Hoofbeats

Current genetic analysis of DNA samples from Abaco’s wild horses states that the Abaco wild horses “most closely resemble Paso Finos.” In addition to the genetic resemblance, Abaco‘s Wild Horses have many overt characteristics which show their Spanish heritage.

They have only five lumbar vertebrae. Most breeds of horse have six, Arabians have five and a half. The tails of Spanish horses are low set, and the Wild Horses of Abaco carry the same, low set tail. In addition, one of our mares carries her tail in a classic “scorpion” position when she runs. Unfortunately the video camera couldn’t be brought into action in time to record this. “We . . . saw a number of Paso Finos. They held their tails in an upward sickle shape, sort of like an Irish setter.” “The unusual tail carriage . . . is a highly desirable trait in Paso Finos.” These quotes are from letters on page 43 of the Gaited Horse Magazine, winter ‘99, which featured a cover story on the Wild Horses of Abaco.



	Horses Show Their Spanish Heritage
Current genetic analysis of DNA samples from Abaco’s wild horses states that the Abaco wild horses “most closely resemble Paso Finos.” In addition to the genetic resemblance, Abaco‘s Wild Horses have many overt characteristics which show their Spanish heritage. They have only five lumbar vertebrae. Most breeds of horse have six, Arabians have five and a half. The tails of Spanish horses are low set, and the Wild Horses of Abaco carry the same, low set tail. In addition, one of our mares carries her tail in a classic “scorpion” position when she runs. Unfortunately the video camera couldn’t be brought into action in time to record this. “We . . . saw a number of Paso Finos. They held their tails in an upward sickle shape, sort of like an Irish setter.” “The unusual tail carriage . . . is a highly desirable trait in Paso Finos.” These quotes are from letters on page 43 of the Gaited Horse Magazine, winter ‘99, which featured a cover story on the Wild Horses of Abaco.


		The horses’ tails are also very thick, and often multi colored. Their manes and forelocks are thick and often wavy. Before he tore it off in the bush Regulus’s mane fell well past his shoulders.

The horses are about 14.5 hands, and are exceptionally strong. Their faces are all convex, and their ears tend to be pointed. They have broad foreheads and their faces taper down quite dramatically. Many people who have seen photos of the horses, and who have seen them in the field, agree that they look like classic Spanish horses.