Spanish Journey Part Two
10. Jerez Riding School

Narrator
There are many things that Andalusians get passionate about, and they get especially passionate about their horses.  Horse lovers and aficionados come to Jerez from all over the world to admire these unique animals. Francisco José García has been riding for 14 years.

Inka Martí
Did you want to be at the school from when you were little?

Francisco José García 
From when I was little. I come from Jerez and I had always heard about the Andalusian horse show, how they dance, and I always dreamt of joining and becoming a rider.

Inka Martí
Was it a lot of hard work, becoming a rider?

Francisco José García 
It was hard. You have to be worthy, of course, because many people go through. There is a selection process, but with the help of the excellent trainers we have in the school, we get there.

Inka Martí
What is the character of a Spanish horse like?

Francisco José García 
The Spanish horse is a very skilled horse, very expressive, very temperamental when working but at the same time it is the most noble horse in the world.

Inka Martí
It’s said to be like the Spanish people, isn’t it? The horse is always compared…

Francisco José García 
Yes, well there are some similarities, aren’t there? We have a bit of... but then we are a very noble people aren't we, very noble!

Inka Martí
What about pride?

Francisco José García 
Very proud, very kind...

Inka Martí
And there is another thing that is very nice, that you always see Spanish horses in paintings. They are horses fit for kings.

Francisco José García 
Yes, that's right. It is such a beautiful and elegant horse that it has always been used for... our teacher, Alvaro Domecq, always used to say that a Spanish horse is a horse fit for a king on the day of victory.

Inka Martí
For the first time in Spain the Andalusian horse has managed to take part in the Olympic Games.
 
Francisco José García 
Well, it’s been an experience, because the Spanish horse was generally not trusted to be apt for sport. There was another kind of horse, different breeds in Europe adapted to that kind of sport. The Spanish purebred was not considered for that but for its beauty, carriage, nobility and step. But with the work and dedication of many people, good horsemen and breeders, they have shown that it can do anything.

Inka Martí
Is it easy to get a Spanish horse to do its steps?

Francisco José García 
It is easy in the school. The horse has stature, skill and nobility, and it calms down and comes to its place. Their temperament means, they break away with… They are great artists.

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