Ep 096 Galiceños: Spanish Horsepower, Torque, and a Great Turning Radius

Welcome to the New Year, and goodbye to the old.  This is the time of year where we often look back on the past, even if it’s usually just in the form of the “best of and worst of” lists.  We’re no different, but instead of the past year, we’re looking back to the last 500 (plus 1) years.  Half a century is a long time, but it’s an anniversary to be commemorated for today’s podcast guest:  The Galiceno horse.

These little horses are little.  Did we say that twice?  It’s because they are definitely that – as in, the size of a pony (but unquestionably look like a horse).  Even so, they pack a power punch in the “capacity” realm.  They arrived with Hernan Cortes in 1519 when he invaded Mexico, and originated from genetic stock from Northwestern Spain.  Even at 12 or 13 hands and about 700 pounds, they can carry a 200-pound person all day long over rough terrain.  Maybe all that fortitude comes from laboring in the Mexican silver mines, or maybe it’s from its development as a true land-race breed over the last century.  But either way, we hope this highly-endangered animal keeps going into the future.  There are said to be less than 200 in existence, most of them non-breeding, so that’s a real concern. 

Join us as we talk to biologists Rick and Pat Blaney and Heidi Reinhardt at Suwannee Horse Ranch in Live Oak, Florida.  We’ll find out more about these wonderful little equines with stamina, quickness, intelligence, and a beautifully-smooth running walk gait.  And you don’t need a three-foot mounting block to get in the saddle, either.

And unlike some horsepower of Spanish lineage, they turn on a dime (that’s a gentle dig at the Mustang car).  A car joke – Rick can be so proud.

 
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Galicenos-of-Suwannee-139480129479917/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/galiceno
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fossil-horses/scientific-names/
https://www.galiceno.org/index.html