Yeguada de la Cartuja (Expasa)

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Yeguada de la Cartuja (Expasa)

Until today, in the lush meadows of the “Fuente del Suero” adjacent to the Cartuja de Jerez de la Frontera in Cádiz, one can find the legendary breed of pure Spanish horses: “Yeguada de la Cartuja-Hierro del Bocado”. They have been breed in exactly the same way they were in the end of the XV century. This stock is the source of all the new equines population of the Americas and the most important horse centres in Europe. More specifically, they are the primary genetic origin of the Lipizza stocks in Austria, Kladrub in Bohemia and Fredericksborg in Denmark. Since its foundation in the end of the XV century, the “cartujo” monastery of Santa María de la Defensión became the corner-stone of the breeding of the Jerez horse. This religious order of the cartujos, had developed a profound knowledge of breeding in other monasteries. The expertise of horse developed was along the lines of the Jerez style of horse breeding which would later become one of the most celebrated styles of horse breeding in the world. The insignia of father Pedro José Zapata would later be changed by Don Vicente Romero, when buying some of father Zapatas´ horses, by adding a “C” to the iron of hierro del Bocado. Within the surroundings of the Monastery of La Cartuja, built within a few kilometres of Jerez, the monks began the very intense work of horse breeding that would continue until the beginning of the XIX century. After the War of Independence, father Pedro José Zapata saved this horse breed from its extinction and began to engrave the horses with the iron of Hierro del Bocado, allowing us to continue to admire this breed of horses all over the world. The insignia of father Pedro José Zapata would later be changed by Don Vicente Romero, when buying some of father Zapatas´horses, by adding a “C” to the iron of Hierro del Bocado. The purity of the “Cartujo” breed was maintained during the different ownership’s that followed: Don Vicente Romero García, Don Deogracias Blasco de Balbuena, Doña Rosario Romero, widow of Domínguez, Don Francisco Chica Navarro, the Vizconde of Montesina, Don Roberto Osborne, Don Juan Pedro Domecq y Núñez de Villavicencio, Don Fernando C. de Terry y del Cuvillo and Doña Isabel Merello, widow of Terry. Thanks to the loyalty and efforts of the aforementioned owners, the purity and splendour of the Hierro del Bocado horse has remained untouched. In 1983 the stock’s ownership was transferred into governmental hands, and seven years later the horses were moved into the country state of “Fuente del Suero” close to the Cartuja where they kept and even improved the breed of the “Cartuja” and its genetic treasure. Currently, the public enterprise EXPASA Agricultura and Ganadería, S.A., belonging to the Dirección General del Patrimonio (National Heritage), under the protection of the Ministry of Agriculture, has built a comfortable and functional place for the stock. They are responsible for the management, research, maintenance and improvement of the Yeguada de la Cartuja Hierro del Bocado. In general, they are responsible for the breeding and well-bay of the Pure Spanish Cartujano Breed. At Fuente del Suero the research and work programmes and the respect for the traditions are combined harmoniously in order to allow the projection of this unique and exclusive heritage. With the implementation of the perfectioning and taming programmes, new skills are developed, orientating the future of the horses towards the hitching, cowboy riding, classic tame or sports. These enhances the energy, uniqueness, variety and richness of the functional properties that this breed has. When they are one year old, the horses of Hierro del Bocado go through a physical evaluation. Only those whose physiological and genetic features are genetically equal to those of the master lines will be used as stallions. These are used for the studding or/and insemination of the mares of the own Yeguada and also for campaigning of studding or/and insemination of other breeds that are carried out outside of the Yeguada country state. The new generations of the Yeguada de la Cartuja-Hierro del Bocado are improving their profile, therefore reaching a developed osseous and muscular balance. As an ethnic treasure this breed is irreplaceable. It is a determinant factor in the maintenance of the prestige of Spanish horses abroad and also in the guarantee of the purity of the national breeds. Everything is organised at Fuente del Suero in order to keep these horses and mares with their formal balance and the elegance of their movements, with their nobellty and calmness and with the tenderness, resistance and energy they always have. As in the past, these model horses, that number about 270 today, are well kept and cared for at the Yeguada de la Cartuja-Hierro del Bocado and are contemplated with admiration by supporters and horse-breeders around the world. Public visits to Yeguada de la Cartuja take place every Saturday morning at 11.00 h. It starts with a guides tour throughout the facilities and a show is held afterwards in the main arena (presentation of free colts, carriages, dressage…). More information: www.yeguadacartuja.com YEGUADA DE LA CARTUJA IN FIGURES (May 2007)

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