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Characteristics of the Lusitano breed

JOSÉ FONTES - LUSITANOS

 
 
The characteristics of the ideal Lusitano horse are stated by the APSL (2005) as follows:

1 - Type: Of middling weight (around 500 kg); medium shaped, sub-convex (rounded shape), with a square shaped silhouette.

2 - Height: medium at withers using a measuring stick at age of 6: mares with 1.55 m and stallions with 1.60 m.

3 - Hair: All shades of grey and bay are the most frequent.

4 - Temperament: noble, generous and ardent but always gentle and long suffering.

5 - Movements: Agile, high stepping and forward thrusting, gentle and very easy to ride.

6 - Aptitude: a natural gift for concentration, well disposed for Artistry and courageous and enthusiastic in Gineta exercises (combat, hunting, bullfighting, herding etc.)

7 - Head: well proportioned, of medium length, narrow and dry with relatively unpronounced lower jaw and relatively long in the cheek with a slightly sub-convex profile and upwards curving forehead (over eyebrow bones) huge elliptical, expressive confident eyes. Ears are of average length, delicate, narrow and expressive.

8 - Neck: of average length, arched with a slight hairline, with a narrow junction to the head, broad at the base and perfectly positioned in respect of the shoulder blades rising from withers without any marked depression.

 

 

Lusitano stallion Go-Go

 

Lusitano stallion Rojoneio

 
 
9 - Withers: well defined and long, with a smooth transition between the spine and neck, always slightly more raised than the croup. In fully grown males it is covered in fat but is always clearly visible through the shoulder blades.

10 - Chest: Medium, deep and muscular.

11 - Ribcage: well developed, long and deep, with ribs obliquely arched into the spinal column, providing a short, full flank.

12 - Shoulder blades: long, oblique and muscular.

13 - Back: upright, leaning horizontally providing a smooth union between the withers and loin.

14 - Loins: short, broad, muscular slightly convex, well connected to the back and croup with which they form a continuous and perfectly harmonious line.

15 - Croup: strong and rounded, well proportioned, slightly oblique, identical in length and breadth, convex, harmonious profile and with relatively slight point of the hip providing the croup with an elliptical transversal section.

16 - Members: muscled harmoniously inclined forelegs:

upper leg is upright and muscular;

dry broad knee, longish;

dry shin bones with well defined tendons;

dry relatively large fetlocks with smallish joints;

relatively long and oblique pasterns;

well formed, shapely and proportioned hooves without being excessively open and slight  coronet;

short and convex buttock;

muscular shortish thighs pointing in such a way as for the patella to be positioned on the same vertical line as the point of the hip;

longish leg, positioning the hock in line with the vertical part of the buttock;

broad, strong and dry hocks;

the angle of the latter members are relatively closed.

 

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 03 Fevereiro, 2006 © José Fontes Mobile: + 351 968 035 845
 

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