WE WILL ASSIST YOU ON THE SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT HORSE FOR YOU!

HORSES FOR SALE

BUT FIRST, WE EXPLAINE...

HORSES' GENDER

HORSES' GENDER

Various terms are used around the world to describe the gender of horses. Check out our guide on gender and understand how and when gender matters!

mare

A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger.

STALLION

A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded (castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, “cresty” neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to female horses.

GELDING

A gelding is a castrated male horse. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday working animal.

Does gender affect a horse's performance?

No: Researchers found that gender has little effect on performance. Stallions, mares, and geldings have the same athletic performance, although their behavior may differ.

Then why does gender matter?

Gender plays the biggest role when it comes to bringing your horse home. If you need to export your new equine partner outside of Europe, you may consider having your horse neutered to reduce export costs and shorten the quarantine period. In the U.S., for example, any whole horse over two years old must go through a 34-day quarantine that includes two mating jumps, which can alter the behavior of a previously virgin horse. The stabling conditions in which you intend to keep your new horse and its intended daily use may also influence whether or not you decide to castrate a stallion.

Can all Lusitanos breed?

You may think that by owning a mare or stallion you can immediately start a breeding program. This is true, but if you want to have your Lusitano officially registered in the studbook, you should make sure that your Lusitano is approved for breeding. Breeding horses and broodmares must undergo an official licensing for the studbook. So make sure you meet this requirement before you start your breeding program.

What if I buy a stallion and need to geld him?

We can help you if you need to have your new horse gelded before you travel. As safety is our primary goal, we advise that the procedure be performed at a veterinary clinic where the horse will stay overnight and be cared for by a team of dedicated equine health professionals. Note that you can also insure your horse before this procedure.
✕ Close
HORSE TRAINING LEVELS

HORSE TRAINING LEVELS

Dressage training levels are a way to classify how advanced a horse and rider combination is. This scale provides an easy way to measure the expected level of training and also gives the rider an idea of the horse’s development. Here is a rough guide that Lusitano Academy has organized to help you understand what to expect at each level – please note that this is an adjustment of show levels to help our clients find the horse that best fits their needs:

NOT RIDDEN

The horse hasn’t been started his work under saddle. Normally these horses are under 3-year-old.

PRELIMINARY

Horse started under saddle and performing correctly all 3 basic paces: walk, trot and canter.

ELEMENTARY

Horse starts lateral work such as leg yield and shoulder in. He is introduced to rein back.

MEDIUM

Can perform simple changes, half-passes and travers, collected and counter canter.

COMPLEMENTARY

Performing single flying changes and flying changes in series, half-working pirouettes.

PSG

The 1st FEI level of Dressage includes half canter pirouettes, tempi changes every 3rd and 4th stride.

INTERMEDIAIRE

Includes full canter pirouettes and tempi changes every 2nd stride.

GRAND PRIX

The highest level of dressage includes piaffe, passage and tempi changes.
✕ Close
PIROPLASMOSIS

PIROPLASMOSIS

what is it?

Here are the most important facts you should know: Before exporting a horse outside of Europe, make sure your country is not piroplasmosis-free.

A large proportion of the horses featured on the Lusitano Academy website have already been tested for piroplasmosis. By selecting the ‘Piroplasmosis free’ button, you ensure that only piroplasmosis free horses appear in your search. You can also confirm this status on each horse’s detail page. Please note that you must also retest horses that have already been tested as a condition of purchase.

What is Piroplasmosis?

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP), is a disease of horses and other equids caused by one of two protozoan parasites: Theileria equi or Babesia caballi. These organisms can be transmitted by ticks or by contaminated blood from infected horses. Piroplasmosis is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas, including Africa, Central and South America, Middle East, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe, such as Portugal and Spain. As a result, many horses born in these areas test positive for piroplasmosis.

Influence of Piroplasmosis on Exportation

To prevent the spread of Equine Piroplasmosis, some international restrictions have been placed on importing horses into some of the countries that are not considered endemic, although some cases of EP have occurred in some of these countries. So if you are planning to export your horse outside Europe, the Lusitano Academy team always advises you to check your country’s export policy. Some of the countries that follow a ‘PIRO -FREE POLICY’ are: USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, China, Thailand and Mexico. Not sure what your country’s policy is?

How to test piroplasmosis?

Each horse must be tested by sending blood to an internationally recognised blood testing laboratory. Lusitano Academy recommends Bose Lab in Germany. The results take 2 to 5 days, cost about 200€ and allow you to confirm if the horse is positive or negative for piroplasmosis. Positive horses can be identified by testing their sera for the presence of specific antibodies for both Babesia Caballi and Theileria equi. Currently, there are 3 primary tests used to qualify horses for export: (1) Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT); Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay (C- ELISA); and the (3) Complement Fixation Test (CFT). Horses must have a percentage of less than 30 % in all tests to be considered negative and therefore meet the piroplasmosis export criteria.

✕ Close
APPROVED FOR BREEDING

APPROVED FOR BREEDING

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Are you looking for a Lusitano horse for a breeding project? Then this filter option is certainly important for you!

By selecting the button “approved for breeding” you ensure that only horses or mares already approved for breeding by the Portuguese Association of the Lusitano Horse (APSL) appear in your search. You can also confirm this status in detail on each specific horse page and find out what the final rating was of the broodmare or stallion you are analyzing.

CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE APPROVAL PROCESS?

The approval of animals for the Studbook includes:

  • Animals must undergo functional morphology tests in which they are assessed and given points.

  • All animals scoring no more than two categories with a score of six (6) or more than one category with a score of five (5) shall be registered and accepted for breeding. Animals with a score of less than five (5) will be disqualified.

  • Male horses must be evaluated for functional and morphological integrity of the genital organs and this evaluation will be based on the results of a spermogram. Cryptorchid (unilateral or bilateral) animals may not be entered in the Studbook.

  • Male broodmare prospects must be shown under saddle, in public trials to be determined annually by the APSL with broodmare prospects in hand, on the breeder’s property or in public trials.

  • The minimum age is three years for female horses and four years for male horses. However, any horse may be entered in the Stud Book before it reaches the said age, provided that all the conditions set out in this article are met and that the Registration Committee considers that its development and conformation allow it to do so.

To learn more details and read full information we advise you to consult the Lusitano Breed Studbook Regulation.

✕ Close