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Aimé Tschiffely - Long Rider |
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The Tschiffely Literary Estate Articles by and about Tschiffely |
The Criollo Horse of South America
BY EMILIO SOLANET Translation and Notes BY THORNTON CHARD (1930)
Translator's Note: Dr. Solanet is a veterinarian of renown who has made life study of horse flesh. He is a scientific and successful breeder, an authority on the "Criollo" the best strains of which he has the reputation of possessing, on his large estate, "El Cardal," in the Argentine. It was he who presented Mr. A. F. Tschiffely with the "Criollos" Mancha and Gato, thereby making it possible for Mr. Tschiffely to undertake and successfully complete the very remarkable ride, requiring 900 days, from Buenos Aires to Washington. Through the kind offices of Mr. Tschiffely, I am privileged to publish the paper of Dr. Solanet, whose great courtesy is herewith acknowledged. The paper was originally presented at a conference held by the Faculty of Veterinary Science and Agronomy of Buenos Aires, September 23, 1923. It has been freely translated from the Spanish under my direction and I have added extensive notes in an appendix. (Editor's note: These notes can be accessed while reading this article by clicking on the links, or read in their entirety in a separate document.) One of my objects in translating this interesting paper is to bring once again to the attention of American breeders and horsemen, especially those officers of the Army who are influential in the remount problem, the value of the Arabian and Barb blood which was the foundation of the North American pure mustang, unfortunately now lost to the United States through short-sighted lack of appreciation of its great value, as a native base on which to build an Army remount supply. South America, especially the Argentine, through the patriotic action of some of her citizens has saved her native horse. — T. C.
1. Origin
That the Spanish horse is the origin of the Criollo is proved by all evidence.
Paleontology: Naturalists have described the South American horse fossils. Osteology shows that they are far from the modern horse: the missing link has not been found. (Note 1)
Early Language: No vocabulary of any early American language existed for describing the modern horse. Therefore they did not have this animal. The Indians made up words such as "good thing" to describe the horse but never a real specific name. They had words for all the other animals that they possessed but for the horse they made up descriptive combinations.
History of the Conquest: The conquerors found huts made of many animal skins except those of horses; also they found that the Indians were great walkers and runners showing that they did not know the horse. No pictorial or sculptural art shows the [modern] horse. Food products such as vegetables, fish and small animals were used but no large animal meat is mentioned. No historian has ever mentioned evidence of the horse before the time of the Conquerors. Domestication of horses is a constant fact wherever man and horse cohabit. (Note 2) Therefore the admiration and surprise of the Indians caused by the mounted men and the fact that they considered mounted men supernatural beings - believing man and horse were one being - show that they had never before seen the horse. (Notes 3, 4, 5).
Conformation of the Race: The external forms which I have noted in the two types which comprise all the Criollos of Uruguay, Argentine, Paraguay and Chile coincide with the dominant races in Spain up to the year 1500, that is, they may be the African or Asiatic types brought by the Moors and placed on the peninsular during their long reign. Modifications of these races still appear quite perceptible in the Criollo especially in the cephalic characters. These are the most permanent, being least subject to change.
2. Forming and perfecting the Criollo Race
During the years of discovery of America - also before and after - the Spanish horse was considered the best horse of Europe for saddle work. The Arabian and the Barb bloods were considered stronger in their impregnation than those of the Goths, Vandals, Romans and Gauls, etc.; by reason of their greater purity and selective breeding. (Notes 6, 7, 8, 9)
The first horses were brought to the La Plata River. Only the best were brought to meet the difficult conditions. The process of natural selection worked to form the race of Criollos. Poor digestion, weak heart, could not survive the dry seasons; poor lungs could not withstand the varying temperatures; lack of speed exterminated the slow. The long marches during many months at the time of the War of Emancipation were recorded in kilometers; 100 to 200 (62-124 miles) and even more were customary on the rides. Instead of being pampered, the horses endured hardships such as being burned by the sand-laden wind and eating thistles and coarse straw. The Criollos were valuable elements in the fight for independence, in war, agriculture and industry. On their robust backs our fathers amassed the wealth of the country.
3. Decadence in the Country of the Saddle Horse (from 1850 on)
After three centuries, which were years of natural selection for the horse, decadence set in. First on the ranches near Buenos Aires and then in all the zones of the country reached by the mixed breeding. The introduction of European reproducers to improve the herds of cattle and sheep, during the middle of the last century, although it has resulted since then in the growth of our peculiar industry, has disturbed the standard of the ranchers in regard to the value of the national breeding. Without denying that the results may be contrary, with very few exceptions, the ranchers believed that to mix the blood, whatever the kind of animal so treated, was to progress. (Note 10.) Partly on account of this and greatly for the love of horseracing, crossing of the strong characteristics of the native Criollo with the thoroughbred race horse was an obsession, not only among the owners but even down to the stud grooms.
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