America's First Horse Hidalgo and the Spanish Mustang

America's First Horse - Hidalgo and the Spanish Mustang
The Spanish Mustang is a horse breed descended from horses introduced from Spain during the early conquest of the Americas. They are a type that today is extremely rare in Spain.[1] They are classified within the larger grouping of the Colonial Spanish horse.

Spanish Mustangs today are primarily domesticated horses but are sometimes confused with the feral American Mustang. The latter animals are descended from both Spanish horses and other feral horses escaped from various sources; they run wild in protected Herd Management Areas (HMAs) of the western United States, currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and to a lesser degree, in Canada. DNA studies indicate that Spanish breeding and type does still exist in some feral Mustang herds, including those on the Cerbat HMA (near Kingman, Arizona), Pryor Mountain HMA (Montana), Sulphur HMA (Utah), Kiger HMA and the Riddle Mountain HMA (Oregon). The true Spanish Mustang as a modern breed differs from the "wild" American Mustang in appearance and ancestry.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, many ranchers introduced Thoroughbreds, draft horses, Arabians, Morgans and other breeds into most feral herds, seeking to improve the type. However, the breed was saved from extinction by the efforts of preservation breeders and the creation of a registry to protect and preserve the original type.
"The Spanish Mustang is a medium sized horse ranging from 13.1 to 15 hands (53 to 60 inches, 135 to 152 cm) with an average size of approximately 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) with proportional weight. They are smooth muscled with short backs, rounded rumps and low set tails. Coupling is smooth and the overall appearance is of a well balanced, smoothly built horse. The girth is deep, with well laid back shoulder and fairly pronounced withers. They possess the classic Spanish type head with a straight or concave forehead and a convex nose which is in contrast to the straight forehead and nose of most breeds. Ears are average to short and usually notched or curved towards each other. Necks are fairly well crested in mares and geldings and heavily crested in mature stallions. Chests are narrow but deep with the front legs joining the chest in an "A" shape rather than straight across. Chestnuts are small or missing altogether, particularly on the rear legs. Ergots are small or absent. Feet are extremely sound with thick walls, many having what is typically known as a "mule foot" which resists bruising due to the concave sole. Cannons are short, upper foreleg is long with the canon bone having a larger circumference than other breeds of comparable size and weight. Long strided, many are gaited, with a comfortable gait such as the amble, running walk or single foot. Some individuals are laterally gaited and do a very credible "paso" gait though without extreme knee action. They are remarkably hardy animals and tend to be less prone to injury, particularly of the legs and feet, than other breeds. These magnificent horses were brought to America on Columbus's second voyage to the new world.
ref:
Sponenberg, D. Phillip "Spanish Mustangs and Barbs" Conquistador Magazine [1] Accessed June 5, 2006
Breed Characteristics, Spanish Mustang Registry, retrieved February 9, 2011
Spanish Mustang, International Museum of the Horse, retrieved February 9, 2011
History of the Spanish Mustang, Spanish Mustang Registry, retrieved February 9, 2011

[johngarcia]

very nice. I am blessed to see the spanish mustangs. They are sacred to me and my people. thank you for your appreciation to the breed.

[loki_inlove]

The first horses was brought to the island of Hispaniola and brought up to Florida from the island in 1516

[davidgray]

I sure do like the look of that little paint horse

[damienward]

I'm native cree from Alberta Canada I was the best from breaking horses Mustangs were the best IMO

[susanmckown]

My. Favorite. Movie. Love. This. Horse. And. The. Actor. Never. C it. On. Cable. .

[KingCapone]

I got a horse that looks just like Hidalgo

[jamesalvarez]

I might have to retrace my book, but in the Cronica De La Nueva Espana, or the history of new Spain by Cervantes Salazar, describing the early Mexican tribes and cultures before the conquest of the Aztecs, he describes that unlike the Spanish horses which they brought which were neutral in color, greys, browns, whites and blacks, the horses they saw in Mexico and around the country were in such a diversity of colors, variants, some spotted that they differed greatly from those of Europe and Iberia. This busts the myth then that the Spanish brought the horse here when they were described in this book as already being here, I would have to double check though because it’s only in Spanish and has to be translated but I remember that’s what it said, maybe one of you can check it out

[aviancypress]

They thought it was a holy dog because that's the only domesticated animal both sides had in common

[adlerfarn]

i did sleep in this tepee!!! in browning at bob's ranch ....funny i was there 2 tilmes 3 months and trained the fastest and best horses ever in my live

[rachelk.]

The white boy dressed as a fake native I died 😂

[RBYW]

🔴🔴⚫⚫🟡🟡⚪⚪
Looking for the Flag he used.

[yes]

So you're saying these mustangs didn't need to be tainted with thoroughbred horse blood, to be "improved" upon, like I just heard from another stream?

[RamShankar-kcwj]

Red Indian mixed blood spanish m mastanio 😮

[Claysif]

But they're wrong there were already wild horse breeds in America yes Cortez brought horses but there are already horses here

[jorgevergara]

GRAN, PELICULA, HIDALGO, Y, TODAS LAS TRAICIONES, QUE LE HICIERON, AL CAWBOY
JAJAJA

[bungodancereadie]

Horses have always been in the America's...yes the Spanish did bring horses here more than 500 years ago. But horses have always been here...so it is wrong to say that horses weren't here before the Spanish introduced the Iberian horses. Horses are indigenous to the America's, and they did not all die out, they have always been here.

[bipolatelly]

They (horses) aren't a "Picasso" either, lady!

[matthewalexander]

Sorry, not good enough.
This mythical tale is still shrouded in mystery.
Never solid proof of any of it, which is very convenient don't you think.
They need to recreate this contest in real will sort the men from the boys don't y'all think???
the minute I heard this tall tale I was highly doubtful to say the least.
Arabians are frigging endurance machines.
Why not recreate this contest?
If Hidalgo was so unique what does it say about the breed?
If he was a once off what good is that?
Have there been any Hidalgo's since?
...go figure... The mystery shroud works well for this tall tale.
Sad, actually.

[aviancypress]

I wish the aztecs could've tamed the horse