“Breeding the PRE in the United States: The Influence of the Spanish Horse on America’s Most Elite Horse Markets”

by Kimberly Van Kampen Boyer Hampton Green Farms

It is with a great sense of honor and appreciation that I accept the invitation to address this group of distinguished breeders of the Pura Raza Espanola, most of whom may wonder why they are being asked to listen to someone who is comparatively a beginner in their field. I am American and being a newcomer is inherent in a country that has so short a past. We do not have the luxury of centuries of history, which surrounds you everyday. I am reminded of an experience I had while sight-seeing with a friend from Andalucia. When we visited the Riding School in Jerez, I was particularly impressed with one of the beautiful old buildings and inquired as to its age. My friend expressed some frustration and replied in Andaluz to another standing by, “All the Americans ask that question. I now say that the building wasn’t there when I was here last week.”

The question I would like to examine today involves a somewhat similar juxtaposition: formally, what is the potential for the Pure Spanish Horse in the United States? What factors can influence its success or failure, and what impact can this breed make on a large and thriving American equine industry. But speaking philosophically, this is a question of what potential an ancient tradition—in this case, bloodlines and breed standards—has to thrive in a modern world—the rightful interpretation of the old within a new context.

The exposure of the PRE in the past five years to the Anglo-Saxon equestrian sporting world has forever changed its opinion of what was formerly known as a bullfighting mount or a costumed exhibition horse. And I predict that the next five years will bring ever greater change as the world of dressage itself evolves and embraces the athleticism and expression of this breed. Before I focus on the potential for this horse in dressage in America, I would like to first review the entire state of equestrian disciplines in my country.

Earlier this year, a comprehensive study of the economic impact of equestrian activity in America was submitted to the United States Congress. It found that the horse industry in the United States directly contributes 39 billion dollars annually to the US economy per year and supports 1.4 million full-time jobs. When indirect and induced spending are considered, the industry’s impact on the U.S. economy reaches over 100 billion dollars annually. The study also estimates that the horse population in the United States has reached 9.2 million. Of that number, almost 50% or 4.5 million are reported to be Quarter Horses or English Thoroughbred Horses or derivatives. Of the 9.2 million, roughly 42% of these are used for recreational purposes. These would encompass backyard pets and trail horses, and non-competitive sport horses. Less than 10% of horses in the US are used for racing, while almost 30% are used for competition. Texas, California and Florida are the leading horse states in terms of numbers of horses and owners, and a total of over two million people in America own horses.

The potential market is great for American as well as Spanish breeders of the PRE. However, at this time, the PRE is truly an exotic breed in the United States. To put it into perspective, there are approximately 11,000 registered Iberian horses in the United States today, which amounts to approximately one-tenth of one per cent of the total recorded horse population. (By Iberian, I refer to any registered horse with Spanish or Portugese bloodlines, or combinations thereof, including crucados with non-Iberian horses.) For the past five years, the average number of new registries of Iberian horses (including new births and imports) hovered between four and five hundred horses annually, according to the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (also known as IALHA). The PRE is an even smaller percentage of this number. There were 180 revisions conducted by the Cria Caballar this year. The presence of the PRE in America is virtually insignificant compared to the percentages of other breeds such as the American Quarter Horse and the Thoroughbred, and even the German-derived Horse.