Monday, March 30, 2009
Picture from the Past
Here is La Victoria in her Spanish show halter. Photo was taken sometime in 2003.
Iberian Warmblood Registry International
Just to give you all an update. The Iberian Sport Horse Registry that was accepting the Spanish Sulphur as a foundation parent has merged with the Iberian Warmblood Registry. To confirm that the IWRI will also accept this old Spanish breed as a founding parent (same as the Andalusian and Lusitano), I had emailed them. Here is what a received back:
Re: Question for Registration
From: Iberian Warmblood Registry International, LLC (Registry@IberianWarmblood.com)
Sent: Sat 3/28/09 12:48 PM
To: Kimberlee Jones (weyekin@hotmail.com)
Yes - horses from the sporthorse registry have been merged with the IWRI. The registry will broaden to include Sulphurs.
So, any of you with Sulphur crosses can register your horse(s) as an Iberian Warmblood!
Re: Question for Registration
From: Iberian Warmblood Registry International, LLC (Registry@IberianWarmblood.com)
Sent: Sat 3/28/09 12:48 PM
To: Kimberlee Jones (weyekin@hotmail.com)
Yes - horses from the sporthorse registry have been merged with the IWRI. The registry will broaden to include Sulphurs.
So, any of you with Sulphur crosses can register your horse(s) as an Iberian Warmblood!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wild Horses of Utah's Mountain Home Range
part 1
Written by Ron Roubidoux in 1994.
"The Mountain Home Range lies at the north end of the Bureau of Land Management's Sulphur Herd Management Area, which is located in southwestern Utah. Craig Egerton, Supervisory Range Conservationist for the BI~'s Beaver River Resource Area, says that most maps show the entire north and south running range as the Needle Range, but local people break it up into the Mountain Home Range on the north and the Indian Peak Range on the south. The highest elevation in the Mountain Home Range is 9,480 feet whereas Indian Peak has an elevation of 9,790 feet. The forty mile long Needle Range is covered with heavy stands of pinion and juniper, and is located east of the Nevada-Utah border. Hamblin Valley is on the west, Pine Valley is on the east, and the Escalante Desert is on the south. Antelope Valley, the Burbank Hills, and Great Basin National Park are on the north.
Elevations of the surrounding valley floors are between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. From the dry, lifeless hardpan of the valley floors the land gently rises over native grass covered flats to sagebrush covered benches, and finally to the pinion-juniper covered mountains. Benches and mountains are broken up with many rugged canyons and draws. Low areas are generally sandy while the mountain slopes are very rocky. The Sulphur Herd Management Area is approximately 142,800 acres, and covers the entire Needle Range. Most of the area is unfenced.
Gus Warr, Range Conservationist for the BLM's Beaver River Resource Area, says there is an imaginary line between Vance Spring and Sulphur Spring which divides and separates the horses in the Sulphur Herd Management Area. The area between these springs also divides the Mountain Home Range from the Indian Peak Range. Both Craig and Gus have said that most of the Spanish type horses are found north of this line on the Mountain Home Range. The BLM is therefore managing this area specifically for the Spanish type horse. The herd management area gets its name from the Sulphur Springs. There are three springs in all, North Sulphur Spring, South Sulphur Spring, and Sulphur Spring. Many other springs are found throughout the Needle Range.
Santiago. Photo by Diane Black owned by Deb Baumann of California
According to D. Philip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD, of Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and Technical Coordinator, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy: "The three main tools for evaluating horses (for Spanish descent) are the history behind the individual horse, the appearance of the horse, and the blood-type of the horse." During August 1993, Dr.Sponenberg came to Utah and inspected thirty-four Sulphur horses that the BLM had adopted out to various individuals. His subsequent evaluation states: "The Sulphur Herd Management area horses that are present as adopted horses in the Salt Lake City area appear to be of Spanish phenotype. The horses were reasonably uniform in phenotype, and most of the variation encountered could be explained by a Spanish origin of the population. That, coupled with the remoteness of the range and blood-typing studies, suggests that these horses are indeed Spanish. As such they are a unique genetic resource, and should be managed to perpetuate this uniqueness. A variety of colors occurs in the herds, which needs to be maintained. Initial culling in favor of Spanish phenotype should be accomplished, and a long term plan for population numbers and culling strategies should be formulated. This is one population that should be kept free of introductions from other herd management areas, as it is Spanish in type and therefore more unique than horses of most other BLM management areas." He later states: "The horses removed during the last few years from the Sulphur Herd Management Area are Spanish in type. The fact that the horses were so consistently Spanish type is evidence that these horses have a Spanish origin," This evaluation therefore establishes the Sulphur horses as Spanish in appearance.
Rose and filly Maria. Photo taken by Joseph Hayes and owned by Victoria of California.
Concerning blood-typing, Dr. Sponenberg's evaluation states: "Gus Cothran has blood-typed a small number of these horses, and is struck by the frequency of antigens known to be of Spanish origin. While further sampling would be useful, he is confident that this population will ultimately prove to be one of the more consistently Spanish of feral populations so far studied." E. Gus Cothran, PhD, Director, Equine Blood-Typing Research Laboratory, University of Kentucky, sent me a letter where he writes: "The Sulphur herd in general appears to have strong Spanish links. What I can tell you is that the Sulphur horses have the highest similarity to Spanish Type Horses of any wild horse population in the U.S. that I have tested. They definitely have Spanish ancestry and possibly are primarily derived from Spanish Horses. However, I have not done an intensive analysis of these horses yet. The southwestern Utah horses look to be a very interesting group and I hope I have an opportunity to do more work with these horses." He also told me, during a telephone conversation, that he needed more blood samples to do a proper evaluation of the Sulphur horses. Glenn Foreman, Public Affairs Officer for the BLM's Salt Lake District, planned on a voluntary gathering of adopted Sulphur horses in April 1994, where blood would be taken from horses and sent to Kentucky for more blood-typing. This would have fulfilled the number of samples required for Dr. Cothran to make a final evaluation of the horses. Unfortunately, due to a glitch in the BLM's budget, higher powers in the BLM canceled the funding for Glenn's project. Glenn told me that this set back was temporary, and he eventually wants to have the work done. Although the evaluation for blood-typing still needs to be completed, the work that has been done thus far looks good.This leaves the history of the horses to be established. Again, Dr. Sponenberg writes in his evaluation: .Detailed historical background of the Sulphur Herd Management Area horses is not available. The limited amount of history available points to population being an old one, with limited or no introduction of outside horses since establishment of the population. Foundation of the herd is logically assumed to be Spanish, since this the only resource available at the time of foundation.
Sulphur's Anhur Maximus. Grandson of Sulphur's Chance.
My purpose in writing this paper is to try to establish a background history for the wild horses of the Mountain Home Range, and logically reinforce their case for purity of Spanish descent."
"The Mountain Home Range lies at the north end of the Bureau of Land Management's Sulphur Herd Management Area, which is located in southwestern Utah. Craig Egerton, Supervisory Range Conservationist for the BI~'s Beaver River Resource Area, says that most maps show the entire north and south running range as the Needle Range, but local people break it up into the Mountain Home Range on the north and the Indian Peak Range on the south. The highest elevation in the Mountain Home Range is 9,480 feet whereas Indian Peak has an elevation of 9,790 feet. The forty mile long Needle Range is covered with heavy stands of pinion and juniper, and is located east of the Nevada-Utah border. Hamblin Valley is on the west, Pine Valley is on the east, and the Escalante Desert is on the south. Antelope Valley, the Burbank Hills, and Great Basin National Park are on the north.
Elevations of the surrounding valley floors are between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. From the dry, lifeless hardpan of the valley floors the land gently rises over native grass covered flats to sagebrush covered benches, and finally to the pinion-juniper covered mountains. Benches and mountains are broken up with many rugged canyons and draws. Low areas are generally sandy while the mountain slopes are very rocky. The Sulphur Herd Management Area is approximately 142,800 acres, and covers the entire Needle Range. Most of the area is unfenced.
Gus Warr, Range Conservationist for the BLM's Beaver River Resource Area, says there is an imaginary line between Vance Spring and Sulphur Spring which divides and separates the horses in the Sulphur Herd Management Area. The area between these springs also divides the Mountain Home Range from the Indian Peak Range. Both Craig and Gus have said that most of the Spanish type horses are found north of this line on the Mountain Home Range. The BLM is therefore managing this area specifically for the Spanish type horse. The herd management area gets its name from the Sulphur Springs. There are three springs in all, North Sulphur Spring, South Sulphur Spring, and Sulphur Spring. Many other springs are found throughout the Needle Range.
Santiago. Photo by Diane Black owned by Deb Baumann of CaliforniaAccording to D. Philip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD, of Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and Technical Coordinator, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy: "The three main tools for evaluating horses (for Spanish descent) are the history behind the individual horse, the appearance of the horse, and the blood-type of the horse." During August 1993, Dr.Sponenberg came to Utah and inspected thirty-four Sulphur horses that the BLM had adopted out to various individuals. His subsequent evaluation states: "The Sulphur Herd Management area horses that are present as adopted horses in the Salt Lake City area appear to be of Spanish phenotype. The horses were reasonably uniform in phenotype, and most of the variation encountered could be explained by a Spanish origin of the population. That, coupled with the remoteness of the range and blood-typing studies, suggests that these horses are indeed Spanish. As such they are a unique genetic resource, and should be managed to perpetuate this uniqueness. A variety of colors occurs in the herds, which needs to be maintained. Initial culling in favor of Spanish phenotype should be accomplished, and a long term plan for population numbers and culling strategies should be formulated. This is one population that should be kept free of introductions from other herd management areas, as it is Spanish in type and therefore more unique than horses of most other BLM management areas." He later states: "The horses removed during the last few years from the Sulphur Herd Management Area are Spanish in type. The fact that the horses were so consistently Spanish type is evidence that these horses have a Spanish origin," This evaluation therefore establishes the Sulphur horses as Spanish in appearance.
Rose and filly Maria. Photo taken by Joseph Hayes and owned by Victoria of California.Concerning blood-typing, Dr. Sponenberg's evaluation states: "Gus Cothran has blood-typed a small number of these horses, and is struck by the frequency of antigens known to be of Spanish origin. While further sampling would be useful, he is confident that this population will ultimately prove to be one of the more consistently Spanish of feral populations so far studied." E. Gus Cothran, PhD, Director, Equine Blood-Typing Research Laboratory, University of Kentucky, sent me a letter where he writes: "The Sulphur herd in general appears to have strong Spanish links. What I can tell you is that the Sulphur horses have the highest similarity to Spanish Type Horses of any wild horse population in the U.S. that I have tested. They definitely have Spanish ancestry and possibly are primarily derived from Spanish Horses. However, I have not done an intensive analysis of these horses yet. The southwestern Utah horses look to be a very interesting group and I hope I have an opportunity to do more work with these horses." He also told me, during a telephone conversation, that he needed more blood samples to do a proper evaluation of the Sulphur horses. Glenn Foreman, Public Affairs Officer for the BLM's Salt Lake District, planned on a voluntary gathering of adopted Sulphur horses in April 1994, where blood would be taken from horses and sent to Kentucky for more blood-typing. This would have fulfilled the number of samples required for Dr. Cothran to make a final evaluation of the horses. Unfortunately, due to a glitch in the BLM's budget, higher powers in the BLM canceled the funding for Glenn's project. Glenn told me that this set back was temporary, and he eventually wants to have the work done. Although the evaluation for blood-typing still needs to be completed, the work that has been done thus far looks good.This leaves the history of the horses to be established. Again, Dr. Sponenberg writes in his evaluation: .Detailed historical background of the Sulphur Herd Management Area horses is not available. The limited amount of history available points to population being an old one, with limited or no introduction of outside horses since establishment of the population. Foundation of the herd is logically assumed to be Spanish, since this the only resource available at the time of foundation.
Sulphur's Anhur Maximus. Grandson of Sulphur's Chance. My purpose in writing this paper is to try to establish a background history for the wild horses of the Mountain Home Range, and logically reinforce their case for purity of Spanish descent."
A Little History
D. P. Sponenberg, DVM, PhD, Veterinary College, VPI, Blacksburg, VA 24061
Dated 1993
"The Sulphur herd management area in Southwest Utah is one area that still has Spanish type horses today. This region is along the Old Spanish Trail trade route, along which many horses traveled during Spanish and later times. Both traders and Ute Indians used routes through the area repeatedly, and the feral horses are thought to have originated from this source. Chief Walkara and others made many horse raids into California, and it is likely that the horses in this region have a California origin, making them distinct from other feral strains. Many of the horses from the northern end of this management area have very Spanish type. The usual colors in these herds are dun, grullo, red dun, bay, black and a few chestnuts.
These horses show remarkable adaptation to their harsh environment. These horses are currently attracting attention, as well as dedicated breeders such as Ron Roubidoux. A group of these horses was accepted into the SMR in 1994, and a second group in 1995. The horses remaining in the wild are in a remote area, and these horses are frequently harassed by a variety of people. Hopefully the ones in the feral herds can be managed to complement the very able work being done by Ron and the other breeders. Bloodtyping by Gus Cothran has revealed a very high frequency of Iberian markers in the Sulphur horses."
Dated 1993
"The Sulphur herd management area in Southwest Utah is one area that still has Spanish type horses today. This region is along the Old Spanish Trail trade route, along which many horses traveled during Spanish and later times. Both traders and Ute Indians used routes through the area repeatedly, and the feral horses are thought to have originated from this source. Chief Walkara and others made many horse raids into California, and it is likely that the horses in this region have a California origin, making them distinct from other feral strains. Many of the horses from the northern end of this management area have very Spanish type. The usual colors in these herds are dun, grullo, red dun, bay, black and a few chestnuts.
These horses show remarkable adaptation to their harsh environment. These horses are currently attracting attention, as well as dedicated breeders such as Ron Roubidoux. A group of these horses was accepted into the SMR in 1994, and a second group in 1995. The horses remaining in the wild are in a remote area, and these horses are frequently harassed by a variety of people. Hopefully the ones in the feral herds can be managed to complement the very able work being done by Ron and the other breeders. Bloodtyping by Gus Cothran has revealed a very high frequency of Iberian markers in the Sulphur horses."
Dr. Sponenberg
D. P. Sponenberg, DVM, PhD, Veterinary College, VPI, Blacksburg, VA 24061
"SUMMARY
The Sulphur Herd Management area horses that are present as adopted horses in the Salt Lake City area appear to be of Spanish phenotype. The horses were reasonably uniform in phenotype, and most of the variation encountered could be explained by a Spanish origin of the population. That, coupled with the remoteness of the range and blood typing studies, suggests that these horses are indeed Spanish. As such they are an unique genetic resource, and should be managed to perpetuate this uniqueness. A variety of colors occurs in the herds, which needs to be maintained. Initial culling in favor of Spanish phenotype should be accomplished, and a long term plan for population numbers and culling strategies should be formulated. This is one population that should be kept free of introductions from other herd management areas, as it is Spanish in type and therefore more unique than horses of most other BLM management areas."
Map of the Sulphur HMA:
"BACKGROUND
Detailed historical background of the Sulphur herd management area horses is not available. The limited amount of history available points to this population being an old one, with limited or no introduction of outside horses since establishment of the population. The foundation of the herd is logically assumed to be Spanish, since this the only resource available at the time of foundation.
Spanish type includes sloping croup low set tail, deep body, narrow chest, deep Roman nosed head from side view, broad forehead but narrow face and muzzle from front view, eyes place on side of head, small ears with inwardly hooked tips, small or absent rear chestnuts, small front chestnuts, potential of long hairs on stern area and chin. All colors are possible, although a high proportion of black and its derivatives are consistent with a Spanish origin. Line backed duns, roans, buckskin/palomino, sabino and overo paint, and the leopard complex are also usually Spanish in origin, and grey and tobiano can be. It is frequently the mix of colors and their relative frequency in the population that is more important than the presence of or absence of any one color."
Sulphur HMA Cortez owned by Deborah Elliot of Colorado.
"SUMMARY
The Sulphur Herd Management area horses that are present as adopted horses in the Salt Lake City area appear to be of Spanish phenotype. The horses were reasonably uniform in phenotype, and most of the variation encountered could be explained by a Spanish origin of the population. That, coupled with the remoteness of the range and blood typing studies, suggests that these horses are indeed Spanish. As such they are an unique genetic resource, and should be managed to perpetuate this uniqueness. A variety of colors occurs in the herds, which needs to be maintained. Initial culling in favor of Spanish phenotype should be accomplished, and a long term plan for population numbers and culling strategies should be formulated. This is one population that should be kept free of introductions from other herd management areas, as it is Spanish in type and therefore more unique than horses of most other BLM management areas."
Map of the Sulphur HMA:
"BACKGROUND
Detailed historical background of the Sulphur herd management area horses is not available. The limited amount of history available points to this population being an old one, with limited or no introduction of outside horses since establishment of the population. The foundation of the herd is logically assumed to be Spanish, since this the only resource available at the time of foundation.
Spanish type includes sloping croup low set tail, deep body, narrow chest, deep Roman nosed head from side view, broad forehead but narrow face and muzzle from front view, eyes place on side of head, small ears with inwardly hooked tips, small or absent rear chestnuts, small front chestnuts, potential of long hairs on stern area and chin. All colors are possible, although a high proportion of black and its derivatives are consistent with a Spanish origin. Line backed duns, roans, buckskin/palomino, sabino and overo paint, and the leopard complex are also usually Spanish in origin, and grey and tobiano can be. It is frequently the mix of colors and their relative frequency in the population that is more important than the presence of or absence of any one color."
Sulphur HMA Cortez owned by Deborah Elliot of Colorado.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Well, I am hoping that the BLM posts more pictures of horses because right now there isn't much (or really any) of a selection of nice Spanish horses. Here is my absolute most favorite horse of the adoption so far:
I was hoping that they would post a lot more like her, but I haven't seen any. She has that nice old style Spanish Sulphur look to her. I hope to see more horses being posted that have the looks of this gorgeous girl! I also hope that the owner of the filly will contact me.
I was hoping that they would post a lot more like her, but I haven't seen any. She has that nice old style Spanish Sulphur look to her. I hope to see more horses being posted that have the looks of this gorgeous girl! I also hope that the owner of the filly will contact me.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The Blue Stallion
This story was written by Ron Roubidoux about one of his favorite stallions. Sorry, but there are no pictures that I have found of this famous stallion.
"Every horse breed has its stories of legendary stallions, stories handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, stories immortalized in print, and stories held sacred in the hearts of individuals who possess or have lost a favorite stallion.
Since I started investigating Spanish Mustangs, I have come across manysuch stories whether they be in a BLM herd like the Kigers that is mistakenly touted to be "the most pure herd of Spanish Mustangs existing in the wild today" or the authentic Spanish Mustangs found in the Spanish Mustang Registry. The books I have read, like The Mustangs by 2. Frank Dobie, carried fascinating, romantic stories of legendary stallions of the past. Probably the most touching stories, to me, are the ones I have read in the SMR's Annual or were told to me by SMR members I have met. Then there are the untold stories that I can only see in the gleam of a person's eye, when they are showing me their favorite stallion, a gleam that comes from pride found deep in the heart. I may not be told, but I know there is a story there. Every owner of such a horse has a story, and that is as it should be.
As for me, my heart lies with the Sulphur horses. During the past couple of years I have devoted much of my time to the horses, to a point that they have almost become an obsession, and in doing so I have collected my own personal stories of the Sulphur stallions. Though some of these stories have a good outcome and others don't, I would like to share them with you.
When I first found out about the Sulphur horses, and decided I wanted to adopt some from the BLM, I was told of a slate grullo stallion that was caught with a bay mare, dun yearling filly, and dun filly foal. At the time, the BLM in Utah made their comparisons of the Sulphur horses with the Kigers of Oregon, and they said this stallion was as good if not better than anything in the Kiger herd. They raved about him, some saying he was two horses in one. I have yet to meet a BLM man that has seen him, and who doesn't have something good to say about "the blue stallion". They branded him number 596, and later returned him to the Mountain Home Range. They felt he was much too good a horse to put up for adoption, and wanted to keep him with the wild herd. This was during the summer of 1992.
In mid-July, the bay mare and two duns were taken to a satellite adoption held at Logan, Utah, along with forty horses from other herds. I was there with my eye on the grullo's three. No one else knew the story of the mare and her two foals, nor was there much interest, specifically in Sulphur horses, at the time. I noticed that a number of people had the dun yearling written down as their first choice, probably because of her color. At the BLM adoptions, people wanting horses must be pre-approved, and when registering for the adoption, they write their name on a ticket that is then dropped into a bucket. The tickets are later drawn from the bucket, one at a time, lottery style, and the name is called out. The first name called gets first choice of one horse and so on until all the horses are gone. Each horse has a tag tied to its neck with a number on it. The person whose name is called, calls out the number of the horse he wants, unless it has already been taken, in which case a second, standby choice can be made. All I wanted were horses number 595, 597 and 594 and there were over sixty people registered to draw for horses. The BLM man drew the first name, which starting with Ron, and stammered on the last name starting with an R. I called out "Roubidoux, 595!" The dun yearling filly was mine. The bay mare, 594, and her foal, 597 were being adopted as one, since the foal was too young to be separated from her mother. Eight names later and she still hadn't been taken. Then my daughter's boy friend's name was called and we got the mare and foal.
I later found out that 596, his mare, and the dun fillies were all blood typed. I telephoned Dr. Gus Cothran in Kentucky, and he confirmed that the two fillies were the daughters of 596, the grullo stallion. All four horses also had good Spanish markers.
After the adoption, my family and I went on a vacation. As soon as we returned home I telephoned the BLM to find out if they still had 596, as I wanted to get some pictures of him, but they had taken him back to the range the day before. I was able to get copies of a few pictures that the BLM had taken, and that was all.
The following winter the BLM was capturing horses on the Mountain Home Range and almost caught 596 a second time, but he jumped one of the trap wings, taking a couple mares with him. That was the last time he was seen. I hope he is still alive and well on the mountain, and someday I may be privileged to see him there for myself. Every time I go to the Mountain Home Range I hope to see him, but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack, because of the heavy stands of pinion-juniper. Maybe that's why they call the Mountain Home and Indian Peak Ranges of the Sulphur Herd Management Area, the Needle Range."
"Every horse breed has its stories of legendary stallions, stories handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, stories immortalized in print, and stories held sacred in the hearts of individuals who possess or have lost a favorite stallion.
Since I started investigating Spanish Mustangs, I have come across manysuch stories whether they be in a BLM herd like the Kigers that is mistakenly touted to be "the most pure herd of Spanish Mustangs existing in the wild today" or the authentic Spanish Mustangs found in the Spanish Mustang Registry. The books I have read, like The Mustangs by 2. Frank Dobie, carried fascinating, romantic stories of legendary stallions of the past. Probably the most touching stories, to me, are the ones I have read in the SMR's Annual or were told to me by SMR members I have met. Then there are the untold stories that I can only see in the gleam of a person's eye, when they are showing me their favorite stallion, a gleam that comes from pride found deep in the heart. I may not be told, but I know there is a story there. Every owner of such a horse has a story, and that is as it should be.
As for me, my heart lies with the Sulphur horses. During the past couple of years I have devoted much of my time to the horses, to a point that they have almost become an obsession, and in doing so I have collected my own personal stories of the Sulphur stallions. Though some of these stories have a good outcome and others don't, I would like to share them with you.
When I first found out about the Sulphur horses, and decided I wanted to adopt some from the BLM, I was told of a slate grullo stallion that was caught with a bay mare, dun yearling filly, and dun filly foal. At the time, the BLM in Utah made their comparisons of the Sulphur horses with the Kigers of Oregon, and they said this stallion was as good if not better than anything in the Kiger herd. They raved about him, some saying he was two horses in one. I have yet to meet a BLM man that has seen him, and who doesn't have something good to say about "the blue stallion". They branded him number 596, and later returned him to the Mountain Home Range. They felt he was much too good a horse to put up for adoption, and wanted to keep him with the wild herd. This was during the summer of 1992.
In mid-July, the bay mare and two duns were taken to a satellite adoption held at Logan, Utah, along with forty horses from other herds. I was there with my eye on the grullo's three. No one else knew the story of the mare and her two foals, nor was there much interest, specifically in Sulphur horses, at the time. I noticed that a number of people had the dun yearling written down as their first choice, probably because of her color. At the BLM adoptions, people wanting horses must be pre-approved, and when registering for the adoption, they write their name on a ticket that is then dropped into a bucket. The tickets are later drawn from the bucket, one at a time, lottery style, and the name is called out. The first name called gets first choice of one horse and so on until all the horses are gone. Each horse has a tag tied to its neck with a number on it. The person whose name is called, calls out the number of the horse he wants, unless it has already been taken, in which case a second, standby choice can be made. All I wanted were horses number 595, 597 and 594 and there were over sixty people registered to draw for horses. The BLM man drew the first name, which starting with Ron, and stammered on the last name starting with an R. I called out "Roubidoux, 595!" The dun yearling filly was mine. The bay mare, 594, and her foal, 597 were being adopted as one, since the foal was too young to be separated from her mother. Eight names later and she still hadn't been taken. Then my daughter's boy friend's name was called and we got the mare and foal.
I later found out that 596, his mare, and the dun fillies were all blood typed. I telephoned Dr. Gus Cothran in Kentucky, and he confirmed that the two fillies were the daughters of 596, the grullo stallion. All four horses also had good Spanish markers.
After the adoption, my family and I went on a vacation. As soon as we returned home I telephoned the BLM to find out if they still had 596, as I wanted to get some pictures of him, but they had taken him back to the range the day before. I was able to get copies of a few pictures that the BLM had taken, and that was all.
The following winter the BLM was capturing horses on the Mountain Home Range and almost caught 596 a second time, but he jumped one of the trap wings, taking a couple mares with him. That was the last time he was seen. I hope he is still alive and well on the mountain, and someday I may be privileged to see him there for myself. Every time I go to the Mountain Home Range I hope to see him, but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack, because of the heavy stands of pinion-juniper. Maybe that's why they call the Mountain Home and Indian Peak Ranges of the Sulphur Herd Management Area, the Needle Range."
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Internet Adoption
30 Spanish and mixed Spanish Sulphur horses have been posted on the internet adoption site. Go here to check it out!
Internet Adoption
Don't forget about the Sulphurs that will not be on the internet adoption!
Click here to check out the other Sulphur horses.
If anyone would like my help in selecting a Spanish type horse, then I would be more than happy to help! Just send me an email.
Internet Adoption
Don't forget about the Sulphurs that will not be on the internet adoption!
Click here to check out the other Sulphur horses.
If anyone would like my help in selecting a Spanish type horse, then I would be more than happy to help! Just send me an email.
A Picture from the Past
Sulphur's Smokey with Sulphur's Quest. Quest is by Sulphur's Chance. Sulphur's Smokey now lives with Jeff Hammer in NM.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Spanish Fire
Chief and Sulphur mare taken in 2008. Photo is copyrighted and not available for reproduction of any kind. Bev Pettit Photography.
Spanish Head styles
Most people have a real difference of opinion on this topic. Some prefer to believe that a Spanish head style is long, narrow between the eyes, with a convex profile. The more convex the better. I have found this type of head style to be prolific on modern Iberian horses as well as warmbloods. Giving me the impression that this head style is of non-Spanish origin. You will find it hard to find such a head style on the more old Iberian horses such as the Paso Fino, Spanish Sulphur, Peruvian Paso, etc. Which actually would do more to confirm my suspicion that this head style is indeed of non-Iberian origin.
Both of these convex head examples are of warmblood type horses influenced by Spanish horses. Which type of Spanish horse (modern which is the Andalusian and Lusitano who also have warmblood and TB flowing through their veins vs. old Iberian which would include Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, Chilean Criollo, Spanish Sulphur, etc.) influenced these warmbloods, I don't know. Being that the modern Andalusian and Lusitano are at best only 200 years old, I am going to assume that it was a proto type PRE/PSL or an actual old Iberian horse.
My thoughts on what old Iberian heads would be this: short in length, broad between the eyes, a straight (which usually gives the impression of roundness) or SLIGHTLY convex. The forehead most often being flat. The eyes should be large, almond shaped, and be broad between the eyes. The eyes will also have a bone arch above the eye. The width between the ears should also be broad. The ears should never be placed close together like what you would see on an Arab. The ear length should also not be long. Mares typically have longer ears than stallions or geldings. Mares would normally have medium to short ears and stallions and geldings should predominately display short ears. There also should not be a hook to the ear. The muzzle shouldn't be broad, but rather small. A 4 3/4" bit should be the perfect fit. The lips should be tight to the mouth. You often see big droopy lips on a draft horse. The nostrils should be crescent in shape and be able to expand greatly when the horse is being exerted. The chin on the horse should be small. The mandible should not convex out like what is typical to see on an Arab. The cheeks on both mares and stallions should not be protruding. The cheeks should look blend well on the face. The lips should come together to almost give the appearance that the horse's upper teeth going past the bottom teeth. This is commonly known as a "parrot mouth". In the old Spanish horse, there will be this "parrot mouth" appearance, BUT the horse's teeth will actually meet evenly.
La Victoria. This mare is displaying the width between the eyes as well as the ears. You can also plainly see the bone arches above her eyes.
This mare's head was damaged by a halter being left on while she was growing, so please excuse the slight dip on her head.
This is a stallion. I must note that this stallion is not displaying a nice large eye and he is also lacking the bone arch above his eye. When comparing to the other Sulphur horses on this post, you can better see it.
Young filly.
The famed Sulphur's Chance.
Sulphur's Chance
Both of these convex head examples are of warmblood type horses influenced by Spanish horses. Which type of Spanish horse (modern which is the Andalusian and Lusitano who also have warmblood and TB flowing through their veins vs. old Iberian which would include Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, Chilean Criollo, Spanish Sulphur, etc.) influenced these warmbloods, I don't know. Being that the modern Andalusian and Lusitano are at best only 200 years old, I am going to assume that it was a proto type PRE/PSL or an actual old Iberian horse.
My thoughts on what old Iberian heads would be this: short in length, broad between the eyes, a straight (which usually gives the impression of roundness) or SLIGHTLY convex. The forehead most often being flat. The eyes should be large, almond shaped, and be broad between the eyes. The eyes will also have a bone arch above the eye. The width between the ears should also be broad. The ears should never be placed close together like what you would see on an Arab. The ear length should also not be long. Mares typically have longer ears than stallions or geldings. Mares would normally have medium to short ears and stallions and geldings should predominately display short ears. There also should not be a hook to the ear. The muzzle shouldn't be broad, but rather small. A 4 3/4" bit should be the perfect fit. The lips should be tight to the mouth. You often see big droopy lips on a draft horse. The nostrils should be crescent in shape and be able to expand greatly when the horse is being exerted. The chin on the horse should be small. The mandible should not convex out like what is typical to see on an Arab. The cheeks on both mares and stallions should not be protruding. The cheeks should look blend well on the face. The lips should come together to almost give the appearance that the horse's upper teeth going past the bottom teeth. This is commonly known as a "parrot mouth". In the old Spanish horse, there will be this "parrot mouth" appearance, BUT the horse's teeth will actually meet evenly.
La Victoria. This mare is displaying the width between the eyes as well as the ears. You can also plainly see the bone arches above her eyes.
This mare's head was damaged by a halter being left on while she was growing, so please excuse the slight dip on her head.
This is a stallion. I must note that this stallion is not displaying a nice large eye and he is also lacking the bone arch above his eye. When comparing to the other Sulphur horses on this post, you can better see it.
Young filly.
The famed Sulphur's Chance.
Sulphur's Chance
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Non-Spanish Hips
I think that to go along with my explanation of what is a Spanish hip, that I would post some pictures of non-Spanish hip styles. These are all mixed and non-Spanish Sulphurs. These photos are of horses that currently no one owns. I wont be putting their BLM numbers up as even though they are displaying non-Spanish type, they still deserve to find a good home. I don't want my Spanish conformation lesson to turn into horses not getting good homes. My comments will be below the picture I am talking about.
This black mare is displaying an apple butt.
This mare is displaying a sharp dip from her croup to her back. She has a flat croup, her pin bone does not blend nicely with the base of her tail and you can just visualize the muscle line (semitendinosus) that is coming off of her pin bone.
This mare is displaying excessive muscling over the points of her ilium. Giving her a boxy appearance instead of a round appearance.
This mare would actually be the worst of all of the horses on this page. She has a dip going into her back from her croup. She has a flat hip with a "hunters bump", pin bone is sticking out really far from the base of the tail. You can clearly visualize her semitendinosus. She also has excessive hair on her fetlocks for a horse that is suppose to be a light riding horse.
This mare has excessive fetlock hair for a light riding horse in a winter coat. She also has a very high set tail.
This stallion has a flat hip, his bone density is quite thick, excessive feathering on his fetlocks, you can just visualize his semitendiosus, his pin bone sticks out just slightly too far.
The point of all of these pictures is for the viewer to understand non-Spanish type. I went through the adoption pictures and picked out horses that I felt showed some really obvious non-Spanish traits. The viewer must keep in mind that the horse that they are looking at when critiquing conformation might just have subtle traits of the ones I listed above. This is due to the fact that the horses with these non-Spanish traits are mixed with Spanish horses as well as non-Spanish horses. So, you will never see a horse that looks like a purebred of the horse that they are influenced by. The more educated your eye is the more you will start to pick up on non-Spanish conformation traits that you might have never noticed before. The goal of me writing this is to first and foremost educate Spanish Sulphur horse breeders and enthusiasts of what true Spanish type is. The end goal being that excellent Spanish type horses will be bred to excellent Spanish type horses thus preserving the Spanish Sulphur breed.
This black mare is displaying an apple butt.
This mare is displaying a sharp dip from her croup to her back. She has a flat croup, her pin bone does not blend nicely with the base of her tail and you can just visualize the muscle line (semitendinosus) that is coming off of her pin bone.
This mare is displaying excessive muscling over the points of her ilium. Giving her a boxy appearance instead of a round appearance.
This mare would actually be the worst of all of the horses on this page. She has a dip going into her back from her croup. She has a flat hip with a "hunters bump", pin bone is sticking out really far from the base of the tail. You can clearly visualize her semitendinosus. She also has excessive hair on her fetlocks for a horse that is suppose to be a light riding horse.
This mare has excessive fetlock hair for a light riding horse in a winter coat. She also has a very high set tail.
This stallion has a flat hip, his bone density is quite thick, excessive feathering on his fetlocks, you can just visualize his semitendiosus, his pin bone sticks out just slightly too far.The point of all of these pictures is for the viewer to understand non-Spanish type. I went through the adoption pictures and picked out horses that I felt showed some really obvious non-Spanish traits. The viewer must keep in mind that the horse that they are looking at when critiquing conformation might just have subtle traits of the ones I listed above. This is due to the fact that the horses with these non-Spanish traits are mixed with Spanish horses as well as non-Spanish horses. So, you will never see a horse that looks like a purebred of the horse that they are influenced by. The more educated your eye is the more you will start to pick up on non-Spanish conformation traits that you might have never noticed before. The goal of me writing this is to first and foremost educate Spanish Sulphur horse breeders and enthusiasts of what true Spanish type is. The end goal being that excellent Spanish type horses will be bred to excellent Spanish type horses thus preserving the Spanish Sulphur breed.
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