Marsh Tacky horses survived as a breed on isolated coastal islands in South Carolina. Marion Broach (wearing hat) and David Grant have been involved in breeding and preserving them. Myriam Moran copyright 2015 While Columbus thought he was swindled by horse traders, MILITARY HISTORY privations of the long sea journey to the New World, the lack of fresh water and food for crew and passengers let alone livestock, left the horses in dire condition. They were not let loose on deck, rather slung off their feet in rigging. Andalusians would not have survived the journey nor in the tropical climate and rough sur­ roundings of the islands. Every subsequent voyage of dis­ covery brought more horses to Spanish colonies in the Americas. They established breeding farms CAROLINA and raised horses to ride, work and conquer. Only 27 years after Columbus and his men set foot in MARSH TACKY the New World and claimed it for Spain, Hernan Cortez set out from Cuba for Mexico. Cortez HORSES brought 16 horses with him. From diarists’ notes, most horses were described as steadfast little steeds Saving A Special Breed from the primitive Iberian breed of Sorraias or Marismenos. They JOHN CHRISTOPHER FINE LOOKS were relatively small horses about 14.3 hands high. A hand measures AT THE HISTORY OF A DISTINCT AND four inches, thus the horses stood PURE EQUINE BREED THAT CAME TO about five feet from the top of the withers to the ground. THE AMERICAS WITH 16TH CENTURY In those days, Spaniards were SPANISH EXPLORERS not very tall. If a conquistador measured 5’6” then he would be All photos courtesy of Myriam Moran, copyright 2015 considered relatively tall for the day. Thus the height of the horses cc rr i hese are common nags,” Christopher Columbus pro­ was in proportion to the riders. claimed when he arrived at his ships ready to embark Spanish brass stirrups recovered on his second voyage of discovery in 1493. What he from sunken galleons are also purchased were Andalusians, a Spanish breed that was telling about the size of riders of •A - reserved for nobility. What was delivered and slung the period. Measured with a size aboard his ships were Marismenos, horses of the swamps. To the eleven foot belonging to a six foot Spaniards of the day, these common horses sold for a tenth of what tall man, the stirrup is too small. Andalusians cost. They were solid, little horses used to foraging for A five foot tall person’s size seven themselves in the swamps and woodlands. foot fits easily into the stirrup. April/May 2015 History Magazine 1J These horses of conquest had characteristics peculiar to the breed. They had a narrow ‘A’ framed chest. This accommo­ dated large lungs. The lung capac­ ity enabled the horse to endure, to breathe deeply and well during speed and endurance require­ MILITARY HISTORY MILITARY ments and was perfectly suited for supporting circulation. The Sorraia or Marismenos have a dorsal stripe down their backs. The stripe runs all the way from the neck to the croup. The croup is low slung with one less vertebra at the end than other breeds. The mane is bi-colored. The Sorraia or Marismeno have black bordered ears and a bi­ colored tail. The horses are pre­ dominantly dun or grullo blue in color. Colors varied somewhat, Marsh Tacky horses have a com fortable gait. Their even stride m akes them but these primitive colors pre­ excellent riding horses. Myriam Moran copyright 2015 dominated. The horses generally have stripes on their legs, some horse and rider were one. They their bands and succeeded as a have stripes on their shoulders. A revered them as gods. Cortez breed with brackish water and convex nose is also a prominent wrote a letter to the King of Spain limited forage. feature. after his conquest of the Aztecs Historians trace the South What few understand of history that read in part, “But for the Carolina Marsh Tacky back to the is that there were no horses in grace of God and the horses”, the 16th century when they were North America until Columbus conquest would not have been brought by Spanish explorers and first brought them in 1493. The possible. traders. There is a rich folklore archaeological record reveals that Spain organized a maritime about the Marsh Tacky horse that small horses, forebears of Equus, highway from their colonies in was used by American colonists no bigger than a dog, lived here. South and Central America and before and during the American Mexico, first to Cuba then back Revolution. The little horses to Spain. Outward bound ships endured hardships, hard work Horses died out on the would carry cargoes of manufac­ and were perfectly adapted to tured goods, iron, cannons, the marshy swampland of North American continent mercury to refine gold and horses. Carolina coastal areas. The Marsh 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Returning convoys would bring Tacky’s presence in Carolina has spices, dyes, gold, silver and jew­ been traced to trading expeditions els. This golden highway contin­ by Spaniards from their settle­ Horses are thought to have mi­ ued for some 350 years, despite ment in St. Augustine, Florida grated from North America across the vagaries of hurricanes, war­ to Charleston. Many of the a land bridge that existed con­ fare and pirates. When ships horses were sold and traded in necting what is now Alaska to wrecked, their cargoes were lost. Charleston. Mongolia. Reports of Spanish ships wrecking While not a glorious name, Spanish breeding farms were off the outer islands of Virginia these horses of the marshland and established in the New World. and the Carolinas are legend. swamp were called by the English Horses were an important part of History tells of Spanish steeds name ‘tacky’. It means what it colonial life. When Cortez and his swimming ashore and remaining says by definition since the horses men landed in Mexico, the in­ isolated on many outer banks were ‘common’ and ‘cheap’. Their digenous people believed that the islands. These horses ran wild in affinity to humans and their f8 History Magazine April/May 2015 sturdy constitution and mental Regiment. They were posted in independently as guerrillas, using attitude made them ideal for Charleston to build a works for tactics he learned fighting the Revolutionary horse soldiers after Fort Sullivan. Marion distin­ Cherokees. They would ambush America declared independence guished himself on 28 June 1776, British forces and ride away into from Britain in 1776. when the British fleet was pre­ the swamps to escape pursuit. Brigadier General Francis vented from taking Fort Sullivan. In one attack Marion and his Marion was born on his parents’ Marion remained at the fort, men attacked a British encamp­ plantation in 1732 at Berkeley training Continental troops for ment and freed a large number of County, South Carolina. He was three more years. Continental prisoners of war. educated in Georgetown and went Bored during a dinner party in Mounted on their Marsh Tacky to sea when he was fifteen. Young Charleston, Marion jumped out a horses, Marion and his small band Francis Marion’s seafaring career second floor window to escape. of men harassed the British by didn’t last long. His ship wrecked He broke his ankle. This was in attacking their supply lines and in the Caribbean after hitting a March 1780. He was treated and camps. The continued success of whale. Adrift in a launch for a returned to his plantation to Marion and his men provoked week, the young man returned recuperate. The broken ankle British commander Lieutenant home to South Carolina after they proved good luck since he was not General Lord Charles Cornwallis were rescued. This was about the captured when Charleston was to order loyalists to seize these time of the French and Indian attacked and taken by British outlaw rebels. When all attempts War. Marion joined up with the troops. to capture the Colonials failed, South Carolina Militia and fought Marion organized a small force Cornwallis sent his best cavalry Cherokee Indians until about of militiamen. They were irregu­ officer, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre 1761, when he returned to the lars and mounted themselves on Tarleton, to seek and destroy Eutaw Spring region along the Carolina Marsh Tacky horses. Marion and his men. Santee River. Francis Marion These were the only sturdy steeds Pee Dee Indians joined the bought a plantation he named perfectly suited for the marshes colonists to fight against the Pond Bluff, was elected to the and vast cedar swamps. Ordered British. These South Appalachian- provincial legislature and settled to scout the Pee Dee River area by Mississippian people spoke into the life of a planter. Major General Horatio Gates, Iroquois language and became The South Carolina Provincial Marion and his men evaded cap­ part of Marion’s forces known Congress formed three military ture when Gates and his forces as the Raccoon Company led by regiments to fight the British. were defeated at the Battle of Captain John Alston. Francis Marion was commis­ Camden on 16 August 1780. Colonel Tarleton received infor­ sioned a Captain in the Second Marion and his men operated mation from spies as to Marion’s left: Marsh Tacky owner and breeder David Grant with one of his stallions. He asserts that Marsh Tackies are easy keepers. Stallions m ake fine riding horses. Myriam Moran copyright 2015 r ig h t : Marsh Tacky horses have that Spanish colonial horse look. They are intelligent, sturdy horses well suited for the marshes and swamps of South Carolina.