WARHorses: Go Tacky Go!

The Marsh Tacky is a celebrated breed in South Carolina with a rich history — including the Kiawah Cup beach races! Melanie Eberhardt of WARHorses brings us the scoop.

Photo by Kiawah Cares Foundation.

Originally published at WARHorses:

South Carolina’s beaches were thundering last weekend with more than the sound of crashing waves. Beach sand was kicked up in the faces of a sold out crowd, who came from near and far to cheer on the Marsh Tacky horse races.

Fifteen horses (8 mares and 7 geldings) raced in small groups and pairs, straight-line 250 yards down the beach. One final race, gender neutral, determined the Grand Champion. Lily ridden by Jennifer Malone was champion mare and Sweet Home Alabama (Bama) ridden by Wylie Bell won the grand championship – the coveted Kiawah Cup.

Photo by Kiawah Cares Foundation.

A great spring weekend enjoyed by all who attended. Now you might be asking – what’s a Marsh Tacky? Its definitely NOT a melted marsh mellow at the end of a hot stick.

In fact the Marsh Tacky is a horse breed unique to South Carolina and one of the most endangered breeds in the world – 400 animals. Left by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, most became feral while some were domesticated by Native Americans and European settlers. They are level-headed, easy keepers used to deliver the mail, hunt, herd, plow and take kids to school.

Small, 13 to 15 hands and 700 to 900 pounds, they have long manes and tails. Marsh Tackies maybe any color and exhibit primitive markings – dorsal and leg stripes. The breed posses a unique gait all their own, recently named the Swamp Fox Trot, an acknowledgement of their ability to trek woods and swamps with ease. Owners can’t talk enough about their huge hearts and sharp minds.

Photo by Kiawah Cares Foundation.

In 2007, the Carolina Marsh Tacky Association was formed to preserve the breed and share its history. Horse owners and enthusiasts are diligently working to save the breed from extinction.

In honor of its long history in the state, the Marsh Tacky was named the South Carolina State Heritage Horse in 2010.

Photo by Kiawah Cares Foundation.

Melanie Eberhardt is the founder of WARHorses – Women of Age Riding Horses. As lifetime horse lover, Melanie found little content online that spoke to the considerations of “older riders”. She launched WARHorses to fill this void with pertinent, original content with the added objective of developing a global community supported by meaningful information, inspiration and a lot of laughs.

Horse Nation and WARHorses have partnered to create an online discussion space where riders of age can collaborate, share and celebrate at Horse Nation’s Equestrians Anonymous forums. Check out the active discussions and join today to start the conversation!