Livestock In Focus: Andalusian Horses

Technically, livestock refers to animals that are raised for food, fiber, or labor. One of the popular livestock animals is the horse. There are many breeds of the animal that could be raised for labor, mobility, and food. Among the most sought-after is the Andalusian horse.

You probably are hooked to the Lord of the Rings movies, a popular depiction of author J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga. If you are a fanatic, you must have noticed the beautiful horse that carried the hobbit Frodo to the Ford of Bruinen.

If you are that keen on each detail of the wonderful movie series, then, you are familiar with Asfaloth, the name of that sturdy horse. No, the horse was not computer generated. It was a real, live, breathing horse. Wonder no more about the breed of that horse. It is what is called today as an Andalusian horse. Andalusian horses are among the most elegant-looking horse breeds ever known and raised by mankind.

Sturdiness and reliable stance had made Andalusian horses the top pick to constitute the cavalry mounts of the former royalties of the ancient Romans and Greeks. These horses look extremely elegant. More than that, they are vigorous and are proven to endure all kinds of physical exhaustions.

Pure breed

Andalusian horses are among those horses that are identified to have pure breeds. According to studies, this horse breed originates from the Iberian peninsula of Spain, which is perfect for raising livestock because of its ideal environment, natural resources, and responsible citizenry.

As a pure breed, it is estimated that about 80% of all Andalusian horses are grey in color. Some Andalusians also come in chestnut, black and bay colors. An Andalusian horse that bears other colors surely is crossbred. Thus, skin color is one characteristic that indicates pure breed.

The overall appearance of the Andalusian horses is somehow compact compared to other breeds of horses. They have an almost perfect bone structure and usually have extremely clean and rounded legs. They are tall and have convex-profiled large heads with long, shiny and beautiful mane.

Uses of Andalusian horses

Through the years, horse breeders have been raising Andalusian horses for many other purposes. For one, Spanish horse breeders have been raising the animals for bullfighting and farm and cattle work. Some breeders invest in them horses for equestrian activities. The physical agility of this breed makes the horses ideal for various sporting and recreational events like show jumping and dressage.

As horses, Andalusians in other parts of the globe are also considered as beasts of burden. That is why they are sometimes domesticated to help farmers in rural areas carry out rigorous farming tasks. In other parts of the world, Andalusians are used as a good means of transportation. A horse rider can easily ride its back and maneuver the direction. Some put carts into the horses' backs so a number of people and some merchandise can be accommodated.

Horse's attitude

Andalusians, according to expert horse trainers, are easy to teach because they are naturally intelligent. Thus, these horses are perfect for dressage, where the horse rider can maneuver the horse's running direction using only hand movements. They are docile. That is why they can be easily tamed. They rarely turn savage even if they are extremely provoked. This characteristic of the Andalusian horses makes the animals safe and perfect for all sorts of taming.

Andalusians are truly one of the most lovable, reliable, beautiful and tamed horse breeds. You should consider them if you are aiming to raise livestock for farming and many other purposes.