Alter Real

The Alter Real is an entirely Portuguese breed, created in the 18th century in the Alentejo region. Its name comes from the village of Alter do Chão, the cradle of royal breeding, and from the Portuguese word “Real”, meaning “royal”. The name of the breed therefore literally translates as “Royal Alter” in French, underlining its direct link with the Portuguese crown.

The Coudelaria de Alter was founded in 1748 by King João V to supply the royal court and cavalry with baroque horses, both elegant and highly manageable. The founders introduced prestigious Andalusian bloodlines, carefully selected to produce a horse perfectly suited for classical dressage and the haute école.

Sometimes described as a separate breed or as a sub-breed, the Alter Real is technically a line of the Lusitano horse, and therefore a branch of the Iberian horse. This distinction reflects its specific and closed selection, which has shaped a homogeneous and instantly recognizable type.

Despite the crises faced during the 19th and 20th centuries, including the partial disappearance of the herd, the lineage was preserved thanks to the strict management of the stud book. Today, it is considered one of the most prestigious symbols of Portuguese equestrian heritage, closely linked to the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art.

Cradle of the Breed

The Alter Real was born in the Alentejo, in south-central Portugal, more precisely in Alter do Chão in the district of Portalegre. It was there that the Coudelaria de Alter was founded in 1748, a royal stud farm that became both the historical and current heart of the stud book.

Role of the National Stud Farm

The Coudelaria de Alter remains today the main breeding and management center of the breed. It ensures genetic selection, birth registration, and the preservation of the baroque model, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of the royal lineage.

Private Breeding Farms and Distribution

In addition to the national stud farm, certain private Portuguese breeders recognized by the Livro Genealógico also contribute to the maintenance of the breed. Their activity nevertheless remains controlled in order to preserve genetic homogeneity. Some lineages have also been exported to Spain and France, but their presence remains very marginal compared to the Portuguese nucleus.

Heir to a Royal Lineage

The Alter Real descends directly from the selection carried out in the 18th century by the Portuguese royal court, using carefully chosen Andalusian horses. It therefore represents a unique and closed lineage, preserving a genetic heritage linked to the baroque Iberian horse. This royal origin gives the breed an inestimable historical and cultural conservation value.

Preservation of the Portuguese Baroque Type

Unlike other Lusitano lines that are open to various crosses, the Alter Real maintains a more homogeneous model: compact, elegant, with a convex profile and elevated gaits. It acts as a specialized genetic reservoir, ensuring the transmission of the typical characteristics of the Portuguese baroque horse.

Contribution to the Lusitano and the Equestrian Arts

The Alter Real has played a major role in the development of the modern Lusitano, notably by reinforcing its aptitude for classical dressage and the haute école. Its selection has preserved rare qualities such as docility, maneuverability, and suppleness of movement, highly valued in European equestrian academies.

Value for Genetic Diversity

Although limited in numbers, the Alter Real forms a distinct genetic nucleus within the Lusitano population. Its preservation contributes to the diversity of Iberian horses and provides a valuable resource for research and the conservation of ancient breeds, in a context where many baroque lineages have disappeared.

18th – 19th centuries – Golden Age

The Alter Real became the prestigious horse of the Portuguese nobility, renowned for its aptitude in baroque dressage and the haute école. It was used in court spectacles and in Portuguese bullfighting, as a symbol of elegance and power.

19th century – Decline

Wars, the fall of the monarchy, and poorly managed crossbreeding (notably with the Thoroughbred and the Hanoverian) led to the degeneration of the breed. Numbers dropped drastically, and the Alter Real came close to extinction.

20th century – Restoration

In 1942, the Portuguese state reorganized the royal stud and created a closed stud book to restore the breed. Careful selection work, also supported by certain Lusitano lines, made it possible to recover the original baroque type.

21st century – Renaissance and Influence

Today, the Alter Real is recognized as a protected national Portuguese breed, bred exclusively at the royal stud. It serves as a cultural showcase through the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, and still takes part in international haute école performances.

The Alter Real has thus evolved from a royal baroque horse to a living heritage symbol of Portugal, rare but prestigious.

Balanced Temperament

The Alter Real stands out for its docile and attentive character, which makes it particularly suitable for close work with the rider. It is known for its emotional stability and its ability to remain calm even in demanding situations.

Intelligence and Sensitivity

This breed shows lively intelligence, combined with great sensitivity to the aids. This makes it an ideal partner for classical dressage, where precision and responsiveness are essential.

Courage and Generosity

The Alter Real is renowned for its courage and its willingness to cooperate, qualities that reflect its heritage as a royal horse selected for equestrian academies. Always ready to give its best, it develops a strong bond of trust with its rider.

"The Alter Real is a horse that listens with the heart and dances with the soul."

Preservation of a Living Heritage

The Alter Real remains a numerically limited breed, dependent on the Coudelaria de Alter and a few private breeders. Current efforts aim to ensure its genetic conservation, in order to maintain the Portuguese royal lineage without losing its baroque typicity.

Development in Classical Dressage

Thanks to its natural aptitude for haute école dressage, the breed enjoys growing visibility in equestrian art schools, notably the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art. This international recognition is an asset for attracting new enthusiasts and strengthening its influence beyond Portugal.

Cultural and Touristic Asset

The promotion of the Alter Real is also closely linked to Portuguese cultural heritage. Shows, demonstrations, and equestrian activities organized at the Coudelaria de Alter contribute to enhancing the breed as a national symbol, attracting an ever larger tourist audience.

Challenges of Diversification and Openness

To secure its future, the breed must find a balance between strict stud book conservation and measured openness in order to avoid inbreeding. The growing interest in Iberian breeds and the market for baroque sport horses could offer new opportunities for expansion, while preserving the authenticity of the Alter Real model.

General Hardiness

The Alter Real enjoys good overall health, inherited from its traditional selection and its breeding in the natural environment of the Coudelaria de Alter. It is a robust and resistant horse, rarely prone to common diseases when properly maintained.

Possible Predispositions

Like many Iberian breeds, the Alter Real may occasionally present cases of limb malformations or hereditary conformation defects, which are closely monitored by the stud book. Because of the limited population size, inbreeding represents a risk factor that requires careful management of matings.

Veterinary Management

Regular monitoring of the tendons and joints is recommended, especially in horses working intensively in haute école dressage, a discipline that places significant demands on the locomotor system. The hooves, which are well-shaped and hard, nevertheless require adapted care to prevent premature wear on modern surfaces.