Horse Breeds 3

 THE LUSITANO HORSE

The Lusitano is an ancient Portuguese breed of horse that until the 1960s shared its registration with the Spanish horse, the Andalusian. Both are sometimes called Iberian horses, as their land of origin is the Iberian peninsula. These Iberian horses were developed for use in war, dressage and bull fighting.

In the 17th century the Spanish ceased fighting bulls from horseback and at that time began to selectively breed horses for saddle and parade use: flashy gaits, strong bones and powerful presence. The Portuguese continue to fight the bull from horseback and have sought to keep the historic characteristics of the Lusitano intact. These characteristics include great bravery, with a tendency to move forward into that which threatens, calmness, with great fire while under saddle. Most importantly, the Lusitano often has a subconvex profile, (Roman nose,) a trait that has been found to be tied genetically with an aptitude for “La Gineta,” the ancient equestrian art defined by the necessities of mounted single combat or its contemporary replacements: bull fighting, dressage, jumping. Lusitanos make excellent riding horses due to their levelheaded temperament and tendency to bond strongly with humans. They are intelligent, sensible, and have great balance.

Lusitano are extremely proficient at the high levels of dressage; including the high-school movements of piaffe, passage, pirouettes, flying lead changes and half pass. The Lusitano is also noted to have very comfortable gaits.

Not unlike the famous Lipizzans, many Lusitanos turn gray with age. They come in a striking variety of solid colors and usually stand 15 to 16 hands. The Palomino and Cremello Lusitano are the most rare and most sought after. They are compact, with powerful hindquarters, some with high-stepping action, and a thick mane and tail. They have a Roman nose with a wide forehead. They also have a sloping croup and low-set tail, as well as short backs. They have a low set cresty neck, a broad chest, well-sprung ribs. They are extremely powerful and strong, due to their muscular hindquarters and strong, long legs.

The Lusitano derives its name from lusitania, the name which the ancient Romans gave to the part of the Iberian peninsula that corresponds roughly to modern Portugal and also a part of modern Spain. Lusitanos and Andalusians were registered together under the Spanish Stud Book, but the breeds separated in 1960. At that time Portguese breeders sought to strengthen the breed and re-emphasize the special qualities of the Lusitano: ardent temperament, gentle character and a flexible body. Famous Portuguese families have bred Lusitanos for decades. The leading families, whose name is shared by the lines of horses they produce, are Andrade and Veiga.

Source: Wikipedia - Photo: Cedar Mills Riding School

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THE ANDALUSIAN HORSE

The Andalusian or Purebred Spanish Horse is one of the oldest breeds of horses in the world today. It is also known as the PRE (Pura Raza Española; in English, Pure Spanish-bred) in most countries because of the work done by the Spanish studbook in promoting the pure bred horses around the world. It is one of the two sub-breeds of the Iberian horses, and extremely similar to the closely related Lusitano breed.

Andalusians have been used for all manner of riding horses, and were the preferred mount of kings over many centuries. They excel in high school dressage and are used in cattle work and bullfighting in their native Spain. They are highly intelligent and learn very quickly.

Partbred Andalusians are popular as sport horses in many countries. They also excel at classical dressage and are used for show jumping and other equestrian activities.

Andalusians are strongly-built, compact horses, generally standing 15.2-16.2 hands. They move with a high, elegant action, which makes them particularly suitable for Haute École (or High School) Dressage. They usually have a lean, medium-length head with a convex profile and large eyes, a long but broad and sometimes cresty neck (particularly in stallions), a long, sloping shoulder, clean legs with good bone, short, strong cannons, and a thick, long, flowing mane and tail. The Andalusian has a reputation for a proud but cooperative temperament, sensitive and intelligent, able to learn quickly and easily when treated with respect and care.

Andalusian horses today are found in a number of colours although the most common colour, seen in about 80% of all Andalusians, is grey. There are also purebreds who are bay, black, and chestnut. Other colours, such as palomino, are not recognized as a legal colour for Andalusians in most countries, as the presence of the dilution gene that creates the colour is considered evidence of crossbreeding. However these colours are recognized in the Lusitano breed of Portugal, a breed which descended from the Andalusian horse.

Source: Wikipedia

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FJORD HORSE

The Fjord horse or Norwegian Fjord Horse (known in Norway as a Fjording) is a rather short but very strong breed of horse from the mountainous regions of western Norway. It ranges from 135 to 150 centimetres (approximately 13.1 to 14.3 hands) in height and weighs from 400 to 550 kilograms (about 882 to 1210 lb). Though some individuals may fall under the traditional cutoff between horses and ponies, it is always considered a horse, regardless of height.

It is one of the world’s oldest breeds, and has a long recorded history of pure-breeding without crossbreeding from other sources. It is believed that the ancestors of the Fjord horse migrated to Norway and were domesticated over 3,000 years ago. Archeological excavations at Viking burial sites indicate the Fjord horse has been selectively bred for 2,000 years.

The Fjord horse has its own unique conformation, which is a blend of draft horse muscling and bone, with smaller size and greater agility. It has a strong, arched neck, good feet, and a compact, muscular body. Despite its small size, it is fully capable of carrying an adult human and pulling heavy loads. The hair coat is smooth and shiny in summer, but longer and furry in winter. The mane is long, thick, and heavy, but is usually clipped to between five to ten centimeters (two to four inches) so that it stands straight up, making grooming easier and accentuating the horse’s strong neck and full-length dorsal stripe. There is some “feathering” on the legs.

All Fjord horses are one of five shade variations of dun in color, having a body color that is a diluted cream, gold or tan shade with a darker shade (usually black or dark brown) on the legs, plus “primitive markings,” - a dark dorsal stripe, and, less often, dark horizontal stripes on the legs, especially the forelegs, and rarely, one or more dark transverse stripes over the withers. In addition to traditional dun characteristics, Fjords also have small brown marks over the eyes and on the checks and thighs. The ears have dark outlines and tips. Most have a black or dark stripe in the mane, tail and forelock, with lighter hairs on the outside, giving a two-toned look that is not usually seen in other breeds of horse.

The dun color itself is a dilution gene and is a dominant gene. Because all Fjords are dun, they are homozygous for dun coloration. No equine coat color genetics studies have been done specifically on Fjord coloration, but the two-toned mane is a unique characteristic rarely seen on other horses with dun coloring. In other breeds of horses, a two-toned mane and tail is often considered to be a minimal expression of the rabicano gene.

To a person unfamiliar with the breed, the five dun color variations are subtle and hard to distinguish unless horses of different shades are standing side by side. The color terms are also non-standard compared to English terminology more commonly used to describe horse coat colors in other breeds. This difference appears to be based in part on the Norwegian language terms, which were set in 1922, and their English translations, which were made official in 1980. While these terms were set before equine coat color genetics were fully understood, the variations do match up to modern genetic studies as variations of dun color with the addition of other genetic factors.

The most common is “brown dun,” (brunblakk) which is similar to the classic “bay” or “zebra” dun of other breeds. The body color is a pale yellow-brown, and can vary from cream to almost a light chestnut. The primitive markings, as well as the dark stripe of hair in the middle of the mane (called the midtstol), and darker hair in the middle of the tail (called the halefjær) are black or dark brown. The remainder of the mane and tail is usually cream or white, though may be a bit darker. Approximately 90 percent of Fjord horses today are this color. Like dun horses in other breeds, this shade is created by the dun gene diluting a bay genetic base color.

The red dun (rødblakk) is a pale gold shade. Midtstol, halefjær and primitive markings are red or red-brownish, always darker than the color of the body, but never black. The rest of the mane and tail is usually white, and on some individuals the entire mane and tail may be white. Like red duns in other breeds, this shade is produced by the dun gene diluting a chestnut genetic base color.

The grey (”grå”) Fjord is not genetically a true grey. The term is a misnomer, as the Fjord horses do not carry the grey gene. Rather, the color called grey by Fjord aficionados is what geneticists and owners of other breeds call a grulla or blue dun. Some use the term “gray dun” or “gråblakk” to describe this color, but among Fjord horse owners, that terminology is considered incorrect, even if genetically more precise. Had English-speaking Fjord breeders used the same naming conventions as for their breed’s other shades, the color could be called a “black dun,” but this did not happen. The body of Fjords with this color is a light silver-tan to dark warm slate shade. Midtstol, halefjær and primitive markings are dark gray or black. The remainder of the mane, tail and forelock are lighter than the body color.Like grullas in other breeds, this shade is produced by the dun gene diluting a black genetic base color.

The Uls (White) dun (ulsblakk) and Yellow dun (gulblakk) are, respectively, brown duns and red duns with an additional dilution factor, probably the cream gene, that makes the coat even lighter. The color of the Uls or White dun is almost white or yellowish-white. The Midtstol, halefjær and primitive markings are black or slate-colored. The remainder of the mane, tail and forelock are lighter than the body color. The Yellow dun is the rarest color of all. The horse is a light gold or cream, the forelock, mane and tail can be completely white, and the primitive markings can be indistinct. When two horses with diluted colors are bred to one another, there is a 25% probability of offspring being born with full coat color cream dilution, including blue eyes.

Source and Photo: WikipediA

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DANISH WARMBLOOD

The Danish Warmblood (Dansk Varmblod) is the modern sport horse breed of Denmark. Initially established in the mid-20th century, the breed was developed by crossing native Danish mares with elite stallions from established European bloodlines. The Danish Warmblood registry was established in mid-20th century. The registry oversees the registration of Danish warmblood foals and approves stallions for breeding. As with most warmblood studbooks, only stallions who meet certain standards are permitted to breed. Foals with approved pedigrees may receive a brand depicting a crown over a wave. One of the more recent of the selectively bred European competition horses is the Danish Warmblood, whose stud book wasn’t opened until the 1960s. In a relatively short space of time, however, Danish breeders have succeeded in producing a competition horse they claim to be of superior quality and more versatility than many of the European breeds.The best Danish horses have a Thoroughbred outline that is combined with substance, strength, and good legs. They are courageous and spirited, have excellent temperaments, and good, free action. They are brilliant dressage horses and make first-class performers in cross country. Danish horses also make great show jumpers, as well as under saddle. They can be all solid colors and stand anywere from 16.2 to 17 hands. The coat colors can be any solid color.

Source: WikipediA - Photo: Frogs Leap Farm

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FREDERIKSBORG HORSE

The Frederiksborger is Denmark’s oldest horse breed. They were tremendously popular throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods and were considered luxury items. Today the breed is rare, but has a loyal following. Stallions and mares undergo studbook inspections before being allowed to breed. They are most often chestnut with white markings.

The Royal Frederiksborg Stud was founded in 1562 under King Frederik II, who populated it with the Neapolitan horse and the Iberian forerunners of the Andalusian horse. As the Norfolk Roadster and Arab-bred horses gained popularity later on, they too were selected to stand at the royal stud. As a courtly mount, the Frederiksborg had to be agile and trainable for the courtiers’ pursuits in Haute Ecole and warfare, stylish and high-stepping for parades and court ceremonies, and strong and uniform in appearance to trot before the royal carriages. By the 18th century, the Frederiksborger enjoyed such particular fame that the Danes began to export them in great numbers. They contributed to the formation of the heavy warmbloods, but also to the Lipizzaner. A grey Frederiksborger stallion born in 1765, Pluto, became a foundation stallion in the breed.

The popularity of the breed took its toll, and in 1839 the royal stud was closed. The breeding of Frederiksborgers continued with private breeders, though the needs of the people reshaped the horse to some degree. Instead of a luxury item, the horses were redirected to be more suitable for the stagecoach and agricultural work. This breeding aim, which corresponded to similar changes among the other heavy warmblood breeds, continued until the mid-20th century when the demand for riding horses skyrocketed.

The modern Danish Warmblood often traces back to the Frederiksborger through the female lines, though the pedigrees of these horses are mostly German. Nevertheless, as the Danish breeders made use of German and Swedish horses, some part-Frederiksborger mares made their way back into the breeding population. Maykop ox and the half-Shagya Magyar both stood in Denmark, and have descendants in the Frederiksborger population. So to do the Holsteiner Manfreid (Markgraf), Swedish Rousseau (Herzog), and the Hanoverians Atlantic (Abglanz), Ergo (Abendjaeger), and Boheme (Bolero). Otherwise, the Frederiksborger has been pure-bred for the past century, which accounts for their uniform type.

Today the numbers of Frederiksborgers are low, but the remaining examples are handsome horses. They are most often vividly-marked flaxen chestnuts, though there are bays, buckskins, palominos, and greys as well. They usually have sabino-type markings and many have rabicano roaning as well.

In conformation and type the Frederiksborger was “ahead of its time,” and so the
horses express great quality and are quite uniform. The head is very speaking, the muzzle is wide and the straight lines of the head often border on convex. The neck is powerful and usually crested, and is set high on strong shoulders. The withers are not high and the back, while long, has a strong loin. The hindquarters are broad and deep and the croup is level. The level topline and high-set neck of the Frederiksborger belie its showy trot. The legs are solid and square, a little more than half the horse’s height. The tail is well-carried.

The gaits of the Frederiksborger are expressive and powerful, with natural self-
carriage. The trot is the best gait and is showy with a long stride. The walk is diligent
and open, and the canter is sufficient. Most Frederiksborgers are willing jumpers,
though calm-natured horses are less likely to be concerned about knocking rails.

Source and photo: WikipediA

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JUTLAND HORSE

The Jutland horse is a draft horse breed originating from Denmark. The breed can be traced back to the 12th century, and ninth century images of Danish warriors show
them on riding horses with similar characteristics.

Although its early origins are not fully documented, it is thought that the Jutland was used by the Vikings as war horses during Roman times. They were a popular mount for knights during the Middle Ages, especially for use in jousting. Selection for the modern-day Jutland appears to have begun around 1850, when Suffolk Punch, Cleveland Bay, and Ardennes blood was crossebred on native bloodstock. The development of the
breed was significantly influenced by a Suffolk Punch/Shire stallion named Oppenheim LXII, imported into Denmark in 1862. Six generations after Oppenheim, the founding stallion of the modern breed, Aldrup Menkedal, was foaled. Most Jutlands in existence today can be traced back to two of his sons, Hovding and Prins af Jylland. The Jutland resembles the Schleswig, another heavy draft breed with similar origins that was also influenced by Oppenheim LXII. It is also possible that the Jutland has been influenced by Yorkshire Coach Horse and Fredericksborg bloodlines.

The Jutland is a compact, heavy horse with short, stocky legs and extensive feathering on the lower legs. They have quite similar conformation to the Suffolk Punch but are generally considered to have a less-refined head. The neck is carried high and is
typically thick and muscular, set to somewhat upright shoulders. They are very broad and deep through the chest and have a rounded barrel and short back.

The Jutland is typically chestnut in color, although they may also be bay, gray, or roan; they frequently have white markings. They generally stand between 15 and 16.1 hands, and weigh between 1,430 and 1,760 lbs.

The Jutland has been used by the Carlsberg brewery for pulling their drays since 1928. They owned 210 Jutlands at their peak, and today still use around 20 for beer transportation in Copenhagen. The Charlsbad horses still travel to many shows and festivals competing and putting on demonstrations, promoting both brewery and breed. Today, they are rarely used in the agricultural fields for which they were bred.

Source and photo: WikipediA

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THE KNABSTRUP HORSE

The Knabstrup or Knabstrupper is a European horse breed with an unusual range
of coat coloration. It shows the same color pattern as the Appaloosa, with coat patterns ranging from solid, through many variants to the full leopard spotted. Leopard Spotting is the most prized color pattern.

Believed to have originated from the prehistoric spotted horses of Spain, the Knabstrupper is one of the oldest breed registries in Europe. Established in 1812, the Knabstrupper started with a single chestnut blanketed mare purchased by a Danish butcher named Flaeb from a Spanish cavalry officer. The mare, who became known as FLAEBEHOPPEN (which literally means “Flaeb’s mare”), was purchased by Major Villars Lunn who owned an estate called “Knabstrupgaard” in Holbaek, Nordsealand, Denmark. Flaeb’s mare was bred to a Fredricksborg stallion and produced a wildly colored stallion son who was named Flaebehingsten. Between the two of them, Flaebehoppen and Flaebehingsten were bred to a large variety of good quality horses, producing loudly colored offspring and grand offspring and establishing the Knabstrupper horses as some of the most sought after in Europe at that time.

By the 1870’s the breed’s continuation was severely threatened as the limited number
of Knabstrupper horses led to inbreeding. Then in 1891, a fire at the Lunn family
stables destroyed 22 of its top breeding horses. By 1900, the breed’s numbers and quality had declined significantly. But supporters of the Knabstrupper horses continued to fight for the survival of the breed, and in 1947 the stud farm “Egemosegaard” attempted to reestablish the breed. In 1971, breeder Frede Nielsen brought three Appaloosa stallions to Denmark to infuse new blood into the breed. This was a logical step, as the American Appaloosa developed directly from the Spanish spotted horses that were brought to the New World from Europe by Cortés and Coronado in the early 1500’s.

Knabstruppers are valued for their kind temperaments, high level of trainability, strength, stamina and good health as well as for their wonderful color. Over the past
two centuries, there have come to be three rather distinct types of Knabstruppers: the Sport Horse type, the Baroque type and the Pony type. The Sport Horse type has been bred to excel in dressage, eventing and show jumping and has been developed by crossing the Knabstrupper with the warmblood sport horses of Europe, most notably
the Danish Warmblood and the Trakehner. The Baroque type is a shorter, broader
horse reminiscent of a carriage horse or war horse and was very popular as a circus horse. The Pony type is smaller still and is a favorite of children all over Europe. The breed is usually around 15.2-16 hands high, but there are also pony sized ones (under 14.2).

The Knabstrupper horse exhibits the same color patterns as the American Appaloosa, as they share the same color genes. The most popular color pattern is the leopard with its solid white background covered with black, bay or chestnut spots. Other patterns include the blanket, the snowflake, the snowcap and the “few spot,” an almost solid
white horse that, when bred, always produces a foal with a spotted pattern of some kind.

Knabstruppers originated in Denmark, but nowadays are bred in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, Italy and most recently the USA.

Source and photo: WikipediA

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THE BOULONNAIS HORSE

The Boulonnais, also known as the “White Marble Horse”, is a heavy draft horse breed now bred mainly by the French government due to their decreased numbers. The origins of the breed trace to a period before the Crusades, and they were at one point a very popular draft horse in France and other parts of Europe. The breed is generally branded on the left side of the neck with an anchor.

Most Boulonnais are gray in color. Black or very dark bay coat colors were frequent in 18th century, but as gray is a dominant gene, and breed numbrers are small, non-gray members of the breed have become extremely rare. There is an attempt today to reintroduce black color via the genes of a single black Boulonnais stallion, named Esope.

There were originally two varieties of Boulonnais recognized: a larger type was called the Maree, which stood 15.3-16.3 hands high and weighed 1,430 to 1,650 lbs.. The smaller type was called the Mareyeuse or Mareyeur (horse of the tide), and ranged between 15.1 and 15.3 hh and weighed 1,210 to 1,430 lbs. The Boulonnais has a short, elegant head with a broad forehead, and a short, muscular neck. The breed has a full chest, rounded rib cage, and a sloping shoulder. The legs are fairly short, but robust and strong. Unlike other draft breeds such as the Shire or Clydesdale, it has no heavy feathering on its lower legs.

Source: WikipediA - Photo Credit: DK Images

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THE PERCHERON

The Percheron is a breed of powerful rugged draft horses that originated in the Perche valley in northern France.

Percherons are noted for heavy muscling and for an aspect of ruggedness and power. Also characteristic of the Percheron is clean action and quality conformation of the feet and legs. The mane is thick, though the tail is usually cut short. The breed is close coupled, wide and deep through the chest, with plenty of back rib. The muscles of the forearms, croup and gaskins are especially emphasized in a good drafter, and ease and balance of gait is essential. The horse is also expected to be of good temperament and be an easy keeper.

The Percheron head and neck is typical of the correct draft horse. Good Percherons have a large and full prominent eye, a broad and full forehead, and straight face. A wide jaw and refined ears attractively set and carried with animation are visible evidence of the Percheron’s Arabian ancestry. Stallions should have a ruggedness about the head and mares should have a feminine look. The neck is well-shaped and powerful

Percherons have withers well defined, a short back, a deep girth, long, somewhat level croup, big, well-rounded hip, and powerful muscling in the lower thigh.

In recent years, modern show Percherons have been bred for a longer, thinner neck, a longer back, and longer, smoother-looking muscles. These types of modern percherons are used mainly as show horses for competition.

The Percheron has a very pleasing disposition, and is proud, alert, and intelligent. They are generally very gentle horses, well-suited for driving, and are strong and willing workers. The Percheron is readily adapted to varying climates and conditions. They have the strength to pull heavy loads and the graceful style to pull a fine carriage. Percherons can be ridden and some have even been trained to jump.

Percherons are generally black or gray. Some registries only accept those two colors, though chestnut, sorrel, and bay colors are acceptable for registration in the US with a DNA test confirming their parentage. Gray and black are produced by dominant genes. The red gene for chestnut is recessive, and a red foal can only result from the mating of two black horses if they are heterozygous, having the red gene present in both sire and dam, and even then it is only a one in four chance that a chestnut will be produced.

Some Percherons have white markings on the head and feet, but excessive white is undesirable.

Percherons range in height from 15 to 19 hands high, most are between 16-2 and 17-3 hands high. They can weigh up to 2,600 pounds with the average around 1,900. One of the tallest horses on record was a Percheron named Dr Le Gear. Foaled in 1902, he stood 21.1 hands (7 feet) at the withers and weighed just under 1,370 kg.

Source and photo: WikipediA

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THE BRETON

The Breton is a breed of draft horse. It developed in the Bretagne province in northwest France from native ancestral stock dating back thousands of years. It has been used in military, draft and agicultural capacities. There are three distinct subtypes of the Breton breed, each coming from a different section of Bretagne province.

The Breton originated in the province of Bretagne, which has a very demanding climate, and thus had a need for a horse with great strength and durability.

Horses have been present in the Breton mountains for thousands of years, but nobody knows how they first arrived. One theory is that they were brought to Europe during the Aryan migration from Asia over 4,000 years ago, while another school of thought has them descending from horses bred by Celtic warriors before their conquest of Great Britain.

In the Middle Ages, the ancestral Breton horse was sought by military leaders, partly because of its comfortable gait, which was said to be partway between a brisk trot and an amble. Due to its gaits and the fact that it only stood about 14 hands high, it was nicknamed the Bidet d’Allure or Bidet Breton. Horses of other bloodlines brought back to Europe during the Crusades had a strong influence on the Breton, and two types subsequently developed. The Sommier was a heavier type used mainly as a pack horse and the Roussin was used mainly in wars and on long journeys.

From the Middle Ages until the early 1900s, the Breton was crossed with various horses, both native and foreign, including the Boulonnais, Percheron and Ardennes breeds. In the nineteenth century it was crossbreed with the Norfolk Trotter, which resulted in a lighter weight type of Breton, the Postier Breton.

The Breton is usually chestnut (often with a flaxen mane and tail), but can also be bay, grey, or red or blue roan. They have well-proportioned heads of medium volume with a straight profile, a strong, short neck well-set into muscular withers. The shoulder is long and sloping, the chest broad and muscular, the back is short and wide, and the croup sloping. The legs are short, but powerful, with broad joints and well-formed hooves. The legs are feathered.

Source and photo: WikipediA