Size
The Spanish Mustang is a medium sized horse ranging from 13.2 to 15 hands (137 to 153 cms) with an average size range of 14 to 14.3 hands (142 to 150 cms) with a weight of approximately 700-1000 pounds (317-453 kgs). They are small enough to carry a child but are strong enough to carry an adult.
Appearance
In side view they have a well balanced appearance with a short back and are often only as long as they are tall,
with their neck and their backs being of approximately equal length which gives them a square appearance.
When viewed from the front, the chest appears narrow but deep with the legs coming up into the chest in what appears to be the outline of the capital letter A.
They have wiry muscles and as a result can sometimes look underdeveloped when compared to heavily muscled horses such the Quarter Horse and those of modern breeding, or of a non Iberian background. Their legs and feet are strong and many of them do not need shoeing.
Spanish Mustangs come in many colours including bays, duns, paints palominos, appaloosas and paints. Many of them display primitive markings such as dorsal stripes and leg barring. With the exception of the appaloosas they generally have luxurious manes and tails, with the tail being low set.
Temperament and abilities
These horses have a natural athletic ability. They excel at many horse sports, such as show jumping, dressage, polo, carriage driving, endurance, competitive trail, rodeo,
barrel racing, etc.
They have a natural ability to work cattle and are still used for this on some ranches. They have stamina that many modern breeds can only dream of and excel at endurance. One Spanish Mustang, Geronimo's Warrior (SMR 2006) recently completed 10,000 endurance miles in just over 4 years before retiring to stud.
They are remarkably hardy animals and tend to be less prone to injury, particularly of the legs and feet, than other breeds.
They have a noble temperament and are very trainable. Whilst they are capable of great concentration they can be easily bored. They certainly see no point in repeating an exercise so that their rider can learn it.
They have a wild horse mentality that is very different from that of a "domesticated" horse. Highly intelligent and with an innate sense of self-preservation, and will not put themselves into any situation which may be dangerous. They retain a great many of the instincts that allowed them to survive in the feral state.
They are NOT push button horses, rather they are thinking horses that have their own opinions of things which they like to express, this does not always agree with their owner's opinion. They are capable of great loyalty and will often form strong bonds with their owners or handlers, which can be very rewarding on both sides.
Truly the Spanish Mustang is "Gentle enough to carry a child yet strong enough to help build a Nation"