Both the PRE and the Lusitano are Iberian breeds with a rich history. But there are also important differences. Which breed suits you best as a rider?
If you are looking for an Iberian horse, you will soon come across two breeds: the PRE (Pura Raza Española) from Spain and the Lusitano from Portugal. They look alike, share the same ancestors and are regularly confused. Yet they differ in build, temperament and studbook, and those differences decide which horse suits you. This article puts them side by side, including the questions we are asked most often.
The shared roots of the PRE and the Lusitano
Both descend from the Iberian horse that lived on the Iberian Peninsula in antiquity. For centuries there was effectively one Spanish-Portuguese horse: breeders on both sides of the border used the same bloodlines. The paths only separated in the twentieth century. Spain opened its own studbook for the Spanish horse in 1912, later managed by ANCCE. Portugal founded the APSL in 1967 and has registered the Lusitano as an independent breed ever since. Since that split, each breed has been bred in its own direction.
Looks: where do you see the difference?
At first glance the two breeds look very similar: a compact, muscular horse with an arched neck, a full mane and tail and a collected way of moving. Look closer and the differences show. The PRE has a straight to slightly subconvex profile, a harmonious, somewhat rounder build and light, expressive gaits. The Lusitano has a more pronounced convex profile (a slightly curved nose line), a more compact build with a strong hindquarter and more powerful, upward gaits.
Both breeds usually stand between 155 and 165 centimetres, with the PRE averaging slightly taller. Grey dominates in the PRE, followed by bay and black. In the Lusitano you also regularly see buckskin, palomino and dun alongside grey and bay, colours that are rarer in the PRE.
What is the temperament of a Lusitano?
The Lusitano is a brave, alert and willing horse. It was originally bred for mounted bullfighting and for working cattle, which calls for a horse that reacts quickly, turns easily and does not back away. That temperament makes it a favourite in working equitation and classical riding, but it also means the horse asks more of its rider: calm, clarity and experience. In good hands a Lusitano is exceptionally sensitive and reliable; in inexperienced hands its quick reactions can come across as nervousness.
What is the temperament of a PRE?
The PRE is known for a friendly, willing and steady temperament. It is a horse that seeks contact with its rider, learns quickly and rarely spooks. It responds to light aids without getting hot, and that combination makes it suitable for a wide range of riders, from leisure riders to dressage riders at the highest level. In our own yard we describe the horses we select as horses that take everything in their stride and that you can ride out on straight away.
What are Lusitano horses known for?
Three things. The Portuguese tradition of mounted bullfighting, in which the rider steers the horse close to the bull and the horse shows its courage and agility. Working equitation, a discipline that grew out of Iberian cattle work and in which the Lusitano has set the standard for years. And classical riding, with the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art (Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre) as its best-known showcase. In recent decades the Lusitano has also broken through in international dressage, up to and including Grand Prix.
Gaits and discipline: which breed suits which rider?
The PRE moves lightly and with cadence, with plenty of natural collection and a great capacity to learn. Movements that take years in other breeds, such as piaffe and passage, therefore often come sooner. Choose the PRE if you ride for leisure or compete at national levels, enjoy groundwork and classical dressage, want a horse that several people can ride, or value calm and connection over fire.
The Lusitano moves with more power and thrust from the hindquarters, which makes it excellent for the higher work. Choose the Lusitano if you have Grand Prix ambitions, want to ride working equitation, have experience with hotter horses, or feel drawn to the Portuguese riding tradition.
Studbook and papers: ANCCE versus APSL
The main formal difference is the studbook. A PRE is only a PRE with a passport from ANCCE, the Spanish breed association in Jerez de la Frontera. A Lusitano is only a Lusitano when registered with the APSL in Portugal. The two studbooks are closed to each other: a cross between a PRE and a Lusitano cannot be registered in either and is therefore officially neither, however beautiful the horse. When buying, always check the passport, the microchip number and the full pedigree over several generations. How this works for the PRE is explained in our article on the difference between a PRE and an Andalusian.
How much does a Lusitano or a PRE cost?
In both breeds the same factors set the price: age, training, bloodlines, temperament, health and the level at which the horse has competed. A young, unbroken horse with an ordinary pedigree costs a fraction of a trained horse with a proven bloodline. At NL Stables the asking prices of our PRE horses usually range from 25,000 to 75,000 euros; the top of that range is for horses that perform at competition level or have an exceptional pedigree. The Lusitano follows a similar structure. On top of the purchase price, allow for the vet check, transport and the cost of importing from Spain or Portugal; see buying a horse from Spain: costs and process.
Is a Lusitano suitable for beginners?
A well-schooled Lusitano with a calm temperament can suit a novice rider, but the breed as a whole asks for more experience than the PRE. Its quick reactions and courage are qualities for the advanced rider and a challenge for anyone still finding balance and calm in the saddle. Beginners and leisure riders looking for an Iberian horse are usually better served by a PRE. Read also whether a PRE is suitable for beginners and leisure riders.
Spanish horse breeds: more than PRE and Lusitano
Anyone searching for a Spanish horse comes across a range of names. The Andalusian is not a separate breed but a popular name for the Spanish horse; only a horse with ANCCE papers is officially a PRE. The Hispano-Árabe is a recognised cross between PRE and Arabian, more athletic and lighter in build. The Pura Raza Menorquina is the black horse of Menorca, known from the festivals where it walks through the crowd on its hind legs. And the Lusitano, although often mentioned in the same breath as the Spanish breeds, is a Portuguese breed with its own studbook.
Can I buy a Lusitano at NL Stables?
No. NL Stables specialises in the PRE and sells only horses with ANCCE papers, personally selected from breeders in Spain and vetted clinically and radiologically before sale. Not because the Lusitano is any lesser, but because we believe the PRE is the best match for most riders: the character is more accessible, the gaits are generous and the connection with the rider is unmatched. If you are torn between the two breeds, we are happy to think it through with you. Read how buying a PRE horse works with us, or browse our PRE horses for sale.