In the middle ages they were bred from wild horses, to be used in war or bullfighting. Today the breed is highly sought after and expensive. But in portugal, after yearsrs f economic crisis, that high cost is proving a problem for the horses themselves. Manuel Jorge Martins de oliveira is one of portugals most famous horsemen. A legendary former bullfighter, he now teaches dressage clinics, and hes a very successful breeder of the countrys own breed, the lusitano. His stud stallion sabio is worth 60 thousand euros. We portuguese are very proud of our lusitano horses. Theyre the calling cards of a culture that goes back thousands of years. Theyre very important culturally as well as economically. But portuguese breeders are changing the lusitanos type. It was traditionally bred for bullfighting, driving, and classical dressage, but to compete in modern dressage sports, breeders have altered the size and gait of the horses. Oliveira is not pleased with this development. I think its a sha
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