Horses

The Chilean Horse is almost unknown outside South America regardless it is

1. The oldest registered native American breed,
2. The oldest registered breed of Iberian origin,
3. The oldest registered horse breed in South America,
4. The oldest registered stock horse breed in the Western Hemisphere.
   

Chilean Horse Breed History
The breed probably like developed around 1544 when Father Rodrigo Gonzalez Marmolejo, the first known Chilean Horse breeder, started breeding equines in an area then known as New Toledo with the emphasis on quality.
The Chilean Horse's genealogy originates in New Castile (Peru) however most of the horses came from the fertile valleys of Charcas (now Sucre, Bolivia), though the finest stallions were selected from throughout the kingdom.

By the 17th century, Chile had very defined horse types namely parade horses, pacers and trotters these horses had gained the reputation of being the best in South America.

Mustering and round up work required across Chile from as far back as 1557 played a role in the development of the breed, making the modern Chilean Horse and ideal Rodeo horse - ?aptitudes used now in a Chilean crescent-shaped arena known as a "medialuna"? (half-moon arena). Chilean Horses were chosen for their for lateral dexterity, courage(cow horses need it to ?confront and pin belligerent cattle) and an even temperament for ease of trainability and conservation of energy.(Jumpy horses burn energy).

During the same time, a group of mares was developing for thrashing the increasly popular wheat grain.? Only the most surefooted mares mares were chosen "?? those that stumbled or otherwise underperformed were slaughtered.
Within a circular confined area with wheat up to their knees the mares were expected to move on their own accord. These ?mares became were the dams of some of the best "˜corraleros'(rodeo horses) of the time. By the late 1700's farms such as Principal, Catemu, Quilimuta and Alhue kept records of the genealogy of the specialized horses they were breeding.

Independence from Spain led to the selection of the breed ad the Vhilean national horse. As a rodeo rather than endurance horse, they are bred first for speed with endurance a secondary consideration.? The breed registry was developed in the 19th century to protect the breed, which was under threat by South American breeders introducing so much European breeds into local bloodlines.

The end of the 19th century saw massive decline in their numbers as machinery replaced their traditional uses as thrashing, mustering and transport horses.? It was their excellence in, and a late upsurge in Chilean Rodeo that was their saving Grace.? Since their turn of the 20th Century, the popularity of Chilean Rodeo has been on the rise.? Curiously, this has ensured the preservation of the breed as they are the breed most suited to this sort of event, and thus breeders don't look to breed other blood in ensuring the continuance of the pure breed of Chilean Horse.

Breed Characteristics
Like many other native breeds in Latin America, the Chilean Horse is very hardy with a low metabolism, a high threshold for pain, great immunity to disease and a remarkable rate of recuperation. Their hooves are strong and they have a thick thick double hair coat which makes them well suited for both cold and dry/hot weather.

The breed has a very docile temperament yet are incredibly brave and alert with a large capacity for work.

The Chilean Horse the oldest stock horse breed in America and the only stock horse breed that has maintained a closed registry since its inception.