The rare and exclusive Spanish-Norman horse, the re-creation of the medieval knight's charger, is capturing the attention of horse enthusiasts across the United States and Canada. "The warhorse of the ages is the sporthorse of today."

 

The mighty chargers that thundered across the battlefields carrying the knights to victory ... the powerful steeds of the crusaders at the battles of Agincourt and Poitiers are being historically and genetically re-created today by blending the genes of the Andalusian of Spain and the Percheron of France.

 

Allan H. Hamid, President of the Spanish-Norman Horse Registry, Inc. announced in 1996 that there are thirty-two Andalusian stallions as foundation sires of the Spanish-Norman breed. The thirty Andalusian stallions hail from the four corners of the U.S., and two from Canada.

 

The Spanish-Norman Horse Registry, Inc. was established in 1991 to record the pedigrees of this unique and magnificent sporthorse breed. Research by registry founder Allan Hamid, a history teacher and prominent Andalusian breeder in Connecticut established that both the Andalusian and the Percheron share Barb ancestry. Early Spanish horses influenced the development of the now lost Norman horses of medieval France. These Norman horses, in turn, became foundation stock for war horses during the Middle Ages. When crossed with Oriental blood, the Norman horse contributed to the Percheron breed. Supporting the findings of Hamid's research, blood typing studies by Dr. Gus Cothran at the University of Kentucky have located similar blood markers in both breeds.

 

A versatile sporthorse, the Spanish-Norman embodies the heritage of its noble ancestors; the elegant beauty, boldness and natural collection of the regal Andalusian and the size, strength and bone density of the powerful Percheron. Endowed with the unique combination of presence with docility, the Spanish-Norman possesses outstanding character and temperament, qualities essential to a successful performance horse.

 

Spanish-Normans stand between 15.3 and 17 hands, are predominantly gray with also bays and blacks. Physical characteristics of the athletic breed are large, expressive eyes; long, graceful necks; laid back shoulders that blend smoothly into short backs; strong hindquarters; sturdy feet and legs. They are bred to move freely from the shoulder with elastic, fluid movement, featuring engagement and elevation with extension.

 

A natural athlete, the Spanish-Norman performs with agility and cadence projecting an image of harmony, balance and symmetry.

 

Spanish-Normans compete in a variety of equine disciplines: jumping, eventing, dressage and driving. They are also excellent pleasure, parade and exhibition mounts and perform in medieval games and historical re-enactments. Spanish-Normans are at least 50% Andalusian and are eligible to exhibit and compete in Half-Andalusian classes at shows sponsored by the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association.

 

The first Spanish-Norman mare, Mariposa CBF, bred to a Spanish-Norman stallion, Ambassador HHF, occurred in 1993 and resulted in the birth on June 4, 1994 of the Spanish-Norman colt, El Primero PBF. The colt was aptly named, 'El Primero,' the First One, by his breeders Kim and Sam Bursese of Point Breeze Farm, St. Johnsville, New York. The Burseses purchased the four-year-old stallion, Ambassador H.H.F., (Embajador IX x Comtesse) as a weanling from Hamid Hill Farm, Ltd., Woodbury, Connecticut. Ambassador H.H.F. is an award-winning driving horse as well.

 

References

Spanish-Norman Horse Registry, Inc., Linda Osterman Hamid, Registrar, P.O. Box 985, Woodbury, Connecticut 06798, Phone (203) 266-4048, Fax (203) 263-3306