Horses

Left image
An artist's rendering of the mission horse pens.

Right image
Horses are still the only viable transportation in certain difficult terrains.

 

• Horse

  
  

  A good horse was necessary for all kinds of daily work and transportation.
  Audio Transcript

  Horse neighs

 

How It Was

An incredible horse once grazed the area around Tumacácori. The Spanish Barb, according to equine geneticist Dr. Phil Sponenberg, “occurred in an arc from the Carolinas to Florida, west through Tennessee and then throughout the western mountains and great plains.”

The Spanish Barb is a small, tough, breed of horse, standing 14 to 15 hands tall (4.5 to 5 feet at the shoulder). They have a powerful chest and front legs, with strong leg bones and sturdy hooves. They move easily over rough ground and do well in the southwestern heat.

Brought from Europe by early Spanish settlers, the Barb spread to tribal communities after the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. It dramatically altered the lifeways of tribes, especially those in plains landscapes, into a mobile, mounted culture. Until the time of the American acquisition of Spanish held territories, the blood of the Spanish Barb flowed in the veins of most early American horses.

How It Is Now

These ancient bloodlines were very nearly annihilated during the 19th century. Today, only about 200 Spanish Barb horses remain in the United States. An isolated herd located on the Wilbur Cruce Ranch near Arivaca, Arizona has allowed the continuation of the rare bloodline for more than 120 years.

Today's visitors to Tumacácori may see riders on horses along the Anza Trail.

Learn More

Wilbur Cruce Colonial Spanish Mission Herd
Anza Trail: Tumacácori to Tubac