The Equinest archives

Balearic – Rare Horse Breed of the Week

Today’s rare breed for the week comes from the island of Majorca off the southern coast of Spain. Unfortunately very few formal records have been kept on the Balearic Horse, they were geographically isolated & poorly managed.

Ancient but Ignored

One of the rarest breeds still alive today, the Balearic horse is of unknown, but ancient origin. The breed is distinctly different from other Iberian breeds, even those on neighboring Belearic islands. Some believe that the breed is descendant of the horses of Ancient Greece because of their likeness to the animals portrayed in Greek artifacts & art. Read more →

Baixadeiro – Rare Breed of the Week

The rare breed for this fine Monday morning comes from beautiful Brazil. The BaixadeiroHorse is a small horse inhabiting the heavy marshlands of Brazil & is presently the recipient of a conservation program in an attempt to save them from extinction.

Trouble in Paradise

The Baixadeiro Horse of the Lower Maranhense is an extremely old breed that looks somewhat like the Pantaneiro Horse of the same area, but they are much smaller. This breed is dismally under-developed most likely because they inhabit lands that are virtually wetlands most of the year. Read more →

Auxois – Rare Horse Breed of the Week

The rare breed for this week comes from France & they are absolutely enormous (& literally bred for huge). The Auxois is losely related to the Ardennes horse & since the start of the 20th century have been bred specifically for their immense size.

Sister Breeds

The Auxois owes some of their bloodlines to the Ardennes & the two breeds are very similar in size & shape. In addition to Ardennes blood the Auxois lines contain a cross between Bourguingnon type, Percheron & Boulonnais blood. Read more →

Asturcón Pony – Rare Horse Breed of the Week

The rare breed for this Monday comes from the Northwest of Spain. The Asturcón Pony (or Asturian Pony) possesses a natural ambling gait by which they alternate moving both legs on one side.

Ancient Descendants

Thought to be a cross of the Garrano ponies of northern Portugal & Spain (which are direct descendants of the Celtic pony) & the Sorraia of Iberia. Neither of these bloodlines produce the ambling gait, so it is thought that some of the Celtic ponies (which are similar to Icelandic ponies) were amblers. Read more →