We are not only involved in the purchase and sale of Menorquina horses. The services that we provide go beyond this spectrum, almost as far as the care of a mare for her foal – we also devote this much attention to the service we provide our customers and/or potential customers. We are glad to provide our service to you regarding all aspects of the Menorquina horse, so that your experience with these horses is an unforgettable one.    

 

These are a few additional services that we offer:    

• Information regarding the Menorquina horse and/or the Menorquina breeds.

 

• Mediation when purchasing and selling Menorquina horses.

 

• Search assignments and support in the search- and purchase-process of Menorquina horses.

 

• Organization of horse transportation within the Netherlands, between Spain and the Netherlands and/or between the Netherlands and abroad.

 

• Organization of hotel and/or accommodation in the Netherlands and in Menorca.

 

• Organization of visits to Menorca with the goal to search and purchase a Menorquín horse.

 

• Administrative support with the stud-book process during the purchase process of the Menorquina horses.

 

• Organization of multi-day courses and/or clinics on Menorquina dressage in Menorca.

 

• “Tailor-made” services.

 

  Information regarding the Menorquina horses and/or the Menorquina breeds:   During the orientation process, we will provide information and advice about Menorquina horses and will be happy to answer any questions, not only about horses, but also about the customs, the traditions, the opportunities offered by the island of Menorca, etc. etc. This will help you to obtain a good understanding of the Menorquina horse, which ultimately is what you are looking for.      

 

 Mediation when purchasing and selling Menorquina horses:   We will gladly mediate in the sale of you current Menorquina horse or in the purchase of your future Menorquina horse. You are in good hands and more importantly, we take charge of a large part of your work load. If you are considering selling your horse, please contact us to discuss this option. Through our excellent relationships and contacts within the Menorquina horses-industry, the chance for success is greater.  

 

 Search assignments and support in the search- and purchase-process of Menorquina horses:   If you are unable to find your “match” horse through our horse-supply network, we can help you focus on finding your “match”. We will discuss your needs and requirements, in order to identify and research the market for a potential match. If you want to receive more information, please contact us.  

 

Organization of horse transportation within the Netherlands, between Spain and the Netherlands and/or between the Netherlands and abroad:   When purchasing a horse, we can also arrange the transportation for you. We work with reputable and experienced transporters at home and abroad. This will allow you to rest assured that your new acquisition is in good hands and will experience safe and comfortable travel.  

 

Organization of hotel and/or accommodation in the Netherlands and in Menorca:    If you would like to view the horse-stock at the stud farm “Het Soerhuis” and you are visiting from far away, or you want to combine your tour with a pleasant stay in Veluwe, then we will be happy to assist you in making a hotel reservation or other forms of accommodation in the area. The same applies if you are considering to view the Menorquina horses in Menorca; as connoisseurs of the island, we can directly advise you and even arrange your stay on the island. In Menorca we have available a selection of hotels, apartments and villas, specifically for this purpose.  

 

Organization of visits to Menorca with the goal to search and purchase a Menorquín horse:     If you have decided to purchase a Menorquina horse in Spain and do not want to organize the trip on your own, we can arrange airline-tickets, hotel and rental car reservations. We can also offer advice regarding your stay in Menorca and provide you with tips so that your stay in Menorca will be a very special one.    

 

Administrative support with the stud-book during the purchase of the Menorquina horses:   When purchasing a Menorquina horse, it is very important that the horse passport is completed properly and that the stud-book in Menorca is placed in the name of the new owner. The opening times of the stud-book are very limited and the language is often a major barrier. We maintain regular contacts with the stud-book and we can arrange the administrative process for you.  

 

Organization of multi-day courses and/or clinics on Menorquina dressage in Menorca:   In cooperation with the “Escola Equestre Menorquina” in Ciutadella (Menorca), each year we organize each a few multi-day courses on Menorquina dressage. We will soon have extensive information regarding these courses and will publish the scheduled dates.  

 

“Tailor-made” services:   We are confident that Menorca has a lot to offer. You can stay at exclusive villas; participate in daily excursions with luxury boats, such as fishing expedition in order to catch giant tuna or marlins. If you wish to have a unique experience or if you have specific wishes, please let us know… we can organize this for you.

 

 

 

The Menorquín (Pura Raza Menorquina):  

 

Origin: The Menorquín originates from the island of Menorca, the Balearic islands, in Spain.  

 

 The (breed) name: The official name of the breed is “Pura Raza Menorquina” (Pure Breed Menorquina), abbreviated P.R.M. In Spain, however, one speaks of a “Menorca” (horse), although “Menorquín” is also used on the mainland of Spain. This last name, Menorquín, is also the most widely used abroad (France, Germany, Italy, etc.). This phenomenon is also seen with the Pura Raza Española, abbreviated P.R.E., also known as “caballo Andaluz”, “Andaluz” “Caballo Español” or “Español”; in the Netherlands it is known as “Andalusiër”. The same applies to the Puro Sangue Lusitano, abbreviated P.S.L., and better known as the Lusitano.  

 

  Character: The Menorca horses are very noble, warm-blooded, simple and rustic. They are brave, resistant, maneuverable and energetic and therefore used in different disciplines. The Menorquín is very intelligent, cheerful, and inquisitive and shows great tendency of being collected. Under the saddle, they are very serious and focused, even as several stallions are simultaneously ridden. The Menorquina horses are fierce and proud, although they are obedient and hard to offend. The Menorquina character and attributes, makes the experience always a pleasureable one and very rewarding for both horse and rider.    

 

 

 Exterior:  

 

 Head: Tall, medium sized, thin and harmonious. The straight frontal-nasal profile, with a slight convexity, can only affect the facial area. Ears, smallish, medium-sized and slightly divergent. The ears are correctly placed with slight divergent and mobile tips. Round, friendly and lively, protruding eyes. The nostrils do not stick out, making the elongated silhouette of the head accentuated.  

 

Neck: The Menorquina is proud of its neck; robust, medium length and slightly arched. The neck is muscular, powerful and well connected to the head and body; slim head and wide body. The males are strong and abundant presence. It’s preferred that the males are full-bodied and tall, this also applies to the tail.  

 

Body: The Pura Raza Menorquina has a long body, tapering to thinner transversal diameters. The withers are narrow and not obvious. Straight back with discreet muscular development, on the back as well as on the flanks. The tail is low, set between the two ischial bones, without rising above the horizontal level of the hind legs. Average, with slightly flattened chest or rib cage. Tight stomach and not very long flanks. 

 

 Thoracic area: The forelegs of the Menorquín are long, slim and straight. The Menorquín has a long, slightly curved back. Robust shoulder and forelegs, wide knee with very fine and lower rank, with highly visible and strong tendons. Well proportioned pasterns and solid short hooves, not too wide.

 

 Hindquarters: The Menorquina does not have overly muscular thighs and buttocks, and relatively short legs. The hock is strong and well-angled. The rear legs, just like the forelegs, are fine, slender and with clearly visible strong tendons. The same goes for the ergots and the hooves. The hooves of the Menorquín are very strong and bone problems are very rare, because the soil they grow up on is very hard and dry.  

 

 Color: The Pura Raza Menorquina horses always have a black coat, whereby all shades of black are allowed. Any other coat color is excluded for the registration on the stud-book. White patches on the forehead and legs are acceptable, as long as they are within a limited area.  

 

 Height: The Menorquina mares have an average height of 1.52-1.55 m. The Menorquina stallions have an average height of 1.60-1.62 m.    

 

 Weight:. The Menorquina weighs approximately 500 kg  

 

Functionality and usages: We do it all!!  

 

 

 The Menorquina horses are Baroque horses with a rank and majestic silhouette. The Pura Raza Menorquina has, as part of its characteristics and natural build, an innate predisposition for collection. The corridors of Menorquina horses are raised, smooth and offer a very comfortable sitting for the rider.  They are very easy to collect and offer their elastic movements in a very comfortable trot and canter, where the rider can relax whilst riding the horse. Therefore, the training of the Menorquina during exercises of the classical equitation is a logical step.

 

 The way of working with and training a Menorquina is based on or is derived from the classical principles for the dressage. The Menorquina horses are almost always trained in Menorca using the “Doma Menorquina” (Menorcan dressage); it has very many similarities with the High School Dressage, where the typical feature of the Menorquín, actually its “benchmark”, is “es Bot”, or rearing and running on hind legs. This is an important part of the much enjoyed and popular village festivals held in Menorca.    

 

The Menorquina does not only walk on two legs, but they are also very suitable for English dressage, carriage rides and they are particularly suitable for traditional Menorcan festivals. Also, they are reliable partners for the recreational rider. The forest rides through rough terrain, including the comfortable Menorcan saddle, are a true experience.      

 

 

 

Doma Menorquina  

 

 The Menorquina horse is mainly used for traditional village festivals in Menorca, where this horse is the protagonist. These festivals that contain religious and knightly nature, originated in the XIII-XIV century, when knights’ tournaments were organized. Even though during the XVII century, these tournaments disappeared in the rest of Europe, these traditions and protocols are still held in honor and are still alive today in Menorca (albeit with some modifications). The best example of these festivals are the “festes de Sant Joan”.  

 

Following on as a direct result of the devotion to these knight festivals, the Menorcan horse riding style or the “Doma Menorquina” (Menorquina dressage) was derived from this tradition. The Menorquina dressage distinguishes itself by holding the reins (2 or 4 reins) on the left hand, through the combination of rein- and sours aids, through the combination of the “flair” and movement of the typical party horses, through the dress of the rider and the horse and through the use of the Menorcan harnachement, such as the Menorcan saddle, bridle, bit and whip.  

 

 

The following are significantly and typically Menorcan:  

 

•   Short and collected trot.

 

•  Allow the horse to turn on its hind legs, or do reverse pirouettes, in order for protect the   horse’s  mouth  from the public during the festivals.

 

• “es Bot”, or rearing on command on the hind legs, where the position of the head and neck remain in the acceptance of the bridle and in contact with the rider’s hand.

 

•  « es bot de caminar », or rearing on command and walking on its hind legs.

 

•  the passage

 

• the piaffe

 

• the pirouette  

 

 

Nowadays, there is a Doma Menorquina regulation and competitions are held within a federation association. We could write so much about the Doma Menorquina, but this is not the purpose of this site. If you are interested, there is a book “Doma Menorquina» ISBN: 84-606-3303-9 (unfortunately, you can only order it in Catalan). Possibly, we will soon add Doma Menorquina subjects to our blog (http://www.menorcahorses.com/blog/)….keep that in mind!  

 

 

 If you are interested in learning more about Doma Menorquina, let us know. We organize several multi-day courses and clinics in Menorca.  

 

 Additional information about the history: a young and majestic breed, rich in traditions.

 

The Menorquina breed or “Pura Raza Menorquina” (P.R.M.) is a relatively young breed because it was just recognized officially as its own breed in 1987. After a field study completed by one of the most prestigious zoologist in Spain, Dr. Antonio Sánchez Belda, it was concluded that the “Menorca” horse met all the requirements to be included, registered and recognized as its own breed.  

 

 Despite the recognition in 1987, the Menorquina horse, sometimes also called “Menorquín”, already existed many centuries ago in Menorca. It was confirmed by Cayo Plinio II in his writings about Nature & History of the year 77 AD, that Menorca distinguished itself for having good livestock breeding. Menorca has always been considered a horse-island. The main role of the Menorquina horse in religious and knightly natured festivals, which for us as Menorcans, have been passed down from generation to generation, explains the very existence of the Menorquina horse as it is.

 

People connected with the rural life (read farm life) of Menorca have always been aware of the existence of an inborn breed called the “Menorca” breed. They knew exactly which horses were known as “Menorcas” and those that were not, without the need for any document or paper to prove otherwise. In those times, words had as much value as a document.  

 

Therefore, we must search the history of Menorca in order learn more about this breed.  Menorca is an island and with it’s strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea, has provided a communication of different cultures. This indicates that the Menorquina horse has been influenced by the several different cultures that established themselves in Menorca through past centuries, even if only very briefly, contributing to the creation of the current breed. Based on this theory, a comparative study of the Menorquina breed and three other breeds that arrived in Menorca over the past centuries. It is based on the Arab full-blood, the English full-blood and the Pura Raza Español or the Andalusiër. The conclusion of this study showed that the genes of these three majestic breeds are all present in the current “Menorca” horse to some extent. Would you like to receive detailed and technical information about this study? The Menorcan horse breed: blood groups and biochemical polymorphism.