Buy Hispano-Lusitano

Looking for a Hispano-Lusitano for sale? This is the classic Iberian cross, a horse with a Pura Raza Española (PRE, also known as the Andalusian) on one side and a Lusitano on the other. You will also hear it called an Iberian horse, an Iberian cross, a Lusitano cross or an Andalusian cross. Riders look for one because it offers the Iberian look and a sensitive, people-focused character. Many are bought for riding club dressage, working equitation and hacking. On Paardplaats you can browse Hispano-Lusitanos currently listed, or place an ad if you have one to sell. Purebred PREs and Lusitanos have breed pages of their own.

The PRE and the Lusitano are very closely related. Some sources describe them as genetically almost the same, differing mainly by country. Before the 1960s, both were simply called Andalusian, in Spain and in Portugal. In 1966 the two countries separated their studbooks, and Portugal adopted the name Lusitano. Today the PRE studbook is kept by ANCCE, the Spanish breeders' association, founded in 1972. A PRE needs both parents registered as PRE. The Lusitano studbook is kept by the APSL, the Portuguese breeders' association.

This is why the cross has no studbook of its own. A Hispano-Lusitano is not a separate breed, and neither ANCCE nor the APSL registers it as purebred. What the horse has instead depends on the country. Some crosses are entered in a crossbred or sport-horse register, and others only have a passport that names the parents. For you, the parents' studbook documents matter most, because they show the pedigree of each parent. If the horse is coming from the EU, allow for export health certificates, customs paperwork and transport since Brexit.

Expect the Iberian type: an arched neck, a thick mane and tail, a short back, natural balance and elevated movement. Most Hispano-Lusitanos stand at about 150 to 165 cm, which is roughly 14.3 to 16.1 hh. Grey is common, followed by bay and black. Chestnut, dun and palomino turn up too. Because the parents differ in profile, croup and movement, individual crosses vary more than horses within one purebred breed. Judge the horse in front of you, not the label. Choose on conformation, movement, soundness and character first. Colour and mane come last. Unlike a purebred PRE or Lusitano, a cross carries no breed papers to promise a type.

Hispano-Lusitanos suit classical and modern dressage at amateur level, from Prelim and Novice to Elementary and beyond. Working equitation, a discipline with Portuguese and Spanish roots, has a keen following here. Doma vaquera, baroque riding and showing suit the type too. Many owners simply enjoy hacking, and some drive. These horses are attentive and sensitive, and they reward a calm, fair rider. Bring a young one on with patience. Build suppleness and straightness before you ask for much collection, because collecting too early causes tension and wear. A horse developed slowly can give you years of enjoyment.

Many Iberian horses are good doers. Feed forage first, watch the weight and keep the horse in regular work, all of which help to prevent obesity and laminitis. Turnout and company matter, as a sensitive horse is happier living with other horses. Keep up regular hoof care. A short back needs a saddle that fits, so have it checked by a qualified fitter, especially while a young horse changes shape. The thick mane and tail need gentle care. Sweet itch can make a horse rub them out, so ask about fly protection. Check grey horses for melanoma regularly: under the tail, around the anus, the sheath or udder, the lips and the eyes. Do not forget dental checks and routine health care.

Start with the papers. Ask for the parents' studbook documents (ANCCE for a PRE parent, APSL for a Lusitano parent), any crossbred or sport-horse registration, and the equine passport with its microchip. A DNA parentage test can confirm the parents. If the horse is imported, ask your vet how the passport details are recorded on the Central Equine Database. Then have the horse vetted, ideally with a five-stage vetting and X-rays. Check a grey horse's skin. Have a stallion checked for inguinal hernia, and learn the signs of colic. Always see the horse ridden. The common mistakes are easy to name. Do not pay purebred prices for a cross. Do not believe in a PRE type or Lusitano type without papers. Do not choose on looks and mane alone. Do not give a hot young stallion to a novice. And do not buy unseen from videos.

Prices are mostly quoted in euro. Exchange rates move, so treat the pound figures as rounded guides. Foals and yearlings are typically asked at about €2,500 to €5,000, or roughly £2,100 to £4,200. Young horses of two to four, unstarted or just backed, are about €4,000 to €8,000 (£3,400 to £6,800). Ridden horses with basic dressage or working equitation training are about €7,000 to €15,000 (£5,900 to £12,500). A typical asking price for a sound, ridden cross is around €10,000 (£8,500). Well-trained horses with competition results are often asked €15,000 to €25,000 and more (£12,500 to £21,000). Purebred PREs and Lusitanos with similar training are often listed at about €15,000 to €70,000 (£12,500 to £59,500). A cross with the same training is usually clearly cheaper. The price moves with the parents and their papers, training, age, movement, conformation, soundness at vetting and whether it is a stallion or a gelding. Grey and rarer colours such as palomino can sell well, but colour must not outweigh quality. Add transport by truck across Europe, health certificates, customs and VAT, and ask for a full quote first.

If you are selling, your buyers are riding club dressage riders, working equitation enthusiasts and hackers who love the Iberian look. Say plainly that the horse is a cross. Give the parents and their studbook numbers, and list the papers the horse actually has. State the age, size, colour, training level and disciplines. Include X-ray results if you have them. Describe the character honestly, quirks included. Add good photos and video of the horse ridden and in hand. An honest advert attracts serious buyers and avoids disputes later.

How much does a Hispano-Lusitano cost?

Asking prices are mostly in euro. Young horses start at about €2,500 to €5,000 (£2,100 to £4,200) as foals and yearlings. A ridden cross with basic training is about €7,000 to €15,000 (£5,900 to £12,500), and competition horses reach €15,000 to €25,000 and more (£12,500 to £21,000). Exchange rates move, and transport and paperwork are extra.

What is a Hispano-Lusitano, and is it a breed?

A Hispano-Lusitano is a cross between a Pura Raza Española and a Lusitano. It is not a breed with its own studbook, and neither the PRE nor the Lusitano studbook registers it as purebred. The parents are very closely related, so the Iberian type is usually clear. Individuals vary more than purebreds, though, so judge each horse on its own merits.

Who is a Hispano-Lusitano suitable for?

It suits amateur riders who enjoy dressage, working equitation, classical riding, hacking or driving, and who like a sensitive, attentive horse. Calm, fair riding brings out the best in them. A hot young stallion is no choice for a novice, and not every Iberian horse is a beginner's horse. Try the horse yourself and take an instructor with you.

What should I check before buying or selling a Hispano-Lusitano?

Check the papers first: the parents' studbook documents, any crossbred or sport-horse registration, and the passport with microchip. A DNA parentage test can confirm the parents. Have the horse vetted with X-rays, check a grey horse's skin for melanoma, and have a stallion checked for inguinal hernia. Always see the horse ridden. When selling, describe the horse as a cross and list exactly which papers you hold.

Ready to find your own Iberian horse? Browse the Hispano-Lusitanos for sale on Paardplaats and take your time to compare them. If you have a horse to pass on, place your ad and describe it honestly. A good match between horse and rider is worth waiting for.