It’s the end of the week and time to visit another exotic location and learn about the fabulous horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is an interesting ride, today a peek at the breeds from Iran.
Family Business
Perhaps one of the purest ancient Iranian breeds is the stunning Asil, an incredibly pure strain of Arabian. The bloodlines of these animals are kept within tribes and families and their breeding was thought to bring spiritual and material gain. As with many ancient breeds, their origins are unclear, however rock carvings of horses have been found in the area that date back 5,000 years.
Tiny Fossil
Iran is also home to one of the oldest breed in the world, the Caspian which represents the ancestors of the link between early equus and the hot-blooded animals of the desert and plateaus. Although the Arabian’s origins are unknown, there is evidence of the Caspian prior to the mighty Arab. In fact, they are so old that they possess conformational differences which set them apart from every other breed on the planet.
Iranian Horse Breeds
Asil
Bakhtiari Horse
Caspian Horse
Darashouri
Tchenarani
Horses of the World
There is a whole worlds worth of countries to visit, so be sure to keep yourself updated. Please let me know in the comments below if I’m missing any horses of the Iran & check back next week for the breeds of Ireland.