COLUMBUS, Ohio – Romantico H.H.F., a Spanish-Norman stallion of Hamid Hill Farm in Woodbury, won fourth place in the Pfizer Open Freestyle Reining division at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.

The event was held from October 4 through October 24 with more than 8,000 quarter horses from the United States, Europe and Latin America competing. Romantico H.H.F. – who was exhibited by trainer Garry McAllister of Harwinton - is owned by Linda and Allan Hamid of Woodbury.

The Pfizer Open Freestyle Reining competition is a popular competition sanctioned by the National Reining Horse Association.

To the music “Ride of the Valkyries,” both Romantico H.H.F. and rider performed in museum-quality reproduction armor protraying the heritage of the rare Spanish-Norman breed, a genetic and historical re-creation of the medieval knight’s charger, the warhose of the ages.

The enthusiastic audience cheered the spins, sliding stops, lead changes and roll-backs performed by the powerful, 16.1-hand stallion.

Romantico H.H.F. represented the Spanish-Norman breed at Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Massachusetts this past weekend. Amber Talarico of Woodbury exhibited Romantico in breed demonstrations and appeared in medieval armor in the Pfizer Fantasia on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Spanish-Norman blends the genes of the Andalusian of Spain and the Percheron of France. Romantico H.H.F. was sired by the legendary Andalusian, the late Embajador IX of Hamid Hill Farm, Ltd.

Allan and Linda Osterman Hamid established the Spanish-Norman Horse Registry, Inc., in 1991 to record the pedigrees of this unique breed which is capturing the attention of equine aficionados worldwide. Articles showcasing the breed have appeared in the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany and Great Britain.

Information on the Spanish-Norman horse can be found at www.spanish-norman.com, such as the following:

According to extensive research, it was the early Spanish horses which influenced the development of the Norman horses from medieval France. Norman horses infused with Barb blood contributed to the equine type that would eventually come to be known as Percheron, after the Les Perches region of France.

The Spanish-Norman horse combines the strength, size and bone density of the Percheron with the elegant beuty, boldness and natural collection of the Andalusian. Blessed with presence and docility, the modern Spanish-Norman stands anywhere from 15.3 to 17 hands high and most often is gray with some bays and blacks.

Common characteristics of the breed include large, expressive eyes; long, graceful necks; laid back shoulders; strong hind quarters; and sturdy feet and legs. Because of these charactertistics, the Spanish-Norman is predisposed to performing well in equine disciplines such as jumping, eventing, dressage and driving.

Allan and Linda Osterman Hamid of Hamid Hill Farm also run the Spanish-Norman Registry, Inc., which indicates that there are more than 56 Andalusian stallions as foundation sires located across the United States and Canada.