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

PRE Breeding in America

Historically, American PRE breeders were primarily halter-class enthusiasts, many of whom had come from the Arabian Horse circuit. Beginning in the 1960s, Americans became fascinated with the PRE—its remarkable beauty and noble temperament. However, the earlier “Andalusian” shows were conducted in the style of the Arab shows, with horses presented in Arab fashion and tack, and judged by judges from the Arab or Morgan horse circuits. Functionality as part of a stallion class was still decades to come, and is still not required for the IALHA National Championships. The Spanish horse had little use as a saddle horse, except in some western sports such as barrel racing and reining. Many of the champions were never ridden, and some still to this day are not used under saddle. Other obstacles rose quickly as the breed’s popularity began to spread. Political problems—not unusual to any breed organization—caused splinter breed groups and registries. The inclusion of the Lusitano in the IALHA studbook predicated a separation by those who were breeding the PRE, and today in the States, it is difficult to define this breed when our horse and its cousins are known by so many names—the PRE, the PSP, PSL, and the “Andalusian”. In the United States, the PRE is best protected and promoted through the education and directives provided by the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse, where breeders regularly are informed of the activities of ANCCE and the progress of the breed here in Spain, and whose shows are judged by Spanish officials. However, inscription and valoracion are controlled by a third and troubled organization that historically has made the process more timely and more difficult for many. Although the Cria Caballar is attempting to make revision available to all, the locations and short time period allotted in which to revise breeding stock is prohibitive to some and many breeders in remote locations are opting not to revise their stock. All said, the quality of the American-bred PRE as a Sport Horse is still inconsistent, but improving as breeders become more educated in functionality and the growing potential of the dressage market. At the IALHA National Championships in Fort Worth Texas last year, Dr. Juan Llamas remarked on the need for, among other things, developing a stronger back in the championship stallions. He recommended the back be improved in two ways: better training and better breeding. His gentle admonition reflects an understanding of the mechanical importance to morphology that American breeders have only recently come to comprehend and appreciate.

Unlike here and in other parts of Europe, the American pleasure rider generally does not train their horse for any purpose other than trail riding. Furthermore, riding in America is a rural sport; American cities do not have riding schools or equestrian facilities on a normal basis. I have visited riding schools in cities all over Europe where a pleasure rider is someone with a reasonable amount of riding experience who will train their horse in, for example, some of the movements of the high school, with no intention of competing. This is not an American tradition. Although almost 40% of the horses in America are listed as owned for “pleasure”, they are generally those horses for whom the least amount is spent and the least amount of training is given. For this reason, I believe that future of the PRE lies with the 30% of horse owners in the States that actively show and compete their horses. We already know about the natural abilities and affinities of the PRE for high school and dressage performance. Dressage is the arena where the PRE excels, in my personal opinion, beyond all other breeds, and where the PRE will have its greatest success in America and in the rest of the world as education continues to spread and breeding continues to improve.

Hampton Green Farms is a young establishment, but we are the first breed farm to campaign our stallions in open dressage at the highest levels and in the most competitive venues. Our stallions, who are breed champions here in Spain as well as in the States, are competed successfully at all levels through the Grand Prix. In spite of all the horses that have been imported to the United States from Spain, it must be said that it is still the case that in the American dressage arena the Spanish horse is extremely rare, and simply not present at the majority of official dressage competitions. Furthermore, many unjust stereotypes about the breed persist—such as a rapid short gait, inadequate hindquarters, short neck and an inability to come through the back. The American eye is more unfamiliar with the PRE than an equivalent in Europe, where the Spanish team has captivated the hearts of fans in Athens, Aachen, Jerez, and virtually everywhere they go. In fact, the very best marketing that the PRE has—for all breeders everywhere—is the Spanish Dressage Team. I encourage ANCCE to promote them with abandon, for the good of everyone. There is far too little coverage and exposure of the Spanish Team members, their lives, their horses, and their training techniques, in English language periodicals for the sport. Promotion in English of what has already been accomplished by Sr. Bebelmens and his team, and of what happens here on a daily basis, will bring direct benefit for all breeders.