Do you remember when I wrote about the incredible Carolina Marsh Tacky Horses?  Sadly, they are becoming extinct…

However, there is a very noble group, the Carolina Marsh Tacky Association, who is passionate to save the breed.

And…

THERE IS A COLT FOR SALE!  (NO AFFILIATION)

There is one for sale!  A colt!  (ALL HIS INFO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST!)

I WANT HIM!  However, he is all the way across the country and I have enormous vet bills right now… so I have to sit on my hands.

But, would one of you like this opportunity to own one of these fabulous and rare horses?

I have attached my previous post below this one – just for reference to remind you.

PLUS, I’ve added a link to a sweet book “Beach Race Champion“, their FB page, their newsletter and their new website links.

Go ahead, scroll down… aren’t they gorgeous?!  Small, durable, game, adventurous, sure footed, great in swampy conditions and have lots of go!

Here is the official website.

Here is the previous post so you can remember all about the breed:

 THE CAROLINA MARSH TACKY HORSE.  Will he become extinct in our lifetime?  Hope not.

I had never heard of this horse:  The Carolina Marsh Tacky Horse.  Have you?

Today, through a series of interesting emails, the Marsh Tacky Horse – out of nowhere –  appeared on my radar.  What did I just read out of the corner of my eye on my computer screen?  A what kind of horse?  A Marsh what?  Marsh Tacky horse?  ?

So I did some research and let me tell you…

Of all the breeds I’d like to own, rescue, house, care for, feed, ride, race, jump, love and bury my face in their mane, THIS BREED is now at the top of my list.  Why?  Why indeed…

WHY I LIKE THEM

They seem like my kinda horse.  Sturdy, Small, Durable, Smart, Sure-Footed, Strong Feet and they come in a variety of colors that I particularly prefer.  Grulla, Dun, Creme, Roan and all those mixed up genetic colors that fascinate me.

They are described as having unique abilities to navigate in marshy, wet and mucky conditions.  I’m told they are “forest wise” with the sense to consider situations and not just flee.  Oh, and they can go and go and go and go…  They aren’t super fast like an Arab endurance horse, but they have stamina enough to work in the hot, humid, sloppy Carolina marshes and swamps all day long.

And, all of the owners absolutely LOVE THEM.  You can go to the extensive website and read story after story – pure joy.

Wow.  Kinda perfect for a person (like me) who wants a small, sensible, solid trail horse who can maneuver in tough terrain.  Too bad they are almost extinct… Unbelievable that such a cherished breed for its owners – is barely sustained.

EXTINCTION IS LOOMING

OK, ready…?  There are less than 300 of these horses alive.  And, right now, there are only 2 available for sale in the entire US.  Can any other breed say that?  When most breeds are in surplus here, there are not enough Carolina Marsh Tacky Horses.

HISTORY

There are pages of lengthy history on these horses which I will link here.  But, in my own words the history goes something like this.

Carolina Marsh Tacky horses are descendants of the Colonial Spanish horse which settled in the South Carolina swamp marshes.  They ate swamp grasses and roamed in that wet, sloppy terrain which helped develop their sure footed and unusual, comfortable gait.

During the American Revolution, some were gathered and used to mount the soldiers.  Quickly these horses became a favorite because of their agility and size.  During the Civil War, these horses were again front and center.  Because the Marsh Tacky was such a quality worker, he was seen in every yard in those days.  They delivered the mail, plowed fields, brought people to visit and functioned in every way required of a horse in a community.  During WWll, the Tacky horse patrolled the beaches of South Carolina looking for U-boats.

“Tackies were largely managed on islands in the lowland or “lowcountry” region and on coastal
islands including Hilton Head. These herds were occasionally rounded up by local inhabitants
whenever there was a need for horses.”

Then came technology.  And, this specialized horse who lived in a small area was squeezed out of its natural habitat.  People stopped owning and breeding them.  So, the small colony became smaller and smaller and…

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) estimates through
extensive field investigation that there are fewer than 300 pure Marsh Tackies left.

LUCKILY, THE AMERICAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS CONSERVANCY (ALBC) STEPS UP TO SAVE THE DAY

I took this excerpt from the website:

“Today, a majority of the Marsh Tacky horses lie in the hands of hunters and long time fanciers who have had these horses in
their families for generations. The remaining horses retain their ability to thrive in the challenging environments of coastal
South Carolina and have stamina in the field that is second to none. Owners often comment on the built-in “woods sense” of
the breed and how the horses have a natural way of traversing water obstacles and swamps without panicking or getting stuck
in the mud. “If a horse panics in the water, then it is not a Marsh Tacky,” boasts one breeder. Another claims that these
horses “know how to wear their feet,” attesting to their sure footedness, smooth ride and almost thoughtful approach to
traveling in the field.

 

 

 

It’s been nearly fifteen years since ALBC first found out about the breed and two years since we succeeded in finding and
working with the breeders, and in that time the future has begun to look brighter for these rare horses. All the efforts of
documenting and networking are now serving to support the breed’s recovery. In October of 2006, Marsh Tacky breeder David
Grant, with the assistance of Equus Survival Trust, held an open house at his farm to introduce the public to Marsh Tackies.
Following the event, ALBC conducted an informational workshop on Hilton Head in February 2007 to discuss the formation of a
breed association. ALBC met once again with Marsh Tacky owners and supporters in June 2007 at the Mullet Hall Equestrian
Center on Johns Island, S.C., to discuss the formalization of a Marsh Tacky Horse Association. During the meeting the owners
formed a Board of Governance that will pave the way for the creation of a Carolina Marsh Tacky Association (CMTA) whose
mission will be to support and promote the Marsh Tacky horse.

Following the formation of the breed association, ALBC received a grant from the Thorne Foundation to continue fieldwork and
create a studbook for the Marsh Tacky. The studbook was completed in 2009 and is managed using the Breeders Assistant
studbook program. This software was chosen for its versatility and for its proven record in management of other rare breeds. It
also gives ALBC the ability to make the studbook available to owners through the ALBC website.

As part of the recovery project, DNA samples were collected for analysis by Dr. Gus Cothran of Texas A&M University. Results
of this information are being used to enhance the strategy for population management and help maintain the remaining genetic
diversity within the population.

Additional scientific study on the Marsh Tacky has been undertaken through the Gaited Locomotive Research Program at
Mississippi State University. This program studied the gait of the breed to get a better understanding as to why these horses
can work or be ridden all day without the horse or its rider tiring. Video for the study was compiled by ALBC staff of a collection
of Tackies from several bloodlines within the breed. The study found that every horse in the videos did gait, and that the Marsh
Tacky breed can be considered a gaited horse that has very unique movement specific to the breed. The breed having the
most similar gait to the Marsh Tacky is another horse with Spanish roots – the Mangalarga Marchador, the National horse of
Brazil. Because there is enough difference between the two gaits, the breed association was given the honor to give the Marsh
Tacky’s gait a name of its own. The name “Swamp Fox Trot” was voted on and accepted as the name of the gait by the CMTA
membership at their 2010 annual meeting.

The Marsh Tacky remains a living piece of history in its native region and in 2010 was honored by being named the official
State Heritage Horse of South Carolina. The Marsh Tacky has endured for over 400 years and has the potential to survive far
beyond that, as long as enthusiasts and conservationist work together to preserve what remains of this historic treasure.”

BREED STANDARDS & MEMBERSHIP

First of all, why are they called “Tacky”?  Because they were so common long ago… imagine that.

There are breed standards, characteristics and traits.  You can read about them here and here.  Also, there is an official website here where you can read all about them as well as join the group and help preserve the breed.

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS AND STORIES!

I have to mention this website because the photos were spectacular and the stories/blogs even better.  I think this person is the biggest breeder of the Marsh Tacky, but I’m not sure.  He has a very nice stallion and several horses to drool over…

 

Moses.  Wow! Whatta cool, trained, rare horse.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!