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"AZTECA...EL CABALLO SUPREMO" AZTECA--A HORSE CUSTOM-BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE, STYLE AND TRADITION by Donald M. Caskie, President , Azteca Horse Association of Canada
What would you do if you wanted a horse that
no longer exists? If you were Don Antonio Ariza Cañadilla and his fellow
horsemen living in Mexico in the late 1960's, you would be starting to create
the horse of their dreams. Don Antonio and his colleagues wanted a horse that
would fulfil their expectations, including: After several years of research and experimentation by experienced horsemen and equine scientists, a new breed of horse was created which met their criteria. The name of the new breed of horses is AZTECA. El caballo AZTECA--the AZTECA horse-- was created in Mexico in 1972 through the collaboration of Casa Pedro Domecq (particularly Antonio Ariza Cañadilla) , Centro de Reproduccion Caballar Domecq, Asociacion Mexicana de Criadores de Caballos de Raza Azteca (AMCCRA-- The Azteca Horse Association of Mexico), and La Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos. The Association and the Government of Mexico are continuing these efforts at combining scientific research and standards-setting to refine the AZTECA and to define the main contributions of each of the three founding breeds to the phenotype.
The Azteca is a crossbred horse with proven Andalusian/Lusitano and Quarter Horse (AQHA registered) and Criollo bloodlines which conforms to the phenotype standards established by the International Azteca Horse Association (IAzHA) Registry. Only horses that have been inspected by an Inspector authorized by IAzHA and the Mexican Registry and have obtained at least their birth certificate can legally be called "AZTECA". The horse must be inspected twice for conformation, character, movement and disposition: at seven months, to obtain a birth certificate and at three years, to secure a registration certificate as breeding stock. Letters A,B,C,D,E, and F are attached to the progeny which identify the proportion of the three foundation breeds (e.g., "D" is half Andalusian and half Q.H. and "A" is 5/8 of either Andalusian or Q.H.). The letters are only for breeding purposes in order to guarantee that no contributing breed will figure too prominently in the offspring (no more than 3/4). The letters are NOT an indicator of quality or an indicator of purity or an indicator of the number of generations of cross-breeding. The sole legitimate indicator of quality in the AZTECA Horse is the score the horse receives at the time of its inspection. The main characteristics of an AZTECA are: HEIGHT (at three years of age) COLOR - only solid colors are permitted HEAD - lean, elegant and aristocratic with a convex, sub-convex or straight profile EYES - expressive and intelligent EARS - small and well pricked up NECK - well-muscled and slightly arched BODY - high withers, a fairly short and straight back, and a broad well- rounded croup GIRTH - deep and full LEGS AND FEET - the legs are well-muscled and the feet are hard and well-proportioned MANE AND TAIL - long, luxurious and flowing; the tail-set is medium low MOVEMENT - naturally collected; medium high action; spirited and proud; excellent tracking. "Jessi and the Azteca Stallion, Oxomoco, owned by Scott & Diane Selanders of Aztec Paradise in Ohio, USA." TEMPERAMENT & TRAINABILITY AZTECA Horses are: docile with handler and rider; alert; inquisitive; playful and mischievous; highly intelligent; eager to learn and work; and bold, courageous and proud.
The AZTECA is accomplished at: classical riding (alta escuela, haute ecole, high school); doma vaquera; la garrocha; charro; dressage; bull fighting (rejoneo); reining; cutting; team penning; working cowhorse; cattle roping; polo; pleasure riding; and driving. "The Azteca mare, Fabulosa Destinada, winning the Driving Championship at the IALHA Regional Show in Lexington, Virginia in 2000 for her owners Deborah and Craig Schreck of Bay Run Farms and her trainer/driver, Blanchard Poole. She later went on to Fort Worth, Texas to win the 2000 IALHA National Driving Championship" THE EMIGRATION OF THE AZTECA HORSE BEYOND THE BORDERS OF MEXICO In November, 1992, in Texcoco, Mexico, the International
Azteca Horse Association was founded to promote the development of the
breed on a worldwide basis. At the same time, regional affiliates were
created: for Canada, the Azteca Horse Association of Canada (AzHAC) and
for the United States, the Azteca Horse Association of the United States
(AzHAUS). The worldwide Registry for AZTECA horses is maintained by AMCCRA
for The International Azteca Horse Association. This is the only organization
approved by the developers of the breed and by the Government of Mexico
to register AZTECA horses and to legally use the name "AZTECA".
Currently, there are about a two thousand (2000) AZTECA horses in Mexico,
Central and South America, United States, Canada, and Spain which have
been approved by the International Azteca Horse Association. Interest
in the breed has been developing in Australia and in several countries
in Europe, including France, Italy and the Low Countries. The AZTECA is
now the National Horse of Mexico. AZTECAs have appeared in demonstrations at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, at the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio, at various events and presentations in Southern and Western United States and Texas and at the annual meetings of the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association. In Mexico, AZTECA have been shown at several fairs and exhibitions, notably the major venues of the Feria Internacional del Caballo in Texcoco and the Feria de San Marcos in Aguascalientes. AZTECA horses can usually be viewed at the ranches of approved breeders by prior appointment. Pictures of AZTECA horse can be seen on the IAzHA website listed below. ARRANGING FOR AN INSPECTION OR ASSESSMENT
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