Current Issue:
Summer 2004
Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire - a 3,000-mile survival race across the Arabian Desert - was a challenge restricted to the finest Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and noblest lines, owned by the greatest royal families. In 1890, a wealthy Sheik invited an American and his horse to enter the race for the first time. Frank T. Hopkins was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the U.S. Cavalry who had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The story is told in the newly released Disney film, Hidalgo. - Jerry Circelli, Director of Communications, American Paint Horse Association |
- The Rare Spanish Mustang - by Jane Greenwood
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Unlike the wild mustangs managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the true Spanish Mustang is an actual breed of horse, which, according to the American Livestock Conservancy, is endangered.
In the movie, Hidalgo races thousands of miles across the desert to become the underdog winner. Not as unlikely as it may seem, Spanish Mustangs are excelling in today's field of endurance racing. For the past four years, the winner of the coveted AERC Jim Jones Award has been a Spanish Mustang named Geronimo's Warrior SMR #2006. Never before in the history of the AERC has a horse won this award more than two years running. Geronimo has close to 10,000 miles, all in 50- and 100-mile rides, also winning regional and national mileage titles.
Like Hidalgo, the Spanish Mustang is often quite colorful. With colors that range from appaloosa to zebra striped dun as well as grulla, buckskin, roan, paint, palomino, cremello, ysabella, and perlino. And the more common colors such as bay, chestnut, black and white.
A medium sized horse, ranging from 13.2 to 15 hands with an average size of about 14.2 with proportional weight, the Spanish Mustang is smooth muscled, short-backed, with a rounded rump and low set tail. The overall appearance is of a well-balanced, smoothly built horse. They possess the classic Iberian head with a straight or concave forehead and a convex nose. Long-strided, many are gaited, they are hardy animals less prone to injury, particularly of the legs and feet, than other breeds.
They have a very different mentality than domesticated horses and will not tolerate abuse. Another characteristic of this breed is a very high intelligence. Owners say they are bold, courageous, tough, and the friendliest horse they've ever owned.
For more information on the Spanish Mustang Registry or to find a breeder near you, please visit www.spanishmustang.org.
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