Portugal’s Ancient Riding Breed: The Lusitano Horse

The Lusitano horse is one of the oldest riding horses in the world. Known for its proud head, thick flowing mane and elevated movement, this Portuguese breed has carried soldiers into battle, performed in royal riding schools and competed at the Olympic Games. This guide covers the breed's history, appearance, temperament, uses, health and feeding needs.

What Is a Lusitano Horse?

The Lusitano is a Portuguese horse breed, also called the Pure Blood Lusitano or PSL (Puro Sangue Lusitano). It takes its name from Lusitania, the ancient Roman name for the region that is now Portugal. It is sometimes called the Portuguese horse, the Peninsular horse or the Betico-Lusitano.

The Lusitano is a close relative of the Spanish Andalusian, also known as the Pura Raza Española (PRE). Until the 1960s, both were simply called Andalusians, regardless of whether they were born in Spain or Portugal. Today, the Lusitano has its own studbook, managed by the Associação Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano (APSL).

History of the Lusitano Horse

Ancient Origins on the Iberian Peninsula

Horses have lived on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years. Cave paintings from as far back as 25,000 to 20,000 BC show that early humans knew them well. Studies comparing ancient and modern horse DNA have found maternal lineages in today's Lusitanos that were also present in wild Iberian horses from the Early Neolithic period.

By 800 BC, the Iberian region was famous for its war horses. The Greek cavalry officer Xenophon, writing around 370 BC, praised Iberian horsemen and their agile mounts, which could start, stop and turn faster than other horses. An ancient legend claimed that Iberian mares were sired by the west wind, which explained the speed of their foals. Some historians even believe the bond between Iberian riders and their horses inspired the Greek myth of the centaur.

Roman and Moorish Influence

The Carthaginians and Romans later set up stud farms in the region to breed cavalry horses from local stock. When the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 AD, they brought Barb horses from North Africa. Crossing these with native Iberian horses produced an even better war horse. DNA research suggests that horses crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in both directions over time, so Barb and Iberian bloodlines influenced each other.

Spreading Across the World

This Iberian war horse was used on battlefields and in Europe's great riding academies, where it helped shape classical high school dressage. The Spanish conquistadors took Iberian horses to the Americas, where their descendants helped found many New World breeds. In Portugal, mounted bullfighting and dressage displays were popular entertainment for the nobility.

Near Extinction and Recovery

The breed has faced several crises. In the 19th and 20th centuries, breeders added heavier blood to create horses with more pulling power, which made them bigger but less nimble. During Portugal's revolutionary period in 1974 and 1975, land occupations in the Ribatejo and Alentejo regions broke up stud farms, and many horses were sold to Spain. A group of dedicated breeders saved the best bloodlines and later redefined the breed standard more strictly. The Veiga family, for example, is credited with protecting its lines through four generations of changing trends.

Lusitano Bloodlines and Foundation Horses

The Portuguese studbook recognises six foundation horses, known as the "heads of lineage". Five are stallions and one is a mare: Agareno, Primorosa, Destinado, Marialva II, Regedor and Hucharia. The main family groups today are the Andrade, Veiga and Coudelaria Nacional (Portuguese State Stud) lines, along with the Alter Real strain. Each line meets the breed standard, but they differ slightly in type.

The Alter Real Strain

The Alter Real is a special strain of Lusitano bred only at the Alter Real State Stud in Portugal's Alentejo region. The Portuguese royal family founded the stud in 1748, using 300 Iberian mares imported from Spain. The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art uses these horses exclusively in its performances.

The strain almost disappeared after the 1910 revolution ended the monarchy. Records were burned, stallions were gelded and the stud was closed. Ruy d'Andrade, a specialist in Iberian breeds, rescued two stallions and several mares, then handed the herd to the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture when the stud reopened in 1942. Alter Real horses are always bay.

Lusitano Breed Characteristics

Size and Conformation

Most Lusitanos stand between 15.1 and 15.3 hands, although some grow taller than 16 hands. They have an uphill, compact and rounded build. The head is narrow and medium in length, with a slightly convex profile, expressive eyes and fine ears. The neck is thick and arched, leading to well-defined withers, sloping shoulders and a deep, broad chest. The back is short and strong, the croup is rounded and sloping, and the tail is set low. The mane and tail are famously thick and long.

Colours

Lusitanos can be any solid colour. Grey and bay are the most common, followed by chestnut. Black, buckskin and palomino horses are also seen.

Movement

The breed is known for agile, elevated paces with natural collection. Despite this high-stepping action, Lusitanos are generally comfortable to ride, which makes them popular with both amateur and professional riders.

Lusitano vs Andalusian

The two breeds look very similar, but there are small differences. The Lusitano usually has a more sloping croup, a lower-set tail and a more convex head profile. Breeders often say the Lusitano stayed closer to the original Iberian horse, while the Andalusian changed more over the last few centuries.

Lusitano Temperament

Lusitanos are intelligent, brave and willing. Breeders describe them as generous horses with a noble presence and a strong desire to understand what their rider wants. They stay focused in training and are calm under pressure, which explains their success in demanding sports. Their friendly nature also makes them pleasant to handle on the ground.

What Are Lusitano Horses Used For?

Dressage

Dressage is the breed's best-known discipline. At the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, the entire Portuguese dressage team rode Lusitanos. A Lusitano was also part of the Spanish team that won bronze at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and silver at the 2004 Olympic Games. Classical masters such as Nuno Oliveira helped make Lusitanos famous in classical riding circles.

Carriage Driving

Lusitanos are surprisingly strong driving horses. Belgian driver Felix Brasseur won the FEI Driving World Cup in 1995 with a Lusitano four-in-hand team. He went on to win the 1996 World Championships and took gold in four-in-hand driving at the 2006 World Equestrian Games with a team made up only of Lusitanos.

Working Equitation

Working equitation tests a horse's obedience, speed and handling over obstacles inspired by farm work. The Lusitano's agility and quick reactions make it a natural fit, and breeding studies show the breed has improved for this discipline over time.

Portuguese Bullfighting

Lusitanos are still used in Portuguese mounted bullfighting, where the bull is not killed in the ring. A horse injury is considered a disgrace to the rider, so the horse must be agile, calm and fully under control. The sport is controversial and banned in many countries due to animal welfare concerns.

Influence on Other Breeds

An Alter Real stallion taken to Brazil became a foundation stallion of the Mangalarga Marchador breed. Lusitanos are also popular for crossbreeding with Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Andalusians.

Lusitanos Around the World

Most Lusitanos are bred in Portugal and Brazil, but the breed is found in many countries, including South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Breed societies such as the Lusitano Horse Association of Australasia follow the rules of the Portuguese parent association.

Lusitano Horse Health

Genetic Diversity

The Lusitano has a fairly small founder population. One study found only nine distinct sire lines in the breed, which raises the risk of inbreeding. Careful breeding choices can help protect genetic diversity for the future.

Common Health Concerns

Researchers have identified equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM), a neurological disease linked to vitamin E deficiency, in a group of related Lusitanos. Young horses can develop osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a joint condition, although most cases in the breed are mild or moderate. Lusitanos also show low rates of severe osteoarthritis, possibly because they are often raised on open pasture and grow at a slower rate.

The breed may be prone to digestive problems such as colic, gastric ulcers and hindgut issues. One study found that Lusitanos had the lowest gut bacterial diversity of six sport horse breeds tested.

Caring for a Lusitano

Lusitanos do best with plenty of turnout, company from other horses and regular exercise. Consistent dressage training has been shown to improve their fitness and reduce stress. Like any horse, they need routine vaccinations, deworming, dental care and farrier visits. Grey horses with long manes and tails need extra grooming to stay clean and tangle-free.

Feeding a Lusitano Horse

Easy Keepers

Centuries on sparse Mediterranean grasslands have made Lusitanos easy keepers. They gain weight easily, and Iberian breeds tend to have lower insulin sensitivity than many other breeds. This puts overweight Lusitanos at risk of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and pasture-related laminitis. A cresty neck can be an early warning sign.

Forage First

A forage-based diet suits the breed best. A 500 kg Lusitano in light work will typically eat about 10 kg of hay dry matter per day, or around 2% of its body weight. Choose a mid-quality grass hay that is low in sugar and starch. For horses prone to laminitis, owners can use a grazing muzzle or a dry lot to limit grass intake.

Supplements, Salt and Water

Hay and pasture alone may not supply every nutrient, so a vitamin and mineral balancer is often recommended. Avoid high-starch, grain-heavy feeds. Horses in harder work can get extra energy from beet pulp or added fat. Always provide fresh water and around 30 g of salt per day, with electrolytes for horses that sweat heavily in hot weather.

Is a Lusitano the Right Horse for You?

The Lusitano suits riders who want an intelligent, willing and athletic horse with a long history behind it. Whether you are interested in dressage, working equitation or simply a comfortable, sensible riding partner, this proud Portuguese breed has a great deal to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Lusitano Horse