Scores of Iberian horses, along with their riders, handlers and owners, assembled at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, TX, October 13-18 for the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association’s (IALHA) 2008 National Championship Horse Show. Last week’s competition drew nearly 150 Andalusian, Lusitano and Half-Andalusian horses, and included hundreds of participants from across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Affectionately known as the Horse of Kings, the versatile Andalusian and Lusitano horses, relatively rare in the United States, are internationally known for their striking beauty and movement. The impressive range of disciplines and classes represented at the show included English, Western, dressage, in-hand, carriage driving and Doma Vaquera.

This year’s show, in addition to regular competition, featured a complete Iberian horse experience offering clinics, seminars, trade booths, silent auction, youth activities, and a Saturday evening exhibition “Andalusian and Lusitanos, from Golega to Sevilla and Beyond” celebrating one of the world’s oldest equine breeds.

One of the more poignant moments Saturday evening came as this year’s raffle horse, the beautiful pure Spanish/Portuguese mare Nadia BA entered the arena. A local Fort Worth man who had faithfully attended the IALHA National Show for four years and had longed for an Iberian horse for over 30 years was announced the lucky winner.

“The 2008 national show was one of the best ever,” said Nancy Nathanson, a long-time West Coast IALHA show official who volunteered at the event. “There was a lot of camaraderie among the participants and some fun activities in addition to the excitement of the competition.”

According to Nathanson, the number of horses was down slightly from previous years, but the show had a very successful Patron Program, and enjoyed having many new and returning sponsors, including the United States Equestrian Federation as a platinum sponsor.

IALHA is the leading registry of Andalusian horses in the United States and Canada. For more information, email www.ialha.org.