Florida Cracker Horse: Breed Profile

 Caribbean.

The Florida Cracker Horse evolved into a small, agile horse that was ideal for working cattle. These horses served as cattle horses, driving Scrub and Cracker cows throughout Florida. However, with the Great Depression, the practices of raising cattle changed from driving free-roaming cows to roping and holding cattle for treatment. The Quarter Horse, which is much larger than the Florida Cracker Horse, was better suited for this job where strength and size mattered, and demand for the Florida Cracker Horse decreased.

Since the Great Depression, this unique breed of horse has become very rare. During the last 50 years, some ranching families bred Cracker Horses for their own personal use, and are largely responsible for preventing the breed’s extinction. Today, only about 1,000 of these horses exist.

Florida Cracker Horse Size

The Cracker Horse is a small equine. Measuring just 13.2 to 15.2 hands high, some of these horses qualify as ponies in terms of their size. These horses weigh just 700 to 1,000 pounds.

Breeding and Uses

Thanks to its small size, the Cracker Horse makes a handy cattle or light farming horse. It’s also popular as a pleasure mount, and offers the advantage of being able to mount from the ground. Its gaits are comfortable and ideal for riding, but you’ll also see this breed occasionally used as a cart horse. Its versatility makes it handy to have around a family farm or ranch.

Colors and Markings

Cracker Horses can be any color, though solid coats, particularly grey, occur most often.