By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In 1977, testing was performed on the Kiger mustang at the University of Kentucky and DNA showed close relation to the Spanish horses brought over in the 1600s. The Bureau of Land Management decided at that time to preserve the breed.

Many of today’s existing Kiger mustangs can be traced back to a single stallion named Masteno, whose name means “stray” or “feral” in Spanish.

Kiger mustangs are primarily dun in color and have primitive markings, including zebra-like stripes on the upper legs and shoulders as well as stripes running down the middle of the back into the tail. This is called a dorsal stripe.

Typically, a dun horse is a shade of muted tan or a light brown-gray with dark brown or black manes. A dun colored horse may have many, but not all, of the primitive markings, which include the dorsal stripe, two-toned manes and/or tails, zebra-like stripes on the upper legs and shoulders, dark color around the muzzle and ears with dark outlines and lighter interiors.

Dun horses are generally identified as simple duns or grullas. Kiger mustangs, as a rule, are agile and intelligent, with the stamina and sure-footedness seen in many feral horse breeds.

They are characteristically gentle and calm and ideal for pleasure riding, as well as trail performance, endurance, driving and many other situations for which an athletic horse is desired.