THE GALICENO

Galicenos are small in stature but are built tough and hardy. Smooth gaited and smooth muscled, they can carry a 200 pound man all day through difficult terrain without tiring.

The gaits of a Galiceno are smooth with ground covering movement and these horses display a signatory "running walk" distinctive to the breed. They have a stockier body, with more chest depth and less width across the back than many other breeds.

The shoulders are sloped which contribute to the low, smooth gaits. The tail is set lower and is usually long and full, in some animals, sweeping the ground. Feet are well shaped and hard, open at the heel with knees broad sloping into cannon. The Galiceno head is refined: narrow shape, mouth shallow, ears narrow and pointed, eyes luminous and large, and muzzle small. The neck is slightly arched, the mane is thick, long and lays full across the neck. Galicenos can be registered in any solid color such as buckskin or bay; but albino or pinto is not recognized.

The Galiceno is an intelligent animal, very social and easily bonded to people. It displays a generally even temperament and quick reactions that make it especially appealing as an intermediate horse for youth or as a working horse for cattle.

The Galiceno is also gaited with a full range of smooth gaits and is exceptional for driving or showing. It is easily handled by both novice and expert and performs well in reining or timed events. Strong and steady, intelligent and gaited, the Galiceno has a rich and remarkable history that traces back to the mountains and peninsulas of Spain and Portugal. Often referred to mistakenly as a "pony" due to its small size, the Galiceno is in reality a horse, standing between 12 to 13.2 hands at the withers, and possessing the character, gaits and genetic similarities of other horses of the Iberian peninsula.

The Galiceno is a breed descended originally from the northwestern province of Galicia, Spain. The Galiceno is believed to have been a cross between the horses of Galicia and the Garrano mountain ponies of Portugal. Its arrival on the North American continent can be traced back to Cortez and the Conquistadors in the sixteenth century, circa 1519, when Cortez invaded Mexico. To learn more about the Galiceno, visit www.galiceno.com or email info@galiceno.com 

This is not the association but a group trying to improve public awareness of this breed.