Retuertas horse: the feral horse of Doñana
The Retuertas horse is an indigenous breed that lives in a feral state in the Doñana Scientific Reserves. Its name comes from the "retuertas," the freshwater lagoons that form in summer between the scrubland and the marsh, where the horses seen in the area used to drink. This fact sheet compiles the official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Catalog of Breeds.
Basic data
| Name | Retuertas horse |
|---|---|
| Classification | Indigenous breed |
| Origin | Doñana, on the right bank of the Guadalquivir marshes |
| Height at withers | 142 cm (±3) for males and 140 cm (±3) for females |
| Weight | About 341 kg for males and 343 kg for females |
| Coat colors | Bay and gray |
| Primary use | Conservation of a unique equine population in its natural environment |
Origin
Its ancestors are the working horses used in Doñana for field work and as pack and draft animals, especially in the flooded marshes. For this reason, they are related to the Marismeño breed. However, they have been isolated for thirty-five to forty years in the Doñana Scientific Reserves (the Doñana Biological Reserve and the Guadiamar Reserve), and that isolation practically prevents crossbreeding with other populations.
There are references to feral specimens in the area since the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1970s, the first specimens were released into the reserves, a few that had belonged to former rangers and residents of isolated houses in Doñana: they are the core of the current population.
What it is like: morphology
- General: Eumetric, mesolinear, and sub-convex profile. The Ministry acknowledges that it is not a "beautiful" horse according to the usual criteria of breeders, but its structure gives it great adaptation to the environment.
- Coat colors: Bay and gray. White flecking on the bay coat is frequent, and star markings on the forehead and white stockings are normal.
- Movement: Harmonious and elegant, with strong, rhythmic, and elastic movements.
How it lives
The vast majority of the specimens live in a feral state, adapted to a very harsh environment. In the Guadiamar Reserve, a flat marsh, they spend the winter with their legs in the water and the summer in the sun, without any shade, in temperatures exceeding forty degrees. They are part of the reserves' ecosystem, and the livestock load is regulated by the Doñana National Park's Livestock Management Plan.
Every summer they are captured to be groomed (manes and tails trimmed), foals are identified and branded, and specimens exceeding the allowed load are removed. During captures, samples are also taken for parentage studies and other research.
What it is used for
Its primary function is conservation. Some specimens are tamed and ridden to manage the livestock in the reserves and so that researchers can move through the flooded marsh in winter. In the past, they were known for their ability to drag flat-bottomed boats loaded with provisions for the isolated houses of Doñana by being tied to their tails. Once tamed, they are docile and can be ridden without special issues.
Breeding program
The Association of Retuertas Purebred Horse Breeders is recognized to manage the breed's breeding program, approved by resolution of the Directorate General for Agricultural and Livestock Production.
The Marismeño horse also lives in Doñana, with which it is related.
More breeds with their own fact sheet on our page of indigenous horse breeds of Spain.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Official Catalog of Livestock Breeds of Spain, Retuertas horse: general data, morphological data, uses and management system, production data, breeding program.
