Ruy d'Andrade

Dr. Ruy d'Andrade was a Portuguese zoologist, paleontologist, anatomist, and historian. He was one of the - if not the - most highly respected experts on Iberian horses of his time. He was also a prominent and successful breeder of Lusitano/Andalusian horses. His line of horses is still one of the two most prominent and popular lines in the Lusitano breed. He was also instrumental in reconstructing the Portuguese breed Alter Real, a special line of horses within the Lusitano breed.

Ruy d'Andrade discovered and saved from extinction a primitive Iberian horse which he called "Sorraia", because he found these horses along the Portuguese river Sorraia. D'Andrade also found evidence in his research that in Iberia, the domestication of the horse took place as early as the Mesolithikum, or Neolithikum.

A mature Sorraia mare - a rather narrow head is typical, medium - long ears and a dark "sooty" face Photography by Hardy Oelke