Spanish Mustang Horse Breed – Profile, Facts, Photos
If there’s any horse with a more significant historical impact, the Spanish Mustang horse has to be the one. Its history links to early conquistadores, seeking to colonize South America and transform it into the New Spain. Their descent into the South America was accompanied by the early Colonial Spanish horses, which they bred with the local horses.
Both colonizers and the local population loved the new breed for its strength and resilience. The horse’s stamina outweighed all local breeds, making the horse the ideal choice for long voyages. The local tribes soon took notice of the horse’s qualities and began trading with the newcomers.
The Spanish Mustang soon became an iconic horse in the region, associated with tribes like the Comanche, Apache, Shoshone, and Utes.
Today, the horse retains much of its former glory as it is one of the most beautiful and gracious specimens that the equine world has to offer.
Characteristics
The Mustang’s appearance combines the physical characteristics of old local US breeds with Spanish horses arriving in the conquistador era from the Iberian Peninsula.
The horse generally has a convex profile with a solid and muscular neck, round chest, broad forehead, and crescent-shaped nostrils. The feet are round and sturdy, with laid-back shoulders and prominent musculature. The horse looks gracious and athletic, which is what you would expect from a horse built for endurance.
Its core features include:
– Size and Height
The Spanish Mustang will generally reach 55 to 60 inches in height. What goes above this limit is, curiously enough, not favored in the Mustang community. Breeders prefer medium-sized horses with round shapes, athletic characteristics, and slim bodies. Over-muscular or bulky horses aren’t as appreciated.
– Weight
Expect the Spanish Mustang to sit between 650 to 1100 lbs. Below the minimum may indicate health issues or malnutrition, while above the maximum may indicate overfeeding. I recommend keeping your horse within the average weight to prevent any health problems along the way.
A balanced and optimized diet will also provide your horse with the energy, strength, and resilience it needs for both daily tasks and more competitive endeavors.
– Colors
When it comes to coloring, the Mustang is among the most diverse breeds out there. The horse will come in colors like bay, chestnut, black, brown, grullo, cremello, palomino, and buckskin, to name a few. Many specimens may also come with markings and color spots, the likes of which you would see in old cowboy movies with Indians.
Horse breeders appreciate this wild diversity since it provides the horse with personality and uniqueness.
– Speed
There’s nothing too wild in this area since most Mustangs will settle for speeds around 25-30 mph. The record is 55 mph over a short distance, but don’t expect your horse to reach that anytime soon.
The Mustang is probably not the horse of choice for speed lovers since this breed is most renowned for its stamina and resilience rather than speed.
– Temperament
The Spanish Mustang loves human company, and it has a friendly and warm character. The horse shows a native curiosity, it’s a fast learner, and it is intelligent, affectionate, and alert. This makes the Mustang ideal for training, competitive events, and even recreational riding.
– Lifespan
The Mustang will usually live between 25 to 30 years. Multiple factors are influencing its lifespan, including the quality of food, genes, and overall quality of life. Most people who purchase purebreds tend to consider them as part of the family.
With proper care, regular veterinary checkups, and a healthy and active lifestyle, there’s no reason why your Mustang should exceed 30-years of age.
Diet and Nutrition
When it comes to food, the Mustang isn’t picky. Its diet consists of hay and grain, just like any other horse. However, since this breed tends to have a more active lifestyle than usual, you might need to consider adding extra vitamins and minerals to their diet.
You can find some good-quality supplements if you consider that your horse needs supplementation.
Grooming
There are three areas you should focus on – mane and tail, body, and hoofs. A complete equine grooming kit should do the job just fine. I recommend cleaning the hoofs regularly to remove dirt, pebbles, or solid matter that may affect the horse’s gait or even cause wounds.
You should bathe the horse regularly, as necessary, to keep the coat healthy and shiny. A well-groomed Mustang will radiate health and energy with more vibrant colors and clean, healthy hair.
Uses
The most common uses for the Spanish Mustang include endurance racing, dressage, jumping events, general riding, and even polo. The Mustang is a flexible breed with many aces up its sleeve.
Price
The Spanish Mustang covers a wide range of prices, going as low as $1,000 and as high as $10,000 on average. It’s unlikely that you will find one cheaper than $1,000, but you will definitely find one more expensive than $10,000.
Health Problems
The Mustang has no known health issues. I recommend taking your horse to regular veterinary checkups to avoid all unnecessary surprises, and everything should be good. You should also stick to the experts’ recommendations when it comes to food, diet, medical checkups, and other aspects of interest to your horse.
Population
There is no exact number of Spanish Mustangs I can provide, but one thing is for certain – there aren’t many of them. You should expect several thousand Mustangs worldwide as their numbers have dwindled over the years.
Their rarity also explains the rich price tag coming with a Spanish Mustang nowadays.
Conclusion
The Spanish Mustang is one of the most valued horses in the world. Its friendly and warm character, along with its gracious physical presence and incredible resilience, make it ideal for all horse lovers worldwide.
If you plan on getting a Spanish Mustang soon and have questions about the breed, hit the comment section below. If nobody provides you with a relevant answer, I will shortly.
