PESCATORE WARLANDER HORSES

 KEFIR IX: Brilliant pure Spanish Andalusian stallion, approved with the Spanish Studbook, Cria Caballar.

 Invite magical genes to your mare with old prestigious origins from Terry and Yeguada Militar.

Kefir IX - my pride and joy! For years I was looking for that right horse, my dreamhorse! Ever since I saw the first Andalusian I knew it had to be one of them - horses of kings as they are proudly called! And it took me years to find him. When I did it was at Yeguada Palacin, a top-breeder of P.R.E. (Spanish Andalusian) horses, in Biarritz in Southern France just by the border to Spain. Some of the best horses to be find, descending from old Cartujano bloodlines. Marie-Hélène Palacin was the sweetest person I've ever met in the horse business and her love and passion for her horses showed no limit. And she showed me some of the most beautiful horses I've ever seen. Among them Kefir as well as his parents.

I will never forget the moment she introduced me to Kefir: He walked right up to me and we had our very first talk right there, he was only 2 but already then carried himself like a king. I knew immediately I had found my dream horse. One of the things I loved about him then, and still love about him now, is that he is so special about the people he like: He chose me for an owner as easily as I chose him for a horse. He is everything that the old Spanish horse stand for: breathtaking beautiful, elegant mover, intelligent, he has that "soft fire" spirit the Spanish people are so proud over, he is brave and his heart is full of love for life. Being one of the oldest breeds in the world - and foundation for so many others, his work ethics is extraordinary, and so many things comes for free with him. He has proven time and time again to not only be an excellent riding partner but also my best friend.

I can't wait to see his first Warlander babies coming in March of next year. (And all those other foals to guest mares here! Thank you all so much for choosing my Kefir for your mares.)

Marie Pescatore

 He is my boy!!

Castizo IX (Kefir's Sire)

  To see more pics go to Kefir's photo album

CASTIZO IX

I am very excited to see Kefir's off-spring in the future, with my own mares and with others. He is an excellent example of the P.R.E. horse with exceptional temperament, classic baroque conformation, excellent gaits and tremendous work ethic. Aptitude for dressage, driving, trail, jumping or western riding, doma vaquera, reining or cow/ranch work. Live cover, 2009 rates: $1500/andalusians, $750 all others.

* Multiple cover discounts!

                                       Kefir's pedigree:

Descending from great stallions like Destinado, Descarado, Americano and Maluso!

Send me an email to kefir@pescatorehorses.com or give me a call: 719-850-2242 to make an appointment to come and visit with us and to book your mares for 2009 breeding season! I don't want to breed this fabulous stallion to just ANY mare, but I want the mare owner to recognize the quality in the offspring!

The Andalusian Horse is one of the ancient breeds of the world. Its origin in the Iberian Peninsula is documented by cave paintings and even fossil evidence. That horse domestication began very early in the region that is now Spain, Portugal and southern France is evident form ancient sources. These include cave drawings which are dated as being more than 20,000 years old as well as fossil skulls of horses.

Many ancient peoples knew of the horse of the Iberians and praised them in writings, drawings and sculpture. The Greeks and Romans many times refer to the Iberian Celts as superb horsemen and their horses as exceptional.

Xenophon, considered by most as the founder of classical equitation, wrote of the Iberian horses that they had the ability to gather the hind legs under the fore, falling back on their hocks and raising the forehand, so that the belly can be seen from the front. This ability, which we now call collection, was impressive in that it allowed warhorses to be swift and agile and to stop and turn quickly in any direction. The Iberian horses and their riders undoubtedly gave Xenophon his first glimpse of classical riding. Iberian cavalry was one of the most important weapons of generals from Hannibal to Julius Caesar. The Iberian horse both shaped the way mounted warfare was conducted and was shaped by it. Its speed, agility and courage were unequaled and lent themselves to the mastery of mounted fighting. The Romans were so impressed by the Iberian Celts that after meeting them in battle they adopted both their weapons and fighting style and set up remount breeding stations for their legions in Baetica (modern Andalucia) to take advantage of the fine horses to be found there. There is also mention of mares brought from the Tagus valley region (Portugal) who were described by Pliny the Elder, a Roman cavalry officer and writer, as “fine, docile and impregnated by the west wind, (which) brought forth offspring of surprising fleetness.”

Roman Era Bronze from Merida (Capitol of Roman age Lusitania) showing the classic round conformation of the Andalusian horse in a characteristic pose that shows the ability to lift the forelegs through natural collection that made it so prized by the Romans and Greeks and inspired Xenophon to invent the beginnings of classical dressage. 

 The Roman cavalry used the natural agility, flexibility, collection and willingness of the Iberian horses to great advantage. The horses were presented in battle formation, tightly ranked together, in shoulder-in position with shields to the fore. This allowed the shield to protect both horse and rider, presenting little to an opposing enemy to hit while allowing the rider’s lance or javelin to be used effectively. These horses were also able to perform the spectacular movements of defense and offense we now call the “Airs Above the Ground.”

The Andalusian’s famed ability as a warhorse was to spread and grow with history. The horse became the favored mount of most European kings and generals. By the middle ages the Spanish horse was spread throughout Europe in the stables of every king. The most significant event in the Andalusian’s history occurred in 710-711 AD when the Moors invaded Spain as the allies of Spanish Lords who were at odds with their king. Within seven years they had taken possession of most of the Iberian Peninsula and named it Al-Andalus. There is no evidence that any significant amount of foreign blood was introduced to the Andalusian during the Moorish occupation but that what mixing occurred was with the Barb horse NOT the Arabian horse as has been so often mistakenly written. The Andalusian horse has little in common with the Arabian Horse other than the fact that both are hot blooded horses and both have contributed extensively to the development of most other modern horse breeds.

(Text and information from IALHA's web site)