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The Hispano-Arabe
In phenotype type the Hispano-Arabe falls in the middle of the two phenotypes types of Pure Spanish Horse.
At the time of the introduction of the Arab, some breeders were so impressed with the versatility of the new crossbreed that they continued to specifically breed them, long after the Andalusian improvement programme was finished.
At an official level no particular heed was paid to the development of these horses, they were crossbreeds and as such were registered as partbred Spanish horses. Hispano-Arabe was crossed to Hispano-Arabe or to Andalusian or to Arab; and steadily a horse was developing which exhibited it's own particular pre-potence.
Generally in Spain despite grading taking place when horses are young, they will not be bred from until they have led reasonably full working lives. Mares in the past were not used as a rule for working so they are selected for their temperament and nurturing instinct. The stallions on the other hand have always had to prove their suitability for breeding by their performance in whatever sphere of work they are put to. Understandably this has led to a 'natural selection' of physical characteristics and obviously the associated genetics.
Selection along these lines creates a gene poole that is fixed, the horses will always breed true to type, they are pre-potent. This is the principle that dictates that a type of horse is a specific 'breed'.
The Hispano-Arabe was bred and used in the fields herding and working the bulls and for the bullring, the physical characteristics that have continuously succeeded in performing the High School fighting manoeuvres integral to this sport are those identified as the Iberian Factor. The Hispano-Arabe in appearance is like the old classical Andalusian, unmistakeably Iberian but the edge that these horses inherited from the Arabian was added speed and dash.
Although registered as partbred the papers always specified the breeding so there was no mistaking the horse as anything but a Hispano-Arabe. These horses were highly prized for their versatility, indeed they were so popular that for many years horse breeders such as Alvaro Domecq, a strong advocate for the Hispano-Arabe, lobbied to have this successful breed accepted into a special section of the Spanish State Stud Book.
In 1986 the Hispano-Arabe officially was given its own Stud Book and full recognition as a breed in its own right. All existing Hispano-Arabes were submitted for grading and entry into the Foundation Stud Book. All Hispano-Arabes from that point on would either be the offspring of these foundation horses or the result of first generation crossings of Arab and Pure Spanish Horses. For the purpose of controlling the development of this 'new' Pure Raza Hispano-Arabe (PRHA') the permissible range of the percentages is 'less than 25% Pure Andalusian or Arab blood and not more than 75% of either breed'.
The Hispano-Arabe is pre-potent in its own right. They will continue to breed true to type for several generations and not show a phenotype diversification of its progeny. The pre-potence of the Hispano-Arabe applies to its matings with other breeds of horse, the partbred stock should be physically (and mentally) well balanced....not Heinz Specials !!
To breed first generation Pure Raza Hispano-Arabes the old strongly Iberian type Spanish Horses exhibiting the well muscled classical build should be used with Arabs of similar physical type (see the Spanish Arab).
To quote Sylvia Loch and many wise horse breeders ..."The important rule of cross-breeding is that sound pure-breds with well defined physical characteristics are used on both sides, the splendid Domecq Hispano-Arabes which have become famous throughout Spain clearly show more than a fair share of the Iberian Factor".
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