For Notes on AHAA Registered Purebred Iberian Horses, please the end of this section
Showing Guidelines
Presenting your Horse for Led Breed Classes
The AHAA Guidelines suggest the use of either ‘Simple Spanish Attire’, Authentic Spanish Costume or English Hacking Attire for handlers in Led Breed Classes. The following applies to both Pure and Partbred Andalusians. There is no difference in how they are presented.
‘Simple Spanish’ means dark trousers/ jodhpurs, a white or plain muted colour shirt & a plain, dark coloured vest (optional). A flat black, Spanish hat would be appropriate but not essential.
Authentic Spanish (which is becoming more widespread) is tailored in muted earthy tones & does not include bright colours, braids & other adornments. It is acceptable for ladies to wear either culottes or the mid-calf length mens riding pants but not skirts. Long leather boots are traditional.
Authentic Spanish can be in the style of Doma Vaquera OR 20th Centaury Doma Clasica.
Doma Vaquera - Grey striped OR dark coloured trousers with caireles (jewelry like ornamentation that hangs off the pant leg, usually silver) on each leg, or grey striped trousers with white turnups. A Panuelo (a long length of satin or silk worn around the waist, often exhibiting a polka dot pattern). White dress shirt with Campera jacket (short jacket with five buttons on the front and five buttons on each sleeve) where only the top button is fastened at the front. A Sombrero - Rocio style is most popular, usually grey or black. Traditionally paired with brown or tan leather boots with a small heel.
Doma Clasica - Dark trousers with 5 caireles on each leg. A Panuelo. White lace trimmed dress shirt with Paseo (short Spanish riding jacket, double breasted) or Rejoneador jacket. Sombrero - Rocio style is most popular, usually grey or black. Traditionally paired with brown leather boots.
Turnout for 'Simple Spanish' & Authentic Spanish -
Stallions - This encompasses entire males two years and over. Mane, forelock and tail are to be left natural, a bridle path is NOT traditional. The luxurious mane, tail and forelock of the Andalusian horse is renown and therefore it is usual to encourage as much growth as possible.
Stallions are traditionally exhibited in a Spanish Serreta with either a plain or ribboned browband (conventionally, horses born in Andalucia wear a browband of green and white ribbons, those born in the rest of Spain wear red and yellow. Other than this, some studs adopt stud or house colours for their ribbons.) It should be noted that breed events run by organizing bodies other than the AHAA may require stallions to be exhibited in a bit and/or with a chain. The organizing body should be consulted prior to attending the event if a Serreta is considered suitable headgear should you wish to use one. Stallions may at the discretion of the handler at AHAA events be shown in a Serreta, halter and chain combination, English style bridle with bit or a combination of previous. A long lightweight lead rope is recommended as it is best suited to the Spanish workout, traditionally a plaited leather lead rope.
Mares - Traditionally mares are exhibited with the mane removed in a manner so as to enhance the shape of the neck. This is normally achieved with a sharp pair of scissors in order to create the optimum shape for that particular individual. Most mares retain a long forelock however some mares facial profile may be enhanced by the removal of their forelock also. In regards to the tail, traditionally the top 8-10inches are shaved close to the dock while the bottom of the tail is squared off somewhere between the hock and fetlock so as to best enhance the features of that individual. For mares that are primarily kept for the purposes of riding the mane, tail and forelock my be left natural and free flowing like that of the stallion. In Australia some choose to exhibit their breeding mares in this manner also.
Mares may be exhibited in a Serreta, English inhand bridle or an Arab-type show halter. A ordinary head collar may be used however it is not the preferred option and must be in good working order.
Youngstock - Foals and Yearlings are traditionally exhibited with the mane, tail and forelock shaved in order to enhance the shape of the neck. At the age of two years colts may begin to start growing out their mane, tail and forelock, this may require some removal of scraggly growth for exhibition purposes until the full growth has come in. For fillies the forelock may be allowed to grow in as can the bottom of the tail, while maintaining the shaved dock and mane.
For all genders false tails are NOT permitted. Makeup is not traditional and it is preferred that it not be used, however should you choose to use makeup it must be subtle. Please note that the AHAA strongly discourages the removal of inner ear hair (ie shaved ears) and the trimming of facial whiskers around the muzzle and eyes. A tidy of any long hairs on the face, hair protruding past the rim of the ear and any feathering on the backs of the legs may be neatly removed however if left they will not incur any penalty.
Clipping and the use of hoof black are both acceptable at AHAA events.
English Hacking Attire being like that used in ridden classes consisting of Jodhpurs, white dress shirt, hacking jacket, stock/tie ect is considered more acceptable than that of the 'fashion on the fields' style of dress.
For gentlemen a Sober-coloured smart and sensibly-styled jacket or alternatively, a sober-coloured waistcoat on hot days. Sober-coloured trousers. Long-sleeved shirt with collar, plus tie, bow-tie or stock. and an optional hat - akubra, bowler, trilby, or flat cap set firmly on the head. Is an acceptable alternative to the ridden hacking attire.
The English Hacking attire is reserved for those who choose to exhibit their horses with a plaited mane and tail. This is most often partbred or derivative individuals who may not strongly exhibit Spanish traits, horses who have a scraggly or damaged mane and tail or horses who have had their manes trimmed for the purposes of other disciplines. When showing in English hacking attire an English in hand bridle or double bridle is often used, those exhibiting pure Spanish horses in this manner should note that they may be requested to perform the Spanish Workout which is best done with a long lead.
False tails are NOT permitted. Makeup is not traditional and it is preferred that it not be used, however should you choose to use makeup it must be subtle. Please note that the AHAA strongly discourages the removal of inner ear hair (ie shaved ears) and the trimming of facial whiskers around the muzzle and eyes. A tidy of any long hairs on the face, hair protruding past the rim of the ear and any feathering on the backs of the legs may be neatly removed however if left they will not incur any penalty.
Clipping and the use of hoof black are both acceptable at AHAA events.
Presenting your Horse for Ridden Breed Classes
The AHAA recommends that ridden presentation for breed events is done in either Authentic Spanish attire or English Hacking or Hunter attire. The following applies to both Purebred and Partbred Andalusians, there is no difference in how they are presented.
Authentic Spanish rider attire is the same as that used for the led events with a choice of Doma Vaquera or Doma Clasica style.
Doma Vaquera - tack includes the Doma Vaquera saddle and One-handed bridle with leather mosquera.
Doma Clasica - tack includes the Espa ola saddles and Spanish double bridle with horsehair mosquera.
English Hacking/Hunter Attire like that of the led English attire consists of light-coloured jodhpurs/breeches, a white dress shirt paired with a hacking or hunter jacket. Tie or stock, gloves (NOT white), for women a hair net or neat bun and long riding boots in the same colour as the tack. spurs and a showing cane/dressage whip are optional.
For gentlemen a Sober-coloured smart and sensibly-styled jacket or alternatively, a sober-coloured waistcoat on hot days. Sober-coloured trousers. Long-sleeved shirt with collar, plus tie, bow-tie or stock. Is an acceptable alternative to the ridden hacking attire.
Tack should consist of an English saddle, generally either a show saddle, dressage saddle or all purpose saddle. And either a standard Snaffle with cavesson, drop or flash noseband, or simple double bridle. A double bridle should only be considered for those horses training high school levels. Both bridle and saddle should be the same colour leather traditionally either black or brown.
For both Authentic Spanish and English presentation styles it is recommended that horses be plaited to produce a smart appearance. Manes may be plaited either in Spanish style, conventional plaits, macram style or looped-up long plaits. False tails are NOT permitted. As per led events makeup is not recommended but if used must be subtle, the AHAA strongly discourages the removal of inner ear hair (ie shaved ears) and the trimming of facial whiskers around the muzzle and eyes. A tidy of any long hairs on the face, hair protruding past the rim of the ear and any feathering on the backs of the legs may be neatly removed however if left they will not incur any penalty.
Clipping and the use of hoof black are both acceptable at AHAA events.
Caballeriza Mateo II and Ben Terry
Presenting your Horse for Costume Classes
Guidelines are currently being written - please stay tuned for further updates
The Spanish Workout
The Spanish Workout is the preferred workout to be used in all AHAA led breed classes across all registries and genders. This workout is designed to give the exhibit the greatest opportunity to display their natural gait without interference from the handler.
Presenting to the judge - When presenting to the judge you should do your best to set your horse up square and to keep him still during the inspection. Attempt to set up promptly indicating to the judge when you are ready for inspection and avoid fiddling with or moving your horse once set up. Always try an keep an eye on where the judge is during the inspection so as not to interrupt their view of the horse, some individuals like to stand to the front of the horse others prefer to swap sides so they are always standing facing the judge.
The Walk - the walk is the first thing the judge will see as you begin the workout. It is therefore important that the horse has a purposeful forward moving gait. Try to avoid the appearance of dragging the horse forward, instead stand level with their shoulder and encourage them to travel forward so that they are covering ground and taking long strides.
The Trot - In the spanish workout you have the option to either use up to three lung circles to establish the trot or make the trot transition and move straight down the long side. Both options are equally acceptable and the choice should be made based on which provides you the greatest opportunity to showcase your horses movement. Using the lunging circles can help to establish a big forward thinking trot before continuing on the straight, for some horses however this can create to much excitement and thus cause them to break gait in which case it may be more appropriate to move straight down the long side.
AHAA Purebred Iberian Horses
These Horses are the product of one Pure Spanish Andalusian parent, and one Purebred Lusitano parent. Two Purebred Iberian parents, Or one Purebred Iberian & either one Pure Spanish or Lusitano. See the Breed Standards for more information.
This is a relatively small Stud Book and owners may at present have difficulty in finding Breed Classes for their horses at events other than AHAA Shows. To accommodate this, the Federal Council of the AHAA passed a Motion at the Meeting held on the 17th October 2018:
Motion: “Where it would help secure classes at shows, the AHAA will contact the show committee and state that it does not have any objection and will support the combining of Andalusian and Lusitano and Purebred Iberian horses in classes providing the class is clearly labelled “Iberian (Andalusian, Lusitano, Iberian).”
Moved: Di Baxter Seconded: Yvonne Bell – carried
The naming of the class may also be Combined Purebred or Partbred Iberian with the various Breeds (as above) listed would also be acceptable as this indicates that more than one breed is competing.
The Federal Council is aware of the difficulties in persuading Show Organisers to change the names of classes once they have been published. Alternatively, where numbers of all breeds are small, organisers may be willing to advertise a Combined Baroque Class - open to Andalusian, Lusitano, Purebred Iberian, Lippizaner, Friesian and Knabstrupper Horses which may gain additional entries.
Therefore we suggest that State Branches approach local show organisers with the above suggestion, with an offer sponsorship if this will secure classes for their members.
The Federal Council also deemed it acceptable for owners of Purebred Iberians to obtain a letter on AHAA letterhead from the Federal Secretary outlining the eligibility of these horses to compete in the above classes.