Evolution of the Iberian horse
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Since the establishment of the Iberian populations in the peninsula in the Neolithic age, there has been several influences in the indigenous Iberian horse populations. In the Iron age the Iberian peninsula was invaded by the Celts which have brought with them horses of small stature but very resistant which mainly have interbred with the primitive Iberian ponies (Monteiro, 1985). Though the Celts have been separated initially from the Iberian they have later merged in part of the peninsula and therefore in these regions the horses of both populations have interbred creating a horse with medium stature (Oom, 1992). Still, in the Iron age the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans came to the Iberian peninsula. The first two did not bring enough horses in a way that could influence substantially existing the Iberian horse. However, Greeks have a legend where the horses from "Lusitânia", on the banks of river Tagus, have as father the wind. This is certainly a metaphoric and poetic way to express how fast the Iberian horse was considered in the antiquity (Monteiro, 1985). The Carthaginians and Romans brought, in particular, the Berber horse. This can be seen through the several statues and coins from these civilizations, which show a horse with convex head profile and high and round movements (Oom, 1992). After the Romans the tribes from central and northern Europe: the Vandals, Alans and Suevi have partitioned the Iberian Peninsula among themselves. The first two brought horses ancestors of the German heavy horse breeds (coldblood or draught horse breeds). The Suevi who had taken control over the larger part of the Iberian peninsula brought horses of the similar type to the Celts (Monteiro, 1985), they will be later defeated by the Visigoths which again brought horses ancestors of the German heavy horse breeds. The Arabs have followed the Visigoths in the peninsula and brought with them Berber and Arabian horses which have again interbred with the local Iberian horse. |