Breeding
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When we think of motherhood, a horse may not be the first thing that comes to our mind. But the Clydesdale mare could give any good mother a run for her money. In fact, except for the size difference and the fact that she walks on four legs, you may think that the Clydesdale mare was a human mother. Of course, size is relative and for a Clydesdale, she does retain her girlish figure.The Clydesdale mare is unique in the equestrian world as she is an extremely patient mother to her children. After a pregnancy that lasts for approximately eleven months, the foals are born and may weigh up to 180 pounds. This is definitely not a birth for a lightweight mother. The mare will wait with a great deal of patience for the foal to begin nursing. The mare instinctively understands that this first milk is the most important for the young foal. The initial nursing provides the foal with colostrum which contains the antibodies the foal needs to protect it from illness while its own immune system is strengthened. [...]
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Across Central Europe, Russia, and many of the other Eastern countries there has been a concentrated effort by the government to produce a number of breeds of horses under very strictly controlled breeding programs. These programs are managed and run by the agricultural departments in the belief that the pooling of funds into central stud farms would ensure that the best quality of the stallions and mares, as well as the best professionals for training and horse husbandry could be centrally located to develop the best of the breed. There is little doubt that with breeds such as the Orlov the state run breeding programs in Khrenovskoy, Dubroyski, Noyotomnikov, and Perm have allowed the breed to be enhanced and developed using the influence of other breeds while still keeping the general and substantial qualities of the breed. There are now 15 state stud farms that breed and raise purebred Orlov trotters, and several that also breed Russian Trotters, a cross between the Orlov and the American Standardbred. [...]
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The Oldenburg is one of the older European breeds that originated as a carriage horse and has gradually, over generations of breeding, been streamlined and refined into one of the premier show jumping and dressage horses on the international scene. The Oldenburg has also served in military campaigns, as royal coach horses and even as artillery horses in the wars. This diversity and the many abilities of the Oldenburg have formed the basis for including the breed in many of the European warm blood breeds as well as sport horse breeds that are now popular in most types of competitions and events. The Oldenburg itself is a breed that has been selectively crossed with many other breeds to create the ideal large, competitive type horse. The first ancestors of the Oldenburg were the Friesians with crosses into the Iberian or Spanish breeds as well as the Arabian. [...]
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The Morab Horse has generally been accepted as a breed in its own right, but there are still questions about the validity of such a claim. How can a horse be considered to be a breed in its own right when it is often the product of a cross between two different breeds? This is a legitimate question, when even today, Morabs are able to be included in the register whether they are the offspring of pure Morabs or of a cross between Arabians and Morgans. In fact, the Morab can be legitimately called a breed in its own right, and the reasons why may astonish you. [...]
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Despite the fact that the Morab has only been registered through its own association since 1973, records show that breeders have been experimenting with a Morgan / Arabian mix for many years. In fact, the first documented Morab dates to the middle of the 19th century, with breeders experimenting with the cross throughout the 20th century. Here we'll take a look at the history of the Morab breed and the breeders that helped define the horse we know today. [...]
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In most areas were there are wild populations of horses or ponies there is a tradition of some type of round-up or catch program that allows the wild herds to be kept at a manageable level in relation to the amount of forage and space now available. Since the New Forest grazing area is confined by development and farm lands on all sides, it is very important to carefully manage the number of wild New Forest Ponies and avoid overpopulating the area. There is a strong tradition of allowing the New Forest wild ponies to exist in their natural state, although there have been selected attempts to modify the wild breed. There is no doubt that domestic horses and ponies have made their way into the wild herd, thereby modifying the genetics somewhat, even if not by direct planning. In addition, Thoroughbred blood was introduced in 1765 through the use of a Thoroughbred stallion named Marske. This was an attempt to refine the ponies and increase their size, making them more versatile as all around ponies for riding, showing, and driving. [...]
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It is often hard to imagine that in this day and age of agriculture, travel, and the growth of human populations that there are still herds of wild horses running relatively free as their ancestors did. Wild and semi-wild herds of ponies are relatively rare, but the New Forest ponies, located in the New Forest reserve in the southern part of England, are one such group. In reality the New Forest ponies are not like the Mustangs of North America, the New Forest ponies are actually owned by individuals known as Commoners. These are individuals that have "Rights of Common of Pasture" or grazing rights to the over 37,000 hectares of the New Forest. Owners of the ponies will mark their ponies by either cutting the tail or branding to clearly identify to which Commoner the pony belongs. These horses are known as "Forest Bred" and since only approved New Forest stallions are allowed on the grazing reserve the offspring that are Forest born can be registered. [...]
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If you ask any horse owner or horse lover, they will all tell you their favorite breed and why it is better, more amazing,, and even more interesting than any other breed of horse. The National Show Horse really is special and unique from other breeds in several different ways. Probably one of the most obvious is that this breed was developed completely for one purpose based on the qualities seen in the two breeds selected as its foundation. Unlike many breeds that evolved through generations of breeding and adding in new stock for refinement and changes, the National Show Horse can only be either a Registered Arabian and a Registered American Saddlebred cross, or can be from a registered National Show Horse mare and stallion or any cross of the above. This eliminates any other breeds or horses from being considered or registered as a National Show Horse. Arabians and American Saddlebreds that are being used in breeding for National Show Horses must be approved by the National Show Horse Registry, thereby ensuring a uniformity and consistency throughout the breed. [...]
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Like other ponies that are native to Great Britain, the Fell Pony has survived thousands of years of living in a harsh environment and the whims of man. Thanks to traits such as versatility, intelligence and a high capacity for adaptation has helped the Fell Pony become the strong, well loved pony of Northern England of today. Here we'll take a look at just some of the obstacles the Fell Pony had to overcome over the centuries in order to survive. [...]
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There is no denying that the Fell Pony and the Friesian Horse resemble each other, but the idea that the Fell Pony is nothing more than a miniaturized version of the Friesian Horse rubs many conservationists of the pony breed the wrong way. They claim that any contact between the two breeds would have only occurred two millennia ago and any similarities are superficial. Nevertheless, because the Friesian is currently seeing a rise in popularity, this comparison is bringing a lot of attention to the Fell Pony as well, but is it for the right reasons? [...]
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The Falabella horse is arguably the smallest breed of horse in the world and is quite popular, although rare, in the miniature horse world. From their humble beginnings in Argentina to their present day homes in the United States, the United Kingdom and beyond, these charming tiny wonders are also a matter of controversy among its enthusiasts. Some breeders claim that the Falabella must be one hundred percent pure and able to trace its pedigree back to the Falabella ranch in Argentina in order to be called a true Falabella, while others have encouraged a cross breeding program and have even created a register called Falabella Blends. Here we'll take a look at both sides of the issue: breeding strategies according to the purebred fanciers and the blend fanciers.First, it's important to understand how the miniature Falabella horse came into existence. These tiny horses are the descendants of the Andalusian horses that were brought with the Spanish conquistadors on their quest to conquer South America. Many of these horses were abandoned or escaped, and over time several different breeds emerged. [...]
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The Fjord Horse enjoys an unbelievably long history in its native Norway and is still popular there today. But while it can certainly still be found in its native country, the Fjord Horse is more likely to be found outside of Norway than in it. This is because the Fjord has enjoyed a long export history, from its humble beginnings as a candidate for imported draught horses in Denmark to its being imported by royalty in Great Britain, and the breed can be found all over Europe and as far away as North America. Here we'll take a look at the Fjord Horse's long export history. [...]
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Since the end of the 19th century, it has been the practice of those interested in preserving the lines and conformation of different breeds to keep a record of all horses that are considered purebreds in what is called a Studbook, and the Friesian is no exception. The first Friesian Studbook, started in 1879, was the first Studbook in The Netherlands. But because the fashion was to cross the Friesian with other breeds and also include other horses from nearby provinces, the Friesian was nearly lost. In 1913 the Friesian Horse Society (Het Friesche Paard) was created started working closely with the Studbook to improve and preserve the Friesian Horse. Since that time, all horses eligible to be entered into the Studbook must participate in a keuring, which literally means judging. [...]
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The German Reitpony, also known as the Deutsches Reitpony or the German Riding Pony, is a relatively new breed, compared to some horses in Europe that have a recorded history going back thousands of years. Only four decades since the breed was first conceived, the breed is already considered the standard when it comes to Sport Pony registries. But interestingly enough, the German Reitpony is a work in progress. Other horse breeds are still being infused into the German Reitpony's lineage, even though the breed has achieved official recognition. [...]
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The Gypsy Vanner has been quickly growing in popularity over the last decade or so, thanks to its powerful frame but manageable size, variations in coat patterns and its sweet temperament. Its popularity is not only growing in its native Britain, but in the United States as well. Recently, a new type of horse is making its presence known in the United States that greatly resembles the Gypsy Vanner. Here we'll take a look at a brief history of the Gypsy Vanner and the Drum Horse, and the differences between the two types.More frequently called Irish Cob or Piebald in its native Great Britain, the Gypsy Vanner finds its origins with the Irish Gypsies that have been traveling around the United Kingdom for many decades. These strong horses were used by the Gypsies to pull their carts and caravans, which necessitated a horse that was strong but manageable. The Travelers often used whatever horses that were available to them in order to replenish their horse stock, but they seemed to prefer horses around fourteen to fifteen hands with plenty of feathering and long manes. [...]
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Breeding
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