Horses in Extremadura: the dehesa and the country horse
Extremadura, a land of dehesas and extensive livestock farming, maintains an equestrian tradition linked to fieldwork and livestock management. Here, the horse is, above all, a working tool and a companion to the countryman, integrated into one of Europe's most valuable agricultural and livestock ecosystems.
The dehesa, a unique ecosystem
The Extremaduran dehesa is an agricultural and livestock ecosystem of great ecological value, formed by scattered holm oaks and cork oaks over pastures where cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses coexist. In this environment, the country horse plays a functional role in livestock management and traversing large estates.
The field workhorse
In the dehesa, the horse is a working tool: it is used for managing fighting bulls, for traversing extensive estates, and for the typical tasks of the Extremaduran countryside. This functionality has prioritized a resistant, noble horse with a good disposition for work, often of Iberian origin.
"Acoso y derribo" (Harassing and knocking down)
"Acoso y derribo" is a traditional field practice, linked to the management of fighting bulls, in which horse-mounted riders chase and knock down the animal with a garrocha (a long pole). It is a field discipline that requires brave, agile, and very manageable horses, and it is part of the equestrian heritage of the Iberian Southwest.
Extensive breeding
The extensive breeding of horses in the dehesa takes advantage of natural pastures and produces rustic and well-adapted animals. This sustainable and territory-bound system contrasts with intensive stabling and forms part of the region's livestock identity.
Living rural heritage
The Extremaduran equestrian tradition is part of a living rural heritage, where the horse continues to perform real functions in the countryside in addition to its use in sports and leisure. Understanding this world helps to comprehend the diversity of functions that the horse has had and maintains in rural Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dehesa?
An agricultural and livestock ecosystem of holm oaks and cork oaks over pastures, where different species of livestock coexist, characteristic of the Iberian Southwest.
What is "acoso y derribo"?
A traditional field practice in which horse-mounted riders chase and knock down fighting bulls with a garrocha, linked to bull management.
How are horses bred in Extremadura?
Traditionally under an extensive regime in the dehesa, taking advantage of natural pastures, which produces rustic and well-adapted horses.
