P.R.E. breed explanation

WHAT IS A P.R.E?... A 'PURA RAZA ESPANOLA' OR PURE SPANISH HORSE .

The Pura Raza Espanola, or Pure Spanish Horse, is also known by its initials P.R.E or PRE. This horse must hold the Official Documentation of the Spanish Stud Book (LG PRE). In Australia, the horse can also hold registration with the AHAA (Andalusian Horse Association of Australasia) but it is not a requirement.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR THE P.R.E .

There is only one single Registration Book, which is authorised internationally to produce the official documentation for Purebred Spanish Horses. This registration process applies the internationally accepted controls for the breed: DNA confirmation of the paternity, completed graphic description and microchip at weaning, evaluation as breeding stock as a 3 year-old, assignment of a registration code in the Stud Book etc.

The passport produced by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and ANCCE is documentation that guarantees that the animal is a Purebred Spanish Horse and it fulfils all the requirements for the identification of equines as established by the European Union.

COLOURS OF THE P.R.E.

According to the breed description in the PRE Stud Book, all colours are permitted except piebald or skewbald.

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

This is currently only permitted for horses who are Qualified Breeding Stock.

SELECTION SCHEME

There are three levels of breeding stock within the Purebred Spanish Horse selection scheme:

Basic Breeding Stock (Aptitud Basica Reproductora)

At 3 years of age, Purebred Spanish Horses undergo an evaluation to decide if they are suitable for breeding, and the basic requirements are:

Height – Stallions must measure 1.52m or more at the withers, and mares 1.50m or more.
Absence of serious conformation faults: There must be no sign of a fallen crest or a ewe-neck.
Stallions must be neither monorchid nor cryptorchid.
The horse must remain true to the breed type or pattern.
Only horses that have passed the basic evaluation can have their products inscribed in the Stud Book. If they do not pass this evaluation, they retain their original registration papers; they continue to be considered Purebred Spanish Horses, but lack the right of having their progeny registered. If a horse's registration papers have not been stamped with the word “APTO” and signed to prove that the said horse is approved as breeding stock, it means that the horse has not yet passed its evaluation legitimising its use for breeding purposes within the breed's legal selection scheme.

Any horse that does not pass this evaluation may be presented a second time if the owner so desires.

Qualified Breeding Stock (Calificado)

Having passed the basic approval, the breeder can present his horses for an additional evaluation at one of the Tribunals for Qualified Breeding Stock (TQB or TRC) in which their conformation and natural paces are analysed in more detail.

Requirements in order to pass the qualified status:

Stallions should measure over 1,55m and mares 1,53m.
They are scored and must achieve an average of over 70 points, with no judge awarding them less than 5 points for any of their conformation.
They must undergo an x-ray examination, which must discard any possibility of osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis and various bone problems.
Stallions must undergo an examination of their reproductive apparatus, which must discard any defects that would affect their reproduction or which could be hereditary, such as monorchid, cryptorchid, inguinal or scrotal hernias, as well as a semen count, to verify their fertility.
Mares must have given birth at least once or be in foal, and have undergone a scan of their reproductive apparatus, to discard any congenital anomalies or transmittable defects.
In the near future it is foreseen that the stallions will also have to perform a basic dressage test to demonstrate their functionality under saddle.
Any stallion that passes this evaluation may use artificial insemination on a limited number of mares per year (the covering certificates being limited), and any animal that passes may then go on to the next level of quality in the selection scheme.

The Selection Scheme for the Purebred Spanish Horse is currently, and has been for several years in operation. ANCCE is a direct collaborator with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture. The next step in the selection scheme are the two levels which are still being developed in order to select those horses that have passed a series of tests and have proven their ability to transmit exceptional characteristics to their descendants, which are:

Young Recommended Breeding Stock
Elite Breeding Stock

PRE IDENTIFICATION CONTROLS

When a Purebred Spanish Horse is born it must undergo a series of specifically designed controls to identify it:

DNA testing to confirm parentage
Graphic description, which is internationally accepted.
A microchip is inserted into the neck.
The foal will then be given a registration number (código) in the Stud Book.

A SUMMARY OF THE CONFORMATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BREED

The full breed description is detailed in the Royal Decree, a copy of which can be downloaded….

Head
The official definition describes it as “an average sized head which is rectangular, fine, with a straight to sub convex profile, mobile ears of a medium size, well placed and parallel, a wide forehead, flat or slightly convex, big bright triangular eyes with an expressive look”.

Neck
Of average length and size, lightly arched and muscular (less so in mares), well inserted at the head and body. Abundant and silky mane.

Trunk
Proportionate and robust. The withers unobtrusively wide and obvious. Solid and muscular back. Wide, short loin, muscular and somewhat rounded, well joined to the back and to the croup.

Back
Located between the loin and the withers, this is where the impulsion created by the hindquarters is transmitted to the forehand. It should be flexible, fairly short and sufficiently wide in proportion to the rest of the animal's body, and it should be very slightly concave.

Croup
This should be of average length and width, rounded and lightly sloping. The tail should be well set and placed between the buttocks, having abundant, long and often wavy hair.

Loin
This is formed by the six lumbar vertebrae, and the muscular mass that covers them, between the back and the croup. The lumbar region of the PRE is short, rather wide and very sensitive to the touch.

Forehand
A long muscular sloping and elastic shoulder. Strong humerus with a good inclination. Potent forearm, of average length. Well-developed and lean knee.

Hindquarters
Well-muscled thigh, lightly rounded and muscular buttock and long leg. Strong, wide and clean hock.

The Movement
Agile, elevated, extensive, harmonic and rhythmic. With a particular predisposition for collection and turns on the haunches.

To complement all these conformational characteristics, the thing most outstanding about this breed is its versatility. This is due to the union of the following factors: mental balance, harmony, intelligence and willingness to work.

Temperament

The PRE is a well-balanced and resistant horse. Long suffering and energetic, noble and docile, who adapts with ease to different uses and situations.

It is very trainable and responsive to the rider's aids, has a good mouth and is therefore obedient, with an easy understanding between him and the rider, and is extraordinarily comfortable.

SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

The Spanish Dressage Team won the team Silver Medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, only being beaten by Germany. Two PRE horses were part of this team: INVASOR ridden by Rafael Soto and OLEAJE ridden by Ignacio Rambla.

Atlanta ´96 was the first time that the Spanish Team reached an Olympic Final. It must be highlighted that this was the first time that PRE horses had taken part. Their names: EVENTO, FLAMENCO and INVASOR (the latter as reserve). INVASOR was the youngest horse of all those entered in the dressage, an example of the breed's trainability, intelligence and will to work.

Sydney 2000 was the next step; the team included INVASOR and DISTINGUIDO, and finished in 7 th place.

Spain's development exploded at the 2002 WEG at JEREZ, where the team won the bronze medal, again with INVASOR and DISTINGUIDO.

In Competition Carriage Driving, the Spanish Horse has participated in several World Championships, with Juan Robles and Antonio Carrillo being the most outstanding drivers.

The Purebred Spanish Horse was used to create several Central European warmblood breeds. Today stallions are being used to improve a large number of sport horses in studs all over the world.

The mental balance, intelligence, trainability, together with the harmony of its conformation gives the Purebred Spanish Horse an extraordinary capacity for collection.

Text reproduced with kind permission from ANCCE