A blog that focuses on our unique program that teaches natural horsemanship, heritage breed conservation, soil and water conservation, and even folk, roots, and Americana music. This blog discusses our efforts to prevent the extinction of the Corolla Spanish Mustang. Choctaw Colonial Spanish Horse, Marsh Tacky, and the remnants of the Grand Canyon Colonial Spanish Horse strain.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
To Run and Never Grow Weary
The stamina of the Corollas, Shacklefords, Spanish Mustang Registry Horses and BLM's is one of their best attributes. Though quite small compared to most modern breeds, their weight carrying capacity makes it possible for them to make first rate mounts for adults. The purer the Spanish lineage is in the horse it seems the more he prefers to trot. In other breeds this would be quite irritating but the Spanish horse's trots are more comfortable than the loping of many modern horses that I have ridden. In fact, when I get on a non-Spanish horse and move it into a trot it seems that the horse is missing a wheel.
I have trotted Croatoan, my 13.2 Corolla stallion over twenty miles in a single morning. The next morning neither of us was the worse for the wear.
The Corolla/BLM foals that were born last spring should be the best of any of these crosses. They will be a bit larger and faster than the pure Corollas. If they retain the gentle nature and trainability of the Corollas with a little more size and speed they will be ideal for trail riding.
(The picture above is a typical Sunday afternoon in my yard. Many of these horses were started to saddle by the kids that are riding them.)
No comments:
Post a Comment