Costa Rican Saddle Horse
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Breed: Costa Rican Saddle Horse

Crucial Specs:
  • Spanish
  • Show horse
  • Gaited breed








The Costa Rican's status as a gaited breed is blatantly apparent in its conformation and leg structure. A gaited breed is a horse that is schooled specifically to either artificial or natural gaits caused by particular bone structures. The Costa Rican has strong legs complimented by a powerful hindquarters and well developed croup - the line running from the top of the tail to the highest point on the rear quarters. The withers (the peak of a horse's “shoulders”) are pronounced and the Spanish influence on the Costa Rican is apparent.

As a rare breed, the Costa Rican is not well known outside of its native region. The horse is versatile and used as a show horse, work horse, and often as a pleasure rider for visiting tourists wishing to see the country on horseback.

Though little is known about the breed, it was developed in Costa Rica using base stock descended from Spanish bloodlines. The horse can appear in all colors, except Pinto, and is sometimes shown with white points on the tail, face, and legs.