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Intro
The Suffolk Punch is the oldest draft breed of Britain that still exists in their original conformational state today. The highest concentration of the breed can be found in their birthplace of East Anglia.
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Horse breeds from England
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Intro
Predominately known for their racehorse lineage the Thoroughbred is a symbol of speed and stamina and it’s bloodlines are the single greatest influence on the world’s horse population.
Image from Just chaos
Origins
Originating in England in the 17th and 18th centuries the breed was given life during the rule of Henry VIII, who was the first royal patron of horse racing.
Henry imported Spanish horses of Barb influence to enhance the local running stock.
It has been established that 84% of Thoroughbred genes come from 31 original ancestors. The three main sires being The Byerley Turk, The Darley Arabian and The Godolphin Arabian.
Since the 1770’s more and more Arabian blood as been introduced to refine the Thoroughbred line.
Features
Average height 15.2 hands
Fast and active
Brave and built for endurance
Low, flat movement
Physique
Alert, refined head
Long and graceful neck
Long, sloped shoulders
Long, lean body
Strong hindquarters
Legs are fine and long with well-formed joints
Traditional Colors
Solid colors
Temperament
Bold
Brave
Spirited
Image from TheBluZebra
Use
Racing
Show horse
Competition horse
Pleasure / trail horse
Helpful Links
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National Thoroughbred Racing Association
National Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
Thoroughbred Breeders Association
Thoroughbred Times
Thoroughbred Horse Pedigree Queary
Where to Buy
Thoroughbred Studs
Thoroughbred Times Stallion directory
Stallion Register online
Stud farm directory
Stallion Directory
Video
Do you have images or know more about the Thoroughbred breed? I’d love help completing this page, please contact me to get involved.
Intro
Descendant from the English Great Horse of the Middle Ages, the Shire horse is among the largest of the draft breeds .
Origins
Appearing in Britain around the end of the 16th century when strong animals were needed to pull heavy wagons and coaches long distances over rough terrain. The Shire derived from blood of forest horses, and Friesian and Flanders horse imports.
The English Great horse is still considered the Shire horse’s principle ancestor, although its bloodlines were slowly reduced in the stock as the influx of Dutch Friesian blood grew stronger.
Modern Shire horses are renowned for their strength, a pair of Shire horses have pulled 16.5 tons of weight on granite paving tiles.
Features
Average height Over 17 hands
Extremely large animals
Incredible pulling strength
One of the biggest horses in the world
Physique
Long neck for a draft horse, with wide shoulders
Legs are clean and muscular, hocks set for maximum leverage
Heavy feathering on back of legs
Big, round hooves
Traditional Colors
Temperament
Big and gentle, the Shire is a docile giant
Use
General riding
Show horses
Parade horse
Shire Horse Products
Helpful Links
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American Shire Horse Association
Canadian Shire Horse Association
Shire Horse Society
Where to Buy
Shire Studs
Video
Do you have images or know more about the Shire breed? I’d love help completing this page, please contact me to get involved.
Intro
The Norfolk Roadster or Trotter is perhaps one of the most influential of all trotting breeds and is the foundation for most modern trotting breeds of today.
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Intro
Wild ponies have been roaming the New Forest on the coast of southwest Hampshire in England for as long as anyone can remember & this is an ancient northern pony breed.
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Intro
The Lundy Pony is named for the isle of Lundy in the Bristol Channel of England. There are no horses native to the cluster of islands there, so this breed was developed by the last private owner of Lundy Island.
Origins
The foundation stock were New Forest mares and an Arabian stallion as well as some Welsh Mountain & Connemara ponies. However once a decent herd was acquired no more outside blood was allowed.
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Intro
The Hackney pony is purely man made breed, they were developed using selective breeding with the goal of creating a pony type within the Hackney breed.
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Intro
England has a long history of trotting animals and the tradition is thought to go back to the Middle Ages. For many years two types of trotters came from the areas of East Anglis & the East Riding of Yorkshire, the Norfolk Trotter & the Yorkshire Hackneys.
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Intro
Most of the ponies found on the British Isles are not indigenous to the islands, they made their way across the English Channel when it was still a marsh as long ago as 1500 BC. Skeletal evidence shows that these animals looked like a cross between the Tarpan and the present day Exmoor.
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Intro
A breed of great antiquity, the Exmoor is one of the few breeds that looks very much the same today as they always have. They are believed to be the oldest pure descendants of the ponies that inhabited Britain some 100,000 years ago.
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