The Origins of the Spanish Horse
The horse known in England commonly as the Andalucian is officially referred to today, in Spain by the name Pura Raza Espanola (abbreviated P.R.E. in Spanish) and it is commonly called the Spanish horse. From sources available to us we know that these animals were reared "on the other side of the River Tagus" as one single breed. But we must take into consideration the different breeds which have culminated to produce the Spanish Horse, such as "Hacas", "Hacaneas", "Frisones", "Cuartagos", "Trotones", etc. Possibly, not knowing this has led present-day authors to define inappropriate characteristics in the breed and even certify cross-breeding.
The official title of “The Spanish Horse” began in 1567, the year in which Philip II, with the excuse of the public´s wellbeing, decided to establish a race of horses whose main object was to improve the other races bred in Spain. Success was to be achieved after an eternal search: obtaining a morphology, considered by all as being ideal for horses.
Cordoba was chosen as the ideal spot for this to take place. The Royal Secretary, Francisco Eraso, drew up a Royal Decree in which the city´s Chief Magistrate was to set up a horse breeding stable, and the estate was marked out on the citys´ uncultivated or empty land, which was to provide pasture for and sustain the twelve hundred mares they were to buy. On the 27th November the first 1,500 ducados were spent on the purchase of the breeding mares and 500 on starting the building of the stable on the citys´ wasteland.Once the basis was established, the first fruits of this long-awaited breed appeared. The first Rule of the Spanish Race of 1572 was established - that in spring, the foals were to be branded with an iron. Until that date, an R with a royal crown above it was used for the royal breeding mares, and was still used until a few years ago. But as they were dealing with an achievement of such importance, the King ordered these foals to be identified with a special brand, which was to be a mark of their quality. The new bran consisted of an R within a C, in acknowledgement of the city where the horses were reared, keeping the crown. For this reason, we can say that this was the first branding iron of the first Spanish horse.
The Spanish horse was to conquer the world because of its qualities. It is the symbol of an empire and a culture which was able to achieve what everyone was long awaiting, the perfect horse.
Because of this, the race was officially recognised at that time, and named the Spanish horse. In order to preserve its pure blood, a book entitled Register of Spanish Horses and Hacas was established, in which the geneaology of all animals of recognised origin was registered. Although it sometimes happens, we should not forget what was looked for to make this horse the most desireable: its beauty, its nobility and its movement which distinguishes it from other races until this day.