KEY Magazine Fort Worth

Fort Worth Hosts The Peruvian Horses

The Second Peruvian Horse Futurity is scheduled for Sept. 5-7, at John Justin Arena in the Will Rogers Complex. While the public is invited to attend the Futurity at any time, a special exhibition of this unique horse's smooth ride takes place Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. That event is the "Champagne" competition where riders are handed full glasses of champagne and instructed to do certain maneuvers on their horses. The rider with the most champagne still in the glass wins $500.

Saturday's event also features the Texas Ladies Aside, named by the Texas legislature as the official drill team of Texas. The Texas Ladies Aside has also performed in Peru. Inspired by that appearance, several women of Peru formed their own drill team and are now recognized internationally for their performances.

Origin of the Peruvian horse is traced back to the Andalusian, the Barb, and the Fresian. In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors brought their war horses to Peru and swept across the continent to conquer the Incan empire. Bred for luxury and endurance, Peruvian horses are expected to carry their owners over great distances in comfort. Peruvian horses were first imported to the U.S. in the early 1950s. Closely guarded by the Peruvian government, high-quality horses weren’t exported, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that the U.S. was able to import a Champion Peruvian Breeding Stallion. In 1972, another break came for American breeders when John Delozier and Angie Schmidt of Thunderbird Ranch brought *Piloto, a Champion Peruvian Breeding Stallion, to this country.

Although Schmidt and Delozier had paid a large sum of money to purchase *Piloto, the Peruvian government would not allow the stallion to be exported, declaring him a national treasure. The owner wouldn’t return the money either, so Delozier and Verne Albright smuggled the stallion out of Peru into a neighboring country, and hired a pilot to fly them to the United States. *Piloto and his line are the foundation stock for many successful U.S. breeders.

The Peruvian horse show is as unique as the horse itself. Peruvians are shown unshod. All horses are tacked with a traditional Peruvian saddle, bit, and headsets. Riders wear white shirts, white slacks or white jeans, and a blue blazer, or a traditional Peruvian poncho over there whites.

Top breeders will come from all parts of the U.S. to select the Champion of Champions Peruvian Sire and to compete for the $65,000 purse. For additional information about the Futurity or the Peruvian Horse, go to www.peruviandigest.com.

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