Uses: Draughtwork. The American Miniature Horse |
| A small, sound, well-balanced horse, possessing the correct conformation characteristics required of most breedsrefinement and femininity in the mare, boldness and masculinity in the stallion. The general impression should be one of symmetry, strength, agility and alertness. The Miniature Horses of today are stylish, well-proportioned and the product of nearly 400 years of selected breeding. | Origin: USA. | Colour: Any color or marking pattern, and any eye color, is equally acceptable. The hair should be lustrous and silky. | Height: Must measure not more than 34 inches at the base of the last hairs of the mane. | Conformation: In proportion to length of neck and body. Broad forehead with large prominent eyes, set wide apart. Comparatively short distance between eyes and muzzle. Profile straight or slightly concave below the eyes. Large nostrils. Clean, refined muzzle. Even bite. Medium in size. Pointed. Carried alertly, with tips curving slightly inward. Clean and well defined, allowing ample flexation at the poll.
Flexible, lengthy, in proportion to body and type and blending smoothly into the withers.
Long, sloping and well-angulated, allowing a free swinging stride and alert head/neck carriage. Well muscled forearm. Well muscled, with ample bone and substance. Balanced and well proportioned. Short back and loins in relation to length of underline. Smooth and generally level topline. Deep girth and flank. Trim barrel.
Long, well-muscled hip, thigh and gaskin. Highest point of croup to be same height as withers. Tail set neither excessively high or low, but smoothly rounding at the rump.
Set straight and parallel when viewed from front or back. Straight, true and squarely set, when viewed from side with hooves pointing directly ahead. Pasterns sloping about 45 degrees and blending smoothly, with no change of angle, from the hooves to the ground. Hooves to be round and compact, trimmed as short as practical for an unshod horse. Smooth, fluid gait in motion. | Character: Eager to please, gentle and affectionate. | Uses: Driving, Halter, Jumping (in-hand)
| The Gypsy Vanner Horse was bred to pull the colorful gypsy caravans of England. The breed is half a century old, and was developed from a combination of Freisian, Clydesdale, Shire, and Dales pony blood. | Origin: United Kingdom. | Colour: Piebald (black and white) and skewbald (brown and white) pinto colors are the most common. | Height: between 14 and 15.2hh. | Conformation: powerful, compact body, with a short neck and back. The chest is broad, the hips are heavy, and the withers are round. | Character: prized for their gentle dispositions. | Uses: Driving, Jumping, Dressage.
| Mixing the Arabian with the English Thoroughbred horse breeds produces the Anglo Arab horse. The Anglo Arab horse breed is a favourite in Europe and they are selectively bred in France and the Janow stud in Poland. They are now almost exclusively known as a sport horse. The Anglo Arab has also been instrumental in the Selle Francais horse breed. | Origin: The origins of the Arab horse are unknown, but it was found in the Nejd, central Arabia. | Colour: chestnut, bay or brown. | Height: between 15.3 and 16.3hh. | Conformation: good conformation and strong well-shaped feet. | Character: versatile with intelligent head. | Uses: excellent polo ponies.
| The Cleveland Bay is probably the oldest British breed, developed from a packhorse known as the Chapman horse. In the 17th century, Andalusian and Barb blood was introduced to produce a fine carriage horse - named the Cleveland Bay. Motorized transport saw the breed decline, but when crossed with the thoroughbred, the breed produces excellent heavyweight hunters and carriage horses. | Origin: Yorkshire, England. | Colour: Bay, small star allowed. | Height: between 15.2 and 16hh. | Conformation: large head on long neck, long deep-girthed body, short, strong legs with no feather. | Character: intelligent, calm natured but can be 'independent thinkers'. | Uses: riding, driving.
| The Marwari horse is native to the Marwar region of India, and its origins are entwined with local folklore. According to Shri Mahant Baba Balak Dasji Maharaj, the head Priest of the Monastery at Kalabar, and a breeder of Marwari horses, the breed can be traced to a period, "when the ocean was churned to extract nectar for the Gods...a period when horses had wings." | Origin: India. | Colour: bay, brown, chestnut, pinto. | Height: up to 14.3hh. | Conformation: n/a. | Character: generally of good disposition. | Uses: hacking.
| This intelligent horse is primarily a cattle horse in Argentina. Descended from the Barb and Andalucian horses of the 16th century Conquistadores, generations of exposure on the pampas have made it one of the hardiest horses. Crossed with the thoroughbred, it produces an outstanding type for polo. | Origin: Argentina. | Colour: usually dun with dorsal stripes, sometimes bay, chestnut and black. | Height: between 14 and 15hh. | Conformation: broad head, muscular neck and shoulders, deep body, strong legs and small feet. | Character: willing, great endurance. | Uses: stockwork, riding.
| The Trakehner was developed in the 18th century in what was East Prussia (Poland) from the Schwieken horse. Following the end of World War II, less than a thousand of these horse trekked west with refugees escaping the Russian invasion. These horses re-established the breed in Germany. | Origin: Poland/Germany. | Colour: Any solid colour. | Height: between 16 and 16.2hh. | Conformation: attractive head with long neck, high withers, deep chest and rounded hindquarters, good feet. | Character: spirited but tractable. | Uses: riding, competition. The Falabella Miniature Horse | | The origin of the Falabella horse is intimately linked to the origins of the horse in Latin America. The Andalusian horses that the Spaniards brought with them to accomplish the enormous task of the conquest, chosen for their rusticity and resistance, were later left to survive on their own due to unsuccessful attempts to conquer the area's human inhabitants. | Origin: unknown. | Colour: all colors. | Height: under 9hh. | Conformation: fine, silky hair and skin that is thin and supple. The hooves are narrow with an oval shape. The manes are short and straight while others are long and falling on both sides of the neck. | Character: may play-up at times, usually placid. | Uses: n/a. The American Cream Draught Horse |
| The American Cream Draught horse is the first and only true breed of Draught horse that is native to the United States. The American Cream Draught started with one mare, Old Granny, in 1911. Old Granny's ancestry is entirely unknown, however what is know is that she was a Draught horse with a beautiful cream color. | Origin: Iowa, America. | Colour: Light, medium and dark cream. | Height: Around 16.2 hh. | Conformation: Solid, muscular, not as large as the Shire or Clydesdale. | Character: Very calm and gentle; eager to work, strong and grounded. | Uses: pulling carts and wagons. The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse |
| This horse can maintain its unusual gait for long distances, travelling over rugged terrain. The horse come from the Ozark mountains in Missouri and may have orginally been bred for racing. | Origin: United States. | Colour: mostly chestnut with white markings. Also sorrel, bay, black, palomino, buckskin, champagne, silver, cremello, perlino, pinto. | Height: between 14.2 and 16.2hh. | Conformation: well-proportioned head with a straight profile and lively eyes and a muscular neck set onto very powerful sloping shoulders. They should be deep chested, compact through the back, and have very muscular and powerful quarters and legs. | Character: quiet, eager to please, suitable for beginners and children. | Uses: trail, endurance and pleasure. The Belgian Draught Horse |
| The Belgian Draught horse - or Brabant - is one of the oldest of the Draught horse breeds. They have earned a reputation as strong and willing work horses. | Origin: Belgium. | Colour: Chestnut, sorrel, or roan with flaxen mane and tail. | Height: between 5.3 and 17hh. | Conformation: Solid, very muscular, short legs and neck, wide chest. | Character: Strong, kind, persistent and versatile. | Uses: logging, plowing and pulling carriages, wagons and sleighs. The American Quarter Horse |
| Bred to race over a quarter-mile, it is now the most popular breed in the USA. It can be traced back to horses taken to America by the Spanish Conquistadores. While Quarter horse racing still has an enthusiastic following, and the horse excels in practical ranch work, it is now more widely used for leisure - in Western-style competitions and trail riding. | Origin: USA. | Colour: any solid colour. | Height: between 14.3 and 15.3hh. | Conformation: short, wide head, deep chest and compact body, powerful hindquarters. | Character: intelligent, sensible, nimble. | Uses: racing, cattle work, riding.
| Spotted horses have been popular with horseman since time immemorial. Prehistoric man scratched their likeness on the walls of caves and the American Indians, considered to be some of the world's greatest horsemen, selected spotted ponies as their war mounts. | Origin: United States. | Colour: range from almost solid color to almost solid white in the two main color patterns, overo and tobiano. | Height: from 14.3 to 16hh. | Conformation: n/a. | Character: n/a. | Uses: n/a. The Swedish Warmblood Horse |
| The Swedish Warmblood has been the subject of rigorous selective breeding to improve the stock. The horse has an attractive head with a long, well-formed neck. | Origin: Sweden. | Colour: bay, brown, chestnut or grey. | Height: approximately 16.2hh. | Conformation: shoulders should be muscular and sloping, allowing for free movement, the chest is broad and deep, they are compact through the body, with well-sprung ribs, and muscular quarters. They have solid strong legs and a well shaped foot. | Character: easy-going, sociable breed. | Uses: Jumping | | | | |
| The Yonaguni is a small native pony of the southwest islands of Japan. In 1996 there were about seventy-five living Yonaguni ponies on East and North Ranches on Yonaguni Island, located on the west side of the Yaeyama Islands. | Origin: Japan. | Colour: usually chestnut. | Height: about 11hh. | Conformation: head is large with well-placed eyes and relatively small ears; the neck is short and thick; the shoulders tend to be straight; the back is long; the croup is often quite level with a high tail-set; the quarters are slight; the legs often tend to be splayed; the hooves are vertically long and very hard. | Character: gentle in nature and very strong and enduring. | Uses: n/a.
| A mustang is a small, hardy, naturalized (feral) horse of the North American west. Because of their hardiness, grace, speed, and independence, the name "Mustang" is popular for high-performance products and for sports mascots. The English word mustang comes from the Mexican Spanish word mestengo, itself derived from the Spanish mesteño, meaning cattle raised under the extensive system of the Mesta and strayed. | Origin: United States. | Colour: any color. | Height: between 14 and 15hh. | Conformation: Mustangs will often have a Spanish type head with a Roman nose; they are usually short through the neck, somewhat upright in the shoulder, flat through the withers, have a short back, and poorly conformed, but very tough legs. | Character: very tough, strong, agile, sound, quick to learn. | Uses: n/a.
| This breed has certainly developed over time. During the Middle Ages, there were two strains; the Sommier Breton and the Rossier. At the end of the 19th century, another development called the Draught Breton. | Origin: local horse of Britanny, France. | Colour: bay, grey, chestnut, red, roan blue. | Height: between 14.3 and 16.3hh. | Conformation: large head, straight profile, short bulky neck, compact stocky body, broad square quarters, short strong legs, small hard feet. | Character: easy-going, sociable breed . | Uses: Draughtwork
| The Standardbred is one of the fastest trotting breeds in the world. The horses have a biddable nature and are naturally competitive, which makes them well-suited to trotting races. | Origin: United states. | Colour: bay, brown or chestnut. | Height: approximately 15.3hh. | Conformation: head is refined, set on a medium-sized neck, quarters are muscular yet sleek, clean hind legs are set well back. | Character: generally of good disposition. | Uses: Trotting. | | | | |
| Noted for its spots, the Appaloosa was originally bred by the Nez Percé Indians, and is now one of America's foremost breeds and is found in many countries round the world. Arab blood was introduced in the late 19th century.
The breed has six distinct patterns of spots, but now two horses are exactly the same. Leopard horses are white with dark spots; Snowflake is dark with white spots.
Spotted Blanket colouring is mainly dark with dark spots on white hindquarters or back and White Blanket is the reverse. The Marble horse has a dark coat at birth that fades almost to white, and the Frost Tip is mostly dark with light spots on loins and hips. | Origin: Western USA. | Colour: Six patterns of spots, usually on white or roan. | Height: between 14.2 and 15.2hh. | Conformation: short deep body, strong hindquarters, good bone. | Character: docile, brave. | Uses: western riding, pleasure, circus, all rounder. The American Bashkir Curly Horse |
| The American Bashkir Curly has recently been imported to Britain. It is a very sensible horse and very affectionate. The coat is Hypo allergenic allowing most people with horse allergies to be around them with little or no effect.
At present there is only one breeder in Britain although there are several in America and Canada.
They are very amiable and work well in endurance, Dressage, and are good all rounder for leisure activities. | Origin: Unknown | Colour: all common horse colours including Appaloosa and Pinto | Height: between 14.2 and 15.2hh. | Conformation: A medium size head with well-defined jaw and throatlatch. Wide set eyes with eyelashes that curl up. Ears that are short to medium in length with curls inside. The ears do not totally shed out in the summer. A medium length neck, deep at the base of the neck where it joins the base of the shoulder. Noticeably short back, deep through the girth. An appearance of a long under line and belly cut high in the flank. They have heavy boned legs and short cannon bone as compared to the forearm. Forequarters and hindquarters should be supple yet well muscled. They should have medium withers. The croup should be flat or with a shallow slope to the base of the tail. They should travel easily and smoothly. | Character: very inquisitive, friendly, quick to learn, easy to handle, calm disposition, and trusting. | Uses: endurance, dressage. The Dutch Warmblood Horse |
| The Dutch Warmblood is a modern sport horse derived from the selective breeding of German, French, and English horses crossed with the native Dutch stock. Dutch Warmblood horses, are famous for their character, soundness and athletic ability and are exported to all corners of the globe.Many are international winners under the flags of many different nations in international competitions and Olympic Games. | Origin: Netherlands. | Colour: Chestnut, bay, black or gray with white markings often on the face and legs. | Height: average 16.2hh. | Conformation: The head is well shaped, usually with a straight profile, and the neck is arched and well muscled, merging neatly into the withers, which are fairly prominent. The back is straight and fairly long, with the croup short, broad and flat. The tail is set high. The chest of this horse is deep and full and the shoulder is well sloped. The legs are strong with a long forearm. Hind quarters are powerful and highly muscled. | Character: appealing modern horses, with great eagerness, reliability and intelligence. | Uses: Dressage, Show Jumping, Harness.
| Pictures like this one have made the Lipizzaner one of the best known breeds in the world. The displays of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna (and on tour) are always popular. In the sixteenth century, Archduke Charles of Austria imported Andalusian stallions, the premier dressage horses, to cross with local mares at the Lipizza Stud. | Origin: Austria. | Colour: Usually born very dark grey, lightening to white when mature. | Height: 15.2 - 16 hands. | Conformation: large straight head, small ears, crested neck, compact body, powerful quarters and clean legs. | Character: intelligent, willing. | Uses: high-school dressage and driving. | The Yili horse originated in China. The breed resulted from the crossbreeding of Russian stock with native horses. The Yili has great endurance and can travel long distances at a good rate of speed. | Origin: China. | Colour: Bay, Chestnut, Black and Gray. | Height: average 14hh | Conformation: Yili horses are compact and harmonious in conformation with a light head and straight profile. The neck is of average length and slightly arched in males. The withers are well pronounced and blend smoothly into the back. The back is short and strong and the loin is longer than usual. The legs are clean with well-defined tendons. | Character: n/a. | Uses: Endurance, riding and driving.
| The Azteca horse was the first breed developed in Mexico, and was the result of crossing Andalusians with quarter horses and criollos. the native Indians used them for hunting buffalo and fighting wars, and they became prized possessions. | Origin: Mexico. | Colour: All except for appaloosa and paint. | Height: average 14 to 15hh. | Conformation: well-proportioned and presents a beautiful overall picture. The animal should be in good flesh, with good muscle tone and a smooth, glossy coat. | Character: attractive heads with a straight or slightly convex face, with lively, expressive eyes. A well-arched neck sports a flowing, thick mane.They are generally lively, happy and willing to please. The Azteca should have a deep chest and a short, straight and strong back. The hindquarters should be muscular, the legs strong and long with well-proportioned feet. | Uses: suitable for most disciplines, from show jumping to bullfighting
| The Barb is a light riding horse which originated in the Maghreb region of northern Africa. There are several varieties including Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian. This is the foundation breed of the West African Barb and the Spanish Barb which was developed in the United States. The Barb is speedy over a short distance and is well known for it's unpredictable temper. | Origin: Barbary Coast of North Africa. | Colour: usually is gray, but bay, black, chestnut, and brown horses are also found. | Height: between 14 and 15hh. | Conformation: powerful front end, high withers, short back, a sloping, narrow croup, and carries its tail low, gallops like a sprinter. | Character: great hardiness and stamina. | Uses: n/a
| The strikingly attractive Haflinger hails from the Tyrolean mountains on the border of Austria and northern Italy and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The area is extremely rugged and many villages could only be reached by means of steep, narrow mountain paths. Villagers required surefooted animals for their daily transportation and packing in the mountain terrain. | Origin: Austria. | Colour: chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail. | Height: approximately 14hh. | Conformation: slightly dished profile, small ears, and large eyes. Haflingers are sturdy ponies, with well muscled loins and hindquarters and strong legs. | Character: gentle, intelligent, well-mannered. | Uses: Pleasure, Trail.
| An ancient and loved breed of horse, the Pinto is a well-known, very ancient color breed that is known the world over. Suitable for almost any type of work, the Pinto is a stunning horse that is adored by many. There are four types of Pinto Horses and ponies, based on the conformation and background: | Probably the oldest of the German Warmbloods, it was derived from inter-breeding of local breeds with Spanish and oriental breeds. During the 19th c. they were crossed with the Yorkshire Coach Horse, to produce the high knee action, presence and good temperaments that made them excellent army horses. | Origin: Germany. | Colour: All colours permissable, Bay with black points and brown most common. | Height: between 16 and 17hh. | Conformation: well-set head in proportion to size, long slightly arched neck, sloping shoulders, strong muscular back and quarters, big clean hocks and hard feet. | Character: intelligent, bold, good temperament. | Uses: all disciplines incl. competition driving
| Ireland's only native pony is elegant, intelligent and probably the best performance pony breed. Their original breeding is lost in history, but it may owe much to Barb and Spanish horss introduced in the 6th century BC. In the late 19th century, Welsh blood was introduced, as was thoroughbred and hackney. The Connemera Pony Breeders' Society was set up in 1923. | Origin: Co. Connaught, Ireland. | Colour: usually grey, though may be black, brown or bay. | Height: between 13 and 14hh. | Conformation: neat, well-carried head, sloping shoulder, deep compact body, short legs. | Character: sensible, kind, intelligent. | Uses: riding, jumping, driving.
| The Westphalian horse breed originates from the Westphalia, Germany. This area is known to have the last semi wild horses of Germany. Annually there is an auction to auction off the young stallions. Westphalia and Lower Saxony are the top breeding regions within Germany, with Westphalia having approximately 10,000 broodmares and 120 state stallions. | Origin: Germany. | Colour: all solid colors. | Height: between 15.3 and 16.2hh. | Conformation: intelligent head, well shaped neck. deep broad body and powerful hindquarters. | Character: intelligent. | Uses: dressage and show jumping. Kijika (Silver Sorrel stallion) | The Blazer Horse | "Blazer Horses excel at ranch work, roping, cutting, jumping, speed eventing, endurance events, mountain and or trail riding, pleasure riding, pulling and other equine tasks. They can and will do just about anything they are trained to do." | The Miniature Horse is one of the most adorable horse breeds on the planet. Okay, maybe it is the most adorable breed on the planet. The American Miniature Horse Association says that a Miniature Horse may not stand above 34 inches, while the American Miniature Horse Registry says that a Miniature Horse may not stand above 38 inches. Although this breed is much smaller than other breeds, the same standards of conformation apply. A Miniature Horse should have a well-shaped head, good length of hip, clean neck, and straight legs. Just think of the Miniature Horse as a model of a car; it should look the same as the bigger thing, but still have the same qualities. Friesian The Friesian breed is one of the oldest domesticated breeds in Europe. It is native to the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. The Friesian suffered a decline in numbers with the increase of mechanization on the farm and in transportation. In fact, the number of Friesian stallions reputedly was reduced to only three prior to World War I. The breed was rejuvenated by introducing Oldenburg blood. In recent years the breed has attracted a great deal of acclaim and its future seems assured. The Friesian is used for light agricultural work. It is traditionally used in harness to quaint Friesian gigs. The Friesian is also found in circuses and in driving competitions. Moyle Rex Moyle developed the Moyle as a light riding horse in Idaho during the mid-20th century from mustangs brought from Utah. They are usually bay or brown and often have frontal bosses or horns. They are rare.
Groningen Also Known By: Groninger, Groningse paard The Groningen originated in the Netherlands during the late 1800's from Oldenburg horses bred to the local draft breeds. The breed almost was lost in the 1970's as most of the animals were obsorbed into the Dutch Warmblood breed. At that time only a single purebred stallion remained. Oldenburg blood has been used to reduce the inbreeding during the reestablishment of the breed. Murgese The Murgese is a light draft and riding horse similar to the Friesian. Found in the area of Murege, Apulia in Italy the breed is rare. Usually black but also seen in gray they originated from Oriental horses crossed with the local horses. The herdbook was established in 1926. Golden Saddlebred The Golden Saddlebred horse breed is only about 150 years old. It is recognizable by its beautifully shaped, well-proportioned head, with small alert ears right on top. It has a long neck, and sharp withers well above hip-height. The Golden has well-muscled hind-quarters, and a strong back. The 'barrel' of the Saddlebred is more rounded than in other breeds. Colouring can vary from cream to copper, and all shades in between, but the ideal color is gold. Eyes are dark, and the horse often has white markings on the face and legs, but no spots. Its mane and tail are white.
The Golden Saddlebred can vary widely in temperament (some are considered high-strung), so the jobs it is used for vary according to the individual horse. They are shown, and are also used for trail riding, parades, and sometimes as a working horse. Vladimir Heavy Draft This breed was developed in Ivanovo and Vladimir regions on the basis of large native horses through crossbreeding with various draft breeds, such as the Percheron and the Suffolk, and later with the Clydesdale and, to a lesser extent, with the Shire. The latter was in wide use only from 1919 through 1929. The aim was a horse of medium draft power or less which would have rather high speed. In the formation of the breed, a particular role was played for more than a hundred years by Gavrilovo-Posad breeding station, previously a stud farm and a state breeding stable. Its experts invested no small effort in the creation of horses of uniform type in the region. In 1946 the new heavy draft breed was recognized
| Similiar to the Fell pony. This breed can carry huge amounts of weight. Used for carrying loads of lead ore from mines. Today, they can be found in both riding and driving. | Origin: England | Colour: mostly black, dark brown, or bay | Height: up to 14.2hh. | Conformation: head should be neat, showing no coarseness about the jaw or throat. An abundant long mane of straight hair cover a muscular neck that is well laid onto sloping shoulders. The body should be compact with strong loins and well sprung ribs. Short, well developed forearms set square into a broad chest; the quarters powerful and muscular, the hocks clean. The cannons should display an average of 8"-9" of flat flinty bone with well defined tendons. Their pasterns should be of good length and covered with ample silky straight `feather'. | Character: true pony character. Alert. Courageous, intelligent and kind. | Uses: Hacking. |
| | Tori This is an all-purpose utility breed. It was developed in Estonia at Tori stud from 1890 to 1950, by crossing native Estonian mares with European halfbred stallions. The breed was founded by the stallion Hetman, the son of Stewart and an unknown hunter mare. Stewart was a crossbred of a Norfolk Trotter and an Anglo-Norman mare. The Arabians' larger lungs and heart enable them to have more endurance than other breeds of horses. Arabians have been described as people-oriented, sensitive, intelligent, affectionate, gentle, loyal and courageous, all traits that have traveled with them from the desert, across Europe and Africa to America. This was the horse that became Bedouin legend and these traits still set this horse apart. The Bedouin depended on his warhorse to literally 'watch his back'. The Arabians' larger lungs and heart enable them to have more endurance than other breeds of horses. They also have a larger brain, which may account for their versatility and certainly for the way they respond to humans. The Colorado Ranger Horse |
| There are many different coat colorings for this breed, many of which are spotted. These horses have gentle dispositions, making first-class riding animals and often working with cows on ranches. | Origin: United States. | Colour: any color, often spotted. | Height: between 14.2 and 16hh. | Conformation: attractive heads with alert and mobile ears, necks of good length and very muscular, they are deep and wide through the chest, have rounded barrel, a compact back and the hindquarters are extremely powerful and the overall impression of the breed is a solid, muscular, small, 'power house' type. | Character: easy-going, sociable breed. | Uses: Hacking. | *THANKS |
| | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |