Archive for January 2010
Suffolk
Today’s best known breeds of draft horses are said to date back to the great war horses of Medieval times. But while these great titans clashed in mortal combat, the quiet farmers of eastern England went about developing their own breed of heavy horse, the Suffolk Punch. This one breed, is today the least known to Americans, and yet has perhaps more qualities appealing to the American breeder than any of the better known breeds of draft horses. Read the rest of this entry »
Sudan Country-Bred
The Sudan Country-Bred is a light righting horse which originated in the African country of Sudan. It was developed during the 20th century from crosses of Arab and Thoroughbred horses with the Dongola breed. It is found in the following colors: bay, brown, chestnut, roan, gray or black.
Reference:
Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp. Read the rest of this entry »
Standardbred
The Standardbred horse is considered to be the fastest harness horse in the world. Harness racing has been a passion in the United States since the early 1800′s. Then, the Morgan horse reigned as the supreme harness horse. But an event occurring in 1849 ended the Morgan Dynasty. This event was the foaling of a horse named Hambletonian 10, the foundation sire of the Standardbred horse. Read the rest of this entry »
Spanish-Norman Horse
Spanish-Normans Charge Onward
The rare and exclusive Spanish-Norman horse, the re-creation of the medieval knight’s charger, is capturing the attention of horse enthusiasts across the United States and Canada. “The warhorse of the ages is the sporthorse of today.”
The mighty chargers that thundered across the battlefields carrying the knights to victory … the powerful steeds of the crusaders at the battles of Agincourt and Poitiers are being historically and genetically re-created today by blending the genes of the Andalusian of Spain and the Percheron of France.
Spanish Barb
The Spanish-Barb traces its lineage through the Andalusian and Spanish Jennet horses brought to North America by the Spanish explorers during the 16th century. Both the Andalusian and the Jennet had evolved from the Barb horse of North Africa, which was brought to the Iberian Peninsula after the Moorish invasion of Spain in 711. In America, the Spanish-Barb was most prevalent in areas of Spanish settlement, in the Southeast and the Southwest. In the Southeast, the Spanish-Barb provided the foundation for both the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indian horses. Chickasaw blood would play a major role in the development of the American Quarter Horse. In the Southwest, they became the horse of the early Spanish and later Mexican cowboys, and went on to form the basis for the wild Mustang herds of the West. Read the rest of this entry »
Spanish Mustang
In the mid-1950′s a group of dedicated men met to form an organization for the purpose of preserving the last of the true, old-type Spanish Mustangs, a breed that once roamed the western part of the United States in great numbers but was now threatened with extinction. The efforts of Robert E. Brislawn of Oshoto, Wyoming, were the primary moving force that brought this group together.
To preserve the breed, Brislawn collected individual animals that he considered the best examples of the breed. He chose his stock carefully, culling out those he believed less than ideal. Read the rest of this entry »
Soviet Heavy Draft
This breed was developed during the period from the ’80s and the ’90s of the last century up to 1952 when it was recognized as a new heavy Draft breed. The breeding zone was quite extensive, including Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Gorki, Penza, Ryazan, Tula, tambov, Voronezh and Orel regions and Mordovia. This was a zone with a developed industry and intensive agriculture, requiring strong and sufficiently fast horses of ample size. Success in the breeding of this type of horse was guaranteed by a stable supply of fodder. Read the rest of this entry »
Sorraia
Also Known By: Marismeno (Spain)
The Sorraia horse has no history as a domestic breed, but is the last remnant of the indigenous wild horse of southern Iberia. It stands around 14 h.h. Captured animals have been broken to ride and used for herding the fighting bulls and other livestock. This small horse was the primary ancestor of the famous horses of Andalusia and Lusitania and, both directly and indirectly, ancestor to many horses throughout Europe and the Americas. The Sorraia is found portrayed faithfully in prehistoric cave art, Read the rest of this entry »
Somali Pony
The Somali Pony originated in the east African country of Somalia. They are usually chestnut or gray. There are a number of varieties including Dor, Mijertinian, Daror and Nogali. The breed is rare.
Reference:
Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Read the rest of this entry »
Skyros Pony
Also Known As: Alogaki, Skyrian
The Skyros Pony is a variety of the Greek Pony found throughout Greece. It is a light riding and draft pony found most usually in white, dun, bay or gray. The breed is nearly extinct.
Reference:
Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp. Read the rest of this entry »