Spanish Horsemen and Horses in the New World

When the Spanish came to the New Worlds, they brought with them the knowledge and skills they had gained from centuries of handling and breeding aggressive cattle and fine horses. To thrive in the lands they conquered in the New World, they had to adapt their methods to meet new conditions. What role did the Mexican vaqueros play in the development of western horsemanship?

For hundreds of years, Iberia had been known as the home of horses who were exceptionally tough, agile, brave, and responsive to their riders. These were the ancestors of the horses the vaqueros rode.

The Conquistadors brought more than one breed or type of horse with them. Selective breeding began early. Horses were bred fro war, games, herding cattle, endurance, parades, and ambling gaits. How did selective shipping and breeding create so many new breeds throughout South and North America? What role did the mustangs play in creating horses with exceptional endurance?

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