Huaso (horse)
Encyclopedia
Huaso was the horse that, ridden by Chilean Captain Alberto Larraguibel
, set the high-jump world record on February 5, 1949, by jumping 2.47 m (8.1 ft) in Viña del Mar
, Chile
, one of the longest-running unbroken sport records in history (62 years as of 2011.)
Huaso was born in Chile
in 1933, and was originally named Faithful. He started as a race horse, but never managed good results because he was too nervy and more than somewhat unruly. After six years of total failure, the horse was purchased by Chilean Army captain Gaspar Lueje, in the early 1940s, who thought he could be trained for Dressage
. When Faithful was just starting his training he suffered an accident, impaling himself on the back quarter, and almost having to be put down. The horse eventually recovered, but acquired a slight limp in the left hind, which effectively put an end to any chances in that discipline.
So, as a last option he was moved to Show jumping
. Faithful still retained his potency, but nonetheless, he was still too nervy and difficult to control, so he wasn't showing any promise in that area either. One afternoon, while he was being trained riderless on the enclosure, he simply bolted and jumped over the surrounding wall, which was over 2 meters high. Casually, he was spotted by an Army horse master who happened to pass by, and who right away decided to purchase and destine him for high-jump.
The horse was then taken to the Army Cavalry Academy, in the city of Quillota
. There, the name was changed to Huaso and he was handed to Captain Alberto Larraguibel
for training. He trained the horse for over two years specifically for the world record. He first targeted the national record, then the south-American and finally, the world one.
On February 5, 1949, both rider and horse were finally ready. The attempts were held at the Coraceros Regiment in Viña del Mar
, Chile
. On the words of Captain Larraguibel:
When they broke the world record Huaso was already 16 years old, quite old for a result of that magnitude. After the record, the horse was retired and never ridden again. He roamed freely until he died naturally on August 24, 1961, at the age of 29. Huaso is buried on the same Cavalry Academy where he spent his last years.
The High Jump world record should not be confused with the Puissance
world record. The Puissance
is a series of bricks built as a wall rather than angled poles as used in the high jump. The word 'Puissance' means 'power' in French. The current indoor Puissance world record stands at 2.4 m (7.9 ft) and was set in June 1991 in Chaudfontaine, Belgium by German rider Franke Sloothaak
on Optiebeurs Golo, breaking his previous record set on Leonardo.
Alberto Larraguibel
Colonel Alberto Larraguibel Morales was a Chilean Army officer of Basque descent born in Angol, Chile. He remains the record holder for Puissance on Horseback, one of the longest-running unbroken sport records in history -- years as of .Then-Captain Larraguibel broke the record for the...
, set the high-jump world record on February 5, 1949, by jumping 2.47 m (8.1 ft) in Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, one of the longest-running unbroken sport records in history (62 years as of 2011.)
- Color: ChestnutChestnut (coat)Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
- Markings: Star, forehead
- Height: 165 centimetre
- Sex: StallionStallion (horse)A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Breeding: By Henry Lee; out of Trémula
- Riders: Gaspar Lueje & Alberto Larraguibel
Huaso was born in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1933, and was originally named Faithful. He started as a race horse, but never managed good results because he was too nervy and more than somewhat unruly. After six years of total failure, the horse was purchased by Chilean Army captain Gaspar Lueje, in the early 1940s, who thought he could be trained for Dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
. When Faithful was just starting his training he suffered an accident, impaling himself on the back quarter, and almost having to be put down. The horse eventually recovered, but acquired a slight limp in the left hind, which effectively put an end to any chances in that discipline.
So, as a last option he was moved to Show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
. Faithful still retained his potency, but nonetheless, he was still too nervy and difficult to control, so he wasn't showing any promise in that area either. One afternoon, while he was being trained riderless on the enclosure, he simply bolted and jumped over the surrounding wall, which was over 2 meters high. Casually, he was spotted by an Army horse master who happened to pass by, and who right away decided to purchase and destine him for high-jump.
The horse was then taken to the Army Cavalry Academy, in the city of Quillota
Quillota
Quillota is a city and commune located in the Aconcagua River valley of central Chile's Valparaíso Region. It is the capital and largest city of the Quillota Province where many inhabitants live in the surrounding farm areas of San Isidro, La Palma, Pocochay, and San Pedro...
. There, the name was changed to Huaso and he was handed to Captain Alberto Larraguibel
Alberto Larraguibel
Colonel Alberto Larraguibel Morales was a Chilean Army officer of Basque descent born in Angol, Chile. He remains the record holder for Puissance on Horseback, one of the longest-running unbroken sport records in history -- years as of .Then-Captain Larraguibel broke the record for the...
for training. He trained the horse for over two years specifically for the world record. He first targeted the national record, then the south-American and finally, the world one.
Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. On the words of Captain Larraguibel:
When they broke the world record Huaso was already 16 years old, quite old for a result of that magnitude. After the record, the horse was retired and never ridden again. He roamed freely until he died naturally on August 24, 1961, at the age of 29. Huaso is buried on the same Cavalry Academy where he spent his last years.
The High Jump world record should not be confused with the Puissance
Puissance
Puissance is the high-jump competition in the equestrian sport of show jumping.The competition involves a maximum of five rounds - opening round followed by four jump-offs not against the clock. The first round consists of four to six large single obstacles including the puissance wall, the...
world record. The Puissance
Puissance
Puissance is the high-jump competition in the equestrian sport of show jumping.The competition involves a maximum of five rounds - opening round followed by four jump-offs not against the clock. The first round consists of four to six large single obstacles including the puissance wall, the...
is a series of bricks built as a wall rather than angled poles as used in the high jump. The word 'Puissance' means 'power' in French. The current indoor Puissance world record stands at 2.4 m (7.9 ft) and was set in June 1991 in Chaudfontaine, Belgium by German rider Franke Sloothaak
Franke Sloothaak
Franke Sloothaak is a German show jumping champion, Olympic champion from 1988 and 1996.-Olympic Record:...
on Optiebeurs Golo, breaking his previous record set on Leonardo.