dog is a descendant of a certain breed but is not papered, it is not considered a full-blooded animal. Only PSL horses are Lusitanos, and the IALHA papers prove that.  IALHA papers do not confer the status of a Lusitano.

The fact that people use the IALHA registry papers to confer Lusitano status, can be a bit infuriating for those of us investing time, resources and money to promote, breed, and preserve the Lusitano horse.  Frankly, it is false advertising.  Furthermore, these non APSL horses are diverging more and more away from the APSL breed standard.

 The Breed Standard:

The USA does not have an association that promotes the APSL horse.  We do not have an association that will use the APSL breed standard in judging horses.  What do we have? 

IALHA joined with USEF many years ago to create a USEF hybrid breed standard, called "The Andalusian" or sometimes refered to as the Andalusian/Lusitano Breed (see AL101* description), that lists the same morphology, gaits, and temperament: ergo breed type.  This standard can be found in the The Andalusian/Lusitano breed division, section AL102*.

IALHA and USEF promote the idea that Lusitano and Spanish horses are one and the same breed, which they often label as “Andalusian” in the USEF Breed Division.  This is the standard that the IALHA “Lusitano” is judged on.  To write that this is misleading, confusing and in the end, does a huge disservice to the breed is an understatement.  What is so disillusioning is that USEF has endorsed this breed standard, teaches their judges to this standard and uses this bastard breed standard to judge Lusitanos at both the IALHA shows and the USDF shows, which now have in-hand breed classes.  This has gone on for so many years, people no longer question how it came about or how it can be fixed.

As an example of how this hurts the breed. At an ERAHC show a few years back, there was a large group of APSL Lusitanos being shown under a very senior and experienced APSL judge,.  When these same horses were shown in USEF classes, the results were the exact opposite. The USEF classes were judged by a senior “Andalusian certified” USEF judge at the same show in the USEF “Andalusian” classes.  The APSL judge was shocked, as was I.  It opened my eyes as to just how large the problem is. 

This Andalusian standard includes statements such as “To be penalized are less than desirable Andalusian traits: … ultra convex nasal profiles. ..Eyes bulging or round, orbital arches protruding. …” versus the APSL breed standard**: “slightly sub-convex profile and upwards curving forehead (over eyebrow bones) huge elliptical, live, expressive confident eyes.”  Note the not so subtle differences between the two standards that are theoretically judging the same horse breed.  This is only one small example of many, where the two standards divulge.

What this duel breed standard has created is a group of people who are breeding and promoting “Lusitanos” to win at USEF breed shows that do not recognize the APSL breed standard.  This isn’t just wrong, it is damaging the breed for future generations in the USA.  It is also damaging the reputation of the Lusitano horse and Lusitano breeders in the USA.

This issue must be addressed, acknowledged and rectified, if the Lusitano breed is to become recognized for its unique breed type, athleticism and potential in the USA. To speak frankly, the IALHA has created a breed type that has diverged from the PSL. 

How to fix this long-standing problem?  I honestly do not have all the answers.  The problem is long standing, involves large equestrian organizations, including the USEF and IALHA. However, the first step is public awareness.  To make people aware exactly what is written on that IALHA pedigree registration, which is that they own a purebred animal –as defined by IALHA.  That the word "Lusitano" is not on those registry papers. The papers DO NOT confer Lusitano registry.  To register a Lusitano horse in the USA, one must get IALHA registration papers and then apply to be in the APSL studbook through IALHA.  Furthermore, an owner can not register progeny until the adult horse has undergone an inspection by a APSL judge.  In future blogs, I plan to write about positive ideas to educate the public to what is and is not a Lusitano.

Furthermore, I suggest, as many have before me, that it is past time for the formation of a trade organization or breed society focused on the PSL horse. I welcome people to reach out to me, if you are interested in forming such an organization.  The time is now.

Documents can be found at:

The APSL Breed Standard

APSL – PORTUGUESE PURE BRED LUSITANO BREED ASSOCIATION

The Associação Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano (Portuguese Lusitano Breed Association) is the purebred Lusitano horse breed registry

The APSL is the statutory body of the Lusitano Breed in Portugal and the world. They are a very important and integral part of  breeding, registering, inspecting the Lusitano horse worldwide.  There are globally nineteen partner organizations with the APSL.

The Lusitano Studbook is held by the APSL, but to register a horse in the USA -one must first register the horse with IALHA (www.ialha.org), who then registers your horse through the APSL for you.  All breeding stock must pass inspection before their offspring can be registered in the APSL.  

In the USA, many horses have not been inspected and are no longer in the APSL.  Please be aware of whether the horse you might be considering buying can be registered with the APSL. Many people buy a horse, only to discover later that their beloved animal can not be registered as a Lusitano with the APSL.

Below is the APSL Lusitano breed standard, this is taken directly from the APSL studbook and used for grading Lusitanos during inspection and for shows.  

If you are showing your Lusitano in the USA, this is the breed standard that the judge should be using.  Not the USEF standard, which is based on the Andalusian and does not have the correct criteria for judging Lusitanos.

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APSL LUSITANO BREED STANDARD (100 points attributed to ideal model). 

1. TYPE: Of middling weight (around 500 kilos); medium shaped, sub-convex (rounded in shape), with a square shaped silhouette.

2. HEIGHT: measured at withers using a measuring stick at age of 6: - female horses.... 1.55 m - male horses ...... 1.60 m

3. HAIR: The most frequently found are all shades of grey and bay.

4. TEMPERAMENT: Noble, generous and ardent but always gentle and long suffering.

5. MOVEMENTS: Agile, high stepping, forward thrusting, gentle and very easy to ride.

6. APTITUDE: A natural tendency for concentration, well disposed for High School exercises and highly courageous and enthusiastic in “gineta” (combat, hunting, bullfighting, herding, etc) exercises.

7. HEAD: Well proportioned, of medium length, narrow and dry, relatively unpronounced lower jaw and relatively long in cheek with a slightly sub-convex profile and upwards curving forehead (over eyebrow bones) huge elliptical, live, expressive confident eyes. Ears are of average length, delicate, narrow and expressive.

8. NECK: Of average length, arched with a slight hairline, with a narrow junction to the head, broad at the base and perfectly positioned in respect of the shoulder blades rising from the withers without any marked depression.

9. WITHERS: Well defined and long, with a smooth transition between the spine and neck, always slightly more raised than the croup. In fully grown males it is covered in fat but is always clearly visible through the shoulder blades.

10. CHEST: Medium, deep and muscular. 11. RIBCAGE: Well developed, long and deep, with ribs obliquely arched into the spinal column, providing a short, full flank.

12. SHOULDER BLADES: long, oblique and muscular.

13. BACK: Upright, leaning horizontally providing a smooth union between the withers and loins. 14. LOINS: Short, broad, muscular, slightly convex, well connected to the back and croup with which they form a continuous and perfectly harmonious line.

15. CROUP: Strong and rounded, well proportioned, slightly oblique, identical in length and breadth, convex, harmonious profile and with a relatively slight point of the hip providing the croup with an elliptical transversal section. The tail follows the curve of the croup and is comprised of silky, long and abundant hair.

16. MEMBERS:

Muscled harmoniously inclined forelegs: Upper leg is upright and muscular;

Dry broad knee;

Dry shin bones with well defined tendons;

Dry relatively large fetlocks with smallish joints;

Relatively long and oblique pasterns;

Well formed, shapely and proportioned hooves without being excessively open and slight coronet;

Short and convex buttock;

Muscular, shortish thighs pointing in such a way as for the patella to be positioned on the same vertical line as the point of the hip;

Longish leg, positioning the hock in line with the vertical part of the buttock; Broad, strong and dry hocks; The angle of the latter members are relatively closed.

APSL – PORTUGUESE PURE BRED LUSITANO BREED ASSOCIATION

The Associação Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano (Portuguese Lusitano Breed Association) is the purebred Lusitano horse breed registry

The APSL is the statutory body of the Lusitano Breed in Portugal and the world. They are a very important and integral part of  breeding, registering, inspecting the Lusitano horse worldwide.  There are globally nineteen partner organizations with the APSL.

The Lusitano Studbook is held by the APSL, but to register a horse in the USA -one must first register the horse with IALHA (www.ialha.org), who then registers your horse through the APSL for you.  All breeding stock must pass inspection before their offspring can be registered in the APSL.  

In the USA, many horses have not been inspected and are no longer in the APSL.  Please be aware of whether the horse you might be considering buying can be registered with the APSL. Many people buy a horse, only to discover later that their beloved animal can not be registered as a Lusitano with the APSL.

Below is the APSL Lusitano breed standard, this is taken directly from the APSL studbook and used for grading Lusitanos during inspection and for shows.  

If you are showing your Lusitano in the USA, this is the breed standard that the judge should be using.  Not the USEF standard, which is based on the Andalusian and does not have the correct criteria for judging Lusitanos.

************************************************

APSL LUSITANO BREED STANDARD (100 points attributed to ideal model). 

1. TYPE: Of middling weight (around 500 kilos); medium shaped, sub-convex (rounded in shape), with a square shaped silhouette.

2. HEIGHT: measured at withers using a measuring stick at age of 6: - female horses.... 1.55 m - male horses ...... 1.60 m

3. HAIR: The most frequently found are all shades of grey and bay.

4. TEMPERAMENT: Noble, generous and ardent but always gentle and long suffering.

5. MOVEMENTS: Agile, high stepping, forward thrusting, gentle and very easy to ride.

6. APTITUDE: A natural tendency for concentration, well disposed for High School exercises and highly courageous and enthusiastic in “gineta” (combat, hunting, bullfighting, herding, etc) exercises.

7. HEAD: Well proportioned, of medium length, narrow and dry, relatively unpronounced lower jaw and relatively long in cheek with a slightly sub-convex profile and upwards curving forehead (over eyebrow bones) huge elliptical, live, expressive confident eyes. Ears are of average length, delicate, narrow and expressive.

8. NECK: Of average length, arched with a slight hairline, with a narrow junction to the head, broad at the base and perfectly positioned in respect of the shoulder blades rising from the withers without any marked depression.

9. WITHERS: Well defined and long, with a smooth transition between the spine and neck, always slightly more raised than the croup. In fully grown males it is covered in fat but is always clearly visible through the shoulder blades.

10. CHEST: Medium, deep and muscular. 11. RIBCAGE: Well developed, long and deep, with ribs obliquely arched into the spinal column, providing a short, full flank.

12. SHOULDER BLADES: long, oblique and muscular.

13. BACK: Upright, leaning horizontally providing a smooth union between the withers and loins. 14. LOINS: Short, broad, muscular, slightly convex, well connected to the back and croup with which they form a continuous and perfectly harmonious line.

15. CROUP: Strong and rounded, well proportioned, slightly oblique, identical in length and breadth, convex, harmonious profile and with a relatively slight point of the hip providing the croup with an elliptical transversal section. The tail follows the curve of the croup and is comprised of silky, long and abundant hair.

16. MEMBERS:

Muscled harmoniously inclined forelegs: Upper leg is upright and muscular;

Dry broad knee;

Dry shin bones with well defined tendons;

Dry relatively large fetlocks with smallish joints;

Relatively long and oblique pasterns;

Well formed, shapely and proportioned hooves without being excessively open and slight coronet;

Short and convex buttock;

Muscular, shortish thighs pointing in such a way as for the patella to be positioned on the same vertical line as the point of the hip;

Longish leg, positioning the hock in line with the vertical part of the buttock; Broad, strong and dry hocks; The angle of the latter members are relatively closed.

The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement, which dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 18th century.  During this period, the book “Lightness in the Liberal and Noble Art of Cavalry” was cotified into text by Manuel Carlos Andrade for the Marquis von Marialva.  This text has guided the Portuguese Equestrian School of Arts to this day.

Dom Pedro José de Alcântara de Menezes (1713-1799) who was better known as Marquis von Marialva was the chief Equestrian trainer of King José I of Portugal.   Thus, he was in charge of the Royal Riding School in Belem and head of the Alter Real stud farm.  Marialva was an extraordinary rider and trainer. Marialva’s work and philosophy in riding are preserved in the book “Luz da Liberal e Nobre Arte de Cavallaria,” written by his student Manuel Carlos Andrade.  Marialva’s objective in training was to achieve lightness. The riding and teaching at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art derives upon Marialva’s work and this book formalizes those objectives.  Even today, the art of horsemanship in Portugal is called “Arte de Marialva”.  

Queen Maria I of Portugal reinvents the Arte of the Bull fight

Marialva also established a set of written rules relating to bullfighting on horseback (Rejoneo). The rules prescribed by Marialva, involve a code of conduct and honor given to the bull that still apply today. 

The irony is that the art was almost lost because of a horrific accident involved Marialva’s son.  In the summer 1762 the King Joseph I often spent time at his country palace near Salvaterra do Magos. A royal contest was scheduled where the young son of Marguis of Marialva,  named the Count of Arcos would fight before the court for the first time.

On this day, Arcos was in the ring with a huge black bull that refused to charge. Arcos did all he could to get the bull to move. Finally, in desperation, the young count rode his mount too close to the bull.  The bull then lunged forward, knocking over the horse and pinning the count underneath. The bull gored Arcos to death while the king, the crowd and Marialva watched in horror.

At this point, the Marquis of Marialva jumped into the arena and fought the bull on foot.  He killed the bull before falling to his knees at the body of his lifeless son, which was still pinned under his mount.  Bullfighting  in Portugal was banned from that day forward.

After the famous death of the son of Master Marialva, at what is now called " The Last Bullfight in Salvaterra ", King Joseph's Counselor, the Marquis of Pombal, convinced the King to put an end to the royal bullfights, and immediately ordered the demolition of the Famous Arena called Campo Santanna in Lisbon. It was not until years later, with the Death of King Joseph, that his Daughter Dona Maria, upon becoming Queen Maria I of Portugal re-instituted the Royal Art of Bullfighting in the 1830s.

 When bull fighting once again became legal, the Queen ordered new rules that the bull's horned were to be padded, and the life of the animal spared - in deference to the Count of Arcos. The fine silk jackets, three-cornered hats, and riding pants worn by Portuguese cavaliers today also honor the life of that young man who died in Salvaterra. This royal proclamation which spared the life of the bull, also created the "Portuguese Corrida de Touros," and is the genesis of Portuguese bullfight today.  These rules also contributed to the foundation of the "Casa da Guarda" or the House of Guardians later called the Forcados or Bull Grabbers.

It is believed that it is through the training of the Lusitano for the bull fight, which is based on the Arte de Marialva that keeps the Lusitano honed as an athlete.  The Arte de Marialva is passed down through the generations, pairing Lusitano and rider in perfect harmony a the Portuguese School of Equestrian Arts. It is by using the performance of the bull fight, combined with the equestrian arts that often drives key breeding decisions.  These are the guiding principles in preserving the Lusitano through the ages.