Cerbat Mustang

Cerbat Mustang

Cerbat Mustangs on the Cerbat HMA, Arizona
Distinguishing features Build is similar to the classic Andalusian horse.
Country of origin USA
Equus ferus caballus

The Cerbat Mustang is a feral horse breed that originated in Arizona and can still be found on the Cerbat HMA in that state. Their main coat colors are chestnut, bay, and roan. While their phenotype is similar to the classic Colonial Spanish Horse, the actual origin of Cerbat Mustangs is unclear, but they have been identified by DNA testing as of Colonial Spanish Horse ancestry and they are recognized by the Spanish Mustang registry.[1] Cerbats possess the ability to gait.[2]

Characteristics

The Cerbat Mustang is said to be similar to the classic Andalusian horse in conformation,[3] and has characteristics consistent with Spanish horse type.[4] They are 14 to 15 hands (56 to 60 inches, 142 to 152 cm) tall,[5] and average 750 to 800 pounds in weight.[6] The first generation in captivity, however, was said to stand only 13.2 hands (54 inches, 137 cm).[7] Cerbats are most commonly bay and roan, but there are some grays, blacks, sorrels, and duns found on the Cerbat HMA in Arizona.[6] Those in private hands are said to only be bay, roan or chestnut. White markings on legs and heads are common.[5] Roan Cerbat foals are born roan, unlike some roan foals of other breeds that are born a dark color and "roan out" as they get older, fading in color.[4] They are considered calm, quiet and intelligent.[5] Some Cerbats can perform intermediate ambling gaits.[2]

They have been identified as being descended from the Colonial Spanish Horse and the feral horse bands today are found in Arizona.[6] For this reason, they are accepted by the Spanish Mustang registry.[5] There is no formal Cerbat horse registry at present and the breed is very rare, with a high number of 45 horses registered,[4] and a stable number of about 70 found on the Cerbat HMA.[6]

History

The Andalusian horse, shown above, is believed to be an ancestor of the Cerbat Mustang

It is hypothesized that the Cerbat Mustang is descended from Spanish Mustangs brought to the US in the 1500s. Other hypotheses are that they arrived in the area in the 1700s or were abandoned by ranchers in the early 1800s.[6] They have been blood tested and are determined to be of Colonial Spanish horse ancestry and are described as of "classic Andalusian" type.[3] The Cerbat herds were documented as well-established by 1860. In 1971, numbers dropped dramatically during a drought when livestock ranchers shot many free-roaming horses, believing that they were competing with cattle for scarce water resources. At that time, about 18 Cerbats were captured and preserved in private herds. After the passage of time, about 20 horses were found to remain in the area. In 1990, another remnant feral population was discovered by the Bureau of Land Management and blood testing determined that they were related to the animals that had been preserved in private herds.[5][8] Cerbat stallions in captivity have been bred to mares of other Spanish Mustang ancestry to keep the bloodline alive without inbreeding.[7]

Their name comes from the Cerbat Mountains where the Cerbat herd is located.[5]

Uses

Cerbat Mustangs are used in many ways, including endurance riding, eventing, trail classes, ranch and cattle work, team penning, roping, and other western competition.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Knowing horses: Q and As to Boost your Equine IQ".
  2. 1 2 "The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry breeds".
  3. 1 2 Ryden, Hope (2005). "America's Last Wild Horses". Globe Pequot. ISBN 9781592288731. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America". Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hendricks, Bonnie L. (2007). "International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds". University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806138848. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cerbat HA - BLM Arizona". 22 May 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 Dutson, Judith (2005). Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America. Storey Publishing. pp. 217–219. ISBN 1580176135.
  8. ↑ "Badlands new home for wild herd".
  9. ↑ "Horse breeds".
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