| Presenting
the National Horse of Mexico -- el
Cabalo
Azteca |
 |
...
developed in Mexico in 1972 through the combined efforts of Casa
Pedro Domecq (particularly Antonio Ariza Cañadilla)
, Centro de Reproduccion Caballar Domecq, Asociacion Mexicana
de Criadores de Caballos de Raza Azteca, and La Secretaria
de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos.
These organizations have been responsible in Mexico and, until the early 1990's,
in the rest of the world for maintaining breed standards and the course of the
future development of the breed. |
| In November, 1992, in Texcoco,
Mexico, the International Azteca Horse Association was created
to further the development of the breed on a worldwide basis. |
The worldwide
Registry for Azteca horses is maintained by the Asociacion
Mexicana de Criadores de Caballos de Raza Azteca (The Azteca
Horse Association of Mexico) for The International Azteca Horse
Association. This is the only organization approved
by the developers of the breed and by the Government of Mexico
to register Azteca horses and to legally use the name "Azteca".
Currently, there are about two thousand (2000) Azteca horses
listed with the International Azteca Horse Association, including
horses residing in such places as Mexico, Central and South
America, United States, Canada, and Spain. |
|
| Aztecas are bred to a phenotype
using very carefully controlled crosses among Andalusians, Quarter
Horses and Mexican Criollos. The Association and the Government
of Mexico have done considerable scientific research to develop this phenotype
and to determine the main characteristics that each of the contributing breeds
bring to produce the phenotype. |
|
| The Azteca horse was developed
in Mexico in 1972 by combining the best traits of Andalusian,
Quarter Horse, and Criollo bloodlines. A phenotype was created
and all Azteca horses must conform sufficiently to the phenotype.
Azteca horses must not have more than three-quarters of the blood
of any one of the three foundation breeds. |
THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:
- Height (for
three year olds) - 14.2hh (147cm ) to 16.0hh (162 )
- Color -
only solid colors are permitted
- Head -
lean, elegant and aristocratic with a straight, sub-convex
or convex profiles are acceptable - sub-convex is the
preferred profile. A
concave or sub-concave profile is not acceptable at all.
- Eyes -
expressive and intelligent
- Ears -
small and well pricked up
- Neck -
well muscled and slightly arched
- Body -
well defined withers, fairly short, straight back, broad
well rounded croup
- Girth -
deep and full
- Legs & Feet -
well-muscled legs ; hard and well-proportioned feet
- Mane & Tail -
long and flowing; the tail-set is medium low
- Movement -
naturally collected; medium high action; and excellent tracking.
|
| Temperament and Trainability |
- docile with handler and rider
- alert looking
- inquisitive
- playful and mischievous
- highly intelligent
- eager to learn and work
- bold and courageous
|
