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Australian Andalusians

The Australian Andalusian is the result of a breeding up programme, commencing with a foundation mare, then 1st Cross, 2nd Cross, with the 3rd Cross being known as an Australian Andalusian.

General Characteristics

The Australian Andalusian is an example of a beautiful, well balanced and athletic animal with great presence. Basically, a substantial horse with ample bone and muscle. The horse should be alert but calm, movements brisk and energetic but absolutely predictable. The gait is naturally stylish with good extension. There are no height restrictions for the Australian Andalusian.

The Australian Andalusian has a noble and attractive head. The size of the head should be in proportion with the rest of the horse, joining the neck cleanly through the gullet. Thick gullets are not desirable. The ears are medium sized, mobile and well positioned. The neck should be slightly arched with good length of rein. The neck is well set and blends nicely with the shoulder. Presence of too heavy, or a fallen, crest is not acceptable.

The withers should be well defined, wide and muscular blending smoothly with the neck. The body should be well developed and robust with a slightly arched rib cage; a broad muscular chest with plenty of depth; sloping shoulders well muscled and relatively large; a straight strongback which merges imperceptibly into a wide flat muscular coupling, which itself merges beautifully with the croup. Flanks must be short and full. The croup is of medium breadth and length, rounded and slightly sloping with the base of the tail set low. Abundant growth of hair on the tail is desirable.

Muscular arms which form a harmonious angle with the shoulders, fore‑arms strong and well defined knees, and although strong must not be coarse; oval cannons with neat well defined tendons, clean strong fetlocks and wide pasterns with a similar slope to that of the hoof, which should be neither too upright nor too sloping. The hind legs should have a muscular thigh and broad gaskin. Lower legs similar to forelegs. The hooves must be strong and well proportioned.

The movement should be straight with good impulsion. The Australian Andalusian is a noble, intelligent, energetic animal, endowed with considerable stamina and with a marked predisposition to being completely and perfectly trained. The kind calm temperament is one of the horse s outstanding characteristics. Because the foundation stock come from a variety of breeds and types, the versatility of Australian Andalusians is great from a child's first horse to a world class performance horse. The combination of the strength, disposition and action of this animal ideally suits it as a saddle horse, and for producing performance horses in all fields of equitation.

The foundation mare should be a quality mare with good conformation. There are no breed or height restrictions on foundation stock, but it is recommended that when choosing a foundation mare you use the Australian Standard of Excellence as a guideline. The colours allowed are any colour horse, including the dilutes (palomino, buckskin, cremello, dun, taffy) but no broken colours (pinto, appaloosa).

The Stallions which are used in the upgrading programme must be Spanish or Australian Andalusians.

Following are profiles of some of the Australian Andalusians owned by members of the AHAA.

BHM BLACK THUNDER

BHM Black Thunder is an Australian Andalusian stallion.
D.O.B. 30/10/97 15.2hh REG: AO97

He is the son of the black Spanish Stallion Esplendido . His mother is Rangemore Pearl , a black mare by imported stallion Egeo . Thunder was bred by Black Horse Manor NSW and is one of the best genetically black-bred Australian Andalusians in Australia.

For those who know BHM Black Thunder , there is no need to remind them of his absolutely fabulous temperament. No matter where he goes, Thunder never ceases to win hearts, not only for his beauty, but his versatility and his fabulous temperament.

His show carreer is extremely impressive for such a young horse and too many to mention all. In January 2003 he started learning the Art of the Garrocha and will be performing in the Main Event at Equitana. Below are some of his highlights:

1999 Supreme Junior Australian, Reserve Ridden straight from the breakers and Junior High Point Score Winner of Show the NSW Championships.

2000 Bathurst Royal Show Champion Led and Reserve Ridden.

2001 Supreme Australian Led and Champion Ridden NSW Andalusian Championships.

2001 Champion Led and Reserve Champion Ridden, 3rd Open Preliminary Dressage National Capital All breeds Show.

2002 2nd Ridden Andalusian Stallion Sydney Royal.

2002 AHAA National Show Thunder was only entered in 7 ridden classes His results were extraordinary-

2002 National High Point Dressage Stallion (tied placing).

1st Novice Dressage (His first novice test).

1st Preliminary 1A Dressage.

2nd Preliminary 1C Dressage.

4th Prix Caprilli.

1st Ridden Australian Stallion and Reserve Champion

4th Ridden Hack.

2003 AHAA Victoria Show Champion Led and Reserve Ridden.

BHM Black Thunder is an absolute pleasure to own, ride and exhibit and is a true ambassador of the Andalusian breed. Watch out for his sister BHM Black Kat and Spanish filly Caliente KP. Helen Blomquist

CABALLERIZA de GARROCHA ANDALUSIANS

PEGASUS

PEGASUS A094 born 7.10.96 15.1hh
Australian Andalusian Mare by Calmo out of Chenoa.

Pegasus is a horse with a huge personality; she loves everybody, especially if you have any kind of edible food! She is a definite part of the family, making sure she knows exactly what is going on around her. I am sure Peggy thinks that we all belong to her, not the other way around. She especially has a soft spot for my 8-year-old son who loves to ride Peggy. She will happily follow me around whilst he is on her back. Peggy is a very trainable horse who also has a unique bond with our trainer, Christine Fowles. I have owned Peggy since April 2001, before that I leased her for about 6 months. I instantly fell in love with her and the Andalusian breed. She is just a delight to train, trail ride or show, very little upsets her. As long as Peggy knows she is doing what she is supposed to do she is happy, she puts all her trust in me. I am sure Peggy would love to sit on the lounge and watch TV with the family as she often stands under the veranda and peeps in the windows not quite understanding why she isn t allowed in!

Her show and dressage career has only just begun but here are a few of her accomplishments to date:February IAD Dressage Debut Prep B 1stPrep C 3rdHawkesbury Show 2002 Led Australian Mare 1stChampion LedRidden Andalusian 1stChampion RiddenCostume class 1stJuly IDA Dressage Preliminary 1A 6thNational Capital All Breed Show 2002 Led Australian Mare 1stChampion LedRidden Andalusian Mare 1stChampion RiddenCostume Class 6thSusie Burns

Moonbah Luisina (A098)

Dark dappled grey Australian Andalusian (3x) mare, 5 yrs, 17hh(Luisillo/Blackford Filomena)

"Aussie" was never going to be 'just another horse' - and she has made sure of this in so many ways! Born on 26 January - Australia Day - Aussie was shown successfully as a youngster, in spite of her obnoxious personality, culminating in several State Championship wins. Broken in by renowned horseman, Rob Horne, she proved to be an excellent riding horse, (despite fears to the contrary, I might add!) and a naturally gifted jumper. She is possibly one of the best horses I have ever ridden to this day. Due to time constraints and a change in circumstances, I sold her to some friends of mine who had just started a business training horses for movies and supplying horses and carriages for different events around Sydney, and it was under the eye of trainer, Grahame Ware jnr, that this mare really flourished. Grahame is one of those rare people with a true gift for developing absolute rapport with all horses. Grahame had only six weeks to train Aussie for work on the upcoming ABC series, "The Saddle Club", where she filled the lead role of horse, 'Hugo', jumping 4'6" brick walls and galloping through water. Throughout the six months, the cast and crew fell in love with Aussie, so much so that she got her own cake when the show wrapped up and there were tears all round!!! Aussie returned home from shooting the series, and was only home a week when Grahame's wife Vicki went down to feed up one morning in mid March, and there, standing all wet and wobbly by Aussie's feet was a foal. Vicki was straight on the phone to me, convinced that Aussie had stolen a foal. Shocked but nonetheless sure of what I was going to find, I checked my diary for last year and saw that, following the National Championships, I had served her with my stallion, Zorro on 7 April... 11months, 11days later, there was a foal, despite my vet confirming a NEGATIVE blood test and manual palpation!!!!! When the shock subsided, both Vicki and Grahame were mortified that Aussie had fulfilled such an arduous workload whilst in foal, however, there was NO sign of pregnancy and it was only in the last week that Vicki noticed her condition change and commented to Grahame that the cold weather had caused her to lose a bit of 'top'! So, as you can see, Aussie was never meant to lead a low-key life, and her as yet unamed filly foal has already been offered a role on "The Saddle Club" next time around!!!!!

La Querencia Zorro (A082)

Blue dappled Australian Andalusian stallion, 15.1hh, 7 yrs Zorro embodies the true qualities of the ancient Cartujano line of Spanish horses - brio, noble beauty, flamboyant movement and a genuine and gentle affection for his handler. A grandson of the beautiful Bodeguero, Zorro is by Calmo I, himself a haute ecole stallion at El Caballo Blanco into his teenage years, from Chenoa, a mare carrying old, original lines of imported horses. State and National Championships, Supreme Championships, successive wins at Sydney Royal and a plethora of other awards and trophies are just some of what Zorro has achieved, since commencing his show career as a yearling. He also competes up to Elementary level dressage - with a year off to cover his first mares - hacking and preliminary eventing. Perhaps the best aspect of my partnership with this stallion are our long trail rides on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and feeling completely at peace with the world. Olympic 3DE rider, Andrew Hoy, summed it up at his clinic which Zorro and I attended in January 1999... "this is a partnership based on trust and affection... Such a combination will go places in whatever they choose to do..."

Bohemo Gitana

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Bohemo Gitana AO73 Born: 09/11/1994 15.3hh

Sire: Marino Dam: Maraya Amanecer

Lois (as she is called at home) came to join us mid 2002 after much searching and waiting. She soon proved herself to be a competent all round mare. She happily accepts my 8 yr old son riding her and also competing on her; and she is happy to be used as a leadline for my 2 yr old daughter.

Lois accepts any challenge and will let me know very quickly if she likes it or not, the photo above in the fiesta dress was our winning effort at QLD Championships at Biloela 2003 and it was the first time this dress had been on her and when the judge asked us to canter I was very cautious but Lois just did it.

But all horses have their little quirks and we still love them because to me (and her) she is part of my family and Lois is a wonderful mare with such a gentle nature she would steal anyone s heart.

Lois has proved to me and everyone that knows her, just what a wonderful breed the Andalusians are.

We have only just started our show career together but here are just a few of her accomplishments to date:

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