The "criollo" horse

The criollo horse was formed by the first horses introduced by Hernandarias at the Provinces of the River Plate around 1600. Therefore its origin is Spanish. At the same time the Spanish had introduced the arab horses in spain. Here in the pampa of southamerica, this horse stayed for almost 200 years without other blood mixtures. This horse came from central America, where Colon first stepped in America walking to south America. At our slightly hilly prairies, being alone with no other breed of horses, became resistant, energic, sober, iron muscles, and steel tendons. Excellent horse for riding, tireless and obedient.

Napoleon arrived to Russia on criollo horse "Montevideo".

Dr. Saenz, (uruguaian history writer), writes:..” the 14th july 1812, Russian campaign, Napoleon is at Vilna, the enemy burns villages and moves back. At the great russian steppe, the “grande Armée” moves forward to arrive to Moscu. The 14th july of that year is a tuesday. Six o´clock in the afternoon, Napoleon on his “Montevideo” horse takes care of his soldiers and divisions sent by general Decroy. During 4 hours during the way to Downo, the emperor on his horse “Montevideo” inspects his troops. Dr. Saenz, says this is told by Coulain court in his memories, the great imperial horse accompanies Napoleon during all this campaign, it has also been confirmed by Louis Garée in his book of Napoleon´s Itinerary. Dr. Saenz continues, in his well documentated study of “Montevideo” in april 1814, says, Napoleon defeated, embarcs to Elba island. Between his horses from the 30 horses he had for his personal use, only 8 will go with him to his exile. From those eight horses there were 3 gray or white and five sorrel, between this last there was the “Montevideo” (Frederic Masson, Jadis, pag 75). There is no doubt then that “Montevideo” existed, we have followed him for five years from 1809 to 1814. It was a sorrel criollo. The colour of “Montevideo” was confirmed by F. Masson and by J. Bertoaut in his book “The Ignored Napoleon”. Also, this writerrepeats several times that Napoleon used most of the time this “southamerican horse”. There are only two circumstances that still are a mystery for us. How did “Montevideo” became Napoleon’s horse, and what happened with this animal. Probably, this animal was retained during the Spain war, after Elba we lost its trace and we don’t know if the horse participated in the 1815 campaign. But there is no doubt that “Montevideo” was from here, as Napoleon’s horses generally had the name of their origin. His most famous arab horse was called “Emir”, and his white hair Persian horse, gift from Alexander emperor of Russia, was called “Touris”. The extraordinaries conditions of resistence that the criollo horse must have been decesive , so that the “Montevideo” been elected to participate in Russia campaign., where distances where huge.. We remember here our proverb that says toasted sorrel, before dead than tired. Nevertheless, “Montevideo” participating in this small story, of this great human adventure as it was Napoleon’ s, has the wright to be known and not forgotten.
Anuario: Asociacion del Caballo Criollo, Uruguay

Some alarming numbers as horse has been aniquilated in Uruguay. En 1862 there were 1.457.000 horses in Uruguay, and in july 2000 referred numbers by Ministery of Agriculture of Uruguay, there were 399.615 horses. There is no doubt horse is the best friend of men, let’s take care of them!!