The Royal Horse of Europe

Loch, Sylvia

1st edition hardback in dj, 256 pages.  Lavishly illus in colour and b&w.  Some rubbing and fading to corners of black hard covers and mild rubbing to lower edges.  Dj lightly curled at top edge with a little chipping at corners + light rubbing overall commensurate with 25 years of shelf wear.  Internally bright and clean, previous owner name on front end paper.  Foreword by Fernando d'Andrade.  From the flyleaf:

Tells the story of the great war-horse of Spain and Portugal which was to influence all Europe's history and play a significant role in the founding of many of today's most successful horse breeds. We discover that this aristocratic horse has survived to this day and his highly prized for his superb temperament, outstanding agility and spectacular looks. Over the centuries, he has been given a plethora of names, but he is best known as the Audalusian or Lusitano. The author's original research covers the development of cavalry and horsemanship in the Iberian Peninsula from pre-Roma times to the present day and throws new light on the obscure past of our equestrian heritage. Her well documented account of the influence of Iberian blood on the horses of the Americas, the Thoroughbred races, native British breeds and European warm-bloods makes fascinating reading. Sylvia Loch also highlights the contribution which these noble stallions can make to the promotion of dressage.In the teaching of classical equitation these horse, with their magnanimous temperament, strength and extravagant action, are Nature's schoolmasters and now occupy a prominent place in the equestrian scheme of many countries, especially Germany, France, Austria, and Australia, as well as Spain and Portugal. The Royal Horse of Europe is not just a history of the Iberian breed, it is a study of a way of life through the centuries. The author brings to the reader all the gallantry, gaiety, chauvinistic charm and vibrant colour of equestrian life in the Peninsula. Throughout the text, Sylvia Loch coveys an omnipresent sense of continuity and faith in this romantic and spectacular horse, beloved of kings.

Wonderful, scarce book for the military historian and horse breeder/lover.

Our Ref: S5605

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