GENERAL INFORMATION
About The Carolina Marsh Tacky
-- Posted on Monday, October 15 2007
The Marsh Tacky - Yesterday and Today
By Jeannette Beranger, Research & Technical Programs Manager,
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
Marsh Tackies in History
The name "Tacky" is derived from the English word for "cheap" or "common." For most of their history, Marsh Tackies were the most common horse in the swampy and marshy Lowcountry region of coastal South Carolina and Georgia and were used for riding, pulling, and anything else horsepower was needed for. They were found from as far north as Myrtle Beach and as far south as St. Simon's Island, Georgia, until the advent of the automobile. As the car replaced the horse, the Marsh Tacky began to disappear. Until recently the breed was thought by many to have become extinct during the 1980's and 1990's. This ancient breed despite the immense popularity of more modern breeds of horses has managed to hold on in the hands of the people committed to their long held family traditions of keeping Marsh Tackies.
Oral histories have been collected by American Livestock Breeds Conservancy from longtime Marsh Tacky breeders, local historical organizations, and from public records. This information supports the hypothesis of the Spanish origin of the Marsh Tacky. One thing is clear: there is a strong case for considering the Marsh Tacky to be a Colonial Spanish horse whose roots reach back centuries in South Carolina.
The origin of the Marsh Tacky horse can be traced back nearly 500 years in the Carolinas. Aside from the Tacky physically reflecting many of the traits associated with Colonial Spanish horses in America, historical research also closely links them to the horses that arrived with some of the first Spanish settlers in the Americas.
In South Carolina, one of the earliest Spanish arrivals was Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon who in 1526 left Santo Domingo (today known as Haiti) and arrived on the coast near Myrtle Beach with 600 colonists and 89 horses. The colony ultimately failed and the surviving 150 colonists returned to Santo Domingo, leaving their horses behind. Following the loss of that colony, in 1566 Pedro Menendez de Aviles came to the Carolina coast bringing horses and troops to build a fort at Port Royal near present day Beaufort.
There is evidence that abandoned Spanish horses survived and thrived in the region and it is interesting to note that by the 1600's, English explorers making their way from the north into the Carolinas found the local Chickasaw and Cherokee Indians riding fine Spanish horses.
Spanish horses were once again brought to the Lowcountry in later years through the campaign of Colonel James Moore in 1704. Moore came to Beaufort with captured Spanish cattle and horses upon returning from his exploits to remove the last Spanish settlements from Florida.
The first horses arriving in America with the Spanish were historically described as "nags of little value" but were no doubt remarkably hardy and sound animals that could survive the rigorous and challenging voyage to the new colonies. According to Spanish ship logs, there is no mention of specific breeds or types of horses other than descriptions such as "nasty gray mare" or "small black filly" to give a clue as to what types of horses came with them. History suggests it is unlikely the conquistadors would have initially risked bringing valuable war horses to newly established colonies in the Americas. It is also unlikely they would have brought large draft type horses that were unable to thrive on the meager forage available in a new colony. It was only after the development of more stable and large colonies towards the late sixteenth and into the seventeenth century that colonists would risk the expense of the importation and maintenance of war or draft horses. To learn more about the Spanish horse's arrival in the Americas, a recommended book to read is Conquerors: The Roots of New World Horsemanship by Deb Bennett, Ph.D., published by Amigo Publications (1998).
Marsh Tackies have played a significant role in South Carolina's history. During the American Revolution Marsh Tackies were used by many of the troops of the famous "Swamp Fox", Francis Marion. Marion's troops of "irregulars" used their own mounts, the common horses of the area, during their campaigns against the British. The most common horse in the region at that time would have been the Marsh Tacky.
Known as the "Father of American Guerrilla Warfare", Marion not only was a great tactician but his dragoon troops inadvertently had the additional technical advantage of being mounted on horses superbly adapted to the rough and swampy terrain of the region. British troops mounted on larger European breeds may have been at a disadvantage in trying to maneuver in the dense and wild swamps of the lowlands.
The after the Civil War, the Marsh Tacky became an integral part of the Gullah community and culture as they were the common using horse of every farmer on the islands. Oral history indicates that the freed slaves on Hilton head were given 40 acres and a Marsh Tacky. The horses were used for everything from delivering the mail, to bringing folks to church, to plowing the fields. Every Gullah family seemingly had a Marsh Tacky in their field or garden.
One of the more colorful events associated with the Tackies were the popular beach racing derbies held on Hilton Head up until the 1960's. Local jockeys mounted on Marsh Tackies would run on a stretch of beach, round an obstacle, and return to the finish. Winners were presented roses, as any distinguished Thoroughbred would have received in a grand race. There are a few of the Hilton Head "jockeys" still around that fondly remember the heyday of the races before the island was developed into the resort it is today.
The Marsh Tacky Horse Under Scientific Investigation
In 2004, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy began an investigation into the Marsh Tacky horse breed through a lead given to ALBC's technical advisor, Dr. Phillip Sponenberg of Virginia Tech's Veterinary College, by members of the Florida Cracker Horse Association. Members of that association had heard of horses in South Carolina that were very similar to their Florida Cracker horse (a strain of Colonial Spanish horse). Florida breeders decided to see for themselves. Initial inspection showed that the breed of horse in South Carolina, the Marsh Tacky, did in fact resemble Florida Cracker horses but had some distinct differences. There were very few left according to the remaining Marsh Tacky breeders. Upon returning to Florida, the Cracker horse breeders contacted Dr. Sponenberg - a leading authority on horse genetics, and in particular an expert on Colonial Spanish horses. They thought he might be able to shed more light on the Marsh Tacky horse and help create a strategy to conserve the few remaining Tackies. During the spring of 2006, Dr. Sponenberg, along with two other ALBC staff members, Marjorie Bender and Jeannette Beranger, made a trip to South Carolina to begin an ALBC field investigation and determine if the Marsh Tacky could be a surviving descendant of the Spanish horses that arrived in the Americas as early as the 1500's.
According to Dr. Sponenberg, "Colonial Spanish Horses are of great historic importance in the New World. They descend from horses introduced from Spain during the age of the conquest of the New World. They are a direct remnant of the horses of the Golden Age of Spain and that type is mostly or wholly extinct now in Spain. Our Colonial Spanish horses are therefore a treasure chest of genetic wealth from a time long gone." If the Marsh Tacky was indeed a strain of these genetically significant horses, then their conservation would become a priority for ALBC.
Their relative isolation in coastal and lowland regions of South Carolina contributed to the enduring Spanish qualities in the breed. Initial field inspection of a number of Marsh Tackies revealed that many were still clearly very consistent with the old Colonial Spanish "type". Over the centuries the horses became adapted to the environment and, through relative isolation, became a unique strain within the Colonial Spanish horse population. DNA samples have been collected by ALBC, Equus Survival Trust, and Marsh Tacky owners and sent to Dr. Gus Cothran of Texas A&M University to increase the understanding of how these horses are related to other Colonial Spanish strains including the Florida Cracker, Spanish Mustang, Spanish Barb, Sulphur, Choctaw, and Wilbur-Cruce horses, among others. Results of the DNA data will also be used to enhance the strategy for population management and help maintain the remaining genetic diversity within the population.
The Breed Today
The Marsh Tacky is a sturdy, well-balanced, and easy keeping horse with a sharp mind. Owners will attest to the ease of training that is characteristic of these horses. The Tacky's thoughtful approach to novel items and experiences reduces the likelihood of panic and flight, as found in high-strung breeds. Their gentle nature and easily managed size (13.5 to 15 hands) historically made the Marsh Tacky the preferred mount for ladies and children, but their strength, prowess and fearlessness in the field made them popular as working animals utilized for hunting and herding cattle. Often newly broke horses are in the field and used as hunting mounts within weeks of having the first saddle on their back. For modern times the breed continues in its traditional roles but also shows great promise as an endurance or competitive trail horses, barrel racers, and even dressage and event horses.
Marsh Tackies come in a variety of colors that are consistent with other Colonial Spanish horses. Historically there may have been some color patterns, such as paints, within the population. But these patterns were not selected for, and in recent times are seldom seen within the breed. The more common colors remaining in Marsh Tackies in modern times are dun, bay, blue roan, dun roan, red roan, sorrel, chestnut, black, and grulla.
Today a majority of the Marsh Tacky horses lie in the hands of hunters and long time fanciers who have had these horses in their families for generations. The remaining horses retain their ability to thrive in the challenging environments of coastal South Carolina and have stamina in the field that is second to none. Owners often comment on the built-in "woods sense" of the breed and how the horses have a natural way of traversing water obstacles and swamps without panicking or getting stuck in the mud. "If a horse panics in the water, then it is not a Marsh Tacky," boasts one breeder. Another claims that these horses, "know how to wear their feet," attesting to their sure footedness, smooth ride, and almost thoughtful approach to traveling in the field.
By all accounts of their owners, it seems that the Marsh Tacky has little changed since the colonial period of the Lowcountry. Their hardiness and soundness made them perfectly adapted to the challenging environment that would see the demise of countless other horse breeds. It is only through the recognized appreciation of the breed's qualities and the dedication of devoted owners that the Tacky persisted these hundreds of years and survives to modern times.
The Future Outlook of the Marsh Tacky
Because of the recent flurry of interest in the Marsh Tacky horse, their future has begun to look brighter for these rare horses. All the efforts of documenting and networking are now serving to support the breed's recovery. In October of 2006, Marsh Tacky breeder David Grant, with the assistance of Equus Survival Trust, held an open house at his farm to introduce the public to Marsh Tackies. The momentum from this event spawned American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) to conduct an informational workshop on Hilton Head in February 2007 to discuss the formation of a breed association. ALBC met once again with Marsh Tacky owners and supporters on the following June at the Mullet Hall Equestrian Center on Johns Island, South Carolina, to discuss the formalization of a Marsh Tacky Horse Association. During the meeting the owners formed a Board of Governance that will pave the way for the creation of a Carolina Marsh Tacky Association whose mission will be to support and promote the Marsh Tacky horse.
ALBC recently received a grant from the Thorne Foundation to continue fieldwork and create a studbook for the Marsh Tacky. The studbook will be managed with the SPARKS software program developed by the International Species Identification System (ISIS). This program was chosen for its versatility and for its proven record in management of other horse breeds, such as the Cleveland Bay horse and the Shackleford Banker pony.
Additional scientific study on the Marsh Tacky will be undertaken through the Gaited Locomotive Research Program at Mississippi State University. This program will be studying the gait of the breed to get a better understanding as to why these horses can work or be ridden all day without the horse or its rider tiring.
The Marsh Tacky remains a living piece of history in its native region. The Marsh Tacky has endured for over 400 years and has the potential to survive far beyond that, as long as enthusiasts and conservationist work together to preserve what remains of this historic treasure.
