Horses in Belize

HORSES & THE BELIZEAN COUNTRYSIDE

Horses in everyday Belize

Belize’s relationship with horses is long and colorful. Initially they were used for light field work and transportation between inland settlements.

However, the growth of cattle farms in the west and north of the country meant they became an essential part of the economy.

Initially, ‘criollo’ type horses, short and tough, were the dominant breed but quarter horse blood was soon introduced. Crosses between the criollos and the quarter horses became the dominant all-purpose animals for farm work.

Across rural Belize, horses have been more than a way to travel. They have also been associated with the daily routines of farms and ranches: moving between fields, tending livestock and reaching places where motor vehicles were not always practical. That history helps explain why horses remain familiar in the countryside, even as the work they do has changed.

THE FOREST TRADE

Horses, mules and the chicle industry

The growth of the chicle industry saw the demand for horses and mules grow significantly. As mule and horse trains supplied the chicleros in the industry and brought the chicle to the towns, they were critical for the industry’s growth.

Chicle is a natural latex taken from the sapodilla tree. It once played a major role in the manufacture of chewing gum. The people who collected it were known as chicleros, and their work often meant spending long periods in remote forest camps.

Supplies had to reach those camps, and the gum had to be carried out. Mule trains were an important part of that difficult journey. The Belize Tourism Board’s tour-guide training materials describe contractors supplying tools and provisions to chicleros, and historical forest research also records mule trails associated with the trade.

This history is especially relevant in western Belize, where settlements such as Benque Viejo del Carmen and San Ignacio were linked to the forest economy. Looking at the role of horses and mules reveals a practical side of Belizean history that is easy to overlook when visiting the country today.

FROM FARM WORK TO TRAIL RIDING

Working horses and modern trail riding

Today, most horses are used in the traditional Mennonite communities for general farm work and pulling buggies. These horses also tend to be a mix of quarter horse, Arab and thoroughbred breeds.

Horse-drawn buggies and animal-powered farm work remain part of life in some more traditional Mennonite communities, although customs vary. Communities such as Shipyard and Little Belize differ in their use of machinery and transport from other Mennonite settlements.

In fact, these have become the dominant breeds for all purpose farm work throughout the country. Appaloosas are also growing in popularity as trail horses for horseback riding to waterfalls and ancient Maya ruins within the tourism industry.

Horseback riding has also found a place in visitors’ experiences of western Belize. A guided countryside ride offers a different pace from travelling by road: the landscape unfolds gradually, from open fields to shaded trails, and the ride itself becomes part of the journey rather than simply a way to reach a destination.

Baruch at St. Leonard’s Tours.

Moses at St. Leonard’s Tours.

Sara at St. Leonard’s Tours.

Zach at St. Leonard’s Tours.