Equus Caballus Magazine

Shangrila: A Lusitano Paradise

The Baroque Lusitano horse now coveted for its ability to excel in dressage was originally bred in Portugal for military use and ranch work.

By Barbara Nefer

The word Shangri-la has come to mean a slice of paradise, a secluded place of peace and beauty. This moniker is certainly fitting for Shangrila Farm, home to a herd of Lusitano horses owned by Carolyn and Robert Crum of Citra, Florida. Assisted by trainer Whitney Wenzel, groom Connie Owens, and Connie's daughter, Anna, a youth rider and overall helper, the Crums maintain a herd of 14 horses on their 26 acre spread.

Carolyn and Robert have been devoted to Lusitanos ever since meeting the breed at the Cortijo las Morerias in Mexico eight years ago. Initially they were not equestrians, but Carolyn says, “We both loved horses. This was a second marriage, and we wanted to be sure that we shared a common bond. We decided that horses would be it.”

Carolyn had worked as an attorney, and her Mexican paralegal told her about the tradition of a bride riding to the wedding ceremony on a white stallion. She and Robert decided to create their own version, tying the knot in the ranch courtyard with a pair of white stallions standing by as witnesses.
Their visit to the Cortijo las Morerias had a dual purpose: marriage and the acquisition some new equine family members. “When I was young, I lived in Southern Spain and fell in love with the Andalusian horse,” Carolyn says. “We knew nothing about the Lusitano before going to Mexico.”
What they did know was that they wanted to breed for the dressage market. This made Lusitanos appealing because, as Carolyn explains, “They seemed to be stouter horses and had better movement for dressage.” The newlyweds were won over by a grey Lusitano stallion and bay mare that became the foundation of their herd.

The Crums started out with a farm in Wellington, but moved to Ocala in 2001. Carolyn jokes, “We

VENENO IMPERIAL is the Crum's stunning 2002 buckskin Lustiano Stallion.

wanted to get out of South Florida and away from the alligators!” Now they have a rolling Mediterranean-style spread complete with pastures, barns, and a fully enclosed round pen. Whitney, the trainer, says, “Robert built it himself, and the acoustics are amazing.” Because of its design, the horse can concentrate fully on its rider and easily hear verbal commands.

But work time is balanced with ample opportunity to “just be a horse.” At Shangrila, every equine has daily turnout time to frolic in the pasture with herd mates, and then spends the night in the barn.
As devotees to a lesser-known breed, the Crums enjoy educating people about the Lusitano. Carolyn says, “They often tell me, 'I've never heard of it. What does it do?' They want to know the difference between Lusitanos and Andalusians.”

Indeed, that difference is negligible, since both come from the same foundation. The horses were once identical, but branched off as Portuguese and Spanish ranch owners each bred their own preferred characteristics into the animals. Lusitanos are named for their geographic origins, as “Lusitania” once referred to an area of the Iberian peninsula where Portugal and part of Spain is now located.
Carolyn explains why the horses' traits diverged: “Portugal was a poor country and basically bred them to keep the Baroque roundness. That allowed them to to achieve the great collection needed for military horses and for cattle horses to work the bulls. These horses had great athletic ability.

“Spain was wealthy, and their society wanted beautiful, fancy parade horses for the nobles.”
Sadly, Portugal’s Lusitanos were decimated when Napoleon sacked the country's stables for war

IALHA National Champion Exaustivo is from the Alter Real line, which was founded in the 18th century by the Braganza royal family of Portugal for the purpose of supplying the royal stables in Lisbon with suitable high school and carriage horses.

horses. More rough times followed in the subsequent revolts, when horse theft was rampant. The Communist movement brought yet another challenge as landowners could no longer afford to maintain large herds. The horses were sold to other countries such as France, England, and Brazil.

This rocky history brought the Lusitano breed even closer to its Andalusian roots. According to Carolyn, whenever the Lusitano bloodline was weakened by inbreeding or almost destroyed by war and revolts, Portugal would infuse the bloodline with Andalusians from Spain.

“Because of this, the horses share some common blood,” she says. “Today, it is often difficult to distinguish between an Andalusian and a Lusitano.”

If you have a sharp eye, an individual horses' characteristics often give a clue to its bloodlines. For example, the Crums' stallion Veneno Imperial comes from the Veiga bloodline, and his solid build reflects the type of hardy mount that would be idea for the bullring. Exaustivo, their other stallion, has Alter Real blood, and his refined appearance reflects the line's origins with the royal family of Portugal.
The breed's most common colors are gray, bay, black, and black/bay. Lusitanos can also be buckskin, palomino, and cremello, although this is much more rare. Carolyn explains, “If the color is to be gray, the foal will be born dark and start graying as it matures. It depends on the horse; sometimes they start with lighter faces and a dark body. They

Robert & Carolyn Crum took a trip to Mexico to the Cortijo las Morerias where they married and acquired their first Lusitano horses.

usually don’t finish graying until five or six years of age.”

In America, both Lusitanos and Andalusians are registered with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association. The Lusitanos are designated as Portuguese horses and the Andalusians designated as Spanish horses, but they are all collectively called Andalusians.

Carolyn says, “There is an ongoing disagreement between some of the owners of Andalusians, the owners of Lusitanos, and the Association as to whether or not they are the same horse. The Association and some Andalusian members contend that they are the same horse and that it's the Andalusian. Our contention is that they are a breed of their own in Portugal, Mexico, and Brazil and therefore should remain a breed of their own in America.”

The Crums do their part to carry on the Lusitano legacy, and raising healthy, well-mannered equines is a priority at Shangrila. Robert says proudly, “Every one of our horses is handled every day.” The foals are imprinted almost as soon as they are born; fortunately, the farm's brood mares are very good natured and tolerate early handling of their babies.

Carolyn explains, “We like to start them as soon as possible so that as they grow, nothing is traumatic. They're already used to being handled, so being trained is no big deal to them.” As the youngsters mature and gain independence, they learn basics such as leading and standing quietly for the farrier.
The Crums say that Lusitanos are a delight to work with because their typical good nature extends to under-saddle work, where it comes out as a desire

Shangrila’s Ortiva excels as a hunt seat horse and has now started showing over fences. In 2004, Ortiva was the IALHA Reserve National Champion Portuguese Filly.

to please their trainer.

Although Whitney Wenzel is Shangrila's main trainer, she is assisted by Copper, a feisty miniature horse whose size belies the fact that he's the undisputed king of the herd. Copper takes his duties as a mentor very seriously. He teaches the foals good manners and enforces his lessons with punctuating nips.
At Shangrila, proper behavior is an everyday expectation. For example, stallions and mares are stabled together in the same barn. Because of this close proximity, the stallions learn that they are required to behave like gentlemen no matter what the circumstances.
Because they tend to have such good temperaments, Lusitanos adapt quickly to these expectations. Robert says, “That's one of my favorite things about these horses. They're all so friendly and easy to handle.”

This fabled friendliness is readily apparent in all of the Crum's horses, from babies up to the adults. Dulce the foal will dog any visitor's footsteps for a scratch, and the stallions stand so quietly for admiration and petting that it's hard to believe they're not geldings.
The Crums keep their operation small, raising two foals each year. Robert likes having a duo because then the babies have a playmate and each one can be given plenty of individual attention. He and Carolyn can't help get attached to each and every youngster, and they take great care in matching them up with their future owners. Their Lusitanos have gone to buyers as far away as Vermont and Massachusetts.

Carolyn describes their approach: “We sell soul mates. We do not sell a horse without the prospective buyer coming to the farm. If the horse is under saddle, we have them ride it. It's important to see them together because you can just tell if the two do not match up.”

This careful attention to the pairing process is a reflection of the Crums' overall philosophy. As Carolyn says, “Our horses are raised with kindness, and our training approach is slow and thorough. We feel they would be unhappy if the 'right' person did not buy them.”

This same care is extended to choosing each horse's ultimate career. As each equine grows and develops, it's trained in the discipline for which it seems to be best suited. If the initial choice doesn't turn out to be the best fit, it will be changed. As an example, the Crums cite a mare who seemed to be perfect for dressage. However, once her training began, it was soon apparent that her true talent lay elsewhere.

“We felt she would reach a limit in dressage but could make it to the top as a hunter/jumper,” Carolyn explains. The mare was switched to jumping, and the wisdom of the change was obvious as she thrived in her new discipline. Now the Crums are confident that she will be able to achieve her full potential because she's in the right line of work.

The Portuguese Lusitano horses feel right at home in the Mediterranean style barn at Shangrila.

Sometimes a horse's talent is obvious right from the start. For example, Carolyn and Robert have a grandson of the famous jumper Novilheiro, who was known for his speed on the course and his legendary ability to make sharp turns.

Their colt, Bolero, was sired by Lirio da Cosval, a son of Novilheiro. Lirio was 17 hands, and Bolero is already taking after his daddy in the height department. Even at age two, he's larger than many of the mature horses. Sadly, Lirio suffered a leg injury at age two so he never had a chance to come into his own. Now the family legacy can be borne out in his son.

Although most commonly thought of as dressage horses or jumpers, Carolyn says that Lusitanos are actually a very versatile breed that can be suited for virtually any type of riding, including reining and other western disciplines. She explains, “They have what it takes to excel in jumping, dressage and reining because they were used as cattle horses to work the bulls. They are very brave and strong.”
Even though the Crums have owned horses since 2000, Carolyn acknowledges that they are still learning. She's known a lot of equines over the years and is continually fascinated with their unique personalities. She marvels, “Each horse is an individual, even if they are full sisters or brothers.”
Both Carolyn and Robert emphatically state that the babies are the best part of their business. “It's so rewarding, and I love them all,” Carolyn says. “They are just like children. They have to be taught manners right from the start. And,” she chuckles, “when they become 'teenagers,' it's time for the trainer to take over.”

Perhaps the only blot on the Crums' little piece of paradise is the encroaching development that seems to sneak up on Floridian farms. Carolyn says, “Unfortunately, many of the large farms are disappearing and becoming subdivisions or shopping centers.”

But for now Shangrila is safe amidst a cluster of equestrian properties in the heart of Florida's horse country, where most of the surrounding ranches house more well-known and conventional breeds like Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses or Arabians. Fortunately the Crums' Lusitano herd will ensure that the legacy of Portugal's horses is well-represented in the Sunshine State.

THE PREFERRED FEED IN PARADISE
The Crums' attention to detail in caring for their horses extends right through to their feed choice. All the equine residents at Shangrila dine on Ultra Dynamix pellets, and the positive results from using Seminole Feed are very visible. According to trainer Whitney Wenzel, “We're able to feed less, and the horses still
maintain their weight. You can also see the bloom in their coats.” Robert adds, “It's so much easier to use Ultra Dynamix because you don't have to mix anything. The horses get all their nutrients right in one package.” The Crums learned about Seminole feeds from a trainer of Andalusians and called to ask for a farm visit. When Whitney, Carolyn and Robert met Wendy, their Seminole representative, they were all impressed by her commitment to service as much as by the quality of the product. “Wendy puts in the time and effort to really take care of us,” Carolyn says. The combination of visible results and attentive, personal service have made Seminole Feeds an integral part of the program at Shangrila Farm.

To learn more about the Crums and this extraordinary breed, visit www.purelusitanos.com. Shangrila Farm is located in Citra, Florida.

Barb Nefer is a freelance writer in Celebration, Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her Appaloosa, Figment, and racking up hours in the ApHC Saddle Log Program.