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