The andalusian horse is a powerful, yet elegant breed. Standing between 15.2 and 16.2 hands, it is a beautiful sight to behold. These horses are versatile and excel in dressage, jumping, western pleasure, hunt seat, saddle seat, halter and showmanship. They also enjoy trail riding, equitation, and driving. In fact, they are one of the most popular breeds in the United States.
The Andalusian (Pura Raza Espanola, or PRE) is a horse that originated in the Iberian Peninsula. The ancestors of today’s Andalusian lived there since prehistoric times. The breed was cherished for centuries, not only by the nobility of the region, but also by the Romans and Greeks. The Greek Cavalry commander Xenophon wrote about the Iberian horse in the 1100 BC book Iliad.
In ancient times, Andalusians were often used as war horses by both the nobility and common people. These horses were prized for their beauty, endurance and ability to carry a rider into battle.
When the andalusian was introduced to other areas of Europe, it quickly gained in popularity. The breed was a perfect match for the new, lighter chariots that were being used in military and political campaigns. These chariots were lighter, faster and more agile than the heavy cold blooded chargers that had been the norm for centuries.
Today, the andalusian continues to be an extremely popular breed throughout the world. In the United States, this breed is often crossed with other breeds such as Friesians, Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses to achieve a variety of different looks and athleticisms. Although crossbreeds are not pure Andalusians, they are highly respected by the IALHA, the American registry.
Choosing an andalusian horse name is a difficult task, but with some creativity you can come up with some wonderful names. Try to keep a notebook or your smart phone handy to write down ideas as they come to you. Keep in mind that a good name should be easy to pronounce and only a couple of syllables long so it can be repeated easily. The name should also be easy to remember so it will be easier to train the horse with.
There are many andalusian horse names that have been popular over the years. Some of the most popular include Lightning, Onyx, Flame, Nahar, and Rochallor. Nahar is a mighty grey stallion that was the steed of the Vala Orome. His neighing warned Orome of the approaching Quendi and his men. Rochallor was the steed of Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor. It was on this steed that he challenged Morgoth to single combat at the gates of Angband.
Another andalusian that is famous is Asfaloth. This stallion was ridden by Arwen in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. When Glorfindel called out Noro lim, Asfaloth raced down the Ford of Bruinen and outpaced the Ringwraiths as they approached Rivendell. This horse is also a symbol of peace. This is because of the message carved in its forehead: Nael nael, which means “she is peace” in Sindarin.