5This book is intended as a tribute to the baroque horses of Spain and Portugal. For centuries impressive Andalusian stallions have enchanted human beings and held them spellbound. They exude a beautiful compact elegance and a royal aura. Whether in harness, under the saddle, or running wild and free--their magnificence is unique and infinite. These horses were considered an important status symbol and even used to be weighed in terms of gold. Their legacy is immortal and is passed down throughout the generations in the bloodlines of the Pura Raza Espa ola. The horses of the Puro Sangre Lusitano from Portugal, with their unique character and noble appearance, are of the same origin as their Spanish relatives. At the beginning of the eighteenth century the Sun King Jo o V celebrated the heyday of equestrianism at his court in Lisbon. Lusitanos were much prized and sought after by all the European royal courts. They exude a very special charisma, are extremely impressive and truly magnificent.