Spanish-Norman Horse Registry, Inc.
P.O. Box 985
Woodbury, Connecticut 06798
www.spanish-norman.com
Thundering across the pages of history comes the epic warhorse of the ages, the medieval knight’s noble steed—the Spanish-Norman Horse. Valiant horse chosen by battling knights, powerful warhorse of the crusaders, proud mount of the conquistadors—all describe the gallant horse that carried Spanish blood in its veins long ago. This courageous horse was immortalized in paintings, statues, and sculptures of the Middle Ages, leaving an indelible mark of the chivalry and pageantry from that era. It was a horse of extraordinary majesty, incredible power, and awesome presence. As magnificent as it was, the knight’s horse of the Middle Ages did not survive the ensuing years after it last pounded over the battlefields of ancient Europe when it was so prominent.
Today, however, this magical horse has been recreated by blending the genes of the Andalusian of Spain and the Percheron of France. Research has proven that both the indigenous Spanish horse of the Iberian Peninsula (now called the Andalusian) and the French Le Perche horse carry a similar genetic strain of Barb blood left from the Moorish invasions. The Andalusian brings its perfect combination of artistry, elegance, and style to the breed, reflecting the principles of lightness and collection, which are important attributes of classical art and dressage. The Percheron contributes its profound size, strength, and bone density. Its gentle, people-loving temperament adds stability.
With the union of these remarkable foundation lines, the historic warhorse of long ago has been brought to life once again in the Spanish-Norman. This unique sport horse is the genetic phenotype of the extinct Norman warhorse. It is an exclusive, rare breed that is a living symbol of the famous medieval horse now recreated and again making an impact in the equestrian world.
The Spanish-Norman is a gallant, strong, and spectacular breed. Linda Osterman Hamid
History
When the Moors invaded Spain in 711 AD, their Barb mounts were small, agile, and fiery, possessing great stamina. As Islamic forces advanced into Spain and France from North Africa, Europeans were faced with the Barb horse that was unsurpassed in combat. Hardy, courageous, and powerful, it was quick to respond to the rider’s commands, and had an uncanny ability to engage its hindquarters and strike out in any direction. Confronted with this remarkable Moorish warhorse, Europeans realized the importance of breeding horses for battle. When the Moors lost their first conflict in 718, the victors were awarded the invaluable prize of Barb breeding stock and began combining them with their own horses. It was by this means of conquests and defeats through the centuries that the Barb horse became a great legacy in Europe of the Moorish invasions.
In this way, ancient Spanish horses were infused with Barb blood. It was not until the year 1492 when the Reconquista, or reclaiming of Al-Andalus (the Arabic name for the Iberian Peninsula), was complete, leaving in its wake the magnificent Iberian Horse that now possessed Barb blood, which would later be known as the Andalusian and Lusitano. Research shows these early Spanish horses influenced the development of the Norman horses of medieval France.
Barb blood was also used on native French horses, which contributed to the equine type that would come to be known as Percheron, after the Le Perche district of France. The mighty Percheron was renowned for its excellence on the battlefield. It was instrumental to the Norman invasion of England in 1066, which was carried out by fierce warriors called “destriers” mounted on warhorses. By the 1840s, these heavy horses were imported to the United States and were initially called Normans, but shortly reverted back to the name Percheron. In 1990, blood-typing studies on Percherons by Dr. Gus Cothran at the University of Kentucky confirmed that indeed the Percheron carried a Barb genetic link.
Therefore both horses of Andalusia and Normandy possessed an infusion of Barb blood from the Moorish invasions. With their common oriental ancestry, breeding Andalusians to Percherons produces amazing offspring approximating a type of the old Norman horse. Thus the Spanish-Norman breed recreates the phenotype of the medieval knight’s charger.
Breed Ambassadors
Spanish-Normans are “the warhorse of the ages as the sport horse of today.” They are attracting attention and admiration of equine aficionados worldwide. They can be found presenting the colors in breed exhibitions at the Kentucky Horse Park, mounted police competitions, performances at Equine Affaire’s Fantasia, and in mounted medieval games or reining competitions in full reproduction armor or tournament garb.
They also perform in reining, dressage, western riding, open jumping, eventing, trail, field hunting, pleasure riding, parades, costumed exhibitions, and sidesaddle demonstrations.
Spain’s premier, all-breed horse publication, Ecuestre, featured an extensive article with color photos entitled, “Spanish-Norman, El Retorno del Caballo Medieval,” in its November 1998 issue. Other major equine publications in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland have spotlighted the Spanish-Norman.
The most famous Spanish-Norman to date is Romántico H. H. F., owned by breed cofounders Linda and Allan Hamid of Connecticut. The magnificent 16.1-hand gray stallion is an excellent example of the Spanish-Norman breed. He is the sole U.S.-bred horse of Spanish descent to win a U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) ribbon. This was won in Freestyle Reining at the June 2000 Festival of Champions at the USET Olympic Training Center in Gladstone, New Jersey. Donning medieval armor, he also competed at the 1999 All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, and won a fourth place ribbon in Open Freestyle Reining. Popular with audiences of all ages, Romántico has presented exhibitions at the Greenwich Polo Club in Connecticut, the Equine Affaire and the Fleet Jumper Classic, both in Massachusetts, and the BreyerFest in Kentucky. At numerous charity events, he has patiently posed for photos with children, exemplifying the outstanding temperament of the breed. As the Breed Ambassador, he also was selected for the collector’s limited-edition Breyer horse model in 2005, honoring the Spanish-Norman breed; he was immortalized in fine porcelain wearing his signature armor depicting the heritage of the Spanish-Norman breed.
Another example of the breed is Agincourt H. H. F., an American gelding that was exported to France where he now competes in three-day eventing. This exportation of a Spanish-Norman to Europe is an impressive tribute to the breed and an example of the competitive capabilities of the Spanish-Norman.
Sir Norman of Tiverton is a Spanish-Norman Horse that competes in Open Jumping classes at the 3 feet 6 inch and 3 feet 9 inch levels. His rider admires the Spanish-Norman for its natural ability, tractability, and good mind. He comments that Sir Norman “always gives 100 percent and is a brave, fun horse with a wonderful personality who craves attention and affection from his fans.”
Another ambassador of the Spanish-Norman breed is Victoria of Fox Run from Kentucky. For several years, this lovely mare has represented the Spanish-Norman breed at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, greeting visitors daily from around the world and participating in the Parade of Breeds.
After reading an article on the breed in a German horse publication, Katharina and Horst Fehring of Germany went to France and purchased the lovely Percheron mare, Helva de Fauveliere, to be bred to their Andalusian stallion, Orgulloso XL, imported from Spain. The Fehrings established their Spanish-Norman breeding farm in Germany with the goal of becoming the first breeders of Spanish-Normans in Europe. Their first Spanish-Norman was foaled in 2003.
Characteristics
The Spanish-Norman retains the attributes of the Andalusian, which possesses class, grace, and harmony. Renowned for its reliability and stamina, the Percheron adds its great size and stability. With the panache of the Andalusian and the easygoing work ethic of the Percheron, the Spanish-Norman projects the image of a large, exquisite horse. It has the natural collection, athleticism, beauty, and elegance to compete in almost every discipline. Quite often the individual Spanish-Norman excels at more than one discipline or is simply a good all-around pleasure mount and companion.
The majority of Spanish-Norman fans are from the baby boomer generation who find the breed fits their needs. The Spanish-Norman is steady and willing, providing true companionship for those who may be rediscovering their passion for horses after taking time off for their career or to raise a family. One owner states of her second-level dressage horse, “I purchased my Spanish-Norman mare for myself as a new rider at fifty years old because of her temperament and I just fell in love with her. As a woman who never rode in her life until fifty, my Spanish-Norman has become my friend and partner. To me, she is a horse of a lifetime and she always draws attention wherever we go.”
Men seem particularly attracted to the Spanish-Norman, possibly due to its historic persona of once being the knight’s battle charger, but also because of the horse’s powerful presence. It is the perfect mount for larger men who feel “under-horsed” with lighter breeds, but also want a competitive edge with the style and athleticism that the breed provides.
More important than all its other accomplishments and attributes is the special relationship between horse and human that the Spanish-Norman provides. It is very rare to find a trained adult horse available on the market, since most owners have a deep relationship with their Spanish-Norman.
Registry
Registry co-founder, Linda Hamid of Connecticut, was first attracted to the Andalusian horse while studying at the University of Madrid in 1965, and years later she introduced her husband, Allan Hamid, to the breed. An avid horseman, historian, and educator, Allan did research on the medieval warhorse. In the late 1980s, the Hamids began breeding Percheron mares to their Spanish imported Andalusian stallion, Embajador IX, of Hamid Hill Farm, Ltd. This stallion was later to become the first foundation sire of the Spanish-Norman breed.
After the Hamids learned of the research at the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Center that proved the Percheron of France, the Andalusian of Spain, and the Lusitano of Portugal shared common blood markers, they established the Spanish-Norman Horse Registry, Inc., in 1991. Its main goal is to produce an outstanding modern sport horse that retains the presence, physical prowess, and mental abilities of the classic medieval Norman warhorse.
The breed has since grown, with currently 135 Andalusian stallions registered as foundation sires of the Spanish-Norman Horse Registry. Additionally, there are Spanish-Norman horses located across the United States and Canada, with a few in Germany, England, Spain and France.
Registry Requirements
A Spanish-Norman must be a minimum of 50 percent Andalusian. A Spanish-Norman can be dual-registered as a Half-Andalusian with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) and compete in that organization’s shows. Besides IALHA events, it can also compete in dressage, jumping, and/or any discipline at all-breed open shows. To establish and revitalize the former prestige and ability of the breed, an annual trophy honors the competing Spanish-Norman with the highest points.
Percheron mares must be registered with the Percheron Horse Association of America (PHAA) or the Canadian Percheron Association. Spanish-Norman mares can also be bred to an Andalusian stallion. A rare second-generation Spanish-Norman can be produced by breeding a Spanish-Norman to a Spanish-Norman.
Breed Characteristics
The Spanish-Norman embodies the proud heritage of its noble ancestors. It combines the beauty, boldness, and natural collection of the Andalusian with the Percheron’s great willingness to work, as well as its size and excellent, stable disposition. Endowed with the unique combination of presence with docility, the Spanish-Norman possesses outstanding character and temperament, qualities essential to a successful performance horse. It is an athletic breed, yet a horse of substance and gentleness.
Height: The majestic Spanish-Norman stands between 15.3 and 17 hands.
Color: It is predominantly gray with some bays and blacks.
Head: The head shows a slightly convex to straight profile. It has large, expressive eyes and fine, thin ears that are of medium length.
Neck: It has a medium length neck. The mane is thick, luxuriant, and often wavy. A distinguished regal crest is characteristic of the breed.
Body: The body is muscular and short coupled with strong hindquarters, sloping shoulder, ample heart girth, and broad chest. The tail is usually abundant, long, and low set.
Legs: Sturdy feet and legs are present, and strong, wide hooves are the norm.
Movement: The Spanish-Norman is bred to move freely from the shoulder with elastic, fluid movement and impulsion. It displays agility, engagement, cadence, and elevation with extension, and projects an image of harmony, balance, and symmetry.
Disposition: It has a keen aptitude for learning, a strong work ethic, tractability, exceptional stamina, and enthusiasm for performing. It displays loyalty, affection, and an understanding of its human partner that is unique and seems to appear in a large majority of horses in the breed.
As a versatile sport horse, the Spanish-Norman has the potential to excel in a variety of equine disciplines including jumping, eventing, dressage, reining, and driving. An impressive exhibition and parade horse, the Spanish-Norman also performs in historic re-enactments, jousting, and medieval games.
Credit: Linda Osterman Hamid and Spanish-Norman Horse Registry, Inc.