Kiger Mustang is not only a very beautiful, hardy breed of horses, but also a rare one. It is generally accepted that their roots stretch from purebred French and Spanish horses.
Kiger Mustangs are called "wild breed." Every year, their population decreases in numbers, and this is due to the value of meat and skin of these horses.
History of occurrence
Historically, the exact origin of the blood of this breed has not been identified. It is only known that in the 16th century the Spaniards brought their horses to the territory of America, where their unplanned mating with horses of other breeds took place. Including ungulates of French origin.
The horses ran free and in favorable wild conditions they multiplied. Thus the “wild breed” appeared. By the way, the word "mustang" (mustang) means "run wild", "stray", "wild" or "ownerless." As a rule, this term is called cattle. This is where the name of the Kiger Mustang breed came from.
Characteristics and temper of the Mustang
Real legends go about the spirit and customs of the Kiger Mustang breed. Most of the information in them, of course, is exaggerated, since they describe an animal with a rabid character that can not be controlled.
Yes, the Mustang’s character is not the most complaisant, he has a bit of stubbornness and wildness, but is not adamant. Kiger Mustang is distinguished by high intellectual abilities, devotion to the owner and freedom-loving temperament.
This is an ideal horse for riding - very fast and hardy. This feature is associated with the development of the breed, because in the wild, the animals had to constantly get their own food and move around a lot, which made them so strong.
Life in the wild
Mustangs tend to live in herds. In the "family" there is always a head, both from the side of males and from the side of females. The male is called to fulfill not only the reproductive function, but also defensive (if necessary). The female takes care of the offspring and, in case of danger, takes all foals and other mares to a safe place. This pattern of life and survival is somewhat reminiscent of lion prides.
The main male is elected by the oldest method, that is, by force. He regularly confirms his status as a leader. Most often this is an adult animal older than 6 years old, which has experience. All other males are required to obey him.
With mares, the situation is different. The dominant female is selected on the basis of fertility. If the circumstances are not the best and there is no way to quickly lead the herd to a safe place, then the remaining females surround the foals and the alpha female, thereby protecting them. At the same time, males become croup to the source of danger and in this way occupy a defensive position. When the enemy approaches, they will try to strike with their hooves.
External data
Kiger mustang - a horse that does not belong to the large type. Its dimensions are not so large, but thanks to this it is able to develop a very high speed during a gallop.
If we talk about sizes, the height at the withers is about 145-150 centimeters, and the mass of the animal does not exceed 350-400 kilograms. Noteworthy is the presence of a very strong back and powerful neck, which once again characterizes the breed as ideal for riding.
The head of a kiger is large. Ears are neither large nor small, pointed at the ends. The nostrils are a prominent part of the muzzle - rather large.
The color is different, but the main one is red color of various intensities. The color may have a gray tint or even stripes on the legs and upper body. Rarely, there are also black representatives of the breed. The mane of kigers has a dark color, mainly chocolate or black.
How much does a kiger mustang cost?
In Russia, this breed is not common, but in the United States the average price of a kiger mustang is 1.5-3 thousand dollars, which in translation with our money is approximately 85-170 thousand rubles per adult animal.
The cost is justified by the rarity of the breed and the small number, because in all there are no more than 60 thousand kig-mustangs left, and even fewer tame individuals.