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.

This incredible animal whose portrait is so much a part of our world history is the Andalusian, a horse so beautiful and so profound, it’s hard to believe he is actually flesh and blood.

Classical Heritage

The Andalusian breed—known in Portugal as the Lusitano—began with its prehistoric ancestors, whose images were painted on Spanish cave walls some 25,000 years ago. Although other prehistoric images of horses appear in European cave paintings, the images in Spain depict a horse that was led by humans, not hunted by them. For this reason, some experts think the ancestor of the Andalusian was the first horse to be domesticated on the European continent.

These early Spanish horses remained on the Iberian Peninsula for centuries, their purity unspoiled. But when foreign invaders and their mounts landed on Spanish shores, the blood of the native horses became mixed with that of other breeds. Eventually, from this melding of bloodlines came a creature known through the continent of Europe as the Iberian Horse. This is the animal we now call the Andalusian, named for Andalucia, in the south of Spain.

These early Andalusians developed in the rugged Spanish countryside, where nature gave them the ability to negotiate treacherous mountain terrain. They developed an agility and conformation that helped them not only survive in this harsh environment, but also become incredible horses of war.

It wasn’t long before the Iberian breed became known throughout the continent as a war horse extraordinaire. It was used in battle by the Greeks and Romans, and by the Carthaginians in the Punic Wars. Its popularity in this capacity knew no bounds until the Middle Ages, when it was slowly replaced by larger draft and warmblood horses needed to carry knights in heavy armor.

The Andalusian did not die out though, despite its sudden fall from the warriors’ grace. Those who appreciated the beauty and agility of this magnificent horse kept it going until the advent of firearms brought back its popularity for war.

There was a time when the future of the Andalusian was seriously jeopardized. In 1492, a series of wars between Spain and other countries had an effect on the breed’s numbers. Then, centuries later, in the 1800s, there was a revolt against the Church, which controlled the country’s major stud farms. A later revolution in 1936 only worsened the situation until eventually there were so few Andalusians left, Spain and Portugal restricted exportation of the breed and began an effort to rebuild it.

Despite its brush with extinction, the breed managed to maintain a stature that would touch the world over. During the Renaissance, the first military riding schools were created, and here the art of dressage was born. Based on the maneuvers of battle, this discipline was made for the Andalusian, who had the awesome ability to perform them with breathtaking skill.

It was here that the Andalusian gained considerable influence, and was in turn used to create a number of other breeds. Two of these are the Lipizzan and Friesian, both of European origin. But the Andalusian’s importance reached beyond its native shores. Eventually, in both South and North America, the Andalusian contributed to the birth of other breeds like the Peruvian Paso, Paso Fino and American Quarter Horse.

Preserving the Breed

What is so amazing about the Andalusian is that this horse of history is still here today, in much the same form as in the past. Look at a stallion of the breed, and you will see it: the thick, arched neck; the convex profile; the gloriously long mane and tail; the short-coupled, muscular body; the unmistakable high leg action. Compare this modern image with that of the horse seen in classical European art, and it’s nearly the exact same horse.

Part of the reason for this longevity is the breed’s obvious ability to reproduce itself. There’s no mistaking an Andalusian—or even a half-Andalusian. But probably the biggest reason for the breed’s continued purity is the people who love it.

In Spain, the Andalusian is carefully protected. The Spanish military is responsible for preserving the purity of the breed, in keeping with historical tradition. An organization within the military, called the Cria Caballar, maintains the country’s Stud Book. Only approved animals may enter the Stud Book, and in turn propagate the breed. To be approved, a horse must be “revised” by a three-member group: one veterinarian, one breeder, and one member of the Cria Caballar itself.

Here in the United States, the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) is recognized by Spain as the group responsible for maintaining the purity of the Andalusian breed. The rules are such: Any horse registered with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association must have a paper trail of registration certificates and transfers that trace the horse’s pedigree back to Spanish or Portuguese papers.

While the IALHA now stands strong as guardians of the breed, there was a time when lovers of the breed found themselves divided into two separate registries. The American Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association had been in existence for 35 years, while the International Andalusian Horse Association for 25. In 1995, as part of the effort to preserve and promote the Andalusian horse, the two groups came together and merged. The result is the IALHA.

While lovers of the breed stand strong as one voice, the Andalusian still suffers from some anonymity. There are horse people in North America who have never laid eyes on this magnificent animal, even though most have heard of it.

The reason for this is simple. There are only about 2,500 Andalusians in the United States, and most of those horses are concentrated in Texas and California. Here in America, the Andalusian is a rare breed.

Things are only a little bit better in its native country. While there are significantly more horses there—12,500 in Spain and 4,000 in Portugal—the numbers are relatively small compared to other breeds.

According to the IALHA, however, the breed is growing rapidly in popularity in North America. The organization saw a large increase in membership in 1997, and notices a strong trend among horse people to cross the Andalusian with other breeds.

Because there are so many new people entering the breed these days, the IALHA has started an educational program designed to help them understand the historical conformation and temperament of the Andalusian.

The educational program takes the form of clinics for judges, breeders and owners in several cities in the U.S. The first clinic, conducted by Don Francisco Daza, a prominent Spanish breeder and judge at the last two National Championship shows in Spain, focused on the characteristics of the breed and their relationship to the breed’s athletic abilities. The association is planning more of these clinics in the future.

In addition to the club’s involvement with breed preservation, a group of American breeders has also formed a coalition that has been recognized by the Spanish Cria Caballar. Horses produced by these breeders are eligible for approval for entry into the Spanish Stud Book, provided they pass review by a Spanish three-member group.

Worth Saving

There’s a good reason for all this effort to keep the Andalusian pure. Take one look at this horse and you’ll understand.

Technically speaking, the Andalusian is a moderately sized horse, standing anywhere from 15.2 to 16.2 hands. He has a head of medium length with a slightly convex or straight profile. His forehead is broad, and his eyes are oval. His neck is long and broad, and his mane thick. A short back is desired in the breed, with broad quarters and a rounded croup. Most Andalusians are grey or white; a few are bay, and even less are black.

In this breed, the head is important. It is the beautiful head that specifically outlines the characteristics of each pure-bred line. The eyes are set in a triangulated orbital arch. The ears are upright yet have a rounded outer edge shape. The nostrils resemble a long narrow inverted comma.

But the Andalusian is much more than just a beautiful head and the sum of its parts. There is something incredibly regal about this horse, in the way it carries itself and the way it moves. There is a spirit there that is hard to define, a sense of confidence and majesty that can only exist in an animal who has undergone centuries of fine breeding.

Modern Uses

The Andalusian is rich in heritage, but what can it do in today’s world? Plenty. Though they are few in numbers, the breed is being seen in a variety of disciplines, in show rings throughout the country.

Many horse lovers had the pleasure of seeing the Andalusian perform at the most recent summer Olympic and World Cup competitions. At these events, Andalusians and Lusitanos competed successfully in dressage and carriage driving against world-class competition.

Here at home, the Andalusian is proving its versatility. The breed is being shown in western pleasure classes, as well as hunter and English pleasure events. A number of Andalusian owners drive their horses, while still others show them in trail classes. In fact, the Andalusian’s legacy as a Spanish mountain dweller makes it especially suited for trail riding, and a number of owners do little more than simply ask their Andalusians for companionship on the trail.

But dressage is the discipline where the breed is starting to really shine, and rightly so. Classical dressage was created centuries ago with the Pure Spanish Horse in mind, and now the Andalusian is making itself noticed in the dressage ring alongside other more popular breeds.

It is quite a treat to watch the Andalusian perform the maneuvers of dressage, given the breed’s conformation, beauty and spirit. He is a natural acrobat, a creature of profound grace, and the picture of equine elegance. He is, after all, the Andalusian.

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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.

The Canadian Horse

Also known as Le Cheval Canadien, the Canadian Horse has a long, romantic history that closely ties to that of the Canadian people.

The ancestors of what would ultimately become the Canadian Horse came to the land now known as the province of Quebec in 1665 and 1670. Louis the XIV, the French King who had initiated the colonization of this new terrain, sent the first Canadian settlers several shiploads of horses during those years. The horses that arrived on those ships had the blood of Norman, Breton, Arab, Barb and Andalusians in their veins. These imported horses would go on to become the progenitors of a new breed of uniquely Canadian horse.

Because of the difficult terrain and harsh climate of “New France,” the horses that came from the mother country and their resulting offspring struggled alongside their human masters as they worked the land. Over time, a small, hardy horse developed, one that could survive in the harsh conditions of a young Quebec and still race for sport and pull a carriage on Sundays.

Over the decades, news spread to the United States about the rugged Canadian horse, and breeders from America began importing Canadian horses to breed with their fastest trotters. It wasn’t long before the Canadian breed had spread throughout the Eastern U.S. By the time of the U.S. civil war, the Canadian horse was a mainstay in America.

The Canadian horse was most treasured for its talents as a war mount in America and its ability to improve other breeds through outcrossing, but both of these uses nearly wiped out the breed. In time, many part-Canadians could be found, but pure Canadian horses were becoming more and more scarce. By the early 1900s, the Canadian Horse was all but extinct.

By the 1970s, only 400 Canadian Horses were left, and almost all of these resided in Quebec. Breeders in the province were quietly keeping the breed alive. In the 1980s, horsemen around Canada became aware of the Canadian Horse, and the breed began to grow in popularity. Today, 3,000 Canadian Horses are registered with the Canadian Horse Association of America.

The Canadian Horse has a distinct look that sets it apart from many other breeds in the world. The head has a square shape and is carried high, with ears set well apart. The neck is fairly arched, and broad at the base. This distinctive neck sports a proud mane with an abundance of fine hair.

Canadian Horses stand between 15 and 16 hands in height, and have a broad and deep chest with a well-developed girth. The back is strong,  straight, and the shoulders are long, sloping and well muscled.

The movement of the Canadian Horse is described in the breed’s standard as “free and vigorous,” with  “hocks, knees, fetlocks, pasterns all bending well in higher movements, harmonious.” The breed has a very willing temperament, and is energetic and spirited without being nervous.

The only colors seen in the Canadian Horse are black, chestnut, bay, and dark brown, with black being the most commonly seen coloration.

Today, Canadian Horses are a presence in a variety of disciplines in Canada, including dressage and jumping. Driving is the breed’s most popular use today, and Canadian Horses can be seen excelling in light harness and combined driving, both in Canada and the northern U.S.

The Canadian Cutting Horse

Many of the vast expanses of the Great White North lend themselves to the raising of cattle, a practice that is not exclusive to the American West. Cattle have been grazing on Canadian soil since the 1800s.

Consequently, it’s no surprise that Canadians have their own version of the cutting horse, called the Canadian Cutting Horse.

Cutting horses were used in Canada for the same reasons they were used in the U.S. in the early days of cattle ranching: to separate a cow from the herd. Cattle that needed medical treatment, branding or separation for another reason were most easily removed from the group with the use of a specially trained cutting horse. By using inborn “cow sense,” the cutting horse could separate a particular cow from the herd and keep it from going back until a wrangler was able to subdue it.

The Canadian cattle industry flourished for decades until the devastating winter of 1906 to 1907 destroyed almost all the cattle herds grazing in the prairie provinces of the country. Up to that point, cattle ranchers had been using their cutting horses to not only work the herds, but also in competitions to see who had the best cutting horses in the region.

The Cutting Horse Association was started in the 1950s to promote the competitive use of cutting horses in Canada, in the tradition of the Canadian cowboys of the 1800s. Since then, Canadian horsemen have been actively breeding and cultivating the skills and instincts of cutting horses in Canada.

Like most of the cutting horses seen in the U.S. today, Canadian Cutting Horses are primarily of Quarter Horse breeding. In fact, the majority of Canadian Cutting Horses are registered with the American Quarter Horse Association. Other breeds such as Appaloosa and Paints can also be Canadian Cutting Horses.

The Canadian Cutting Horse Association sponsors cutting horse competitions around Canada, and continues to bring notoriety to this special Canadian horse in the new millennium. Cutting aficionados around Canada participate in various cutting events, including the Canadian Supreme, a national show for working western horses. Cutting is one of three divisions, and very popular with spectators who enjoy seeing horses performing as working cattle horses once did out on the Canadian prairie.

The Canadian Sport Horse

As popularity in the Olympic equine disciplines continues to grow throughout the world, it makes perfect sense that Canada should begin to market its own unique sport horse. Hence the Canadian Sport Horse, an evolving breed that has already made a splash on the international scene.    The development of a uniquely Canadian performance horse began in 1926, when the Canadian Hunter and Light Horse Improvement Society was founded. That group changed its name to the Canadian Hunter Improvement Society shortly after, and began working to recognize Canadian sport horses.

The Canadian Hunter Improvement Society worked to create a specific horse well suited for foxhunting, and began encouraging the crossing of Thoroughbred stallions to Canadian draft mares. By the 1980s, a sport-horse type had been developed and served as a foundation for a Canadian Sport Horse. Around this time, the Canadian Hunter Improvement Society changed its name to the Canadian Sport Horse Association and began to register horses with the intention of creating a distinct breed of Canadian horse that could excel in dressage, show jumping, combined training and driving.

Today, the Canadian Sport Horse is defined as an “evolving breed” by the Animal Pedigree Act, a piece of legislation designed to promote breed improvement in Canada. The Canadian Sport Horse Association is recognized by the Canadian government as the official breed registry of the Canadian Sport Horse, and maintains a stud book for the breed. Horses of various breeding are contributing to the creation of this future breed, including the Thoroughbred and Trakehner.

Before a horse can be registered with the Canadian Sport Horse Association, the horse must be a product of Canadian Sport Horse breeding, or must be inspected and approved by the association. Mares are examined by a committee for acceptance as Appendix Brood Mares, and stallions are required to be inspected and pass a performance test before they can be used for breeding.

When examining a prospective Canadian Sport Horse, inspectors are looking for a horse that is suitably balanced and standing 16 or more hands, with strong bone. The neck should be well set-on and withers should be pronounced. The hindquarters should be well muscled, and the shoulder long and sloping. The girth should be deep, the chest broad and eyes large and quiet. Movement is also very important, and should be straight, balanced, and with impulsion. The disposition sought in the Canadian Sport Horse emphasizes intelligence and courage.

Today, Canadian Sport Horses are coming into their own and are being seen on the jumping, dressage and combined training circuits in Canada and the U.S. Canadian Sport Horses are adept at driving as well, and are making a name for this evolving breed in this sport.

The Canadian Horse, the Canadian Cutting Horse and the Canadian Sport Horse are all growing in popularity, both in Canada and throughout North American. With these great horses alone, Canada stands to make an even greater name for itself in the world as a producer of great equines.

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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.

Iceland is a remote country, not easily reached by sea. For this reason, the horses that arrived in the 9th century remained isolated for nearly 1,000 years. During this time, they learned to survive in the harsh Icelandic countryside, eeking out their existence among glaciers, fjords, miles of sand and rugged mountains.

A small horse that could subsist on the few grasses that persisted in the cold winter months was the result. Icelandic farmers relied on these horses to move them from place to place—not an easy chore given the lack of roads and bridges in pre-industrial era Iceland. The horses were up to the task, however, and though small, easily carried adult riders over tough trails and through mountain passes. In essence, they helped the Icelandic people survive.

In 1784, the most severe Icelandic winter on record struck the island, wiping out three-fourths of the horses living there. Only around 8,500 horses successfully endured the harsh conditions that winter and went on to become the foundation stock for today’s Icelandic Horse.

International Unity

In 1969, an international organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the breed, International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations (FEIF), was formed. The organization had six founding member countries: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. In 1971, France and Norway joined, and in 1975, Belgium and Sweden followed.

FEIF has grown since and now includes Finland, Canada, Great Britain, the United States, the Faeroe Islands, Luxembourg, Italy and Slovenia. The ongoing involvement of FEIF in the breed’s management makes the Icelandic Horse the only breed in the world with a single standard, and one set of registry and competition rules throughout the world.

By the 1980s, the breed had become fairly well known in the U.S., although the numbers remained small. The United States Icelandic Horse Congress was formed in 1987 to become a member organization to FEIF. The Congress was created through the merger of the U.S. Icelandic Horse Federation and the International Icelandic Horse Association, since FEIF only allows one member club per country.

A lot has changed since the 1980s, and the Icelandic horse is becoming increasingly well known in the U.S.
“The interest in Icelandics is huge right now,” says Kimberly Hart, president of the Southern California Icelandic Riders, a chapter of the United States Icelandic Horse Congress. “I sold 11 horses in the first two months of the year. An average year for me is 18 horses, so this is a big increase. Icelandic horse clinics at my ranch are full and have waiting lists.”

According to Hart, this increase in sales is despite the fact that Icelandic horses have gone up in price about 25 percent as a result of the U.S. dollar being so weak.

“We now have to pay at least $10,000 in Iceland, plus importation costs, for a good family horse with perfect manners and good gaits,” says Hart.

Other countries as well as the U.S. are showing increased interest in the Icelandic Horse. The 2007 World Championships were held in Holland last August, and were attended by huge crowds. Iceland cannot host this event and horses in Iceland cannot participate due to the country’s importation laws, so the continued success of this show is testament to how popular the breed has become around the world.

Gaits and More

When you take a good look at the Icelandic Horse, it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about. The harsh reality of life in Iceland along with thousands of years of isolation has resulted in an amazing little horse that knows no equal.

Standing between 12.3 and 14.3 hands high, the Icelandic is a compact horse with a profuse mane and tail. Their bones are dense and their winter coats thicker than a bear rug.

The Icelandic comes in many colors, which adds to the breed intriguing appearance. Buckskin, dun, pinto, cremello, palomino, perlino, smoky black, silver, roan, chestnut, gray and black, and variations of all these are colors seen in the breed.

A gaited horse, the Icelandic is unique in this regard as well. Even though the breed possesses two special gaits, the tolt and the flying pace, Icelandic horses can also trot, unlike most gaited breeds. This means they possess five gaits total.

Covering ground in the vast countryside of Iceland was a priority for those who possessed this breed during its fascinating past. The breed’s gaits are therefore both quick and comfortable. The tolt is delivered at medium speed, and leaves the rider feeling like she is floating on air. Featuring a four-beat lateral movement, the horse’s power shifts from back to front instead of from the ground up, making the ride smooth as silk for whoever is lucky enough to be in the saddle.

Icelandic Horse fanciers describe the tolt in three different ways. A “clean” tolt allows the rider to hear a four-beat sound as the horse’s hooves hit the ground. The trot-tolt is a four-beat gait but can sound like a two-beat gait because of the procession of the horse’s hooves. A pacy tolt is a cross between a tolt and a flying pace.

The flying pace is a rapid gait where the legs on each side of the horse move in unison. This gait can be maintained at a whopping 30 miles per hour, which prompted the Icelandic people to start the tradition of racing Icelandic Horses some time ago. This gait is not only unique in the horse world, but it’s also unique among Icelandic Horses. Not all are born with the ability to perform the flying pace.

Another important characteristic of the Icelandic horse is its personality. Because the breed developed in difficult terrain and a harsh climate, these horses are naturally intelligent and level-headed, as only the smartest could survive. And they rarely spook because it wastes energy. After all, the Icelandic developed in a world virtually void of predators. For this reason, Icelandics make excellent trail horses.

In the U.S.A.

When it comes to Icelandic Horses, the best breeding stock in the world can still be found in Iceland. The breed remains pure here not only because of the strict registration rules maintained by FEIF, but also because horses cannot be exported to Iceland. Once a horse leaves the country, it can never return. Likewise, no horses can be brought to Iceland. The stock that remains on the island has been pure for hundreds of years and will remain so as long as importing laws remain the same.

The reason behind the strict rules is a simple one: No contagious equine diseases exist in Iceland, and horsepeople in Iceland want it to remain that way. Icelandic horse owners do not vaccinate their horses because there is simply no need.

Although the laws against importing a horse serve the breed’s purity and health well, they do cause some problems for Icelandic breeders. Icelandic colts that are exported sometimes turn out to be amazing examples of the breed, and are worthy of contributing to breed genetics. Yet because they have been sent out of the country, these stallions cannot return to Iceland to add their DNA to the gene pool.

Because the best Icelandic Horse breeding stock can be found in Iceland, breeders in other FEIF member countries often buy Icelandic broodmares from breeders in Iceland and keep the horses in their native country for breeding, according to Katrin Sheehan, a member of the board of directors for the United States Icelandic Horse Congress. When foals are born to these mares, the babies are exported to the owner of the broodmare. This is one way breeders outside of Iceland utilize top Icelandic mares and stallions without taking them out of their native country.

Artificial insemination is another route breeders outside of Iceland are taking to bring the best genetics to horses in FEIF member countries. According to Hart, semen from stallions in Iceland will be exported to the U.S. in the coming year.

“There is no current law forbidding the exportation of semen, but it hasn’t been done in the past,” she says. “This is huge as it will allow all horses worldwide access to the best stallions that the Icelanders won’t sell and export.”

The Icelandic Horse’s excellent health, willing temperament and incredible gaits are becoming more well-known throughout the world, particularly in North America. If the recent past is any indication, the numbers of Icelandic Horses in the U.S. will soon be growing by leaps and bounds.

When teenager Laura Benson arrived at the expo grounds for Equitana U.S.A. in 1997, she had no idea how her life was about to change. While visiting the breed booths, she came across an Icelandic family who were promoting the Icelandic horse. Benson climbed aboard one of the horses, and was instantly hooked.

“After one ride, I was absolutely sold,” she says.
Benson soon made plans to go to Iceland the following summer, and stayed with the family that had introduced her to the breed. When she returned from her trip, she was convinced that she needed a life with Icelandic horses.

When the family she had stayed with opened an Icelandic horse operation in Louisville, Ky., the following year, Benson moved in with them and began helping run their farm.

“I became completely immersed in breeding, training, teaching, selling and marketing Icelandic horses,” she says. “Not only were the horses fascinating, but also the people and culture that surrounded them.”

Benson’s love for all things Icelandic prompted her to move to Iceland at the age of 17, where she learned to speak Icelandic. She studied at Hólar Agricultural University, and became the first American to graduate as a riding instructor and trainer from that school.

“The requirements to get in were very daunting,” she says. “You must speak fluent Icelandic, and they make you go through a series of rigorous riding tests and interviews. I was thrilled when I got my acceptance letter.”

Benson describes the school setting as almost mythical.
“It is nestled in a small valley at the foot of sloping mountains,” she says. “It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.”

Benson found herself surrounded by a culture that heralds its horse like a god. She immersed herself with other kids anxious to learn as much about Icelandic horses as she was. Benson now describes her time at Hólar as the best experience of her life–and one she will never forget.

“I consider Iceland my home now, and it was very hard for me to move back to the States,” she says. “But I had to come back so I could bring more knowledge of these horses to America.”

Benson now teaches riding and trains horses at a ranch in Northern California, where Icelandics are still her number-one priority. Certified with the Horse Trainers Association of Iceland (FT), Benson gets students involved with the Icelandic breed by using Icelandic lesson horses to teach classical methods that encourage harmony, respect and understanding between horse and rider.

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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.

Over the next several thousand years, horses were domesticated by early Europeans, and this included the spotted equines among them. By 1400 BC, spotted horses began appearing in the art of the ancient Egyptians. A Greek vase of that same period depicts a spotted horse, and an iron scabbard dated 800 BC bearing four spotted horses was found in Austria. It is clear that the spotted horse had developed a presence through all of Europe.

Flaebe’s Legacy

By the 8th Century AD, spotted horses were appearing on artwork throughout the continent, mostly represented as mounts of the noble and wealthy. In Denmark during the 17th Century, a breed called the Tiger Horse developed, featuring horses with a white base and dark colored spots all over the body. This royal breed disappeared in time, but was replaced in the 1800s by a similar though new type of horse that came from a mare by the name of Flaebe.

Flaebe came into the possession of Villars Lunn, owner of a manor house called Knabstrupgaard, in the region of Nordsealand. Lunn bought Flaebe from a butcher, who had purchased the horse from a Spanish officer stationed in Denmark during the Napoleonic wars. Flaebe was well put together, much like a hunter, and was a dark red color with a white, spotted blanket on her rump. The dark part of her coat featured a snowflake pattern, and her mane and tail were white.

Lunn put Flaebe in service at the Knabstrupgaard as a light work horse, and was impressed with the mare’s willing nature and endurance. This was underscored in 1816 when Lunn was run over by a wagon, and a farmhand was sent by carriage to retrieve a doctor. After pulling the carriage for 30 km over 105 minutes, one horse on the two-horse team broke down. The other horse, 15-year-old Flaebe, finished the job in perfect condition and was put to work in the fields the very next day. Flaebe not only had courage and endurance, but she also bore colorful babies. All of her foals were born with spotted patterns, regardless of the stallions she was bred to. One breeding to a palomino stallion resulted in a spotted colt named The Flaebstallion. Both this colt and Flaebe went on to become the foundation stallion and mare of the Knabstrup breed.

It wasn’t long before Knabstrup horses became known around Denmark for their flashy color, endurance and speed. They excelled at racing, and were valued for their high spirit and energetic action, accompanied by a steady temperament and long life.

During the Schleswig War of 1848 to 1850 between Denmark, Prussia and Sweden, Danish officers used Knabstruppers as mounts in the battlefield. The Knabstrupper’s courage and endurance served the officers well, although the horse’s loud color made the riders an easy target on the battlefield.

Shortly after the war, misfortune fell upon the Knabstrupgaard stud. Too much inbreeding began to affect the quality of the breed (only 40 to 50 Knabstruppers existed at the time), and a fire in 1891 killed 22 of the stud’s horses.

The Knabstrup horses that remained were sold off and outcrossed to other horses around Denmark. However, in some horses, the breed’s traits remained intact, and the breed was revived in a different form. In 1947, an association was formed to preserve the spotted horses that were descended from the original Knabstrup stud. Called the Association for Promotion of the Knabstrupper in the County of Holbaek, the group was connected to the stud farm Egemosegaard, where the Knabstrup breed was being revived.

In 1962, a group called the Danish Sporthorse Breed Association was formed, and many Knabstrup breeders left the original group to join the new organization. In 1970, Knabstrup breeders went on to create a country-wide, exclusively Knabstrup organization, called the Knabstrupperforeningen for Denmark, or the Knabstrup Union, which became the national registry for Knabstrup horses in Denmark. What followed was the crossing of Knabstrup horses with Danish Warmbloods, Trakehners, and Holsteiners. The result today is a horse with sporthorse breeding and exotic spotted colorations. pure is baroque, sporthorse is crossing what followed was outcrossing as well as pure breeding .

The Modern-Day Knab

Today’s Knabstrup are still registered by the Knabstrupper Union, the official Danish registry and the mother registry for the breed worldwide. The Knabstrupper is recognized by the Knabstrupper Union in three distinct sizes: horse, pony and miniature.

Horse-sized Knabstruppers come in two different types: baroque and sporthorse. The baroque type is the “pure” Knabstrupper, while the sporthorse type has Thoroughbred and warmblood breeding.

Horse-sized Knabstruppers of sporthorse type measure more than 14.2 hands, and can be over 17 hands. Baroque types stand anywhere from 14.2 to 16.1. Both types come in a wide variety of spotted patterns, including leopard (white body with dark spots), blanketed (dark body with a white blanket, often covered with dark spots), and snowflake (dark body with white spots). The leopard pattern is the favored coloration among many breeders.

Solid Knabstruppers are also permitted in the breed, although solid stallions are not permitted in the stud book. Stallions with blue eyes are also not permitted. Spotted characteristics in the form of a mottled muzzle and mottled genitals are preferred on solid horses.

Horse-sized Knabstruppers have an expressive face and a noble head with clear, and quiet eyes. The Danish standard indicates the head should have a good and open connection from poll to neck, and the neck must be long, well-formed and “well united.”

The Knabstrupper also should have an even, level back with a well and even-muscled topline. The tail should be well set.

The baroque style Knabstrupper has similar conformation to the Andalusian, Lusitano and Lipizzan breeds, which are also considered of baroque type. Their skeleton allows a lot of leg action while still keeping a level back. This allows these horses to easily perform upper level dressage.

Baroque style Knabstruppers have a very even, easygoing temperament, making even the stallions suitable for children. In fact, one of the horses on the Danish National Young Rider Team in the late 1990s, Conetti Lynghoj, is a baroque-type Knabstrupper stallion.

Sporthorse conformation is different from that of baroque type, and more reminiscent of warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. The disposition of the sporthorse type Knabstrupper is also hotter than that of the baroque type, and more typical of warmbloods and Thoroughbreds.

Before Knabstruppers can be accepted into the Danish registry, they are inspected and graded on a scale of 1 to 10 for temperament,conformation, and gaits at the walk, trot and canter. Inspectors look for elastic movement, and a measured and regular walk. The horse must receive an overall mark average of 7 to be accepted as a breeding stallion by the Knabstrupper Union.

Pony-sized Knabstruppers come in three different size divisions: Category I, II and III. Category I ponies are 13.2 to 14.2 hands in height. Category II ponies are between 12.2 hands to 13.2, and Category III ponies are below 12.2 hands.
Knabstrupper ponies are judged on many of the same criteria as horse-sized Knabstruppers.

Miniature sized Knabstruppers are the most recent type addition to the breed, and measure no more than 10.2 hands. They are graded on conformation, and a temperament that is preferably affable and sociable. Inspectors grading mini Knabstruppers for registration also look for regular, flexible movement; an oblique shoulder; strong hindquarters; a small, expressive head; and good musculature.

Despite their beauty and variety, Knabstruppers are still a very rare breed. Less than 2,000 Knabstrupper mares, stallions, and geldings exist worldwide.

Since 1970, approximately 1,050 mares have been graded by the Knabstrupper Union in Denmark. Approximately 250 to 300 living graded (approved for breeding) mares remain in Denmark. About 40 percent of the mares graded with the Knabstrupper Union at this time are in the main studbook and therefore permitted to produce registerable stallions. A mare must be in the main mare book to be a “stallion mother.”

Today, the Knabstrupper Union has approximately 30 approved stallions in the stud book.

Knabstruppers can be found in other European countries besides their native Denmark, although these horses have not been accepted by the Danish registry and so can’t be guaranteed to be of correct Knabstrupper type, according to the Knabstrupper Union.

Baroque type Knabstruppers were originally bred by royalty for training in classical dressage, so it’s not surprising that both the horse and pony version of the breed are used in all modern horse sports in Europe, including dressage, show jumping and eventing.

Today, breeders of the baroque type of Knabstrupper still train these horses for high-level classical work, the type of job traditionally performed by Lipizzans. Also, because of the Knabstrupper’s status in Danish history, the breed is also used in that country for historic exhibitions, as well as traditional side-saddle competition and exhibition.

Pony-size Knabstruppers are very popular with children in Holland, Scandinavia, Germany and Great Britain, in large part because of their spots, their disposition, and the popularity in Europe of the storybook character Pippi Longstockings, who rode a Knabstrupper in her adventures. In fact, the breed became so popular in Sweden that the Danish Knabstrupper Union decided to work together with that country to establish a Swedish national registry.

Although the breed is rare, visibility of the Knabstrupper is growing slowly throughout the world. As interest develops in bringing this unusual spotted breed to American shores, it is only a matter of time before we see this wonderful and romantic horse competing in American show rings.

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

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.

The stallions’ journey to St. Martins was treacherous. Starving refugees saw the Lipizzans as a source of food, and Podhajsky came close to losing them. Meanwhile, the stallions themselves were wanting for a meal, as feed was as scarce for animals as it was for people.

After arriving in St. Martins and securing the stallions at the stables of a friend, Podhajsky witnessed a division of the 42nd U.S. Cavalry march into the city. When one of the U.S. officers recognized the Lipizzans and their famous master, he sent word to General George Patton, a devoted equestrian. Patton knew Podhajsky because both men had competed with one another in international equestrian events, and he understood the value of the majestic white horses.

Patton paid a visit to St. Martins to access the situation, and after watching a performance by the stallions that ultimately saved their lives, the general proclaimed the horses wards of the U.S. Army. The army’s goal was to protect the horses throughout the remainder of the war and ultimately return them to their home at the Spanish Riding School.

Soon after, events were unfolding that would affect the fate of the mares and foals being held in Hostau. When 42nd Squadron commander Colonel Charles. H Reed captured a German general near Hostau and befriended him, the German confessed that the Lipizzans were being held at the German Remount Depot in town. He reported that Allied prisoners of war were caring for the horses, under German orders.

Patton gave the word to attack Hostau to free the horses and their POW caretakers, but before it could happen, Russian takeover of the city became imminent. The soon-to-be-defeated Germans made an agreement with American forces to allow the U.S. to enter Hostau peacefully and rescue the horses from the approaching Russians, who were likely to kill the horses for food. It seems the German officers at Hostau greatly admired the Lipizzans and did not want to see them destroyed during the invasion.

On April 28, 1945, the 42nd Squadron marched into Hostau, and were greeted by surrendering German troops with an honor guard and salutes as they came to rescue the 150 Lipizzans under German control.

World War II ended shortly afterward, although the struggle over the horses was not over. Although the Lipizzans were in U.S. possession in Hostau, the Russian and Czech governments each claimed ownership of the horses. Troops moved quickly to smuggle the horses across the border into Germany where they would be out of reach of either government. Soon afterward, all the Lipizzans—stallions, mares and foals–were returned to Colonel Podhajsky.

Because of Austria’s long post-war occupation, the Spanish Riding School was in exile in Wels until the country became sovereign once again. In 1955, the Lipizzans finally had their homecoming, to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

Medieval Beginnings

The story of the Lipizzan rescue of World War II is a dramatic one, with soldiers on both the American and German sides placing their lives on the line for these horses. What could be so special about a breed that men would go through such lengths to preserve it?

Take a look at the history of Europe’s most ancient breed and it’s not hard to understand why horseman over the past 450 years have treasured these amazing animals.

The Lipizzan’s beginnings stretch back into Medieval times, when the main function of horses was to carry men in battle during war and to pull carriages during times of peace. In order to create horses exclusively for his royal stable, Austrian Archduke Charles II imported Andalusians, Berbers and Barbs from Spain and crossed them with the now extinct Karst breed, a rugged, high-stepping, light-gray horse native to Austria. His brother, Maximillian II also founded a stud at Kladrub in Austria, and used Spanish horses crossed with native animals. The elegant and powerful horses that resulted—eventually called Lipizzans—were known for being heavy carriage horses (the Kladrub stud) and riding and light carriage horses (the Lipizza stud). The brothers exchanged breeding stock at times, crossing the lines to create aristocratic animals that were more than just war and work horses: they were partners in what had become a highly revered art: classical riding. Classical riding combined maneuvers used in battle with exercises that emphasized the horse’s athletic ability and obedience to the rider.

Charles II and Maximillian were members of the Hapsburg family, rulers of the most influential monarchy in European history. Connoisseurs of fine horses, the brothers created the Lipizzan breed for their own use. In response to the growing admiration for classical riding during the Renaissance among the aristocracy, the Hapsburg family established the Spanish Riding School in Vienna to teach horses and riders these fine skills. Over the next two centuries, more Spanish and Arabian blood was infused into the breed to help strengthen the Lipizzan’s foundation breeding.

Six of the stallions used during the 18th and 19th century established the family lines still seen in the Lipizzan today. These stallions, Conversano, Favory, Maestoso, Neopolitano, Pluto and Siglavy, all came from lines that originated outside of Austria. To this day, Lipizzans are marked with an ancestral brand representing their family line.

Lipizzans Today

There was a time when Lipizzans lived exclusively in Austria, the stallions performing classical dressage the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, while mares and foals resided in the Austrian countryside at royal studs. Today, the breed has a wider distribution, and can be found in Europe, South Africa, Australia and North America. The Lipizzan is still considered rare, however; only around 3,000 individuals exist throughout the world.

The Lipizzan today is much like the horse of Renaissance Austria, thanks to strict preservation of the breed. The international organization that represents the breed and is supported by 19 member countries (including the U.S.) is the Lipizzan International Federation. Started by Belgian dressage trainer Hildegarde Gekiere in 1984, the Lipizzan International Federation strives to maintain the purity of the Lipizzan breed throughout the world. As part of that goal, the LIF has established a breed standard for the Lipizzan meant to preserve the breed’s ancient heritage and athleticism.

The standard calls for an overall appearance of nobleness, with an inborn talent for dressage and carriage work. Good disposition is essential. The breed has a profound ability to concentrate on the work at hand, and is bred to do collected work for long periods of time.

By the age of six years, Lipizzan stallions stand an average of 14.2 to 15.2 hands in height, and sport a rectangular-shaped body that bears rounded outlines. The Lipizzan head is medium in length and well proportioned, with a rounded cheek. The profile is slightly convex, and the eyes are large, dark and expressive. The Lipizzan has a medium-length, well-arched neck that is deep at the base.

The breed features a distinct round and elevated action, and shows complete balance and elegance at the walk, trot and canter.

The breed’s traditional pale gray coloration is the result of centuries of selective breeding. Foals start out black at birth and lighten over time. Some Lipizzans are born black or bay, and stay that color into adulthood. These two colorations are permitted by the LIF standard, although any other color is discouraged.

Lipizzans are known for their slow maturity rate. A Lipizzan is not considered full grown in body and mind until the age of 10 years, and individuals in the breed tend to live longer than most other horses. Lipizzans have been known to survive beyond 35 years of age with good care.

The Lipizzan in the U.S.

Lipizzans were first brought to the U.S. in 1937 by Austrian opera singer, Madam Maria Jeritza, who imported two stallions and two mares to California. In 1945, General George Patton imported a Lipizzan stallion named Pluto XX and a number of mares, for use by the U.S. Cavalry. Since that time, Lipizzans have been imported in small numbers to the U.S. by various individuals.

In the 1960s, the breed became well-known in the U.S. despite its small numbers, no doubt the result of the breed’s romantic history and sudden visibility in traveling classical dressage troupes. These troupes put on shows for the public highlighting the breed’s talents at classical dressage.

Currently in the U.S., the Lipizzan breed is represented by three organizations that are working together in conjunction with the Lipizzan International Federation: the United States Lipizzan Registry, the American Lipizzan Breeders Association and the Lipizzan Association of North America. Each of these organizations has the same goal for the Lipizzan: to preserve the breed in the U.S. Joined together in a conglomerate as the Lipizzan Federation of America, these three groups support the Lipizzan International Federation in its preservation of the breed worldwide.

Although the modern Lipizzan was bred primarily for carriage work and classical dressage, today’s Lipizzans are versatile. In the United States, the some 200 individual Lipizzans are being used in competitive dressage, trail riding, jumping, cutting and vaulting. Their excellent temperament makes them particularly suitable for therapeutic riding programs. Horse lovers can also see Lipizzans perform airs above the ground and the classical dressage for which they are so famous in several commercial shows that travel around the country.

The Lipizzan is one of the oldest breeds in the world, and one of the most noble. Although their numbers are few, the breed is bound to grow in popularity as more people discover the great history and athleticism that is the Lipizzan horse.

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

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.

The attitudes of early Quarter Horse breeders stemmed from the fact that Paint Horses were the result of colorful genes that cropped up every now and then in Quarter Horse breedings. The American Quarter Horse Association did not allow for horses with the colorful markings seen in Paint foals born to solid mothers, and would not permit the registration of these perfectly good although wildly colored horses.

In the mid-1960s, a group of people who appreciated these patterned horses for having all the same qualities as their Quarter Horse parents, along with a splashy coat, started the American Paint Horse Association. The organization and the breed have grown phenomenally over the past several decades, with Paint Horses now numbering tk.

Ironically, the same coat pattern that once designated the Paint Horse as an outcast has become the breed’s greatest glory. These days, colorful markings are not only desired, but are bred for specifically by those who cherish the breed.

“The issue of color is extremely important for various reasons within the Paint breed,” says Steven Imhof, field representative for the American Paint Horse Association in Fort Worth, Texas. “First and foremost, it is our identity. Without color, the horse is no longer a ‘Paint,’ visually speaking. Secondly, a horse registered in our Breeding Stock (solid) registry is very limited in the show ring as he cannot compete in the Regular Registry classes at APHA-approved shows. For these reasons, color is a big priority for most breeders.”

For those who breed Paint Horses, the basic three patterns are the palate from which to create the ultimate colored horse. These patterns are the tobiano, the overo and the tovero.

The Tobiano

The term “tobiano” originated in the mid-1800s, and comes from a man named General Tobias, a Brazilian cavalry office who came to Argentina with a command of soldiers mounted on tobiano marked horses. The tobiano pattern consists of white and a dark color, with the dark color usually covering one or both flanks. All four legs are often white, at least below the hocks and knees. According to the APHA, the patches in the tobiano pattern tend to be regular and distinct as ovals or round patterns that extend down over the neck and chest, giving the appearance of a shield. Head markings are the same as on a solid-colored horse; that is, a blaze, strip, star or snip, on a solid background. A tobiano Paint may be either predominantly dark or white, and the tail is often white and a dark color.

The tobiano is the most common pattern seen in the Paint Horse breed, undoubtedly because it is represented by a dominant gene. Within the tobiano pattern, horses that are black and white are sometimes known as piebald, while those who are white and another color are called skewbald. These terms are not officially used by the APHA, but were once very common among horse people.

The Overo

The overo pattern is a popular although less often seen marking within the Paint breed, despite the fact that many horses that are not tobiano are considered overo. The term “overo” means “like an egg” in Spanish, and any horse with patches or spots in South America is referred to by this name. Generally consisting of a white and a dark color, the overo pattern usually features white that does not cross the back of the horse between its withers and its tail. The white is irregular, and tends to look scattered or splashed. In most cases, at least one and often all four legs are dark. Overos have distinctive white head markings, often bearing a bald face, apron face or bonnet face. These horses can be either mostly dark or mostly white, and the tail is usually one color.

Within the overo designation, three distinct types exist: sabino,  splashed white, and frame. Sabino horses have white markings that extend up the legs and extensively on the face. The dark patches on the body are usually located on the belly and are roaned or speckled. Some sabinos are almost completely white with blue eyes, bearing just a small bit of color on their ears.

Horses considered splashed white are rare, although more are appearing on the Paint horse scene as a result of breeders seeking out this pattern. Consisting of white legs and white along the spinal area, the splashed pattern also features a white head. The dark colored patches on the horse’s body have a crisp, distinct separation from the white, and the horse’s eyes are almost always blue.

A variation of the splashed white, called the minimal splashed white, features a dark colored horse with considerable white on the face and white leg markings. Splashed white Paints may have more dark color on one side of the body than the other.

According to Dr. Sponenberg, many splashed white horses are deaf. “Some breeders contend that the splashed white horses with white around their eyes are more likely to be deaf than those with color around the eyes,” he says.
Frame overos are best described as having dark hooves and legs. Their heads are usually marked heavily with white, and white patches occur on the sides of the body and neck. The upper lip of frame overos usually contains color, although the rest of the head will be white. Blue eyes are common.

The Tovero

The tovero pattern is a combination of the tobiano and overo patterns, as the name suggests. The result of a crossing between an overo and a tobiano, tovero horses have pigmentation around the ears, which sometimes covers the forehead and/or eyes. They also have color around the mouth, which can extend to the sides of the face to form patches. One or both of the horse’s eyes are blue. Toveros have chest patches that may extend up the neck, and flank patches often accompanied by smaller patches across the barrel, and up over the loin. Patches are usually seen at the base of the tovero’s tail.

The medicine hat pattern, which was prized by the Cheyenne and Comanche tribes, is a tovero pattern. It includes a dark cap covering the ears and poll, and a dark shield-like marking on the chest   

Breeding for Patterns

Early on in Paint Horse history, getting a colored foal of any pattern was exciting for a Paint breeder. Today, with a greater knowledge of genetics, breeders are striving for particular patterns, based on personal preference and trends within the breed.

“The overo seems to be very popular in the halter classes, as well as many pleasure classes,” says Imhof. “Many racehorses are tobiano. Then, there are toveros that display some of each pattern, having their own popularity as well. But regardless of the pattern, quality is first and foremost for the majority of breeders.”

Rather than breed horses only for their conformation, disposition and general Paint markings, Paint breeders have become expert at also crossing for certain patterns.

“Breeders seem to be increasingly interested in equine genetics,” says Imhof. “There are more tools available to help breeders attempt to ‘genetically engineer’ a breeding program.”

This type of breeding program requires at least a basic understanding of Paint genetics, which can be relatively simple or complex, depending on the pattern discussed. Breeding for tobiano markings is the least complicated method.

“The only crossing that can be guaranteed to produce a certain Paint pattern is that from a homozygous tobiano,” says Phillip Sponenberg, PhD, professor of pathology and genetics at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, and author of “Equine Color Genetics” (Iowa State Press). “In tobianos that are not homozygous, whether or not a tobiano results from a given breeding depends on the gene combinations that the foal inherits.”

Homozygous tobianos are those that have two of the tobiano genes in their makeup. These tobianos can often be distinguished by the presence of small “ink spots” on the background color, or smudged roan areas on the white parts of their coats. A blood test can also be used to determine whether or not a tobiano is homozygous (see sidebar). Homozygous tobianos are valuable because they always produce a tobiano foal, no matter what type of horse they are bred to.

Because the tobiano gene is dominant, every tobiano horse bears at least one of these genes in its makeup. Horses with only one tobiano gene will produce tobiano foals 50 percent of the time when bred to solid colored horses.

Overo genetics is even more complex than that of the tobiano, in large part because of the different markings that exist within the overo pattern. “The overo gene is recessive, so there are no color guarantees with this pattern,” says Imhof. “Both patterns can be loudly or minimally expressed.”

According to Sponenberg, geneticists don’t completely understand the behavior of the overo gene, but believe some overo genes are dominant while others are recessive. More studies need to be done regarding the overo gene to determine its true nature.

Breeding for Color

The dark colors associated with the various Paint patterns are also a factor for breeders. The American Paint Horse Association allows horses with the following coat colorations to accompany white on a patterned horse:

Bay–The body color ranges from tan through red to reddish-brown. The mane and tail may be black, white or both. Black is also commonly found on the lower legs.
Blue Roan–A blue roan is a uniform mixture of white with black hairs.
Buckskin–The buckskin is a type of dun with body color a shade of yellow or gold. The mane and tail may be black, white or both. Black is common on the lower legs. A buckskin may not have a black dorsal stripe.
Chestnut–A dark red or reddish brown. The mane and tail are usually dark red or reddish brown, but may be flaxen or white.
Dun–A yellow or gold color, with each hair the same color. The mane and tail may be black, brown, red, yellow, white or mixed. Duns may exhibit a dorsal stripe, a transverse stripe over the withers, and zebra stripes on the legs.
Gray–This color is a mixture of white and any other color of hair. A gray is born solid- or almost solid-colored and gets lighter with age and as more hair grows.
Grullo–The body color is smoky or mouse-colored (not a mixture of black and white hairs, but each hair is mouse-colored). The mane and tail may be black, white or both, and there is typically black on the lower legs.
Palomino–The body color is a shade of yellow or gold. The mane and tail are white, yellow or gold. Palominos do not have dorsal stripes like the similarly colored dun horse.
Red Dun–Red dun is a form of dun typically with a yellow- or flesh-colored body. The mane, tail and dorsal stripe may be red, white or both.
Red Roan–A uniform mixture of white with red hair. The mane and tail may be red, black, flaxen or white.
Sorrel–A clear reddish or copper-red color. The mane and tail are usually the same color as the body and may be flaxen or white.

Any of these colors can be seen in a tobiano, overo or tovero pattern, and some breeders strive not only for a certain pattern, but for certain colors within that pattern. Each color has its own genetic factors that determine whether or not a horse will pass along the coloration when bred to a particular mate.

The various patterns and colorations seen in the Paint Horse breed is what makes these horses truly unique among their equine cousins. The challenges of producing certain patterns and colorations, along with horses of good conformation and disposition is undoubtedly what draws breeders to the colorful Paint.

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

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.

During the 17th century, Spain stretched itself thin, fighting battles on many fronts. Because of this, the country experienced a shortage of horses, and less animals were transported to the New World. Horses that were already in Peru became isolated and experienced a forced closed breeding program of sorts. The horses that resulted from these breedings eventually became the foundation stock for today’s Peruvian Horse.

Although the breed began almost by accident, the following decades saw deliberate breeding of these horses for certain characteristics. Wealthy landowners began breeding these horses for specific characteristics, including a smooth ride. These men had plenty of ground to cover as they supervised their vast haciendas, and needed a horse that could provide many comfortable hours in the saddle.

Peruvians in the U.S.

Today, the Peruvian Horse has grown beyond the borders of Peru and has secured a foothold in the United States. Around 21,000 Peruvian Horses are currently registered with the North American Peruvian Horse Association, a number that has grown significantly since the late 1960s when the breed first came to American shores. In fact, sales of Peruvian Horses tripled in 2007 and registrations are on the rise, according to Carolyn Wills of the NAPHA.

“The association’s advertising campaign aimed at readers of popular equine magazines has been a tremendous success, creating new interest in the breed,” she says.

The breed was first introduced to North America in very limited numbers by Verne Albright, an American who had discovered the Peruvian breed during a trip to South America. Albright convinced Peruvian breeders that the horse had commercial potential in the United States. With the breeders’ cooperation, Albright was able to arrange the first large shipments of Peruvian Horses to the U.S. in the mid-1960s. During the 1970’s, increasingly larger numbers of horses were regularly imported, and dozens of breeding operations were established throughout North America.

National, regional and local breed organizations and clubs were eventually established, and this encouraged increased interest in the breed via advertising, educational articles in magazines and breed show systems.

During these formative years, the numbers of horses bred in North America increased steadily and reached a height of approximately 700 per year during the period from the mid ’80’s to early ’90’s. Numbers of horses bred per year leveled off at approximately 500 per year for several years after that start-up period, and during the most recent years has leveled off and maintained at approximately 300 per year.

Individual owners of Peruvian Horses in North America number approximately 3,000 which includes both the vast majority of owners who own five or fewer horses and a small percentage who own 50 or more.

Special Gaits

What is it about this breed that makes it so special? First, its history. With a heritage that traces back to the times of the Spanish conquests of the New World, the Peruvian is among a handful of breeds that are living legacies of the Americas’ past.

The Peruvian’s size and conformation harkens back to its Spanish ancestry as well. Measuring no higher than 15 hands, Peruvian horses have a graceful, elegant look with an overall refinement. Stallions show the thick, arched neck characteristic of their Iberian ancestors.

Peruvians come in an assortment of basic solid colorations, including chestnut (sometimes with a flaxen mane and tail), black, brown, bay, gray, palomino, buckskin and roan.

Although the appearance of the Peruvian Horse is distinctive, it is the breed’s movement that truly sets it apart from other breeds of Iberian descent. Born with a natural ability to gait, Peruvians are known for the paso llano and sobreandando gaits. Both have a four-beat movement that gives the rider the experience of floating on air.

The primary difference between the paso llano and sobreandando is essentially speed. The more comfortable of the two is the paso llano, as it is the slowest. A four-beat stepping pace, this gait is performed by the rear left foot striking the ground first, then the front left foot, then the rear right foot, then the front right foot. The footfalls are separated by equal amounts of time, resulting a consistent four-beat rhythm.

The sobreandando has the same the footfall, although it’s a faster gait.

Unlike the Paso Fino breed, which also hails from South America, the Peruvian Horse has a unique quality to its gait called termino. This is an action of the front legs that causes them to swing out as the leg rolls from the shoulder outward, forward, and then down. The hooves return squarely to the ground.

Another characteristic unique to the Peruvian Horse is brio. Bred into the Peruvian horse for centuries, this trait is the willingness to work for the rider with alertness and a willing attitude. Essentially, Peruvian Horses who possess brio are sensitive without being hyper, and have lots of energy but are easy to handle. For many people, brio is among the most important characteristics of the Peruvian breed.

Recent Changes

The Peruvian Horse has a long and distinguished history, but in recent years, some changes have taken place in the breed worth noting.

First is the name change. Since the breed first came to the U.S. in the 1960s, it was known as the Peruvian Paso. Over the last few years, keepers of the breed have dropped the “paso” from the name and are now calling their horses simply Peruvian Horses.

The name change begin with the formation of The North American Peruvian Horse Association in 2005 as a result of the merging of two long-established registries, the American Association of Owners and Breeders of Peruvian Paso Horses and the Peruvian Paso Horse Registry of North America

“After 35 years, the Peruvian Horse community in North America was united and with this union came not only a new name but a revitalized mission to promote and perpetuate the breed,” says Wills.

One of the first steps in that revitalization was to simplify the name of the breed and ease the general confusion between the Peruvian Paso and Paso Fino.

“At the first NAPHA Annual Meeting, the name change was approved and, from that point, NAPHA has referred to the Peruvian Horse in all promotional and advertising materials as well as internal communications,” says Wills. “It may take a generation for the change to be complete but from membership surveys and non-member inquiries, the name change appears to be accomplishing the goals.”

Also, during the past decade, Peruvian Horse shows have seen an increase in participation in the Amateur Owner to Ride and Amateur (rider) Performance divisions and classes. This may be due to the fact that recreational riders, which make up the majority of Peruvian Horse owners in the United States, are becoming more interested in showing.

Although the breed continues to grow, the Peruvian Horse in North America is being impacted by the same issues as the equine industry as a whole, according to a source for the recently formed United States Peruvian Horse Association. She notes that the cost of horse ownership is increasing substantially, thanks to rising feed, land and fuel costs. Yet the Peruvian Horse is in a unique and advantageous position to avoid being unduly affected because of the breed’s rarity and smooth way of going.

“Defined by their natural four-beat gait and a graceful outward arching of forelegs during extension—called termino—this breed is the smoothest and most pleasurable riding horse in the world,” says Wills. “Added to the ease and ability to travel great distances is also the fact that the Peruvian Horse is typically a willing companion, eye-catching, and extremely charismatic.”

For more information, contact the North American Peruvian Horse Association, 3095 Burleson Retta Road
, Burleson, TX 76028
, (817) 447-7574, www.napha.net; and the United States Peruvian Horse Association, P.O. Box 9074, Pahrump, NV 89060, (775) 727-1099, www.USPHA.net.

Sidebar: For the Love of Peruvians

Gail Wetzler wanted horses all her life, but could never afford one. As a young woman, she dreamed of caring for her horses herself and riding when it was good for her schedules. Consequently, she wanted horse property of her own.

It wasn’t until Wetzler was married and working that she could finally afford to buy a place where she could keep a horse. Being a smart prospective horse owner, she decided to learn to ride before buying her first horse. This is when her journey toward the Peruvian Horse began.

“As I was training and preparing my riding skills for my first horse, one of the horses I was riding spooked and I had a terrible fall,” says Wetzler, who is a physical therapist living in Orange, California. “I was laid up for four months with fractures and related problems.”

After healing, Wetzler began looking at breeds she thought would be a lot calmer than the one she was riding when she fell. Friends of hers, knowing about the fall, encouraged her to go to a Peruvian Horse show.

“They were very excited about the breed and discussed the differences in their gait from other horses,” she says. “At the show, and later at my friends’ homes, I was able to ride one. That’s when I fell in love with the breed–their disposition, their history and the fact that they gave me the smoothest ride I had ever experienced.”

As a physical therapist, Wetzler was also interested in possibly using Peruvian horses for riders who are physically or mentally challenged.

“The movement pattern of these horses  create a rhythmic motion that enhances the normal neurological movement patterns for rehabilitation,” she says.

Wetzler was also taken with the breed’s history.

“Only the strongest horses could survive the Andean mountains, as well as the climates and jungles of Peru,” she says. “These survivors became the leaders of the herds, and then transmitted these qualities to their descendants.”

The result, says Wetzler, is the Peruvian Horse breed.

Wetzler now owns four Peruvian Horses, and rides them on community trails and surrounding areas in Orange Park Acres, the equestrian community where she resides.

“Trail riding is such a delight with the endurance and variances in their speed for the various terrains,” she says.

Wetzler says that each of her four horses has provided her with a different gift.

Her first horse, a gelding by the name of San Jorge, is a teacher.

“As our first Peruvian, he trained the kids how to ride, took us into the local shows, took us into our first parade, and taught us how to groom and care for a horse,” says Wetzler. “He is 20 years old today.”

Wetzler’s second horse, Carta Blanca, taught Wetzler and her family the meaning of an alpha mare. “Our intention for Carta was for local shows, trail and eventually to breed her,” says Wetzler. Carta was bred to a stallion named Antaras, National Champion of Champions during the l990’s.  She successfully foaled Wetzler’s first colt, Trueno de Oro.

Trueno de Oro is the star of Wetzler’s horse family. Now 10 years old, Trueno has been named California’s Champion of Champions Breeding Stallions. His favorite pastimes are shows, trails and, of course, breeding.

“He also talks to every horse he meets, to let them know how important he is,” says Wetzler.

Wetzler’s fourth horse was sired by Trueno de Oro, and is named Kesara de Alma.

“Still a young filly, Kesara reminds us of how fun it is to be young, free and independent from responsibility,” says Wetzler.

Fervent is a word that aptly describes how Wetzler feels about the Peruvian Horse.

“I am passionate about this breed because of their honorable history, their dedication to work, their desire to always be there for you, and the synchronization of their gait,” she says. “They are also gorgeous and absolutely fun to ride.”

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

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.

Over the past century, three new breeds have developed from Quarter Horse bloodlines: the Quarab, the Quarter Pony and the Appendix Quarter Horse. Each of these breeds possess aspects of the Quarter Horse, yet are unique from the Quarter Horse breed in a number of different ways.

The Quarter Horse

The choice of the Quarter Horse to serve as a foundation for new breeds is not surprising when you consider the unique history and traits the Quarter Horse possesses.

The breed had its start in 17th century, when English colonists began crossing horses imported from the mother country with Native American Chickasaw horses, a breed that originated from Spanish stock. As the sport of racing on short straightaways became more and more popular in the Colonies, the horses resulting from English and Chickasaw breeding proved to be unbeatable sprinters.

In the early 1800s, because of the new breed’s profound speed coupled with cow sense, this uniquely American horse became the mount of choice to work cattle in the newly explored American West. But it wasn’t until 1940 that a group of horsemen came together to officially establish these horses as the “Quarter Horse.” At that same time, the American Quarter Horse Association was born.

Since then, the popularity of the Quarter Horse has grown exponentially, and the breed is now considered the most widely distributed of all horse breeds in the world.

The Quarter Horse has very distinct characteristics, which have prompted those interested in creating new breeds to take notice. According to the AQHA’s Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations, the American Quarter Horse is characterized by a short, broad head, topped by small, active ears; large eyes set wide apart; sensitive nostrils over a shallow muzzle; and a firm mouth. The medium length neck joins the sloping shoulders at a near 45-degree angle with a distinct throatlatch. The chest is deep and broad with wide-set forelegs, which blend well into the shoulders. The powerful, muscled forearm extends to the knee whether viewed from the front or side. The back is close-coupled and especially full and powerful across the kidneys and is full through the thigh, stifle,gaskin and down the hock.

The rear quarters are broad, deep and heavy, viewed from either side or rear. The hind leg is muscled inside and out. The hocks are wide, deep, straight and clean, with the foot well-rounded and roomy with an especially deep, open heel.

The generally acceptable height of the American Quarter Horse ranges from 14.3 to 15.1 hands, and the breed comes in 14 solid colors, with sorrel being the most common.

Today, the American Quarter Horse is used a vasty array of disciplines including western show and performance events, dressage, eventing, driving and competitive trail.

The Quarab

If you take all the wonderful traits of the American Quarter Horse and put them together with the elegance and refinement of the Arabian, you get an intriguing horse called the Quarab.

Breeders who first began crossing Quarter Horses and Arabians soon discovered the resulting horses from their breeding programs consistently possessed traits different from other half-Arabian crossbreeds. These Quarter Horse/Arab crosses, as well as other Arabian crossbreds, were eligible for registration with the International Arabian Horse Association (now the Arabian Horse Association). But as breeding continued, breeders further discovered that Quarter Horse/Arab crosses bred to other Quarter Horse/Arab crosses would breed relatively true compared to other crossbreeds. This realization prompted the development of a separate registry for these horses, which came to be called the Quarab.

Official recognition of the Quarab happened in 1984, when the first registry for Quarabs, the United Quarab Registry, was formed. In 1999, another organization, the International Quarab Horse Association, was started. The goal of both groups was to promote the new breed and maintain a studbook.

Meanwhile, in 1991, the United Quarab Registry had added a Paint Quarab Index to permit crossing with Paint Horses as well as Quarter Horses in the breed, since the Paint Horse comes exclusively from Quarter Horse stock. Following suit, the International Quarab Horse Association also allows Paint/Arabian crosses.

According to those who admire the Quarab, the breed possesses the beauty, intelligence, endurance and ruggedness of the Arabian combined with the size, strength and calmness of the Quarter Horse. Many Quarabs also demonstrate a high degree of cow sense, as well as excelling as family mounts, show ring competitors, and endurance horses. In fact, Quarabs are being used in almost every equine discipline except racing.

In order for a horse to be considered a Quarab, it must possess 1/4 to 7/8 Arabian blood and 1/4 to 7/8 Quarter Horse or Paint Horse blood. No other breeds are allowed in the horse’s pedigree. For a Quarab to be considered foundation stock, one parent must be pure Arabian, while the other pure Quarter Horse or Paint Horse.

According to the United Quarab Registry, Quarabs measure anywhere from 14 to 16 hands, and may possess stock-horse type with a muscular forearm and gaskin and well-rounded hip; or Arabian type with long, well-arched neck, long barrel, and level croup. The Quarab head usually shows refinement, as well as large eyes, wide forehead, and slight to extreme dish in the face, depending on the ratio of Arabian to Quarter Horse blood.

The International Quarab Horse Association standard describes a well-balanced horse that is seen in distinctly different types. Straight or Foundation Type animals are a blend of the traits of both the Arabian and the Quarter Horse or Paint, while Stock Type animals demonstrate more of the traits commonly associated with the Quarter Horse and Paint. However, they also retain the elegance and typiness of the Arabian.

Pleasure Type Quarabs more closely resemble their Arabian ancestry with more refinement, especially in the head. The body should still show a strong influence of Quarter Horse or Paint blood.

Quarter Pony

When the Quarter Horse breed was officially established, the AQHA determined that horses measuring under 14.3 hands would not be considered for registration. These animals were below the AQHA’s required height for a Quarter Horse, and were not to be included in the AQHA stud book.

Despite this ruling, purebred Quarter Horses continued to be born that would not grow past 14.2 hands. These horses were rich in Quarter Horse blood–especially in foundation breeding–yet were not eligible for registration with the AQHA.

In addition to these smaller sized Quarter Horses, ponies of unknown breeding with obvious Quarter Horse or stock horse conformation were being used for a variety of work on ranches and farms around the country.

This prompted Harold Wymore, a horseman in Sharon, Iowa, to start a registry in that would honor and promote small, stock type ponies of obvious Quarter Horse breeding, even if their parentage was unknown. In 1964, the American Quarter Pony Association was born.

The AQHA has since dropped its height restriction on registering Quarter Horses below 14.3 hands, but the Quarter Pony has nonetheless remained a separate entity. In tk, another registry for this pony was formed, called the International Quarter Pony Association, and breeders of these special little horses continued to spring up around the country.

For a pony to be registered with the American Quarter Pony Association, it must be of “good conformation and desirable for breeding,” according to the organization’s rules of registration. The pony must also be easily recognizable as having characteristics of Quarter Horse-type or Quarter Horse-bred ponies, and must be at least 46 to 57 inches tall at the withers. A pony can be any solid color (pinto, Appaloosa patterns and albino are not allowed), and cannot be gaited.

Registration criteria for the International Quarter Pony Association differs from that of the American Quarter Pony Association. IQPA registration rules call for a pony that is “easily recognized as having the breeding or characteristics of Quarter Horses.” Ponies must exhibit good Quarter Horse-type conformation, desirable for breeding. They must stand between 46 and 58 inches to be eligible for regular registration, while ponies or horses 58 inches or over, or under 46 inches with one or both registered Quarter Pony parents are eligible for registration under the Breeding Stock Registry.

Unlike the American Quarter Pony Association, the IQPA allows ponies with the markings and characteristics of Paint, Appaloosa and albino horses. Ponies can also be double-registered with other associations such as the Pony of the Americas Club, the AQHA and the American Paint Horse Association. Ponies of unknown parentage are also permitted in the registry assuming they fit the conformation description above.

Quarter Ponies are versatile performers, and compete in open shows at a number of events. The IQPA offers an open show point program in halter, barrel racing, cutting, English pleasure, jumping, competitive trail, western pleasure and other events, while the AQPA also offers open points in many of the same classes and disciplines.

Appendix Quarter Horses

The Quarter Horse is no stranger to Thoroughbred blood. Shortly after the American Quarter Horse was established as an official breed in the 1940s, Thoroughbred blood was infused into Quarter Horse bloodlines to produce a horse built for speed.

The studbook was eventually closed to Thoroughbreds. However, many Quarter Horse breeders still wanted to cross to Thoroughbreds in their breeding programs. To accommodate these breeders, the AQHA implemented the Appendix Quarter Horse registration designation.

Today, Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred crossbreeds are still considered Appendix Quarter Horses. To be registered as an Appendix Quarter Horse, a horse must have one parent registered as a numbered American Quarter Horse and the other parent registered with the Jockey Club of North America–the official registry for Thoroughbreds in the U.S.–or any Thoroughbred registry recognized by The Jockey Club of North America. If the sire or dam of the horse being registered is also an Appendix Quarter Horse, then that horse is also eligible for registration as an Appendix Quarter Horse.

Appendix Quarter Horses tend to be lankier and taller than purebred Quarter Horses, with Appendix Quarter Horses often reaching 16 hands or higher. They can be seen in the same colors as purebred Quarter Horses, which include bay, black, brown, sorrel, chestnut, dun, buckskin, red dun, grullo, palomino, gray, red roan, blue roan and bay roan.
Because of their Thoroughbred breeding, Appendix Quarter Horses are most often seen on the racetrack, as well as in the English disciplines. Appendix Quarter Horses often make great hunters, show jumpers and dressage competitors.

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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.

            But while many people know the Arabian horse as a single breed that sprung from the tribal peoples of an ancient desert, the truth is that the Arabian is more than just a purebred horse. Through wars and conquests, the Arabian’s bloodlines came to be spread to a number of countries, some of whom cherished the breed enough to bestow it with their own regional distinctions. Meanwhile, the original Arabian stayed in its homeland, where it was even more greatly refined.

            Some of the types that grew from this twist of history are the Egyptian, Crabbet, Russian, Polish, and Shagya Arabians. Each type has its own special distinction that set it apart from its Arab brothers. While these horses may not appear vastly different to the eye–with each bearing the classic Arabian dished face, short back and elegant muscling typical of the Arabian breed–history and bloodlines set these horses apart.

The Egyptian

            It makes sense to start with the Egyptian Arabian, since this horse has served as the foundation for all the other types of Arabians that would follow.

            The Egyptian Arabian, the purest of all the Arabian types, is essentially unchanged from ancient times and is the result of a blending of strains that existed among different Bedouin tribes during the breed’s development. Over the centuries, Arab and Egyptian royalty perfected the breed even further, until the pure Arabian horse was considered the most exquisite horse in the world.

            When the Turkish ruler Mohammed Ali the Great began acquiring Arabian horses centuries later, he started to keep detailed records of the horses’ breeding. He collected the finest horses from Arabia, and passed along his cherished herd to his son, Abbas Pasha, after his passing.

            When Abbas Pasha eventually died himself in the late 1800s, the herd was dispersed to buyers from other countries. A number of royal Egyptian families purchased some of the horses, thus keeping several of the Egyptian Arabians in the breed’s land of origin.

            In 1908, the Egyptian government moved to protect the purebred Arabian in its native country. An organization now known as the Egyptian Agricultural Organization still keeps watch over these horses, tracking pedigrees and monitoring the whereabouts of the breed. Today, thanks to importations that took place through the 1900s, representatives of the pure Egyptian Arabian can be found in the United States. These horses are often crossed with other Arabian types to create superior show horses.

            A minority among Arabian horses, the Egyptians are one of the most prized of all the Arab types. Represented by the Pyramid Society, an organization dedicated to preserving the Egyptian Arabian in the United States, the Egyptian can be divided into two sub-types: the Straight Egyptian and the Egyptian-Bred.

            The Straight Egyptian is a horse registerable with the Arabian Horse Registry, whose line pedigree traces to horses born in Arabia Deserta, and who meets other specific breeding requirements set by the Pyramid Society. 

            Egyptian-Bred horses are those who were produced by breeding a Straight Egyptian stallion to a purebred Arabian mare who is not Straight Egyptian, or a horse whose grandsires are both Straight Egyptian, and whose dam is a purebred Arabian that is not Straight Egyptian.

            Egyptian Arabians are extremely refined and elegant, and are known for their spirit, and their devotion to their caretakers. They are treasured for their success in the show ring, particularly in halter classes.

The Crabbet

            The Crabbet Arabian holds the same history as the Egyptian Arabian up to the point when Abbas Pash’s herd was dispersed after his death. A British woman by the name of Lady Anne Blunt purchased a number of the Egyptian Arabians from Abbas Pash’s herd, and took them back to the United Kingdom, to the famous Crabbet Stud of England.

            Founded by Wilfrid and Lady Anne Blunt, and their daughter, Judith, Lady Wentwort, the Crabbet Stud went on to breed some of the finest Arabian horses known in the world. Using the blood of Egyptian Arabians, Blunts and Wentworth developed a strain of Arabians that went on to influence the breed throughout Europe.

            Originally founded to recreate the Darley Arabian, an Egyptian Arabian used to found the Thoroughbred breed, the Crabbet Stud became known for producing the finest Arabians in England.

            In the United States today, very few purebred Crabbet Arabians can be found for a simple reason: These horses were known for their excellent ability to improve other Arabian types, and so were crossbred with other Arabians in the U.S. to the point where the bloodline has been diluted. Only 300 pure Crabbet Arabians can be found in North America today. The Crabbet type is also being diluted in England and other countries in Europe, causing this strain to dwindle to dangerously low numbers.

            Crabbet Arabians are refined and elegant, and are very similar in appearance to Egyptian Arabians. They make excellent halter horses because of their exquisite conformation.

The Russian

            Before the advent of World War I, the Russian government attempted to establish its own Arabian breeding program by importing horses from the Crabbet Stud. The subsequent war and the Russian Revolution completely destroyed the results of this attempt, and neither the Russian horses or the paperwork to accompany them survived the overthrow of the Russian government.

            After World War I, in 1930, the Russian government again tried to restart its breeding program, sending a commission to France to buy Arabians. A stallion named Kann and six mares were brought to the government stud at Tersk, where cavalry horses were being bred using Arabian stallions on Russian mares. In 1936, Lady Wentworth of the Crabbet Stud sold 19 horses to the Russian government, for the Imperial Russian Stud. Private breeders in Russia also purchased Arabians from Lady Wentworth, and so established the Arabian breed in Russia.

            While most equine breeding programs in Europe suffered during World War II, the Russian Arabian program flourished. The home of the Polish Arabian breeding program, the Janow Podlawski Stud, was evacuated during the war, and during the escape of the Polish Arabians and their grooms, the invading Russian army took possession of the horses. The 80 stallions, mares and foals made the 1,000 mile journey to the Tersk Stud on foot. Eleven of the stallions and 41 of the mares were eventually registered in the Russian stud book.

            Russian Arabians first came to the United States in the early 1960s, and now are common among the U.S. Arabian population. Most known for their athletic abilities, Russian Arabians are often seen in western performance events, driving and endurance, and have been used for racing, dressage and jumping.

The Polish

            The Arabian Horse was introduced to Poland very early in that country’s history through various invasions from other nations, including Turkey. Arabian horses were used by the Turkish army, and Arabian horses were often seized by the Polish as spoils of war.

            By 1699, when peace with the Turks was achieved, Polish horsemen had to find another way to procure Arabian horses. They began traveling out to the desert and purchasing horses from native tribesman. The horses they obtained were used to upgrade the local stock, and the offspring were used for farm work, cavalry and carriage pulling.

            World War I nearly wiped out the Polish studs, which were maintained by Polish royalty. When Poland became an independent nation in 1921, a new official Arabian breeding program at the Polish State Stud at Janow Podlawski was established. Horses for the program were imported from all over Europe.

            Before the advent of World War II, Polish Arabian breeding was very successful. In 1927, a group called the Polish Arab Horse Breeders Society organized, and issued the first stud books for Polish Arabians. The society began testing the mettle of horses before it registered them, using racing as a guide to the horses’ disposition, stamina and athleticism. It wasn’t long before Americans began importing Polish Arabians to the United States.

            Poland and its people were ravaged during World War II, and the Arabian horses of that country suffered terribly. The Janow Podlawski Stud was damaged almost beyond repair, and many horses killed. The invading Germans and Russians took a good number of the surviving horses, leaving only a few behind that were hidden by Polish horsemen determined to keep the Polish Arabian in the country.

            After the war, Hungary sent Arabian mares to Poland to help rebuild the country’s breeding program, and in 1960, the Janow Podlawski Stud was rebuilt. Because of Poland’s close ties to Russia, the Polish Stud also had access to Russian Arabians that it could use to rebuild its breeding program.

            The Cold War prevented further importation of Polish horses to North America until 1958, when British woman Patricia Lindsay traveled to Poland and became motivated to bring Polish Arabs to the U.S. By the early 1960s, working with the Polish government, she had imported a number of stallions and mares to the U.S. Since that time, importations of Polish Arabians to the U.S. has become commonplace.

            Today, Polish Arabians are common in the North American Arabian population, and are known for both their beauty and great athletic ability. Not only has the Polish Arabian proved to be a success at halter, but also in performance events. In fact, racing is a particular talent of the Polish Arabian, thanks to the emphasis Polish breeders put on this special skill.

The Shagya

            Some consider the Shagya Arabian a separate breed, rather than a type of Arabian. The Shagya was developed in Hungary, and stems from one sire, who gave the type his name.

            The development of the Shagya Arabian begins with the creation of the Babolna Stud by Hungarian monarchy in the late 1700s. Arabian horses were imported from the Arabian desert to breed to local mares in an attempt to improve local stock. They were also crossed to each other, making the Babolna Stud both a purebred and crossbred breeding program.

            The concept behind the Babolna Stud was to create a saddle horse for the military, as well as a horse that could be used for the improvement of other breeds. The majority of horses in the program had desert Arabian blood, although Lipizzan and Thoroughbreds were also used.

            In 1836, a Hungarian named Baron Von Herbert purchased several stallions and mares from Syria. One of these stallions was a horse named Shagya, who was nearly 16 hands–very tall for an Arabian.

            The resulting horses from Shagya breedings became known by several names, including “Part-Bred Arabians” or “Babolna Arabians.” In 1978, the World Arabian Horse Organization in Europe officially recognized this horse as a separate Arabian breed (or type) and the name was designated as the Shagya.

            The Shagya Arabian is probably the most distinct Arabian type in appearance. More heavily boned than most other Arabian types, the Shagya can measure from 15 to 16 hands, making it rather tall–most Arabians, are typically 14 to 15 hands.

            Shagyas are known for being athletic saddle horses, and also for their fine talent under harness. More popular in Europe than the United States, the Shagya has been used extensively in the creation of warmblood breeds.

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