[Duchess47]

Most of those were draft crosses. Go to my facebook page and I’ll post an album of Edward Curtis indian photos from late 1800’s, early 1900’s. You’ll see pictures of appaloosas and mustangs. Most really good looking horses.

[AnAmericanMother]

These didn't strike me as drafters - at least the ones I saw here and in central New Jersey were on the smallish and small-boned side. But with big feet :-D

I think it was a result of people breeding for the markings and color and putting conformation a distant second. We've seen this also in halter classes . . . and dog shows.

[AnAmericanMother]

I have a big Curtis coffee-table book.

They ARE good looking horses. Figure that (1) the Indians were still dependent on having GOOD horses for daily life and (2) photography was still a big event in those days, the folks would put their best foot forward for the photog and put on their best clothes AND get the best horse out of the corral -