Horse
Pronunciation:
kär-ˈthü-zhən
Breed Description:
The Carthusian breed of horse is a very rare and prestigious Spanish horse used primarily for riding. It is also known as the Carthusian-Andalusian and the Cartujano. The Carthusian is generally not considered a separate breed from the Andalusian, but is a distinct branch and is considered the purest strain. The Carthusian's head has a slightly convex profile, broad forehead, small ears, and large eyes. Its neck is arched and proportionate, and it has a deep broad chest, short back, and sturdy legs. The two most distinctive traits of the Carthusian breed of horse are: (1) the warts under its tail; and (2) the protrusions on the forehead that look like the beginnings of horns. Horses without the warts are not considered to belong to the line of Esclavo (see Origins section below). Carthusians are predominantly gray, but may also be black or chestnut. The Carthusian breed of horse has a smooth canter, excellent balance, and agility.
Temperament:
The Carthusian breed of horse has a docile temperament.
Height:
The Carthusian breed of horse stands about 15.2 hands high.
Health Problems:
The Carthusian breed of horse has no known breed-specific health problems.
Grooming:
The Carthusian breed of horse requires regular grooming. A hard-working, stabled Carthusian may require a thorough grooming each day, while a horse kept in the pasture may require only a light going-over with a dandy brush.
Origin:
The Carthusian breed of horse has one of the oldest stud books in the world. It is generally considered the purest Andalusian strain, and is very rare, with no more than 3% of all Andalusians being of the Carthusian strain. The line was developed in the early 18th century when brothers Andrés and Diego Zamora bought a stallion, El Soldado, and bred him to two mares descended from mares belonging to the Spanish king. One of the resulting offspring, a dark gray colt named Esclavo, became the foundation sire of the Carthusian line.
A group of mares sired by Esclavo around 1736 were given to some Carthusian monks to settle a debt. While other horses from this bloodline eventually were absorbed into the main Andalusian breed, the stock given to the monks was bred into a special line, known as Zamoranos. The Carthusian monks kept the Zamoranos' bloodlines distinct, even defying royal orders to introduce outside blood from the Neapolitan horse and central European breeds. They did, however, introduce Arabian and Barb blood in order to improve the strain. By the late 1700s and 1800s, the Carthusian breed of horse was well established. Today, Carthusians are raised in state-owned studs around Jerez de la Frontera, Badajoz, and Cordoba in Spain. 