Lusitano brand
Handmade saddles and bridles
In the continent of Europe, Portugal is located in the south-western part and in the recent years it has firmly established itself as a leading nation with a regularly flourishing economy supplemented by a growing social and cultural life. One of the most famous products of Portugal is the Portuguese wine which is well-known all over the world for its refined quality and exquisite taste. Portugal is however also prominently involved in the practicing and promotion of equestrian activities and the sport is a very popular leisure time activity among the residents of Portugal. At this juncture one must also note that the Portuguese horse breeds which have been derived from their illustrious ancestors, namely the Iberian horses, are mainly of three main kinds. These include the Garrano horses, the Sorraia horses and finally the Lusitano horses. Among the above mentioned, the Lusitano horses are the most well-known and over the years they have emerged to be the most preferred of the different horse breeds and the Lusitanos have since early times been owned by the rich and affluent in the nation thus emerging as markers of status and prestige. Different horse fairs are organized in the country dedicated to the Lusitano horses and they are the preferred horses when it comes to participating in equestrian bullfights because of their characteristics. The leading brand which is involved in the manufacturer of horse saddles, tacks and bridles in Portugal is also named after this prolific horse breed and is known as the Lusitano brand.
In the primitive era the horses were among the animals that were used for transporting individuals from one place to another in the absence any other form of communication like automobiles. Later on, horses began to be trained by the armed forces that were possessed by the kings and monarchy for use during battles and warfare. Many individuals will be able to recollect stories of gallant knights fighting in horsebacks. In the later years, it developed as a major sporting activity in the country of Portugal and the Lusitanos emerged as the most prominent and preferred horse breed well-known for their versatility in the field.
It is extremely necessary to point out here that the country of Portugal has a very rich history and tradition which has been percolating down through generations. The cosmopolitan culture that the Portuguese nation boasts of is a result of the innumerable cultural interactions that Portugal has been exposed to since the ancient times. The naming of Lusitano also can be related to the ancient past when Portugal was subjugated and ruled by the Roman Empire. During those years, Portugal was known as Lusitania and the name Lusitania was derived from Luso which is the name of the son of the roman god of wine and merriment Bacchus. In the present day, the Lusitano brand name is synonymous with the different varieties of saddles, bridles and horse tack and these Lusitano tacks and other products are considered to be of supreme quality and are therefore extremely popular. Their superb creations are symbolic of efficient craftsmanship and it is interesting to note that the Lusitano brand maintains a fine balance while manufacturing their products. This is to mean that these horse tack, saddles and bridles are created by not entirely negating the traditional designs while at times newer and more innovative creations are also incorporated within their designs. It is their versatility that has enabled the Lusitano brand name to flourish steadily over the years.
Lusitano saddles
In the country of Portugal, since equestrian activities comprise a very significant aspect of their social life as well, the use of the riding attires and appropriate bridles, saddles and horse tack are extremely necessary. The Lusitano brand produces some of the best saddles which include various traditional forms while it also must be noted that there are various newer innovations that have also been included from time to time. The traditional form of the Portuguese saddle was known as the ‘sela a portuguesa’ and the traditional Portuguese saddles of the present era are modeled on the primitive saddles that were designed during the 15th century. The most prominent among them are the Baroque saddle and the Relvas saddle named after Carlos Relvas who was a famous bullfighter and photographer of the 19th century. It is to be noted that the Lusitano traditional saddles are usually handmade and the color of the saddle is dependent on the refined quality of the suede or leather which is used for its making. The Lusitano brand is also instrumental in the creation and promotion of innovative saddles which include Ribatejo saddle, Portuguese Equitation, D.Dinis saddle, D.Dominigues saddle. These saddles cater to those who enjoy novel designs moving with time and also prove the popularity of equestrian as a sport in the country. The Lusitano saddles are the most preferred options among consumers.
Lusitano bridles
Apart from the saddles, the horse bridles are a very important and inseparable part of horse riding and equestrian activities and the Lusitano brand can be referred to as one of the leading bridle producers in the country of Portugal. Here it is necessary to point out that the idea of the traditional Portuguese bridle has been adopted from the accounts of Manoel Carlos de Andrade as dictated in his 18th century book on Portuguese bridles named ‘Luz da Liberal, e Nobre Arte da Cavallaria’. Therefore the manufacturers of the Lusitano bridles are indebted to these accounts for the creation of the tradition Portuguese bridles and the Baroque bridles. In fact it is even more interesting to note that in the creation of these horse bridles in the present day, the Lusitano brand still makes use of the same primitive ingredients that were used in the manufacturing of these bridles in the early times and usually follow the 18th century patterns. The Lusitano brand also promotes the formation of innovatively designed bridles and these have led to the development of the Portuguese-German and Portuguese-English bridles which are equally popular as the traditional bridle forms.
Among the various bridles that are offered for sale by the Lusitano brand, among the most famous is the Portuguese bridle W which has been recognized to be as the earliest of the traditional Portuguese horse bridles. The Lusitano brand offers this Portuguese bridle W having a wider and more extensive width measuring about 19 mm which is much higher than the width of the normal horse bridles. All these horse bridles, both traditional and later innovations are provided by buckles and a group of reins. In case of the Portuguese English bridles that are produced by the Lusitano brand, the noseband has a prevalent English style while the bridle itself is designed along the modes of the baroque Portuguese bridles. There is also a bit of ornamentation in the nosebands and the buckles are also of Baroque style designs. In a similar manner the Portuguese German bridle has a German styled noseband apart from being accessorized by decorated browband and noseband along with traditional Portuguese Baroque styled buckles and reins.
Lusitano horse tack
The Lusitano brand is also very well-known as being one of the most prolific producers of horse tack in Portugal and these horse tack are used along with the saddles and bridles during equestrian activities. Similar to the Portuguese bridles, the idea of the ancient Portuguese horse tack has been derived mainly from the accounts and descriptions provided by Manoel Carlos de Andrade in his book titled ‘Luz da Liberal, e Nobre Arte da Cavallaria’. In the later years these ideas were incorporated and popularized by the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art. The most prevalent among the traditional Portuguese horse tack include the Portuguese traditional tacks and the Baroque horse tack. The Portuguese horse tacks usually comprise of various components like cavessons, halters, stirrups and also breastplates, leather girths etc. In a country where equestrian activities are immensely popular and a part and parcel of daily life, it is only natural that the horse tack are one of the widely sold items and those belonging to the Lusitano brand are very well-known for their refined quality products. The cavessons are a very significant component of the Portuguese horse tack and they are mainly used for the purpose of leaping and therefore it is mostly of use during equestrian bullfights and similar shows. The stirrups also comprise a part of the horse tack and there are different forms of stirrups like the armored stirrups apart from the original and traditional styled Baroque stirrups and the different variants of decorated stirrups. The leather stirrups that are offered by the Lusitano brand are very intricately designed and the leather girths that are on offer are also of very good quality. The Lusitano brand offers horse breastplates in both newer innovative styles as well as the traditional baroque styles. Cruppers are also available in traditional forms. The wide range of products manufactured by the Lusitano brand and its superior quality has made it a very popular and preferred brand name in the recent times.
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