Horse Breeds: Florida Cracker

In the late 1500s there was an influx of horses into the southern region of what would eventually become the United States. Some of these breeds would eventually mix, including the Barb and the Spanish Jennet, to produce the modern Florida Cracker. This horse has much in common with the mustang, but it was geographically isolated and so developed independently of other breeds, resulting in some distinct physical features.

Standing 13.2 to 15.2 hands high, the Florida Cracker isn`t the largest horse. Still, they make excellent riding horses for smaller riders and are particularly suited to teens and older children. Their heads are refined and their eyes are keen. The Florida Cracker can be found in any color (though solid colors are preferred) and may or may not be gaited. Gaited horses may have a variety of gaits, including trot, amble, the flatfoot walk, and running walk.

The Florida Cracker was originally ridden by southern cowboys called crackers for the sound of the whips they used when rounding up cattle. This name was eventually applied to the horses they rode, and the name stuck. The Florida Cracker was used in the deep south for roping cattle up until the 1930s when they were replaced by the American Quarter Horse. The Quarter Horse was more stout and better suited to the rigorous roping needed to administer the new screwworm medications to cattle, so the Florida Cracker began to fade away.

Luckily, horse enthusiasts are a stubborn lot. Efforts to preserve and revive the Florida Cracker continue today and their numbers are slowly increasing. The stamina of this breed makes it perfect for endurance racing and many traditional western ranching tasks. Today, the Florida Cracker Horse Association is charged with locating and promoting this beautiful breed.