The origin of the Andalusian dates back to Paleolithic times, and does not owe any influence from outside the Iberian Peninsula. The Andalusian forebears came several thousand years prior to the Barb. The Spanish horses of the Conquistadors were the first horses to set foot on the Americas in Modern Times.
The Spanish and Portuguese horses originate from the Iberian Peninsula. The Andalusians (Spanish) and the Lusitanos (Portuguese) are different branches of the same breed. The Lusitano and Andalusian shared the same stud book until the 1960's when Spain and Portugal split stud books. The Spanish called their horses "Caballos de Pura Raza Espanol" and the Portuguese called their horses "Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano". In the U.S. Andalusians and Lusitanos are known as Andalusians. The name "Andalusian" arose from the region of Andalucia in southern Spain where many Iberian horses were bred. The name, Andalusian, is used in many countries in reference to Spanish and/or Portuguese horses.

    Crossing just about any breed with the Andalusian will produce an improved using horse. For those who have a preference for the hot blooded breeds, such as the Thoroughbred or Arabian, crossing with the Andalusian not only adds calmness and tractability to the temperament, but can produce improved bone and larger build. Out-crossing of this type produces a registerable Iberian Warmblood Horse. Crossing an Andalusian and the Quarter Horse produces the Azteca which is the national breed of Mexico.

        Eighty percent of all modern breeds can be traced back to the Iberian horse. Most native breeds in the United States can trace its heritage to Andalusians that came with the Conquistadors which include Quarter Horses, Paints, Mustangs, Appaloosas and the gaited breeds. DNA testing has confirmed the fact that the Andalusian is an ancestor of the Percheron, Hackney, Friesian, Cleveland Bay, Thoroughbred, Welsh, Connemara and Lippizan.

El Viento is a 6 year old Andalusian gelding that came to live at my house a year and a half ago. My expectations of him are much like those of my children, to encourage him to be the best he can be at whatever he chooses. To reach his fullest potential at what were his hopes and dreams may be.

Betsy is my beautiful 17-year-old daughter, and has a passion for barrel racing. Viento and I have been tagging along for the past year. We have been trail riding, calf penning and gaming.

When the rodeo came, Viento and I were there. To be settled, the rough stock is brought in three days before the rodeo. Viento got a lot of raised eyebrows and concerned looks from the cowboys. Being polite, as they all are, no one said anything except, "What kind of horse is that? Andalusian… is he gaited? …hmmmm…"

Betsy and I were given the task of exercising a couple of 2,000-lb. bulls. I'm sure the cowboys must have thought they were in for a show because they all watched. Viento simply put his head down, ears perked and eyes fixed. Viento and I cut one bull out and pushed him at the hip around the arena. Betsy pushed the other bull up on Viento's hip and Viento simply turned his hip away to keep both bulls in his vision and kept moving. Viento was having a ball.