Equine Photographic Blog

Although I had seen Iberian horses in films and pictures, I had never really given them a second thought to be honest. I had natives as a kid, fell in love with warmbloods as a teen and worked with TBs in my 20s. I had a complete break from horses when I went to university in my late 20s (with my horse habit it tends to be all or nothing, I cant/wont do it by halves :D) and then went on to study for a PhD. I then started riding again but got frustrated with my progress as a once-a-week-rider at a riding school. I cashed in an old endowment and went on holiday-I looked for good value and settled on a classical riding holiday in Golega, Portugal.

I was horribly nervous on my first day-not helped by being presented with an (albeit small) bay stallion and expected to mount up from the ground. Being somewhat overweight and not having mounted from the ground for about 10 years I hardly presented an attractive or athletic picture!My god though, I had never sat on anything like it! I cant pretend to have done the horse justice but the sheer power of that little horse (not to mention how dashed comfortable he was!) made me feel like I was driving a ferrari after years of driving….., well lets just say they werent ferraris )

On my return home I joined the British Luso Society, went to the breed show and kept in touch with what was happening in the Luso world. Even when I came to buy a horse, I didnt consider one to begin with. Backed and ridden away, they start at about £5K which was out of budget. After a few weeks of a disappointing trawl throught the websites and classifieds I had one horse fail the vet and another that would have had I got that far. I saw Vico’s ad on a website and the rest is history (well, he is pretty!). He was at the top end of my budget and unbacked but thanks to a very understanding fiancee I scraped enough together to have him backed and schooled for a few weeks and transported up to Scotland (he was in Western Wales).

Whats he like? Apart from adorable? Well, on a practical level he is very easy to do. He’s not too big (15.1h), he’s a very good doer (a bit too good-have to watch his weight when not working!), he does need rugging in the winter but not as much as most (havent bothered clipping yet) and has no feather. Apart from forage he gets pony nuts-the effects of beet pulp, molasses and alfalfa have been hinted at. He is very quick to learn and has very good manners but he is a youngster and as was cut late, can be a little colty sometimes, nothing thats not sorted out with a growl though.You can play football or tag in the paddock with him and he’s never come close to touching me when playing-he’ll also steal your skip bucket or tip over the wheelbarrow when poo-picking. He has been known to steal hats and loves the sound of velcro being undone. He really hates having his temperature taken-really hates it. Good to worm, shoe, teeth etc.

He is as bold as brass: traffic, farm machinery, dogs, cows, alpacas, scramblers and even miniature shetties dont phase him. When they put up automatic waterers he was on box rest-he spent two days watching intently with his head over the blokes shoulder even when the hammer drill was being used. Thats not to say he doesnt spook though-its just I never see what he spooks at and when he does, he really does! He is very affectionate, a real show off and loves to work. He does get tense trying to anticipate you so schooling is a balance between keeping him occupied without causing stress-mainly he gets tense when I am tense though so I have to be ultra aware of that. He’s comfy, very sensitive, likes to jump (although from my point of view there’s not alot in front!) and I wouldnt hesitate to get another. V is bred very hot, not all Lusos are although have heard it more and more that they are hotter and less forgiving than the Andalucians.

Conformation wise, they arent for everyone. Quite upright they are built for collection rather than speed - Vico can accelerate fast enough to make your eyes water but I wouldnt think he’d be fast over much of a distance (if I ever brave the beach I’ll let you know ) He has quite a high knee action and dishes-the dishing is much better when he is going properly but sometimes when excited on a hack *shakes head*. He is slightly pigeon toed and could be broader across the chest. As he’s a typical old bullfighting type he was hell to fit a saddle to as mentioned previously-very short coupled, very round rib cage and narrow shoulder means that saddles have nowhere to go other than forward (that’d be why a crupper is part of the traditional turnout maybe?). The only saddle tried that could accomodate me and him was a Wow.

So thats how/why I ended up with a poncy foreign breed instead of something else and to be honest, having ‘done’ lots of different horses in the last few months he has to be one of the easiest and lowest maintenance. (*whispers* and the best looking )

So, in my old age I have become what I said I always wouldnt- a breed enthusiast!

and some other examples

Well, its been a while. In a nutshell, work and weather conspired against me being consistant with V’s work and although we had some good moments I came off again in late March (in the school). I wasnt hurt but was at a loss as to what was happening-well, he was spooking and whipping round but I wasnt sure what was behind it. He didnt seem his usual happy self either ridden or on the ground. It didnt seem to be pain related as checked teeth etc so out it down to management. Although he had turnout daily, there wasnt alot of room, grass or any company. I asked that this change and he was turned out for a couple of weeks holiday with a friend before I brought him back into work.

Since then he’s been pretty good. Back to being friendly, happy Vico-happy to see me, be caught and worked. We have moved yards to one with more grass and the prospect of being turned out all summer. He is going quite nicely in the school and loves his hacking (we have more people to ride with now but we are also back hacking alone ). The only downside is that he is too playful with others in the field-it generally ends up with him being kicked. He is so fine boned compared to everything around that he is back to being on his own (although with horses within touching distance on 3 sides). I am on the look out for a lightweight companion for him but dont tell the other half