Endangered Choctaw Purebred Found In Mississippi
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DeSoto, an old Choctaw stallion discovered on a Poplarville, Miss. farm in 2005, provided a big boost to preservation hopes for a rare breed that Oklahomans have been nurturing for decades. The Choctaw breed is one strain of Colonial Spanish horses owned by Choctaw Native Americans (and other tribes) in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Most of the purebred Choctaw horses were lost when tribes were relocated to Western reservations.
But some pure Choctaws remained on Blackjack Mountain near Antlers, Okla., where they were turned free to roam on timber company land by owners who could no longer care for them.
“They’re survivors, just like the Choctaw people. They fend for themselves in the wilderness. They’re smaller than other horses, and built more narrow with a V-chest, but a deep chest between the chest floor and withers provides more internal capacity for the lungs and heart. They don’t have a lot of body mass or muscle, so they are good runners,” says Bryant Rickman, who cares for the horses.
Rickman, a retired agriculture teacher, became interested in preserving the breed as an important part of Oklahoma history. In 1980, with the help of Dr. Phillip Sponenberg of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech., and DNA testing, nine mares and three stallions proved to be 100 percent Choctaw horses. Currently there are about 250 known Colonial Spanish horses with a percentage being Choctaw horses. Those are mostly under Rickman’s care and a handful of other people dedicated to preserving the breed.
The discovery of the Choctaw horse in Mississippi was important because it adds to the genetic pool, Rickman says. He sent 11 mares to Mississippi to be bred and three of the colts were shipped back to Oklahoma.
Caring for the Choctaw horses and other Spanish mustangs became more difficult when the Rickmans lost their lease with the timber companies in 2007. In keeping his promise to Jones, Rickman, with friends and volunteers rounded them up and moved them to other locations. Making the rounds to feed 200 to 300 horses requires 42- and 90-mile round trips every other day.
Volunteers have also sponsored fundraising events. In races in other states, such as Michigan’s Shore-to-Shore Endurance Ride, Choctaw horses are very competitive with other breeds, Rickman says. They can easily handle five 50-mile days.
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is working with Rickman to find experienced breeders committed to preserving the Choctaw breed. In addition, some stallions and yearlings are available for sale. With a mild temperament, the horses make great riding horses.
Though caring for the horses has become more challenging, Rickman notes that Gilbert Jones would be pleased about the growing recognition of the horse breed he cherished.
In 2014, the Oklahoma Colonial Spanish horse became recognized as the official Heritage Horse of Oklahoma.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bryant Rickman, Rt. 1, Box 58, Soper, Okla. 74759 (ph 580 743-1991; bryant.rickman@yahoo.com; Facebook: rickmanspanishmustangs).
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Endangered Choctaw Purebred Found In Mississippi LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules DeSoto an old Choctaw stallion discovered on a Poplarville Miss farm in 2005 provided a big boost to preservation hopes for a rare breed that Oklahomans have been nurturing for decades The Choctaw breed is one strain of Colonial Spanish horses owned by Choctaw Native Americans and other tribes in Alabama Mississippi and Louisiana Most of the purebred Choctaw horses were lost when tribes were relocated to Western reservations But some pure Choctaws remained on Blackjack Mountain near Antlers Okla where they were turned free to roam on timber company land by owners who could no longer care for them “They’re survivors just like the Choctaw people They fend for themselves in the wilderness They’re smaller than other horses and built more narrow with a V-chest but a deep chest between the chest floor and withers provides more internal capacity for the lungs and heart They don’t have a lot of body mass or muscle so they are good runners ” says Bryant Rickman who cares for the horses Rickman a retired agriculture teacher became interested in preserving the breed as an important part of Oklahoma history In 1980 with the help of Dr Phillip Sponenberg of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech and DNA testing nine mares and three stallions proved to be 100 percent Choctaw horses Currently there are about 250 known Colonial Spanish horses with a percentage being Choctaw horses Those are mostly under Rickman’s care and a handful of other people dedicated to preserving the breed The discovery of the Choctaw horse in Mississippi was important because it adds to the genetic pool Rickman says He sent 11 mares to Mississippi to be bred and three of the colts were shipped back to Oklahoma Caring for the Choctaw horses and other Spanish mustangs became more difficult when the Rickmans lost their lease with the timber companies in 2007 In keeping his promise to Jones Rickman with friends and volunteers rounded them up and moved them to other locations Making the rounds to feed 200 to 300 horses requires 42- and 90-mile round trips every other day Volunteers have also sponsored fundraising events In races in other states such as Michigan’s Shore-to-Shore Endurance Ride Choctaw horses are very competitive with other breeds Rickman says They can easily handle five 50-mile days The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is working with Rickman to find experienced breeders committed to preserving the Choctaw breed In addition some stallions and yearlings are available for sale With a mild temperament the horses make great riding horses Though caring for the horses has become more challenging Rickman notes that Gilbert Jones would be pleased about the growing recognition of the horse breed he cherished In 2014 the Oklahoma Colonial Spanish horse became recognized as the official Heritage Horse of Oklahoma Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bryant Rickman Rt 1 Box 58 Soper Okla 74759 ph 580 743-1991; bryant rickman@yahoo com; Facebook: rickmanspanishmustangs
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