Breeds, Markings, and History of Horse

Tobiano Paint

(dominant gene) - white coat with dark patches; white usually stars on back and goes down body

Overa Paint

(recessive gene) - dark coat with white patches; white starts on belly and extends up; back, mane, and tail tend to be dark

The Trakehner

- "Abdulla" - 1984 Olympic gold medal winner - initially Arab blood, later mostly TB blood used - excellent cavalry mount - known for endurance/stamina - top class saddle horse of excellent conformation - 16 to 16-2 hands and may be any solid color - lively but kind horse; good jumpers - "Halla", mare ridden to so many victories by Hans Winkler

Describe Eohippus

- Fox-like creature -Browser in forests and swamps -10 inches high, 4 toes front, 3 toes back

Changes after changing habitat

- Muzzle and necks longer graze easier - Flight response developed - More alert/wider vision (215 degrees)

Clydesdale

- bay or brown color (occasionally grey or black) with extensive white on head and all four legs above knees and hocks; much feathering on legs - less massive weight wise than other breeds, 16-2 hands - conformational emphasis important - known for spirited action but good temperament - extreme flexion of knees and hocks - number 3 draft breed in U.S. according to numbers - "Budweiser Team"

The Shire

- black color predominant, some bay, brown, and grey - one of the largest horses in the world, 17 to 18 hands - immensely strong, big-barrelled (girth 6-8 feet) horse with long, feathery leg; fine head compared to overall size - small amount of white are common on head and legs - slight Roman nose common - capable of moving 5x its weight but it is the gentlest of beasts and a good worker in the field (agriculture) - popular show horse, delivery wagons on the streets - no show classes are more poplar with spectators than those for the "heavies"

The Suffolk

- breed remarkably pure - all Suffolks can be traced back to one horse that foaled in 1760 - compact, round bodied horse set on short, clean legs - smallest of the draft breeds, 16 to 16-2 hands, 1 ton - chestnut color, "mealy" (brown to pale shade) - little white on them and less feathering - very gentle, very hardy, longevity, and ability to thrive under poor conditions - work well into 20's and live into 30's

Paint (Pinto)

- color breed since color patterns tend to carry over if crossed with other breeds; thus all sizes and color patterns - all-purpose saddle horse - 14 to 15-2 hands - favorite mount of the Indians - starting to see this breed show up more and more in Western classes

Belgian

- color is sorrel to chestnut with creamy white mane and tail, legs lighter color than body - quiet, docile, very muscular, very popular - not as fancy of leg action - Number 1 draft breed in U.S. according to nunbers - 16 to 17 hands, 2000-2400 pounds (stallions=2700 pounds)

The Welsh Pony

- courageous and intelligent ponies - small, neat head, rounded, well-muscled quarters and a tail set high and carried gaily - height limit is 13-2 hands (54") - any color except piebald or skewbald - stocky, sure-footed, good tempered, hardy - excellent child's mount: Polo pony, Child's Hunter, riding pony

Hanoverian

- dates back to war horse of Middle Ages - used in military in WWI - converted to a sports horse by adding TB and Trakehner bloods - big, strong, powerful upstanding horse (15-3 to 17 hands) - active and bold, courage of TB but not speed - most all solid colors (brown, bay, chestnut, and black) - very athletic - dressage and show jump horse

The Pony of the Americas P.O.A.

- developed by crossing Shetland stallion to an Appaloosa mare - small, child's pony with plenty of substance - 11-2 to 13 hands (MUST BE BETWEEN THESE HEIGHTS) - can be any of the 6 Appaloosa colors - willing, active, versatile and easy to manage - head small and "Araby" with a dished profile, large eyes and small ears - jumping classes, trail rides and racing

The Connemara

- from Celtic Pony - 13 to 14-2 hands - "childs riding pony" - hardy animal - greater than 50% grey, bay, black, dun or brown - do well working in harness

The Morgan

- great physical strength, weight pulling contests - "Justin Morgan" - breeds foundation sire; named after second owner (a teacher) who acquired him towards end of 18th century; TB/Arab extraction; had incredible endurance (farm, harness, timber hauling, weight pulling contests); 14 hands - 14-1 to 15-2 hands, big neck - good conformation, STRONG!, attractive head set, thick mane and tail - most commonly shown under saddle and in harness - exceptionally active and a versatile horse with boundless stamina and kindly natured - bay, brown, chestnut and black colors; never much white - uses: endurance, dressage, buggy

The Haflinger

- hardy mountain breed, tough, a lot of bone and substance - breeding traced back to Arabian and cold blooded heavier breeds - sure-footed and placid temperament - beginning riders - rarely exceed 14-2 hands - always chestnut color, frequently white facial markings - flaxen mane and tail

The Hackney

- heavy harness or carriage horse, trotting horse - has both TB and Arab bloodlines - extravagant, elevated trot and spirited disposition - neat head carried high (erect) on an arched neck, high tail set, short legged very muscular and compact body - lends an overall impression of vigor and alertness - ideal in the show ring - bay, brown, or chestnut colors - 14 to 16 hands high

The Falabella

- miniature horse rather than pony - smallest horse in the world under 7-8 hands (28"-32") - developed by crossing small TB with a small Shetland pony and thereafter breeding - miniature gene is dominant - kept as pets (friendly and gentle) too fragile to ride

Percheron

- more highly strung than other "heavies" need more careful handling to produce good results - well proportioned, grey or black, stands between 15-2 and 17 hands - despite its size, has both beauty and grace of movement - active and light on feet - has fine head for horse of powerful proportions combines stamina and endurance with freedom of movement - similar frame to Belgians slightly lighter - less feathery than other draft breeds - Number 2 draft breed in U.S. according to numbers

The Holstein

- oldest German breed, heavier riding horse than the Hanoverian - 1st a war horse, then carriage horse (light harness and saddle work) - 16 to 17 hands, mostly solid colors (black, brown, and bay) - upgraded a lot in the Olympics - great power and stamina - plenty of bone, strong back and quarters, good depth of girth - good natured horses possessed of intelligence and a willingness to work

The Arabian

- oldest purebred in the world; used to upgrade other breeds - exceptional beauty, compact and muscular body, legs slender but strong - stamina, hereditary soundness, intelligence, sure-footed - ability to survive on sparse diet; coat, mane and tail are silky - gay-spirited horse; many breeds have Arabian blood - mostly solid color (grey, bay, or chestnut) - small chiseled features with dished face, long arched neck, big eyes, small ears point in, short bodied, and runs with high tail set - 14 to 15 hands; 1 less lumbar vertebrae - great ability to carry weight despite its small size - uses: show, endurance, trail riding, racing

Thoroughbred

- one of the most beautiful horses in the world - find head set on elegant neck, deep girth, powerful quarters and strong legs with plenty of bone - fastest horse in the world with courage and stamina - 3 stallions are accepted as being the "founding fathers" 1. Byerly Turk - imported 1689 2. Darley Arabian - 1705 3. Godolphin Arabian - 1728 - 3 horses established the Herod, Eclipse and Matchem blood lines - 15-2 to 17-2 hands (average=16-1 hands) - chestnut, bay, or brown colors, need good care, high spirited - uses: racing, dressage, polo, hunters, jumpers, steeple chase

Appaloosa

- six color patterns - usual color is roan, although any of six color pattern types permissible - skin on nose, lips, and genitals of Appaloosa are mottled and white sclera around eyes - feet often vertically striped and mane and tail sparse ("rat-tailed") - one of most popular horses in America - 14-2 up to 16 hands; 900-1200 pounds - compact horse with powerful hindquarters - very agile, exceptionally tractable disposition, possesses both speed and stamina - uses: general, pleasure, circus, racing, jumping

The Shetland

- smallest of Britain's 9 native breeds - no more than 10-2 hands (42") - extremely strong and hardy "American Shetland"=Shetland crossed with Hackney pony - slightly larger than Shetland, 11-2 hands limit, most commonly black, but any color) - abundant supply of mane and tail hair - popular as small children's pony (watch weight)

Hackney Pony

- under 14 hands - bay, brown, or black - spectacular action - ideal harness or show pony - knee raised high, feet flung forward, hock almost touch body - too spirited for children - small intelligent head, long neck, compact body and strong legs

3 Ways horse is viewed?

1. Economic unit 2. Pet or companion 3. Recreation or leisure

What 4 groups of modern day horse?

1. Ponies - smallest and most primitive 2. Cold bloods - work horses, Tundra horses with some Steppe horse 3. Hot bloods - Arab and Thoroughbred 4. Warm Bloods - Arab played big role, Steppe horse has some influence. All other sport horses.

What are developmental migrating patters?

1. Primeval Pony - Northern Asia and Europe 2. Tundra Horse - Northeast Asia - large, adapted to cold harsh climate, replaced reindeer 3. Steppe Horse - Africa, lower Asia 4. Proto Arab - South to middle Adia

What are the top five states in horse numbers?

1. Texas 2. California 3. Oklahoma 4. Kentucky 5. Ohio

How many horse breeds recognized?

220

Modern horses descended from same common ancestor (blank) years ago.

40 million

What are the warm bloods?

Appaloosa (U.S.A. Idaho), The Hackney (England), Hanoverian (Germany), The Holstein (Germany), The Trakehner (East Prussia), The Lipizzaner (Austria), The Morgan (Vermont), Paint (Pinto) (United States), Quarter Horse (United States Virginia and Carolina), The American Saddlebred (United States Kentucky), The American Standardbred (United States Eastern), and The Tennessee Walking Horse (United States Tennessee)

What are the work horse breeds?

Belgian (Belgium), Percheron (France), Clydesdale (Scotland), The Shire (Britain), and The Suffolk (Britian)

The American Saddlebred

Breed from Kentucky in the southern U. S., from 1800's, bred for smooth ride over long period, high stepping

U.S. is second in modern horses to who?

China

What was the "Dawn Horse"

Eohippus

What species are modern day horses members of?

Equus Caballus

The American Standardbred

Fastest trotter and pacer in the world Bred to trot or pace one mile with lightweight harness (sulky) -most robust

How tall are horses?

Officially over and at 14-2 hands

How tall are ponies?

Officially under 14-2 hands (58") and 1 hand=4 inches

What are the hot bloods?

The Arabian (Arabian Peninsula) and Thoroughbred (Britain)

What are the pony breeds?

The Connemara (Ireland), The Falabella (Argentina), The Shetland (Britain), The Welsh Pony (Britain), The Haflinger (Austria), The Icelandic (Norway), The Pony of the Americas P.O.A. (U.S.A. Iowa), and Hackney Pony (England)

Quarter Horse

a small powerful horse originally bred for sprinting in quarter-mile races in Virginia

Eohippus changes while changing habitats (rain forests to prairies)

a. Eohippus - 10 inches tall, 3 toes b. Mesohippus - 24 inches tall, 3 toes c. Merychippus - 40 inches tall, 3 toes (1 prominent) d. Pliohippus - 50 inches tall, 1 toe e. Equus

What are present horse uses?

a. work - draft, cow ponies b. sport - racing, show, gaming, trail riding c. leisure - backyard horse, trail riding

What developmental uses?

a. work, transport, and pack animals b. heavier horses pull Conostoga wagons c. developed mule - from jack (male ass) and mare (female horse). offspring are sterile. d. draft horses - plowing prairies light horse - faster transportation e. military use until WWII (TB, STB, Arab, Morgan) f. increase work and decrease recreation

Frost Appaloosa

frost - dark color with what looks like frost across body

Leapord Appaloosa

leapord - dark spots on a white background

Marble Appaloosa

marble - white and other color mixed together

Snowflake Appaloosa

snowflake - light spots on a dark background

Spotted Blanket Appaloosa

spotted blanket - spots on the quarters and loin only

White Blanket Appaloosa

white blanket - not spotted at all but consistent white on quarters and loin on otherwise dark coat