How to care for Iberian horses
Thinking of importing a horse from his native Spain or Portugal? Keeping him happy and healthy in his new home means understanding his unique breed characteristics, as Andrea Oakes discovers
IBERIAN breeds are impressing at every dressage level in the UK and even have their own British Dressage championships. Inherently tough and typically level-headed, the Portuguese Pura Sangre Lusitano (PSL) and Spain’s Pura Raza Española (PRE), commonly known as Lusitanos and Andalusians, are equally popular as all-round riding companions.
A buying trip to southern Europe may give you access to the cream of the Iberian crop. However, these spectacular horses are a product of their environment; born and bred in a relatively hotter, drier climate and raised under different management systems to our own. How will your new purchase fare once home on UK soil?
GOOD DOERS
“A NUMBER of my clients have Spanish horses and it’s a breed that I like,” says Sam Cutts MRCVS of Hook Norton Veterinary Group. “These horses tend to be compact and trainable. Their less exuberant action can mean that they suffer from fewer ‘wear and tear’ injuries than bigger-moving warmbloods.”
“Spanish horses tend to thrive on very little,” says Sam. “The grass is often poor in Spain, compared with ours. While we rarely see laminitis, it’s important to feed on a ‘less is more’ basis. Start with a fibre and oil diet, rather than too many sugars, and go from there. We sometimes see allergic skin disease, so bear in mind that a Spanish horse may react dramatically to fly bites.”
How do management methods compare?
“The Spanish are very strict with their horses and tend to manage them in big groups,” says Sam. “Almost all male horses over there are entire, yet keeping a stallion on a private UK yard can be problematic. Think carefully before buying a stallion and consider having him castrated before you bring him over if you’re unsure about managing him.
“Castration won’t have as much effect on an adult horse’s behaviour as it will on a youngster,” she adds. “If a stallion is managed well, his good manners should continue — but don’t wait until bad behaviour starts before castrating him.”
When buying in Spain, Sam recommends finding a local sport horse vet who’ll send pre-purchase exam results to your own vet.
“A set of X-rays is also a good idea,” she says. “There are no current blood tests required to move a horse to the UK, but have him screened for strangles as there is a high incidence of the disease in some parts of
Spain. You should also check with your vet about the tickborne infection piroplasmosis, the presence of which may be a problem, as well as a cause of complications with ongoing exportation to certain countries.
“A horse can travel here on an ITAHC [intra trade animal health certificate],” adds Sam. “Ask the export company for help with paperwork and arrange to isolate the new arrival at your yard for at least three weeks. Ideally, speak to an expert who really knows these horses before buying.”
Sherene Rahmatallah of
Sussex Lusitanos is a long-term breed specialist and has facilitated many imports from Portugal.
“The climate in Portugal varies with the region — it is quite wet and cool in the north, but hotter and drier in the central area,” she says. “In our experience, Lusitanos settle very well in the UK. But it is important to understand the management of the horse you are buying so you can avoid any sudden changes to how he is kept.
“If you are importing a young Lusitano, take care during his formative years to school him in his own natural balance,” adds Sherene, who emphasises that the breed is very late to mature physically. “Gradually, as he reaches full maturity — which may not be until he is 12 years old — he can work to his full capacity. Rushing him before this can lead to physical and mental problems.”
A GLASS HALF FULL
ACCORDING to AWCF master farrier Ben Benson, Iberian horses must be shod according to breed conformation and the job they are intended for.
“Their feet are specific to breed type — very upright,” he explains. “The position of the pedal bone in the hoof capsule is slightly higher than that of the native type or thoroughbred, so it’s important to treat them differently. The regular shoeing rules don’t apply.
“For dressage, we ask the horse to take weight on his quarters and bring his feet further underneath himself,” adds Ben, who is farrier to some of the UK’s top Iberian dressage horses. “A huge neck and crest with small hindquarters means Iberians can struggle with stability. A shoe that’s a size or a size and a half bigger will help.”