Growing up on La Perla
Rearing takes on a very special significance at La Perla. There is simply nothing more important than giving the foals an ideal start in life and thus laying the best foundation for a long and equally healthy horse life. According to their nature, the broodmares and young stallions lead a happy and free life in large herds outside on the wide pastures all year round. The breeding stallions and all young horses already in training are also doing well all around.
Not only the right place, the land, the large pastures that are always available to our horses and the climate are extremely important in rearing. Also the trustful connection to the human being by daily guidance and love from the first day and every single further day, contributes to the inner and outer balance of the horses! Our stud farm La Perla is based on this loving energy and thus contributes significantly to the fact that our horses are so wonderful and the breeding is so successful.
This is also the reason why the stud does not sell foals. Except if they remain here in the rearing, so that they can develop optimally.
The importance of rearing is unfortunately often underestimated and we want to give our foals and young horses the very best start in life.
The broodmares live the whole year outside on the extensive pastures and also give birth to their foals there in the spring. Together and free in a large herd, very original and horse-friendly and yet sheltered, they are well looked after, their welfare is taken care of and they want for nothing. They are the soul of the stud and are very dear to us!
If a broodmare can't become a foal anymore, for example due to her advanced age, she remains in the mare group as a "pensioner" and is allowed to enjoy the rest of her life. She remains a valuable member of the herd, helps to educate the foals and young mares as a "wise old" and continues to be valued and loved.
The first foals are born in the spring only from about April, so that the weather is already a little warmer and better and if possible no more snow falls.
From the first day they live in the mare herd, learn to communicate in "the language of horses" and how to behave with their mother, aunts and friends. The common play, the possibility to romp on the wide areas at any time as needed and to get to know the different ground conditions from the very beginning, quickly strengthens the little body, tendons, ligaments, bones and muscles. In other words, the best conditions from the first hour.
So they experience their first spring, their first summer, autumn and winter. They stay for a long time with their mothers in the big herd and learn many valuable things for their life during this time.
It is not until the following January that they are separated from their mothers and weaned. By then they have become very independent and are now ready to go their own ways.
After weaning, the first school days begin for the almost-year-olds. The first "training" now awaits the first-year horses. During this time, they stay in a large paddock in the middle of the stud farm and we devote time to them every day. The "training" consists primarily of gaining their trust and arousing their curiosity so that they enjoy working with us.
But of course this is not their first contact with us. We have been visiting them in the pasture almost every day since they were born. There, the little horses have already learned that the two-legged friends are wonderful cuddlers and have largely lost their fear.
However, all beginnings are difficult and in the first few days after being separated from their mother, most of them are naturally still a little nervous and have to get used to all the new things. That's why they are given a "wise aunt" who brings calm to the group and gives them a sense of security.
For 1-2 months, the horse children learn with a lot of patience, calm and love what a halter is, how to be led and touched everywhere and how to give hooves - the whole ABC of what a noble Lusitano should be able to do after the 1st class. We keep the individual learning units extra short so as not to overtax her and take advantage of her curiosity and need for cuddles to make everything positive, so that she can only gain good experiences and her trust in humans can grow steadily.
After this initial learning period, the almost-yearlings are separated by gender and come out into the large pastures again. The young stallions get their own pasture and the fillies are allowed to romp around in the herd of young mares.
There they experience the next years of their youth, play, scuffle, run and develop into splendid and healthy Lusitanos.
Of course, they will continue to be supervised. We continue to visit them frequently and check daily to make sure everything is in order.
Until they are about 3,5-4 years old they enjoy their life, get everything they need for their optimal development and are also dewormed regularly. Once or twice a year we repeat the foal ABC they have learned. The rest of the time they live practically wild, free and yet protected and accompanied with our love, horse-friendly in the herd.
In this way they develop into robust horses that are both physically and mentally resilient, balanced, happy and healthy.
At an altitude of almost 1,200 meters, our wonderful La Perla Lusitanos live on a huge pastures in the middle of the mountains.
In this particular region, the weather conditions are rather European - clearly pronounced four seasons: In summer, it's really hot, just as you would expect it in Spain. In winter, on the other hand, snow and sub-zero temperatures are not uncommon. Thus, the horses grow up under robust conditions and therefore later feel comfortable in other countries and more northern regions.
The wide, hilly pastures with their unusual soil composition offer the most optimal conditions for rearing horses. The varied terrain is characterized not only by extensive grassy areas but also by the growth of holm oaks and bushes. Rocks and sandy areas make the hooves strong and keep them in excellent shape, without the need for a blacksmith. The La Perla Lusitanos are especially characterized by their surefootedness. Tendons, ligaments, the musculature as well as the entire physique of the young horses can develop naturally and perfectly in the best sense.
These first years lay the most important foundation for the whole later life. Our Lusitanos thus develop into robust horses that are both physically and mentally balanced and healthy.At La Perla Stud, we deliberately make sure that our horses have a long period of youth. According to our motto "good things take time"! We start training them only when they are about 3.5-4 years old.