Spanish Barb Fact Sheet

Species Name

Equus, equus; and Equus, feral (Cerbat & others below)

Common Names

Colonial Spanish Horse
Also known as “Spanish Barb”
Also Know as “Spanish Mustang” *

* The word "Mustang" means feral in Spanish. Not all wild horses or "mustangs" are Spanish Mustangs. However there are wild horses that show the visible characteristics of Spanish Horses.

North American Strains

Banker
Belsky
Cerbat
Choctaw
Florida Cracker
Marsh Tacky
New Mexico
Pryor
Santa Cruz
Sulphur
Wilbur-Cruce

Population Size and Trends

American Livestock Breed Conservancy, Conservation Priority for Equines, 2010 lists - All of the above Spanish Strains status as CRITICAL. They are of the highest priority for conservation. (Fewer than 200 annual registrations) Historical Population: The Colonial Spanish horse is a group of closely related breeds that descend from horses brought by Spanish explorers and colonists to the Americas beginning in the 1500s.

Horses were an integral part of Spanish success in the New World, and both domestic and feral stocks spread far and wide. For centuries, Spanish horses were the most common type of horse throughout the Southeast and all of the regions west of the Mississippi. Beginning in the mid- to late 1800s, however, almost all Spanish stocks were crossbred with or replaced by horses of larger size, including Thoroughbreds, other riding horse breeds, and draft horses. Ubiquitous in 1750 and 1850, the pure Spanish horse in North America was almost extinct by 1950.

Current Distribution: A few herds of pure Spanish horses remained in the Southeast and the Southwest, owned by traditional ranchers or Native American tribes, and a few were found in isolated feral herds. From these remnants, conservation programs began. Several groups of people have been involved. First among these has been the Spanish Mustang Registry, founded in 1957, followed by the American Indian Horse Registry, the Spanish Barb Breeders Association, and the Southwest Spanish Mustang Association. Today, these associations register more than 200 horses per year, and the breed population numbers over 2,000.

Distinguishing Physical Characteristics and Features

The horses are generally short coupled and deep bodied, but narrow from the front so that the front legs join the chest in the shape of an "A" rather than the shape of a "U" that is seen in the stock horse breeds. The croup is sloping and the tail is set low. The horses have broad foreheads and narrow faces, and the profiles may be either straight or convex. For more details on the Spanish Barb please see the What is a Spanish Barb page.

Height: 13.2-hands to 15-hands (54”-60” at the withers)

Weight: 700-900-pounds.

Gaited: Some strains show lateral and horizontal gait.

Colors: All

Descendants

The Spanish horse has also made substantial contributions to the American gaited breeds and to the American Quarter Horse and other stock horse breeds. They are also close relatives to the Paso Fino and Peruvian Paso horses.

Morgan
Missouri Fox-Trotter
American Quarter Horse

Tennessee Walking Horse

Rocky Mountain Horse

American Paint Horse

American Saddlebred

Appaloosa Horse

Spotted Saddle Horse

Standardbred Horse

Racking Horse

Azteca

Coursing through their veins,
the blood of the ancient ones.

On their backs rode Caliphs, Conquerors and Kings.

They have run with the eagle, and felt the earth of unexplored lands beneath their hooves.

Their past...forged from the steel of endurance.

Their present...built on the heritage of the past.

Their future...guided by the reins of destiny.

— Peg Cash

Ubiquitous in 1750 and 1850, the pure Spanish horse in North America was almost extinct by 1950.

Gerinomo - foundation Wilbur-Cruce stallion

Today, these associations register more than 200 horses per year, and the breed population numbers around 2,000.