P.R.E Sale Others Sale Videos Breeders P.R.E Articles Regulations Carriages The Spanish Horse Magazine

According to José María de Mena, the two expert horsemen are Juan Caballero and his companion Luis Borrego, who had their portraits painted together, after being pardoned. The picture is of great interest because it faithfully reflects riders´ costumes and horses´ harnesses of the first half of the 19th century. The saddle, about 18 or 19 inches, is shorter than modern ones. The saddle strap, made of horsehair not leather, is wide and therefore very comfortable for the animal.

The tails, not only of the main horses, but also of those in the background, are cut to the hock and not in a point. At this time, the English custom of cutting the horses´ tails had not been introduced to Andalucia. When there was mud in the countryside, they tied it to the tip of the thigh. Neither horse wears a "toupée" and their very short chestnut manes are clearly seen. Similarly to today, they use country geldings. La muserola is worn higher than today and the mosquero, which is made of horsehair, is much longer and wider, reaches the tip of it. The stirrup blanket passes underneath to the stirrup. The head without a halter. The riders without sahones, because these are used during the celebrations in the country and are used to protect the rider from the scrapes from the bushes, from the possible "brush" of a bull; to keep their legs and stomach warm in winter... in summary, for working in the countryside and working with bulls. They wear shoes, not boots, which emphasizes that they are going to a celebration and not to work in the country. The gaiters are worn open to show the white and sometimes embroidered stockings. The breeches, with no fringes or folds, are from that epoch and which was later to become known as "Goyesque", like the jacket which is similar to that worn by bullfighters in the so-called "Goyesque bullfights".

SpanishIndex.com

Pagina Home SpanishHorses.com