Clydesdale:
Characteristics and Origin of the Clydesdale Horse
The Clydesdale is a breed of heavy draft horse developed in and deriving its name from the district in Scotland where it was founded. Its type was evolved by the farmers of Lanarkshire, through which the River Clyde flows. The old name for Lanarkshire is Clydesdale. It was bred to meet not only the agricultural needs of these farmers, but the demands of commerce for the coal fields of Lanarkshire and for all the types of heavy haulage on the streets of Glasgow. The breed soon acquired more than a local reputation, and in time, the breed spread throughout the whole of Scotland and northern England.
The district system of hiring stallions was an early feature of Scottish agriculture and did much to standardize and fix the type of the breed. The records of these hiring societies go back in some cases to 1837. The Clydesdale Horse Society was formed in 1877 and has been an active force in promoting the breed not only in Great Britain but throughout the world. The Clydesdale alone, of the British breeds of heavy draft, has enjoyed a steady export trade to all parts of the world. The most active trade has been to commonwealth countries and the United States. Today the Clydesdale is virtually the only draft breed in its native Scotland and New Zealand. It holds a commanding lead in Australia and is popular, though not the numerical leader, in Canada and the United States.
The Clydesdale is a very active horse. He is not bred for action, like the Hackney, but he must have action. A Clydesdale judge uses the word “action” with a difference. A Hackney judge using the word means high-stepping movement; a Clydesdale judge means high lifting of the feet, not scuffling along, but the foot at every step must be lifted clean off the ground, and the inside of every shoe be made plain to the man standing behind. Action for the Clydesdale judge also means “close” movement.
The forelegs must be planted well under the shoulders - not on the outside like the legs of a bulldog - and the legs must be plumb and, so to speak, hang straight from the shoulder to the fetlock joint. There must be no openness at the knees, and no inclination to knock the knees together. In like manner, the hind legs must be planted closely together with the points of the hocks turned inwards rather than outwards; the thighs must come well down to the hocks, and the shanks from the hock joint to the fetlock joint must be plumb and straight. “Sickle” hocks are a very bad fault, as they lead to loss of leverage.
A Clydesdale judge begins to estimate the merits of a horse by examining his feet. These must be open and round, not thin and flat. The hoof heads must be wide and springy, with no suspicion of hardness that may lead to the formation of sidebone or ringbone. The pasterns must be long, and set out at an angle of 45 degrees from the hoof head to the fetlock joint. Too long a pastern is very objectionable, but very seldom seen. A Clydesdale should have a nice open forehead (broad between the eyes), a flat (neither Romannosed nor “dished”) profile, a wide muzzle, large nostrils, a bright, clear, intelligent eye, a big ear, and a well-arched long neck springing out of an oblique shoulder with high withers.
His back should be short and his ribs well sprung from the backbone, like the hoops of a barrel. His quarters should be long, and his thighs well packed with muscle and sinew. He should have broad, clean, sharply developed hocks, and big knees, broad in front. The impression created by a thoroughly well-built typical Clydesdale is that of strength and activity, with a minimum of superfluous tissue. The idea is not grossness and bulk, but quality and weight.
As in all breeds of livestock, the Clydesdale has gone through several changes of emphasis, over the years, to meet the demands of the times. In the 20′s and 30′s the demand was for a more compact horse; of late, it has been for a taller, hitchier horse. Most of the horses range in size from 16.2 to 18 hands and weigh between 1600 and 1800 lbs. Some of the mature stallions and geldings are taller and will weigh up to 2200 lbs. With the changes in the size and type of horse wanted, the Clydesdale emphasis on underpinning has remained paramount. The most common color in the Clydesdale breed is bay. Black, brown, and chestnut are also seen with roans (solid body color with white hairs throughout the coat) in all of the colors.
The preferred markings are four white socks to the knees and hocks, and a well-defined blaze or bald face. The show ring does not discriminate on color with light roans and horses with dark legs being considered equally with horses of the more solid colors and traditional markings. The increased popularity of big hitches has directed more attention to color in recent years and the stabilization of color patterns. For anyone desiring an active yet tractable, intelligent, stylish yet serviceable draft animal for work, show, or simple pleasure - the Clydesdale merits his or her most serious consideration.
Connemara Pony:
Legend has it that the Connemara Pony descended from Spanish horses, rescued from the Armada when the ships wrecked on the rocky coast of western Ireland in 1568. In fact, the Connemara’s ancestors lived in Ireland for thousands of years, although some of the Armada’s horses may have mated with local stock. It is certain that Thoroughbred and Arabian blood was introduced in the 1700′s. By the 1920′s the breed was threatened by random breeding and the Connemara Pony Breeders Society was formed to preserve the purity of the breed. A key to the excellence of the Connemara Pony is the hardy environment in which it lives. Turned out to survive the harsh weather on rough pasture, only the strong of the breed survive.
The body of the Connemara is compact and deep, yet not bulky. It has legs which are short, clean, and have ample bone; the shoulders are rounded. The Connemara has a handsome head, the neck fairly lean, and it has abundant mane and tail. The Connemara stands between 12.2 and 14.2 hands. In spite of its relatively small size, the Connemara is known as an excellent hunter and jumper, and it competes in such varying events as distance riding and dressage. The Connemara was originally dun in coloring, but this color is now rare. It is most frequently found gray, but also in black, bay, and brown.
Origin:
The Connemara is a member of that group of equids known as mountain and moorland ponies. It originated in Connemara, county Galway in western Ireland. Arab and Spanish blood have been introduced to refine the breed. But the Connemara, in turn, was used to influence the fine Irish hunter. The Connemara’s Survival By the beginning of this century, the purity of the Connemara was threatened by the random cross-breeding with other breeds of horses. Also, many Connemaras were being kept in stables and hence inferior examples survived. In the 1920′s, a group of owners chose a dozen quality ponies and turned them out into the wilds to live and reproduce. Those that survived had excellent qualities, and they preserved the stamina and purity of the breed.
Criollo:
The Criollo horse is the direct descendant of the horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Since the moment the first Spanish horses were brought to the Americas until the conformation of the Criollo there is a long history that covers many centuries during which the adaptation to the environment constitutes the basis upon which the Criollo horse has built its roots.
When the Spanish horse was left free in this new habitat, it had to adapt itself to the new conditions, protect itself against the threatening dangers and carry on reproduction under the law of survival of the most apt.
In short the Criollo horse is the product of four centuries of life in the open air, of an adaptation to the environment and of strict natural selection. In Uruguay, the Genealogical Registers were opened in 1929 and in 1941 the Uruguayan Criollo Horse Breeder’s Society was founded with the fundamental objective of caring for the purity of the breed.
With this goal, 1,800 animals are inspected annually to evaluate whether their conformation fulfills the breed standard. The Criollo is a medium sized horse (1.40m - 1.50m). It is mainly used for farm work but is also used as a draft horse and for pleasure riding.
Fell Pony:
One of the classic native breeds of England, the Fell Pony is noted for its hardiness, courage and adaptability. Its docile temperament makes it popular with riding and trekking stables, and it is also well suited for driving, is a creditable jumper and has the ability to trot for long distances at a steady speed. Bred for the harsh environment of England’s north country where feed is always at a premium, the Fell requires less keep than most horses and ponies, and given sufficient shelter, will live out in all weather. Generally, the native breeds were named after-their local habitat and in relation to the work for which they were bred … thus the name “Fell” or hills.
The Romans, in their endless search for conquests, first landed on the shores of Britain around about 55 B.C. A considerable number of Friesian horses were imported into the north of England either by the Romans or by mercenaries in their employ. Eventually when the Romans withdrew from Britain to go to the aid of their besieged home city of Rome, they left behind about one thousand Friesian horses, most of which were stallions, and which were bred with the native ponies. From these not only the Fell was bred but also the Old English Black (now merged into the Shire Horse) and the now extinct Galloway and Fen ponies.
The Fell Pony’s similarity to the Friesian horse has always been striking. Apart from looking very much alike, the Friesian horse was, and still is, noted for its ability to trot, and this characteristic was passed on to the Fell Pony, which soon attained fame likewise for its speed and stamina at this gait. There is no doubt that the Fell Pony and the Welsh Pony were the foundation for the modern Hackney Pony with its extravagant high stepping action (from A History of British Driving Ponies by Anthony Dent and Daphne Machin Goodall).
The present day Fell Pony stands up to fourteen hands, which is the height limit, although most average thirteen hands two inches. The head should be neat and pony-like and set on a fairly long neck which together with well laid back shoulders gives the rider a good length of rein. Large or coarse heads should be avoided, and a pony with a short, thick neck will never be a good ride. The ribs should be well sprung and the loins strong. The quarters should be muscular and powerful and the hocks well let down. Good legs are one of the qualities of the breed, and these must be strong with plenty of bone. Pasterns should slope moderately, and the hooves should be hard and open with the characteristic blue horn. The feather, which extends up to the knee should be straight and silky, and the mane and tail long and thick.
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.
Physical Description:
One of the outstanding characteristics of the Friesian horse is its very long mane and tail. These are never cut and often reach the ground. The breed also has abundant feather and long leg hair reaching from the middle of the leg. The color is always black, and only a white star in the forehead is permissible. The head of the Friesian is carried quite high and the face is expressive. The neck is carried rather vertically and is low-set. The legs and quarters are muscular yet smooth. It stands at 15 hands and has an excellent disposition.
Origin:
The Friesian is an old breed of horse dating from the Middle Ages. Its location of origin is Friesland in the northern Netherlands. The breed nearly died out before World War I and has since been revived as a fine carriage horse. The horse is now being exported to other countries and its popularity is growing.
Notes of Interest:
It would be difficult to date the origin of the Friesian horse with precision. It is certain that the horse was well-known in the Middle Ages since it is found in art work of that period. In the 1600′s it was adopted to carry heavy weight under saddle. Later, due to its splendid action at the trot, the Friesian was bred to be lighter in weight. This, unfortunately, limited its use in agriculture and led to its decline in the early 1900′s. Systematic breeding has restored the breed’s quality and its numbers are now increasing.
Haflinger:
The Haflinger is an old breed of small horse that originated in the mountains of the Austrian Tyrol. The name comes from the village of Hafling, part of Austria prior to the end of World War I, but now, located in Italy. The beginning of today’s Haflinger can be traced to the year 1874 and the birth of the stallion, “249 Folie,” out of a refined, native Tyrolean mare and sired by the half-Arab stallion, “133 El’ Bedavi XXII.” All purebred Haflingers trace their lineage to this stallion.
The Haflinger came to North America in 1958. Tempel Smith of Tempel Farms, Wadsworth, Illinois, imported them from Austria to begin a breeding program along with his imported Lippizzan horses. Others soon began importing Haflingers, and today there are a number of importers and breeders throughout the United States and Canada. While Haflingers are imported from Germany, Holland, England, and Italy, most continue to come from Austria.
Haflingers are:
- Generally docile and less jumpy than other breeds
- Smaller (up to 60 inches) but heavily muscled and able to carry large riders easily
- Quiet and steady
- Not as intimidating as a larger breed
Why is it called a Haflinger?
Haflingers were originally bred in Hafling, Austria, which is now part of Italy.
Haflinger Characteristics:
Haflinger horses soon become a special member of the family. They have a genuine friendliness for people, a willing attitude and a sincere desire to please. Haflingers are strong and sturdy, capable of doing the work of much larger horses, with a lower level of care and maintenance. They are easy keepers, long lived, intelligent and easy to train. Being a quiet steady horse, haflingers are less fearful and especially suited for first-time horse owners as well as children’s mounts. Many times our trainer or farrier has commented on how a haflinger just calmly looks at you when another breed would have bolted.
Origins of the Haflinger:
Haflingers were originally bred in the mountains of the Austrian Tyrol. They are strong and sturdy mountain horses used for farm work, packing and driving. All purebred Haflingers trace their roots to a stallion named 249 Folie. Haflingers were first imported to the United States in 1958 by Tempel Smith of Tempel Farms, Illinois. Today there are a number of farms importing and breeding top quality Haflingers from several countries. Haflingers are very popular in European countries and are rapidly gaining popularity in the United States.
Haflinger Horse Breed Standard:
Haflingers come in a variety of sizes and shades, but the breed standard may be able to give you more of an idea of what to expect when looking for the perfect haflinger for your family. Most haflingers range from 53-59 inches tall and weigh 800-1300 pounds. They have a small, flat, slightly dished head with wide spaced eyes and small ears, strong arched neck and a well sprung body. They have a broad chest and rump, and strong well-tapered legs with large hard hooves. They are usually in a shade of chestnut ranging from very light blonde to chocolate solid or with dappling. Haflinger manes and tails can be very thick and even double, and come in shades of white to flaxen.
What about their names?
With the Haflinger breed, colts follow the same beginning letter as their father, and fillies the same beginning letter as their mother. For example, our mare Dandy Sue had a filly, whose name needed to start with a D. We picked Dawn’s Early Light. Another mare Shea also produced a filly, which we named Serengeti. One addition to this is the ST line of stallions, where the names start with St. There are several stallion lines in the Haflinger breed, including A, M, N, S, ST, W, and B. There are quite a few more mare lines.
Hanoverian:
What is a Hanoverian:
The Hanoverian is a noble, correctly proportioned warmblood horse with natural balance, impulsion and elegant, elastic movements characterized by a floating trot, a round rhythmic canter, and a ground-covering walk. The breed’s historic home is in today’s state of Lower Saxony, in northern Germany, the former Kingdom of Hanover where a flourishing horse-breeding industry has existed for 400 years. The Hanoverian has dispersed to all five continents and represents today one of the most prominent breeds of riding horses in the world.
What special attributes make the Hanoverian so valuable as an allaround riding and a performance competition horse excelling in many different disciplines?
Temperament:
Calm and level-headed, the Hanoverian keeps his cool even in difficult situations.
Rideablility:
The Hanoverian gives himself willingly to the rider, accepting the aids and allowing himself to be rated.
Stamina, Bone, and Substance:
The Hanoverian has been bred for centuries to stand up under a variety of demanding conditions and uses.
The Hanoverian in America
The American Hanoverian Society was incorporated in 1978 for the purpose of gathering the Hanoverians in North America in a registry, to preserve and promote the breed. Since then it has grown rapidly in membership, horse registration, and approved stallions. While the AHS is an independent organization with its own constitution and bylaws, it maintains a close relationship with the German Hanoverian Breeders’ Society (the “Verband Hannoverscher Warmblutzuechter”), regarding inspection, registration and licensing procedures and educational activities.
Hungarian Sport Horse - Warmblood:
The Hungarian Warmblood or Hungarian Sport horse as it is also known was developed at the Mezohegyes State Stud in Hungary. Through selective crossing of native Hungarian horse breeds: Kisber Felver, Gidran, Furioso-North Star, and Nonius to established “warmblood sport horse ” breeds such as Holsteiner, Hannoverian, and Dutch Warmblood. The Stud was able to produce a warmblood breed capable of all modern sport horse disciplines: dressage, show jumping, eventing, and combined driving. The more famous international competitors include Randi, ridden by John Whitaker has had major Grand Prix wins at Gottemberg, Valkensward, Dublin, Monterrey, and Paris.
Heritage Poker ridden by Marcus Beerbaum has had success in Volvo World Cup competitions. The breed stands 16 to 17.0 hands, and comes in all solid colors. The influence of the Hungarian breeds produced a horse lighter and more elegant than its heavier warmblood predecessors. The Hungarian Warmblood is a very beautiful horse of noble bearing, animated action, exceptional intelligence, and disposition. A very rigid breeding standard insures that all breeding stallions be inspected, licensed or approved by the breeding committee and must meet sport qualifications.
Breeds of Iberian Blood:
(Spanish & Portuguese)
-
Andalusian
- Lusitano
- Peruvian Paso
- Paso Fino
- Mangalarga Marchador
- Criollo
also:
- Azteca
- Spanish Mustang & Barb
- Sorraia
Short History of Spain:
This short course in Spanish history will give the reader some insight into the tremendous importance of the Spanish horse in world history.
History of Spanish Horses:
The development of many breeds of Spanish blooded horses uniquely parallels the establishment of many aspects of today’s world order, specially in the New World. Here is an interesting Facebook entry re the History of the Pure Spanish Horse
Icelandic Horse:
Also Known By:
Islenzki hesturinn, Icelandic toelter horse, Iceland Tolter Icelandic Horses are bred as 5-gaiters. They have the three basic gaits: walk, trot and gallop, and the two extra gaits: tölt and pace, of which the tölt is most popular. In tölt, the horse moves its legs in the same sequence as in walk. Tölt is a very comfortable and pleasant gait that can reach a high speed. Pace is a gait of speed and power in which both legs on each side move together. Pace provides a very spectacular sight and a magnificent experience in the saddle.
The Origin of the Icelandic Horse:
Horses were brought to Iceland by the first Viking settlers, during the years 874 - 930. Their boats were small and only a few horses, the very best, were brought along. At a very early stage, import of farm animals was forbidden in the country, and the original Nordic horse was preserved purebred in Iceland through the centuries.
Indispensable for a Thousand Years:
To the Icelanders the horse was indispensable. The country was rough and transport without Icelandic Horses was unthinkable. The Icelandic Horse carried the inhabitants over wide lavafields and rough mountain tracks, and acted as their bridge over powerful glacier rivers. Travellers counted on its sense of direction and stamina. The Icelandic Horse was a part of life, being a hard worker and a good friend. A good riding horse was a symbol of dignity and a studhorse could be a much appreciated gift. Young and old, rich and poor enjoyed the talents of the Icelandic riding horses and no other people depended on the feet of their horses as the Icelanders did.
A Source Of Joy in a Technological Age:
The Icelandic Horse has completed its task as the most needed servant, but has taken on another, no less important task. In our technological age, people turn to nature to relax from the speed and stress of city life. Man searches for his origins and the Icelandic Horse has proved to be man’s best companion in this quest. Horsemanship combines healthy outdoor activity with the sport and art of riding and the number of people who enjoy life on horseback, in good company, increases steadily. The riders sense the nature of their Icelandic Horses: their temperament, power, suppleness and pleasant character, and they identify with those qualities.
The Caracteristics Of The Icelandic Horse:
The Icelandic Horse has lived and developed in Iceland for over a thousand years. Iceland’s nature, sometimes harsh due to vulcanic eruptions and other natural disasters, often took its toll of the horse population. Only the fittest individuals survived. That is why the Icelandic Horse is very healthy and tough. It is strong and surefooted, has a great temperament and stamina and a very good character. The training usually starts at 4 or 5 years of age and the horse is fully adult at 7 years. Icelandic Horses reach a very high age and can usually be ridden until they are well over 20 years old.
An Ambitious Breeding Goal:
Today there are some 73,000 horses in Iceland and they are bred towards a well described goal. Judges and breeding specialists judge the mares and stallions according to strict rules. Judgement is based on the riding qualities of the Icelandic Horses, as well as a healthy and beautiful built. The goal is to improve these qualities steadily. The great interest in organized horse breeding in Iceland is reflected in the presence of many breeding societies and studs, as well as a stallion depot run by the State. The Agricultural Society of Iceland supervises all horsebreeding matters and keeps a studbook of all studhorses accepted by the jury.
Diseases are almost unknown among Icelandic horses. Protection of the horses is assured by the strict regulations of the Icelandic government. No horse which has been taken out of Iceland can come back into the country. Also only new, unused horse equipment may be taken to Iceland. This is to prevent an outbreak of disease which could decimate the population of Icelandic horses.
Because Iceland has no predators, but instead is a country with tremendous environmental danger, such as quicksand, rock slides, rivers with changing currents, the ability to assess a situation rather than the instinct to flee, have been central in the survival of the horse. Therefore, these horses lack the “spookiness” that characterizes most horses. Due perhaps to their lack of fear of living things, they seek strong attachments to people and are quite nurturing and affectionate.
Kisber Felver:
The Kisber Felver breed was developed at the former Kisber Stud in Hungary. The stud farm was founded in 1853 on 15,000 acres. It was developed primarily for the breeding of Thoroughbred horses. The stud produced such racing talents as Kisber, winner of the Epsom Derby; and Kincsem, the unbeatable mare who made her way into the Guinness Book of World Records for an unbeaten 54 races. The Kisber Stud not only left permanent marks on Thoroughbred racing history, but also developed a half-bred horse that was regarded as the world’s most beautiful sport horse. Through a carefully planned and controlled breeding program, rigorous in its selection process, a distinct type evolved.
Created over a hundred years ago, the Kisber Felver clearly displays the traits that we desire in the modern sport horse: conformation, athletic ability, movement, and temperament. Few countries have experienced the turmoil’s of war as often as Hungary. Each invasion left ifs mark on the horses. Unfortunately, World War I and World War II nearly destroyed them. In 1945, more than half-breeding stock was taken as war damages. Many were adopted by other breeds to use as improvement stock.
A very famous example of this is the Trakehner Burnus, who carries not one drop of Trakehner blood, but is in fact a classically bred Kisber Felver. 150 Kisber Felver horses were imported for the US Remount. Unlike the romantic and yet similar story of the Lippizaner, these horses were sold at public auction in 1947 when the remount disbanded. Only a handful of people understood the true value of these horses and only through their diligence and passion for these “Heavenly Horses” do they remain in North America.
Efforts are being made on two continents to save this breed. Faced with extinction, there are less than 2000 Kisber Felvers in the world. This breed is struggling for recognition, but has individuals worthy of notice. The Association aims to produce a superior performance horse that encompasses beauty, endurance, mental and physical balance, and an excellent character. Kisber Felvers are capable of performing in all modern sport horse disciplines. They range in all solid colors, including palomino and buckskin. Sizes are 15.3 to 17.0 hands. Accepted crosses: Trakehner, Thoroughbred, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, Shagya Arabian, and Selle Francais with a four generation pedigree and minimum size of 15.2 hands. All breeding stallions must be inspected and licensed by the breeding committee to be used for breeding.
Reference:
Hendricks, Bonnie L., International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds, Univ of Oklahoma Press, 1995
