Each bloodline is named after the family or place where the breeding began.It is also important to note that a horse can be fully or partially bred from these bloodlines but carry the stud farm's brand.

Ortigao Costa

Ortigao Costa is a bloodline created by Luís Jorge Ortigão Costa in 1963. Their goal was to create a bloodline of black horses with high functionality. Today, the OC stud farm has 50 breeding mares and 14 'Português de Desporto' mares, descendants of the only Moorlands Totilas.

Incredibly beautiful, black, and with an exceptional temperament, Ortigao Costa horses also boast great functionality.

Ortigao Costa horses were bullfighting horses in the past (some still are), and there is no doubt that their courage continues to be passed on in the breeding. Today, we see these black beauties increasingly dancing in dressage, and as the stud farm has chosen to also produce Sport-Lusitanos, we see more larger, slender, and elegant forms emerging.

Under Olympic rider Pinto, Ripado OC was one of the first Lusitano horses to participate in international Grand Prix. He then returned to the stud farm in 1995 and became part of the breeding program.

Coudelaria de Alter (Alter Real)

The Alter Real stud farm and the Royal Riding School were founded in 1748 by the Portuguese King D. Joao V in Alter do Chao. The line was established by purchasing 300 brown mares, carefully selected, from Andalusia. The mares were covered by Portuguese stallions. Therefore, you mostly see brown horses from this line (though greys and some blacks can occur).

It was popular at the time to have royal riding schools, like the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The goal was to have uniform horses that could pull carriages, be used for dressage in the high and difficult movements and serve the royal court.

Alter Real horses are considered by many to have a hotter temperament than other lines.They are often seen as round and compact but with incredible learning ability and a strong willingness to work.

Veiga

The line was founded over 200 years ago by Rafael José da Cunha, with two Alter Real horses that came from King Ferdinand II. The stud farm was inherited by Manuel Tavares Veiga, who insisted on breeding the original typical Lusitano. Through very strict and controlled inbreeding, Manuel Veiga succeeded in producing a small group of horses without hereditary flaws but where the strengths of the Lusitano shone through.

Stallions of pure Veiga blood are highly sought after as breeding animals because, due to their concentrated blood, they pass on their functional riding qualities with uncanny precision—even after several generations.

Today, most history books credit the Veiga family alone with the responsibility for the fact that we can still see the original Lusitano today.

Andrade

The Andrade bloodline comes from the breeder Ruy d’Andrade. The line has existed since 1894 and was created from mares from Spanish breeders and stallions of the same origin. Ruy d’Andrade's statement about the line is:

"... they are short, strong horses, brave with the bulls, that switch from calm to eager when spurred, and from eager to obedient when left alone; fast in a race and quick in turns; with good gaits, sensitive to the spurs, submissive with a good mouth, and infinite strength in everything."

The line was bred for bullfighting, but they are suited for more than that. Today, Andrade horses excel in dressage and Working Equitation.

Coudelaria Nacional

Many horses from this line can trace their origins back to horses from Spain, as the two were once one breed—the Iberian horse. The stud farm was originally intended as a state-supported breeding station where breeders could use various stallions for a small fee in their breeding.

It was often seen that these stallions were used to cross into the Veiga line to get larger horses and more "gait." These horses were/are often rectangular, strong with high withers, and very suitable for dressage and driving.

Names and Age

Portuguese breeders have invented a clever system to know exactly how old a horse is just by hearing its name. The idea is that the horse's initial follows the year it was born. Not everyone follows this model, but many do, so you often see an entire year's foal crop with the same initial.

If the breeder chooses not to follow this tradition, APSL will place the year's initial before the horse's chosen name and assign it a hyphen. Example: B-Ultimo (if the horse was born in 2029 but did not get a name that followed the initial of that year).

Letters that are not used are K, W, and Y.

Type and Height

The Lusitano weighs around 500 kg, with rounded lines and a silhouette that fits into a square shape. Typically measured at six years of age, the average height is 1.55 m for mares and 1.60 m for stallions. These are the original sizes, but today we see larger Lusitanos being bred to accommodate a wider range of riders, often reaching around 163-167 cm in height.

Their head also deserves mention, as most Lusitanos have a somewhat robust but beautiful head. Sometimes, they have what people call a "Roman nose," a slight arch that creates an attractive silhouette from the side. Their mouths are on the smaller side, but everything is proportionate, with the cheekpiece being of some length. The eyes are usually almond-shaped, lively, expressive, and confident.

The head is set on the well-known large muscular neck, which can sometimes be short, giving the rider the challenge of getting the throatlatch to move. Additionally, they have strong, long, and well-muscled shoulders. The back is shorter than most are used to, but it is strong and supported by the ribs, which curve into the joint, promoting this short but full flank.

Colors

The most common colors are gray, white, and brown. However, there are also examples of palomino, cremello, black, buckskin, and chestnut.

Temperament

The Lusitano is a willing, strong, and very intelligent horse. It is brave, proud, and composed. At the Golega festival, you often see stallions standing side by side, walking among mares and foals, and working under what we would consider extensive circumstances with stalls, music, lights, carriages, and more at the festival.

Additionally, the Lusitano is a very cooperative horse, taking on new tasks with ease. They are incredibly quick learners and often offer more than what is asked for, showcasing their intelligence.

When you get to know your Lusitano, it almost has an "on/off switch" like when you turn lights on and off. You can "turn on" their intensity, but just as easily "turn it off," and they are highly receptive to this type of riding.

Movements

This horse offers great comfort for many riders, as it has less back movement than the typical large warmbloods found in Northern Europe. However, it should be emphasized that this does not prevent the horse from performing equally difficult exercises—some exercises, like piaffe and passage, they may even perform better.