The horse has always played an important role in the history of Creed, from the riding habits designed for European royalty to the original inspiration of Aventus. We travel to Jerez, home to one of the world’s most famous equestrian schools to learn about the art of riding.
Drive south from Seville through the picturesque towns that pepper the sun-blasted Andalusian hills, past sleepy villages set amid orange groves and, after an hour or so, you’ll find yourself on the dusty outskirts of Jerez de la Frontera, a place synonymous with fortified-winemakers and famous brands of sherry.
Follow the lines of vibrant purple jacaranda trees and rows of oleander and you’ll find your way to the heart of the city and its other claim to fame, hidden behind the high garden walls of an elegant 19th-century palace.
The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is housed in the expansive grounds of the Recreo de las Cadenas, a Louis XV-style palace designed by the architect of the Paris opera house, Charles Garnier, in 1864 for the prominent local winemaker Don Julian Premartin Laborde.
One of the ‘big four’ riding schools in the world – it compares with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, the Cadre Noir in France and the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art – this is where riders and horses dedicate hundreds of hours to master the arcane art of dressage, with its roots in intricate 19th-century cavalry drills.
Much of the palace’s original French décor – the beautiful painted panels, chandeliers, marble floors and a grand columned staircase – has been preserved. Behind the palace, a grand fountain cools the breeze on a hot day, and, at the front, the steps lead down to the school’s outdoor arena.
Used for training, special performances and morning exercise, it’s here we are shown the steps the horses and riders have spent so long learning and perfecting. The small brick building at the far end is the saddlery, where the master harness-maker and his apprentices preserve the age-old art of Spanish saddle and harness-making.
So meticulous is the training that students must first draw every piece of tack to perfection before receiving approval to press cutting tools into leather.
Next to the palace is the outdoor ring where they are preparing for a competition in a few weeks’ time; metal seating is stacked ready to be put into place and further on is the indoor riding arena where the public shows are performed. This arena, where a twice-weekly dressage show is held in the summer, is the public face of the school.
Here, you can see the riders and their horses perform the airs of the Haute École or dressage steps: the Spanish Walk, a slow, rhythmic step, where the horse raises its forelegs high in the air for a beat while still moving forward; the collected but floating Passage trot, again with a prolonged movement; the dramatic Capriole jump and kick, which is an impressive movement in the air which comes out of the Piaffe, the rhythmic short step Piaffe trot; and then the impressive Pesade, when the horse gets up on its hind legs, and the Corveta (Courbette), in which the horse, standing on its hind legs, moves forward in small jumps.
The striking yellow-and-white arena building, built in the 20th century, with its rows of round windows providing natural light for daily training and weekly performances, is typical of Andalusian architecture.
Through the flag-adorned arches at the end, and opposite the king’s box, is a two-level circular tack room, where saddles and riding tack sit neatly in organised rows. Radiating from the centre of the tack room are five stables (each with 12 stalls) named after some of the most significant horses in the school’s history.
These include Ruiseñor and the four of the founding horses – Jerezano, Valeroso, Garboso and Vendaval. There is also an in-house, state-of-the-art vet’s practice next to the stables where the young apprentice riders are gathered today to talk to us.
Many young riders come here with a lot of hope and are keen to learn. Not many pass the strict entrance exam so these riders are the elite,’ says María José Rodríguez who has worked at the school for more than 30 years. ‘The young riders who make it into the academy start at first by riding the young colts and progress on up.'
The Jerez equestrian academy is the crème de la crème of dressage schools, and the horses are of such high quality they are priceless. The school owns a farm outside the town where the colts are born and bred before heading to the school to be trained. Once retired, older horses pass their days in the Andalusian fields.
Horses have always been revered in Andalusia, and Jerez is known for its horse breeding and its horses – a mix of Arab, Spanish and English stocks. But it is the highly prized Andalusian horse that is used in classic dressage, driving and showjumping.
These strong compact animals, around 15 hands or 1.5m high - have thick manes and tails, and are known for their intelligence, sensitivity and docility.
The Andalusian horse, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española), originates from the Iberian peninsula where its ancestors have lived for thousands of years.
It has been recognised as a distinct breed since the 15th century, and its equine conformation (bone structure, musculature and body proportions in relation to each other) has changed very little over the centuries.
Throughout its history, it has been known for its prowess as a war horse and was prized by the nobility. The breed was also used as a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government, often given as gifts to foster better relationships with neighbouring kingdoms, and kings across Europe rode and owned Spanish horses.
The origins of the horses at the academy, particularly those used in the tightly choreographed shows, date back to 1567 and the reign of King Philip II, who had a personal quest to own perfect Spanish horses.
He acquired numerous Spanish mares and stallions through selective breeding. These horses were deemed ‘most fitting to be mounted on by a king on occasions of triumph’, according to 17th-century author François Robichon de La Guérinière, one of the most influential writers on the art of dressage.
The Spanish breed quickly became the most sought-after horse in Europe and is depicted in many early paintings of European royalty, many of whom were dressed in the tailored riding habits created by The House of Creed.
Nowadays, these horses are mainly used for dressage, the strict discipline in which horses are trained to carry out various movements based on slight cues from its rider.
At this school, the riders are taught Spanish dressage – a mix of classical Haute École and Doma Vaquera (Spanish cowboy dressage). The clothing worn in our photographs is based on 18th-century riding costumes but the school also houses a collection of exquisite costumes for special occasions.
Mounted on the horses today are José Molina, Gonzalo Marquez and Fernando Ariza, veteran riders of the school and now teaching beginners. Their love for the horses and the bond of trust they share with them is obvious.
‘You might ride very well, with a nice posture, good position of the legs and hands', explains María José Rodríguez, 'but if you don’t have a bond, you will see that reflected in the horse.'
Ultimately, a good rider is someone who is able to communicate with their horse. It is a relationship between rider and horse built up over time, born of years and years of mutual trust - a complex dynamic.
This is made clear when you watch the horses and riders perform together. The intricate dressage steps and jumps are framed by this symbiosis; a 'dance' created by this unique connection. You absolutely sense the rider is communicating with the horse, not dominating it.
This is a noble art created by years of hard work, skill and passion. This agility, poise, grace and nobility is what first inspired Creed's Aventus fragrances and it clearly continues to inspire a new generation of riders.
