Marismeña Horse

Intro

The Marismeña Horse comes from the marshes in Doñana National Park and is likely related to the Retuertas.

Origins

Horses have been in the area for a long time and the Marismeña is a descendant of the primitive Iberian horse. Although the bloodlines have been diluted considerably over the years, largely from northern African breeds.

They are also part of a popular local tradition called the Saca de las Yeguas (take out the mares) every year, when mares are passed through the streets of Almonte. The herds live outside year round and are collected annually for basic management and health checks. Other than this maintenance, they are left to their own devices for food.

According to the DAD-IS this breed is endangered and as of 2023 there were 1076 of them left.

Features

Average height 13.8-14.6 hands

Physique

Head is large with a a convex profile
Neck is short
Belly is rounded
Legs are thin

Traditional Colors

Most colors

Temperament

Gentle but lively
Hard worker

Use

Riding
Land management

Helpful Links

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National Association of Marismeña Breeders
Official Breeds Catalogue

More Images

Marismena Horse

Image from Masterdreams under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license
Marismena Horse

Image from simonsimages under the CC BY 2.0 license

Video