Reference Stallion:

Maluso

Bay PRE Andalusian Stallion

Maluso was one of the single most important horses in the history of the Andalusian breed. He is considered by many to exemplify the classic old “Military Type” of Spanish horse.

Conformation. Maluso was a 15.3 hand bay. Because of his excellent confirmation, his photo was used as the frontpiece for one of the earlier editions of the Spanish studbook - truly a tribute from the horsemen of his day.

Pedigree. Maluso was foaled in 1949 at the Military stud. His mother, Romerada was of Military breeding and was considered “a noteworthy star of the state stud.” Her chestnut color was even then considered unusual and somewhat unpopular. At that time the Military had only two chestnut broodmares, who were retained only because their exceptional quality. (Later, in 1970, a rule change made it impossible to register chestnuts in the Spanish studbook. However, chestnuts have long been accepted by the US based IALHA and recently the Spanish changed the rules again and now, once again, allow chestnuts.)

Maluso’s bay sire, Lebrero, had been purchased by the Military from Baones, but was of Muira breeding. (The Muiras are famous as the most prestigious breeders of fighting bulls in Spain. They also breed exceptional horses to work the bulls. Muira horses are different. They resemble the early Andalusians - powerful, yet elegant, with exceptional bone. Only a few Muiras are sold each year.)

Brief Biography. From 1953 through 1977 Maluso served as a Military stud, mostly at the stallion depot at Jerez de la Fronteria, but periodically moving to other locations including Ecija and Medina Sidonia for brief terms. He died in 1978 after 25 years of service. This long tenure is almost unequalled and is a tribute to the high regard in which the Cria Caballar held him.

Influence on the Breed. Maluso is among the most recognized names in Spanish Military breeding and one of the most revered stallions in Andalusian history. This is not because of advertising, showing, or promotion. It is the simple result of word-of-mouth and the quality of his get. He sired approximately 150 offspring, 115 of which were themselves registered in the Spanish studbook as producers. Among his most famous offspring were Agente, considered by many to represent the perfect prototype of the Spanish Horse and Alalid (Cardenas) who became Champion of the Breed in 1972. Other significant Maluso offspring who were themselves significant sires were Jerezano XIX, Talisman, Tangible, Ebano, Cesar and Urbano. Maluso is a primary founder of the modern bay lines and most of the bays and blacks trace their lineage back to him.

Originally there had been a number of Spanish blood lines. However, when the Bocado (a.k.a. Carthusian or Terry) craze hit, all the other sire lines died out - except for Maluso. The Military and Escalera kept it alive. (Escalera has been breeding the same Type of horse for over two hundred years.) By 1970, Maluso and his get had sired an amazing 25% of all pure bred foals. And to this day, Spanish breeders use Maluso blood as a “fixer” for inbred Bocado lines.

The Maluso Controversy. Because of many breeders’ fixation on the Bocado Type, the Military/Maluso line has gone in and out of fashion in Spain. Maluso’s movement was elastic and extended. Today we would categorize it as a “Dressage Type” of movement. This way of going represented a step away from the overly extravagant movement seen in many of the Bocado horses of the time, which sometimes featured extreme elevation, little extension and minimal impulsion from the rear. This up and down “sewing machine” action, frequently accompanied by winging, was very flashy and impressive for parades and carriage horses, but not so practical for “using” horses. Maluso’s movement is reported to have had a bit less elevation, but excellent extension and cadence. In addition, Maluso’s conformation was a bit more rangy than the usual Bocado warhorse-type.

Consequently, many aficionados of the Bocado Type felt that Maluso was not “typical” of the Breed. Some of these self-appointed purists also did not consider the bay lines from Escalera and the Military to be typical (i.e., lighter necks, movement too forward, not enough elevation). Paradoxically, these are the very characteristics sought by today’s dressage enthusiasts and many Spanish breeders are turning to this Type as preferable and more marketable. Consequently, the blood of Maluso descendants, Agente, Lebrijano, and Leviton is widely sought after in Spain today.

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