As an example: "SteelDust" (1844-1864) The most famous horse in Texas and known thru out the South. Even today horse breeders covet the lineage of this horse.
The owner,Captain Middleton Perry,Co.I,18th.Texas cavalry did not ride SteelDust to the war but is very probable that he and many of the soldiers in his company would have ridden mounts bred from this fabulous horse.
It would certainly have been a tragic personal loss for any Texan or southerner to give up their horses.