On Monday evening, September 16, the International press was invited to an elegant dinner, hosted by ANCCE, the Asociation Nacional de Criadores de Caballos de Pura Raza Espanola, http://www.ancce.com, at las Bodegas REAL TESORO de Jerez de la Frontera, a well known Sherry Cellar and vineyard, and stables. Vineyards and horses are a common theme in this agricultural region by the southern coast. At las Bodegas REAL TESORO, the rare black Andalusian horses are bred and raised. Historically, the black horses, who were used in funeral processions, unfairly became a symbol of death and bad luck. Threatened by extinction, the breeders have not only preserved this breed, but elevated it in the quality of their stallions, broodmares and foals.

While walking past the stalls one needs only to cluck softly, and they come to the door to greet you, even when their heads are buried in a feed tub full of alfalfa cubes. The foals are a bit warier, but still curious at the visitors of the evening. Large hens are kept with them in the barnds, getting them used to unexpected movements and sounds fro an early age. We were served glasses of sherry in the stable yard and joined by Ignacio Rambla, and Rafael Soto, and the president of ANCCE, Adolfo Sanchez de Movellan Ruiz, and the director of marketing and public relations, Manuel Gonzalez.