"The Return of the Ojibwe Pony, the Midwest’s Native Horse" Topic

"ON A COLD APRIL DAY in 2022, six shaggy, stocky ponies huddled together in the chill Canadian air, hot breath pluming from their noses. The whites of their eyes and bright face markings stood out against their full, dark winter coats. Their hooves crunched through frost on the hard ground as the small herd was hurried onto a stock trailer.

The horses hardly knew a human's touch, and shifted around nervously as the trailer slid out of the driveway. Usually, their concern would have been warranted: Many of their relatives had been sold at auction and sent to slaughter. But this time was different. The lucky bunch was headed to a forever home where they'd be part of a growing mission to bring back their rare breed: the Ojibwe pony, which had roamed North America for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years, before being nearly wiped out in the last two centuries…"

More here

link

Armand

Great accomplishment. Well done.

I don't "buy" the *native* horse idea, though. No scientific evidence, then it's not true.
So, technically, these are 'feral' horses.

From Spain due to Conquistadots expansionism? They did travel into the south mid-west looking for treasure. Many died and the horses would have been relieved of their harnesses and saddlery during fights with the native people or even released during raids.

@ Hitman. Exactly correct. IMO. I dare say if anyone disputed this, a DNA test would confirm – or deny – it.

"I don't "buy" the *native* horse idea, though. No scientific evidence, then it's not true."

If the camels in the Americas hadn't gone extinct, I'd bet the indigenous peoples would have tamed them enough to ride. Can anybody else imagine an alternate history where the invading Conquistadors were met by charging camelry…? ;-)

(smile)

Armand