AIHR President Nanci Falley with Mano, official spokeshorse for AIHR.
The American Indian Horse Registry was established in 1961 for the purpose of collecting, recording and preserving the pedigrees of American Indian Horses. The Registry is currently housed at Rancho San Francisco near Lockhart, Texas together with a collection of Western and Indian Americana and a library pertaining to the history of the American Indian Horse.
A question that is often asked is, “What is the American Indian Horse?” If you desire, you may trace their ancestry back to the mists of antiquity and to the dust of the Arabian desert where they were housed with honor in the black tents of the roaming Bedouin tribes. From there they traveled to Spain, were bred with Barb and Andalusian stock and became known as the best horse in the world at that time. From Spain they were brought to the New World on the ships of Columbus and the Conquistadores during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Indian Horse has gone by many names: call him cow pony or buffalo horse; mustang or Indian pony; cayuse or Spanish pony — basically they are all the same animal.
Virtually every color known to the horse appears in this breed; he is sometimes appaloosa spotted, sometimes paint and sometimes solid colored with every variation imaginable occurring. He is well made, has excellent feet and legs and has as much savvy as any horse that ever lived. Height ranges from 13 to 16 hands; weight 700 to 1000 pounds with a few individuals over or under.
The Indian Horse’s loyalty is legend as is their toughness and intelligence, and anyone who is fortunate enough to share their lives with one knows how truly special they are.
Please do not hesitate to write, call, or e-mail with questions:
The American Indian Horse Registry, INC (AIHR)
9028 State Park Road, Lockhart, TX 78644-4310
Nanci Falley 512/738-0211
aihrnanci@gmail
Thank you for your interest in AIHR.
WOLAKOTA (peace and friendship in the Lakota language)
Nanci Falley and Unwritten “Rhett” at the 2010 National Show.