31/05/2025
This Is an absolutely charming and interesting description from Team GTA about this beautiful breed - the PRE.
“The Andalusian horse, (the correct name is actually a PRE (Pura Raza Español) has been described to me as the most hopeful horse of all the breeds (Thanks Lucy Rees, the equine ethologist for that wonderful insight). This is a horse that wants to do what you ask of it. If it has been mistreated, it can still "come back" with a better trainer or rider. If you are unfair to it, it will forgive you and tolerate and cope with incorrect riding or treatment when a thoroughbred or a German bred would have you on the ground.
I once asked why the PRE is such a rideable horse. In Spain, the custom of only riding stallions is the norm. In Spain it is common to see a whole truckload of stallions pull into a show. It is rare to see a PRE that is badly behaved. I received the following explanation: In Spain, the King must ride a stallion. It wouldn't be manly if he rode a gelding. Unfortuneately not all Kings are good riders.
PRE mares are usually not ridden. (Yes I know that mares are just as good as stallions, I am just telling the story!).
Most people know the famous PREs that have been competed in dressage. They can do very well at all levels.
What you might not know is that PREs are judged in certain competitions in Spain for how well they stand still so you can have your glass of sherry while you are on horseback. There are even bars (I swear this is true) where you are served on horseback and the bar is at the height of a person on horseback. Ladies in tight dresses also sit on the back of the saddle (there is a special pillow so the dress doesn't get dirtied) of these incredibly well tempered creatures.
In a word, the PRE has been bred for centuries to be a lovely, rideable, mannerly horse. They are a pleasure to have in the stables.”
