Carthusian

Group Warmblood
Influences
  • Original Andalusian horses
  • Barb
    • Characteristics
  • About 15.2 hands high
  • Light head with convex profile and broad forehead
  • small ears and large, lively eyes
  • arched, well-proportioned neck
  • long, sloping shoulder and broad chest
  • sturdy legs with broad, clean joints
    • Colors
  • Grey
  • Chestnut
  • Black
    • Odd Facts
  • Specifically, these are the horses breed by the Carthusian monks.
  • Believed to be a branch of the Andalusian breed.

    • Overview:

    With an aptitude as a riding horse and for light draft, the Carthusian has elegant action and good conformation, and a docile and quiet temperament. The Carthusian is geographically distributed in Spain where it originated. It is a horse with a strong, athletic build. The Carthusian stands about 15.2 hands high at the withers. It has a predominantly grey coat, but chestnut and black are sometimes found. It has a light, well set-on head with a slightly convex profile, and a broad forehead. its ears are small and its eyes are large and lively. It has a correctly proportioned neck which is arched and well set-on. It has a fairly sloping shoulder and a broad chest. The sturdy legs have broad, clearly defined joints of good conformation.

    Originating from the studs founded by Carthusian monks in Seville and other parts of Andalusia, it was selectively bred from Andalusian horses. The devoted monks lived from 1476 in Je'rez de la Frontera, systematically used both the Arab and the Barb in the development of the breed. Carthusians are reared today in state-owned studs around Cordoba, Je'rez de la Frontera and Badajoz. The predominantly grey coat is attributed to the influence of two important stallions of this color during the first half of the twentieth century. Esclavo is a famous Carthusian stallion from which most of today's Carthusians are descended. Sadly the Carthusian is rarely recognized today as a separate breed, with many authorities considering it a branch of the Andalusian.

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    Published December 1999 in the North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)
    © 1999-2019 NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations
    Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 1/27/2019
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