Kiger Mustang

The Kiger Mustang is a breed that was discovered in Oregon in the United States in 1977. The horses are descended from the famous Spanish horses brought to America by the Spanish conquistadors where they escaped or were released and became feral horses.

The horses have all the same color being light brown or dun with black points mane and tail. The animated film Spirit – Stallion of the Cimarron is based on a true Kiger Mustang named Donner.

In 1977 the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Oregon was tasked of collecting plants, animals and materials from the steppes to be able to document them.

A large number of the wild horses were gathered together and it soon became apparent that a number of the individuals in the herd exhibited similar colour characteristics namely the ink color.

At the University of Kentucky DNA tests were done on the horses and the story of their descendants was verified, descended from the Spanish horses brought to the United States with the Spanish conquistadors in the 1600s.

It was commonly agreed that the genetics were so unique that they would be separated from other wild horses to be able to retain their pure bloodlines. The idea was to put them in different protected areas in the mountains of Oregon where they had to cope with food foraging and would breed naturally.

The Kiger Mustang became an established breed for more reasons than just its unique appearances. Most of the horses could be traced genetically back to one stallion whose name was Mesteo that means “wild” in Spanish.

Today the horses are used riding where they are easily trained kind and intelligent. The Kiger Mustang mixed easily with the Spanish Mustang and the regular mustang and they all have common blood lines, but have evolved differently in different environments.

However, the Kiger Mustang is counted as a separate breed since its discovery in 1977.

Attributes

The Kiger Mustang is best known for his color. The bright yellow brown coat or dun with black points. Black points refer to the black muzzle, black legs and black mane and tail.

The Primitive horse characteristic of a black dorsal stripe is also quite common with this breed and there are sometimes even zebra marks on the canon bones.
The Kiger Mustang is incredibly beautiful and good looking with a good confirmation in a proportionate and muscular body.

The horses are incredibly brave and sure-footed and saying goes that they have “big hearts” when they are also affectionate and calm, contrary to being considered wild horses.

The Kiger Mustang is now used a lot for various riding disciplines including livestock ranching and competitive level riding sports.

The Horses have a natural resilience to illness and disease and are quite athletic.