History of the Spanish Mustang
Todays Spanish Mustang is direct descendant of the horses from Spain that were brought over by the conquistadors. In the 1920s the few remaining horses that still carried the traditional Spanish characterics and traits, remanants of the wild herds, the Cheyenne, Crow, Ute, Shoshoni Indian Tribes, as well as some in Old Mexico, were selected and gathered up by two brothers, Robert and Ferdinand Brislawn. Their mission was to save this dying breed and to preserve what was the first horse brought on the American soil. These men made it their lifelong mission to select, gather and preserve what is known today as the Spanish Mustang. The Conquistadors used these horses to explore the new world they had discovered. Their toughness and hardiness enabled them to carry their riders throughout this land from mountains to deserts. At the same time also introduced the Indian tribes to these incredible animals, changing and reshaping their lifestyle. In the early 1800s many of these horses escaped and ran free in large herds throughout this nation, and flourished into vast numbers. Revered by the native Americans, ridden by the pony express riders, used by the cowboys to bring the great herds of cattle up from Texas, these horses were the toughest of the tough. When chasing Geronimo through the Strongholds of the southwestern desert the calvary had to mount their soldiers on mustangs to be able to keep up with the Indians. These were the true horses of the American west, without them our country would not be shaped as it is today. These horses are our heritage, our past, and our future. Considered the finest horses in the known world at the time of the conquest of the New World, the Spanish horse left a legacy in its tough, beautiful, hardy descendants that endures to this day.

Born in 1890 Bob Brislawn developed an early awe and respect for these Spanish bred horses than ran free on the plains. He was impressed with their speed, strength, agility, intelligence and above all their will to survive. They were able to survive on forage that most animals would not be able to. They were tough, hardy, smart and loyal. But he also soon realized that these true Spanish horses were being purposefully exterminated throughout the old west. So in 1925 he embarked on a mission to save the now endangered Spanish Horse of the old west. This became his lifelong mission now carried on by his son Emmett Brislawn, of Oshoto, Wy. The two brothers, Bob and Ferdie, began with two stallions Buckshot (grulla) and Ute (red dun)both out of a stallion named Monty. They began with a few select mares and a careful breeding program was started.They also traveled throughout the old west gathering the few horses remaining that had not been exterminated or crossbred to add to their breeding program. Word spread, and in 1957 a group headed by Bob started the Spanish Mustang Registry, the first and oldest mustang registry in this country. His dream was realized these unique and wonderful horses were now secure in their preservation. These horses are now showing the world their attributes inherited from their Spanish ancestors and refined and developed through centuries of selection by the cruelest breeder of them all, Nature herself.

Frank J. Hopkins was aware of the prowness, toughness, stamina and intelligence of the Spanish mustang. He was in awe of this breed and used these horses on his many endurance races of the 1800’s. The story of Frank is the story of the Spanish Mustang. He truly believed that the mustang was the most significant animal on the American continent. He spent his life riding and using these magnificent animals, and never ceased to be amazed at their ability.

Frank was once quoted as saying, "You can't beat mustang intelligence in the entire equine race. These animals have had to shift for themselves for generations. They had to work out their own destiny or be destroyed. Those that survived were animals of superior intelligence."

The Spanish Mustangs of today are making a name for themselves in all disciplines of the equine world, from dressage to 3 day eventing, competitive trail riding, endurance racing, ranch work, in the show ring, and above all a gentle, loving, intelligent family horse that is used for every day riding and on the trail. They are loyal to their owners and show a great love and respect for their handlers. Almost crossbred out of existence by the turn of the century, these horses are now making a comeback. The registry boasts approximately 3500 horses registered with about 2500 still alive today. People say once you bring one of these horses into your lives, no other breed can compare. When you have a Spanish mustang you have a significant piece of American history.

Traits of the Spanish Mustang

The Spanish mustang if a horse of medium build usually ranging from 13'2 - 15 hands tall, with the average size being 14'2. They are smooth muscled with a short back, rounded hind ends and a low tail set. Most Spanish mustangs have one less vertebrae in their back, attributing to their ability to carry large amounts of weight with little effort. The girth is deep, and with a nice laid back shoulder. Most have the true Spanish head that is convex. Ears are medium to short and curve inwards to each other. Chests are narrow but deep and the legs usually join each other in an "A" shape. Feet have a thick wall and are extremely hard and tough, most of these horses never need shoes. Their canon bones and shorter and thicker than most horses with the foreleg being longer. They are extremely long strided with many Spanish mustangs being gaited, whether it be ambling, singlefooting, or even a paso gait without the knee action. They have a different mentality than the manmade breeds of horses. They are extremely loyal, but will not abide abuse or mistreatment. They are not pushbutton horses, but will become incredibly bonded with their owners and once bonded will try hard in every way to please that person. If they know you and love you they will do anything in their power to please you. Colors vary from the traditional grulla and duns with dorsal stripes, leg barring, wither shadows and cobwebbing on the forehead. But they also come in appaloosa colors, overos, bays, black, buckskins, palaminos, chestnuts, sorrels, roans, sabinos, and whites. Their presence and the way they carry themselves just takes your breath away.

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