The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is an institution based in Jerez de la Frontera that has gained worldwide recognition for its dedication to the art of horsemanship. Its work is widely known through the presentation entitled “How the Andalusian Horses Dance”, a show that represents the skills, traditions, and knowledge developed by the School since its creation.
The institution plays an important role in presenting and preserving equestrian culture while sharing the traditions associated with the Spanish horse.
The Origins Of The Royal School
The origins of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art date back to May 1973. At that time, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I, then Crown Prince of Spain, presented Don Álvaro Domecq Romero with the Caballo de Oro, or Golden Horse, award in Jerez de la Frontera.
This distinction is the most prestigious equestrian prize awarded annually in Spain and recognises dedication and work carried out in support of the horse. In celebration of this honour, Álvaro Domecq presented his show “How the Andalusian Horses Dance” for the first time. This presentation later became the foundation of the Royal School.
During its early years, the School operated under the direct management of its founder. Later, the Ministry of Information and Tourism assumed responsibility for the institution and acquired the property known as the Recreo de las Cadenas from the Duke of Abrantes. An arena designed by the architect José Luís Picardo was also built, providing seating for up to 1,600 spectators and stabling for sixty horses.
The inaugural events of the Foundation were presided over by Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía from the Royal Box in the arena.
In July 2003 the institution adopted the structure of a foundation, which gave it a greater legal identity and enabled it to receive private financial support for future development.
The Famous Show “How The Andalusian Horses Dance”
The presentation “How the Andalusian Horses Dance” is considered unique in the world. It is an equestrian ballet accompanied by Spanish music and performed with costumes inspired by the eighteenth century.
The performance lasts approximately ninety minutes, including a short break. The choreography combines movements taken from Classical Dressage and Doma Vaquera, a traditional form of country-style riding, together with other tasks linked to traditional equestrian work.
Through these choreographed displays, riders and horses demonstrate techniques that form part of Spain’s long-standing horsemanship traditions.
The Role Of The Royal School
Although the show is widely recognised as the most visible expression of the School’s work, it represents only one part of the institution’s activities.
The Royal School also serves as a cultural and social vehicle for equestrian heritage. Its work includes selecting and promoting horses, training riders in Haute École techniques, and preserving both Classical Dressage and Doma Vaquera.
These activities help maintain the prestige of Spanish horsemanship, support the development of the Spanish horse breed, and safeguard equestrian traditions and culture. Through its performances and international tours, the institution also acts as an ambassador for the Province of Cádiz and its equestrian heritage.
Visiting The Royal School
Visitors to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art can explore a variety of facilities and experiences. A full visit includes an audio-visual presentation, observation of daily training sessions, and a tour of several areas of the complex.
Among these is the Recreo de las Cadenas, which visitors enter through a semi-circular gateway with small gatehouses on either side. The chains decorating the entrance give the property its name.
The tour also includes the Museum of Equestrian Art, opened in 2005. This museum is dedicated to the appreciation, study, preservation, and promotion of horsemanship. Through its exhibitions, visitors learn about the origins and development of equestrian art from its earliest stages to the present day.
Another important attraction is the Carriage Museum, which opened in 2002 and is housed in an early nineteenth-century winery. This museum is unique in bringing together carriages, harnesses, horses, and equestrian costumes within the same space.
The building contains several rooms where visitors can follow the history and practice of carriage driving. The main hall presents historic carriages from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, together with harnesses and equipment used in this tradition. Other spaces reveal the daily work carried out in the stables and the care given to horses and carriages.
Visitors also have the opportunity to observe the stables themselves, an octagonal complex composed of five stable areas. At the centre of the complex is the saddlery, where valuable equipment used by the School is kept.
During a visit it is also possible to watch daily training sessions taking place in the outdoor exercise rings and within the indoor arena known as the Picadero.
The Museum Of Equestrian Art
The Museum of Equestrian Art contains eleven rooms dedicated to the history and evolution of equestrian culture. The displays explore the origins of horsemanship in Andalusia as well as the wider development of equestrian traditions across the world.
The exhibitions begin with archaeological remains that demonstrate the importance of the horse in the region of the Guadalquivir River during the time of the Iberians and Tartessians. They continue through the Middle Ages, when horsemen in Jerez practised the “juegos de cañas”, a form of jousting with bamboo poles used as preparation for war.
From the Renaissance onwards, these activities evolved into public displays of equestrian skill held in the Arenal Square of Jerez. Although such spectacles eventually declined, equestrian traditions continued through countryside horsemen known as garrochistas and through mounted bullfighters called rejoneadores.
In the twentieth century, the Royal School refined and organised these traditions, drawing inspiration from major European riding schools, including the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, which was originally formed with Andalusian horses.
The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art represents a centre dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and teaching of equestrian culture. Through its famous show “How the Andalusian Horses Dance”, its training of riders, and its museums and facilities, the institution presents the traditions of Spanish horsemanship to visitors from around the world.
The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art continues to highlight the importance of the horse within cultural heritage and equestrian practice.
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