The Lusitano Breed Standard

The Lusitano is the most ancient and versatile horse in the world. He has been labelled the ‘ Son of the Wind’ originating in the hilly and rough areas of the Iberian Peninsula, the mountainous terrain moulded him into an agile horse, able to leap and keep his footing, hardy and able to survive extremes of weather and challenging surroundings. Present in all four corners of the globe, he is at the origin of many different breeds, his existence can be traced back to 1,700 B.C. as show by the cave paintings in the Escoural Caves in Alentejo.

Throughout the centuries, breeders refined the race rendering it unique and incomparable, accompanying the growth of civilisation as man’s inseparable companion and warhorse. As technology replaced him on the battlefield the Lusitano moved into equestrian art in which man and horse performed exercises, refining their equestrian skills in the movements of the high school.

Today characteristics of bravery, intelligence and agility have continued to be selectively bred, broadening the appeal of the Lusitano, a horse able to turn his hoof to many disciplines. He is highly valued as a mount for classical dressage, enjoying success in the competitive arena, an athletic and talented jumper and a responsive driving horse. More traditionally he can be seen as a working horse on the plains of Portugal or the field of competitive working equitation, keeping alive the culture and tradition of the nation.

The Breed Standard:

1. TYPE
   Rounded outline, silhouette fitting into a square, weight around 500kg.
2. HEIGHT
   Females average 155ms (15-1hh) males average 160ms (15-3hh)
3. COAT
   Any solid colour, grey dominant.
4. TEMPERAMENT
   Noble, generous and ardent, gentle and able to stand duress.
5. MOVEMENT
   Agile, elevated and smooth, able to carry the rider in comfort.
6. APTITUDE
   Natural ability for concentration, adaptable for classical dressage, jumping and high school.
7. HEAD
   Well proportioned, of medium length, narrow, slightly sub-convex profile, forehead in advance of the bones of the eyebrows. The eyes elliptical big expressive and confident, ears of medium length, fine narrow and expressive.
8. NECK
   Medium length and arched, the junction between the head and the neck is narrow, the neck is deep in the base, well inserted between the shoulders, rising up from the withers without any convexity.
9. WITHERS
   Well defined and long with a smooth transition from the back to the neck, always higher than the croup.
10. CHEST
    Medium size, deep and muscular.
11. RIBCAGE
    Well developed, long and deep, ribs obliquely arched into the joint, with the spinal column, promoting a short and full flank.
12. SHOULDERS
    Long, slanting and well muscled.
13. BACK
    Well defined, tending towards the horizontal, making a smooth union between withers and loins.
14. LOINS
    Short, muscular, slightly convex, well connected with the back and croup to form a continuous harmonious line.
15. CROUP
    Strong, rounded, well balanced, slightly slanting, the length and width of identical proportion, profile convex and harmonious, the point of hip relatively unobtrusive, giving the croup a transverse section of elliptical shape. wi The tail emerges from the same line as the croup, long and silky hair.
16. LEGS
    Forelegs well muscled and harmoniously inclined.