You’ve seen him in museums, represented in marble statues and dark, dramatic oils. His proud, heavy neck arches with nobility, and his mane and tail cascade toward the ground. He bears riders whose names are fixtures in human history: El Cid, Hannibal and William the Conqueror. And there are many more.

He was the archetype for the wing-borne Pegasus of Greek myth many centuries ago, and even appeared as a mount in the Homeric ballads. His equine legacy knows no living match—he was present during the fall of Troy, stood by as the Greeks created the cornerstone of our civilization, and served the Romans in their conquest of Europe.

Canada. Famous for its beautiful scenery, inviting cities and friendly people. And now, thanks to the efforts of Canadian horsemen, the Great White North is also being thought of as a land of great horses.

Unbeknownst to many horse lovers, Canada is the home of several distinct horse types. Because Canadians tend to be  modest people, they haven’t been quick to let the rest of the world know about their equine treasures. But as horse lovers around the globe slowly discover the well-kept equine secrets of the Canucks, they are coming to appreciate these amazing animals for their unique histories and talents.

Only 3,000 of them can be found in the United States, yet they are of a breed well known in the horse world. That breed is the Icelandic Horse, a hardy horse with a history that is unique among equines.

It all began in 874 A.D. The Vikings were in the process of invading Europe, bringing their horses with them. Norse settlers that came to Iceland during this time had horses that traced back to the Viking explorers. These horses were unique because of their tendency to gait in addition to their ability to walk, trot and canter.

Imagine the grace, beauty and athleticism of a magnificent sport horse, performing Grand Prix dressage or soaring over massive fences. Now add to that picture an explosive pattern of spots and a romantic European past, and viola: You have the classic version of the Knabstrupper.

The history of the Knabstrupper begins in Ice Age Europe, when spotted horses first appeared in cave drawings in Lascaux and Peche-Merle, France. Cromagnon humans painted these animals with colors gleaned from the earth, and seemed to hold them in high regard. Stone Age humans hunted horses for their food, and spotted horses seemed to be of particular interest to those who painted the cave walls.

The year was 1945, and Allied bombs were raining down on Vienna. While civilians and German troops alike took cover, a man named Colonel Alois Podhajsky worried only for the safety of his horses.

Afraid his valuable Lipizzan stallions would be lost, Podhajsky, Master of the famed Spanish Riding School in Vienna, hurriedly arranged for the horses to be taken 200 miles away by train, to a town called St. Martins, in upper Austria. German forces had already taken control of the mares and foals two years earlier, and had shipped them to the German Remount Depot in Hostau, Czechoslovakia.

Once upon a time, the Paint Horse was an outsider, a horse with no name. The result of Quarter Horse breedings, the birth of a Paint foal was considered an unfortunate occurrence, something Quarter Horse breeders dreaded. These wildly marked horses were thought of as anomalies, unfortunate mistakes in an attempt to create a fine, solid-colored horse. Simply put, Paints were outcasts.

Times have changed–a lot. Today, the Paint Horse is the second most popular breed in the United States, its numbers paling only in comparison to that of its mother breed, the American Quarter Horse.

Flowing manes, luxurious tails and an effortless gait. Combine these attributes with a romantic history and a willing spirit, and you have the Peruvian Horse.

The Peruvian Horse has a history that goes back to the time of the Conquistadors. The Spaniards who conquered the Peruvian Incas in the 1500s brought horses with them of Barb and Spanish Jennett blood. The Barb was hardy and trainable, while the Spanish Jennet had a ground-covering, four-beat gait.

When settlers began coming from Spain to Peru, they brought more horses of Iberian breeding with them. These horses mixed with the Barb and the Jennett to create the animal we now know of today as the Peruvian Horse.

The Quarter Horse is the most popular breed of horse in the world, and it’s no wonder. The breed’s versatility and athleticism, combined with a superb and willing disposition, have made it the horse of choice for many riders in a variety of disciplines.

But the Quarter Horse’s claim to fame goes far beyond its abilities to provide a good performance horse in whatever discipline a rider might choose. The Quarter Horse has also been the catalyst for the creation of several new breeds that are separate but closely related to this all-American horse.

 Insight on Arabian Horse Types and Distinctions by Audrey Pavia

Arabian Strains

By Audrey Pavia (Horses for Dummies Author)

 The beauty, grace and history of the Arabian horse is legendary throughout the world. This desert-bred steed of the Middle East is one of the most popular and cherished breeds of animal ever to walk the earth.

Number one selling equestrian author Audrey Pavia joins Horse2Heart. She is an award-winning freelance writer specializing in animals and she is the former editor of Horse Illustrated Magazine. The author of 24 books, including 8 on horses, her number one seller is Horses for Dummies. She has written hundreds of articles on horses for a variety of magazines. Audrey stays active in competitive trail riding. She makes her home in Horsetown USA, AKA Norco, California. Audrey lives with two Spanish Mustangs, Milagro and Rio, a Quarter Horse named Red and a Husband named Randy.