Florida Cracker Horse

 Breed Characteristics

Florida Cracker horses are small saddle horses, standing 13 to 15.2 hands at the withers and weighing 650-900 pounds. The head is refined and intelligent in appearance. The profile is straight or slightly concave. The throat latch is prominent and the jaw is short and well-defined. The eyes are very keen with an alter expression and have reasonable width between them. The eye colors are dark,  with a white sclera, gray or blue. The neck is well-defined, fairly narrow, without excessive crest and is about the same length as the distance from the withers to the croup. The back is short, narrow and strong with well sprung ribs. The croup is sloping and short. Tail is set medium low. The breed is found in any color common to the horse, however, solid colors and grays predominate. Enticing leads of paint and roan strains still persist, and these other colors (historically present in the breed) may yet be located in some remote corner of Florida.

While this external type is distinctive, breed proponents insist that the best way to tell a Florida Cracker horse is to ride one, for its easy, ground covering gaits are rarely found in other breeds. The gaits include the flatfoot walk, running walk, trot and ambling or Paso-type gait. Cracker Horses are willing workers whose action shows spirit, not laziness.

For More Information, Contact:

Florida Cracker Horse Association, Inc.
Sam Getzen, Executive Director
PO Box 186
Newberry, FL 32669

(352) 472-2228