Iberian horse enthusiasts all over the country are busy preparing their horses for what is sure to be the most important gathering, celebration and competition offered to date in the United States for the Andalusian, Lusitano and Pura Raza Española. Six days of competition will be offered for both purebred and part-bred horses in a myriad of classes in all disciplines at the Andalusian-Lusitano Alliance U.S. Grand National Championships. Horses may qualify for this event at shows already established all over the country or at the qualifying day in Lake St Louis, MO, September 28, which is USEF/IALHA approved. The judge for the Qualifier is the Honorable Chris Bickford of Oregon. Qualifying shows and further information can be found on our website at www.andalusian-lusitano-alliance.com.

An open day of dressage competition is planned for Wednesday, September 29, with the Honorable Lois Heyerdahl of Wisconsin adjudicating on the day. All breeds are welcome on Dressage Day with special awards to the Andalusian, Lusitano and Pura Raza Espanola entries placing in the highest rankings. As this is a USEF/USDF competition it is also a qualifier for exhibitors wishing to go to IALHA Nationals in Fort Worth, TX, later in the month.

The Alliance is delighted to announce that ANCCE of Spain has approved this show as a competition for morphology (halter/in hand). This division will be judged by a Spanish expert and classes will be interspersed throughout the show. As soon as ANCCE chooses the judge for the competition, more information will be included on the website.

Specialty halter classes for the various bloodlines of the Iberian Horse will be offered with full divisions for the Lusitano, Spanish/Portuguese, Spanish, Sport Horse and Part-Bred. In addition to the usual classes offered in halter and performance a special new and exciting division will be the “Dancing Horse Competition” with sections offered on and off the board for Piaffe, Passage, Charro Attire, Freestyle, Long Lining and Spanish Walk. Horses from as far away as Mexico and
Canada have already committed their entries in this event. A foreign expert has been invited to judge this new event, and we hope to announce his name in the near future.

All other halter and performance championships will be judged by the Honorable Terry Jones Brennan of Oregon, the Honorable Bill Hughes of California and the Honorable Jaque Hill of Indiana.

A very Special Saturday evening session will take place with exciting classes, exhibitions, Parade of Champions and the Alliance’s Inaugural Significant Sires Program Auction. This program has been a long time in the planning and is sure to promote breeding and good amateur competition.