Royal Stables of Córdoba and the Andalusian Horse Show

Córdoba has a long horse-breeding tradition, and the Caballerizas Reales, the Royal Stables, are its heart. Today you can visit the stables’ arcades and watch an evening show that puts the Andalusian horse in the spotlight.

I visited this place

We saw the equestrian show at the Royal Stables in Córdoba, and took photos of the stables and the show.

What are the Royal Stables?

The Caballerizas Reales de Córdoba are the royal stables, on the same street as the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, in the old town. They were established at the wish of King Philip II, who promoted the breeding of the Andalusian horse, the Pura Raza Española. The show’s own information describes them as the second oldest active stable establishment in the world, and the horses that perform are bred in these stables.

Inside, long vaulted stone arcades line the stables, and they are impressive even without a horse in sight.

The show: Pasión y Duende del Caballo Andaluz

The Royal Stables host an equestrian show called Pasión y Duende del Caballo Andaluz (Passion and Spirit of the Andalusian Horse). According to the show’s listing it lasts 90 minutes, with scenes performed by about 20 horses and 10 riders. It combines work in hand, the skill of doma vaquera (the working-horse tradition) and high-school dressage, the elegance of an amazona (female rider), the art of the garrochistas, and dance fused with exercises on horseback.

Performances are in the evening, and the start time changes with the season: the listing gave a 19:30 start in the cooler months and 21:00 or 21:30 in spring and summer. Times and ticketing change, so check the official site before you go.

Our visit

We went to the show and photographed the poster outside, the horses in the lit arena and the mural of horses and a flamenco dancer in a red dress at the venue. We will add our own impressions and tips here.

Horse-drawn carriages in the old town

You will also see horse-drawn carriages (calesas) waiting around the old town, near the Mezquita. We photographed a horse harnessed to a carriage in the old town. Check the operators’ routes and fares directly.

Planning

The stables are a short walk from the Alcázar, the Roman Bridge and the Mezquita, so a show works well after a day of sightseeing, followed by dinner. See our one-day itinerary. Read more at the official sites: Caballerizas Reales and Córdoba Turismo.