What is a P.R.E. Horse?
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THE PRE HORSE
The name “Andalusian” is used
interchangeably with “Spanish Horse or Pure
Spanish” when describing the breed. However,
the term “Andalusian” fell out of favor in
Spain when the breed expanded from its
ancestral birthplace in the province of
Andalusia, to the entirety of Spain. So as
not to show partiality to the breeders in
Andalusia, the horse became known as Pura
Raza Espanola, the P.R.E.
A PRE is a Spanish horse that
has qualified for inclusion into the
official Spanish studbook of Spain, which is
managed by ANCCE (Spanish National Breeders
Association). The ‘sister’ administration
for the Studbook here in Australia is PREAA
(www.preaa.org.au).
A PRE horse undergoes a
process called Inscription (i.e foal
recording) followed by Revision (i.e
classification) at 3+ years of age. Revision
involves a physical check by a qualified
ANCCE inspector from Spain. The horse is
checked for a fallen crest, ewe neck,
cryptorchidism, monorchidism and other
defects. They are measured and must meet
minimum height requirements for stallions
and mares. The horses are given a score out
of 100. Once they pass Revision, they are
issued with a Passport (i.e papers), and if
approved for breeding, will have their
Passports marked “Apt.””, which in lay terms
simply means “allowed to breed”.
There are many horses being
bred and offered for sale under the name of
Spanish or Pure Spanish or Andalusian, but a
genuine P.R.E. will always have the proper
documentation. There are some breeders in
Australia who want you to believe that even
though their horses or foals may not be
registered with the official Spanish
studbook it is not important. But we believe
that like any well bred Warmblood horse
registered with ACE, ISSA or the AWHA,
inclusion in the Spanish Studbook is
testament to having passed a quality check
process.
Andalusians (i.e non-PRE)
have not undergone any quality check and
therefore they are able to breed on
regardless of serious flaws in conformation,
lack of type, genetic faults and temperament
issues. The quality check is left to a
breeder to determine – a somewhat dubious
and dangerous arrangement! |
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The passport produced by the Spanish Ministry of
Agriculture and ANCCE is the only 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.
According to the breed description in the PRE Stud Book,
all colors are permitted except piebald or skewbald.
Artificial Insemination is currently only permitted in
the case of breeding stock that have attained the next
level of revision, called “Qualified” or “Calificado”
status. Three classes of breeding stock exist within the
Purebred Spanish Horse selection scheme:
Basic breeding stock
It is necessary to request the evaluation from the
organization which administers the Stud Book, ANCCE.
Purebred panish Horses undergo this evaluation, during
which it is decided if they are suitable for breeding,
as of the age of three, and the requirements are:
- Stallions must measure more than 1.52 m.
at the withers and 1.50 m. in the case of mares.
- There must be no sign of a fallen or
broken crest, or a ‘ewe’ neck.
- Males must be neither monorchidism nor
cryptorchidism.
- They must remain true to the breed type
and character.
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As of that moment, their descendants will be
registered in the Stud Book. If they do not
pass this evaluation, they retain their
original registration papers; they continue
to be considered as Purebred Spanish Horses,
but lack the right of having their progeny
registered.
If a horse’s registration papers have not
been stamped and signed to prove that the
horse is approved as breeding stock, it
means that the horse has not yet passed its
evaluation legitimizing 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
should so desire. |
Qualified breeding stock “Calificado Status”
Having passed the basic approval, the breeders can
present their animals for an additional evaluation, at
one of the Tribunals for Qualified Breeding Stock (TQB)
in which their conformation and natural paces are
analysed.
Requirements in order to pass the evaluation as
qualified:
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The stallions should measure more than 1.55 m. at
the withers and 1.53 m. for the mares.
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They must gain an average of over 70 points, with no
judge awarding them less than 5 points for any of
their conformation.
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They must undergo an X-ray examination, which must
discard any possibility of osteochondrosis,
osteoarthritis and various bony problems.
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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 monorchidism,
cryptorchidism, inguinal or scrotal and other
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 discards any congenital
anomalies or transmittable defects.
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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 it 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. From the selection
scheme, two new areas have arisen within the
reproduction of the PRE. Having passed a series of tests
and having proven the ability to transmit
characteristics to their descendants, selected horses
can now fulfil the following criteria:
- Young Recommended Breeding Stock
- Elite Breeding Stock
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