American Indian Horse Explained

American Indian Horse
Features:hardy horse of Spanish Colonial Horse type, found in many colors
Nickname:cow pony, buffalo horse, Indian pony, "Mustang", cayuse, Spanish pony
Country:United States
Group1:American Indian Horse Registry
Std1:http://www.indianhorse.com/?page_id=52

The American Indian Horse is defined by its breed registry as a horse that may carry the ancestry of the Spanish Barb, Arabian, Mustang, or "Foundation" Appaloosa.[1] It is the descendant of horses originally brought to the Americas by the Spanish and obtained by Native American people.[2] The registry was created in 1961 when some breeders of Colonial Spanish Horse bloodlines considered the Spanish Mustang breeders to be departing from the original "Indian horse" phenotype.[3] The organization was started "for the purpose of collecting, recording and preserving the pedigrees of American Indian Horses."[4] The registry also allows the "hybrids and descendants" of the original Spanish Colonial Horse to be registered. Horses registered with other breed registries to be double-registered with this organization if the horses meet the conformation requirements.[1]

Characteristics

American Indian Horses generally range in height from and weigh between 700and. They may be any coat color and both pinto and leopard spotting patterns are common. They are hardy, surefooted, and no draft horse breeding is allowed.[4] Some may be gaited.[5]

There are five registration categories:

Uses

American Indian Horses are ridden in western-style classes in horse show and Gymkhana speed events.[5] They are also used for pleasure riding and trail riding.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What is an American Indian Horse?. indianhorse.com. 23 February 2015.
  2. Web site: American Indian Horse History. indianhorse.com. 23 February 2015.
  3. Book: Lynghaug. Fran. The Official Horse Breeds Standards Guide. 2009. MBI Publishing Company. 9781616731717. 16–23. 23 February 2015.
  4. Web site: About. indianhorse.com. 23 February 2015.
  5. Web site: National Show. indianhorse.com. 23 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150224022643/http://www.indianhorse.com/?page_id=40. 2015-02-24. dead.
  6. Book: Hendricks. Bonnie L.. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. 2007. University of Oklahoma Press. 9780806138848. 16. 23 February 2015.