Horse
Breed Description:
The Colonial Spanish breed of horse is descended from the original Iberian horse stock brought from Spain to the Americas. Today, the term Colonial Spanish encompasses many strains or breeds now found primarily in North America, and it goes by a number of other names, including the Spanish Mustang. The term Colonial Spanish is preferred by many researchers, who maintain that the word "mustang" incorrectly implies that all of the horses either are or were historically free-ranging rather than domesticated. The Colonial Spanish breed of horses are generally deep bodied, but narrow from the front. Thus its front legs and chest form the shape of an "A" rather than the "U" that is typically seen in the stock horse breeds. Colonial Spanish horses tend to have broad foreheads and narrow faces, and the profiles may be either straight or convex. Nearly all colors occur in the Colonial Spanish breed of horse. Solid colors include black, grullo, bay, dun, buckskin, chestnut, palomino, cream, gray, and roan. Color patterns include appaloosa, tobiano, overo, Medicine Hat, War Bonnet, calico, sabino, frame, and splash paint. The Colonial Spanish breed of horse is tough and athletic, making it well-suited for ranch work, as well as endurance, trail, and pleasure riding. Its unusually long stride makes for a smooth ride.
Temperament:
The Colonial Spanish breed of horse has an even temperament and docile disposition. They are capable of forming a strong bond with their owner.
Height:
The Colonial Spanish breed of horse stands 13.2 to 14.2 hands high.
Weight:
The Colonial Spanish breed of horse weighs approximately 700 to 900 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Colonial Spanish breed of horse has no known breed-specific health problems. Rather, it is known for its hardiness.
Exercise:
The Colonial Spanish breed of horse is energetic.
Grooming:
Colonial Spanish horses have routine grooming requirements.
Origin:
The term "Colonial Spanish" is used to apply to a group of closely related breeds that descended from horses brought by Spanish explorers and colonists to the Americas beginning in the 1500s. The original horses from Spain were relatively unselected, carrying the blood of Spanish Barbs, Arabians, Lipizzaners, and other European breeds. For centuries, Spanish horses were the most common type of horse throughout the southeastern United States and west of the Mississippi. Beginning in the mid- to late 1800s, however, almost all Spanish stocks were crossbred with or replaced by larger horses, such as draft horses or Thoroughbreds and other riding horse breeds. By 1950, the pure Colonial Spanish breed of horse was virtually extinct in North America. Successful conservation programs were initiated using the few remaining herds of pure Colonial Spanish horses that remained.
The Colonial Spanish breed of horse goes by a number of other names, including the Spanish Barb and Spanish Mustang. 