Pleased to Introduce

The breeds for this week all come from the granddaddy of many horse breeds, the mighty and beautiful Arabian whose blood flows through the veins of a wide variety of breeds & types. Today we’ll take a look at the lovely Arabo-Friesian, the adorable Arab-Haflinger & the mighty Araboulonnais.

Regardless of the cross, the Arabian blood always lends a refined & dignified air.

Arabo-Friesian

Image from Newlitter

Arabian & Friesian blood was first mixed during the Spanish invasion of the Netherlands late in the 16th or early in the 17th centuries, creating the lovely Arabo-Friesian.

This was a forced cross as during Spanish occupation local Dutch farmers were forced to use Spanish stallions who carried Arabian blood.

A Grudgingly Good Match

The resulting animals proved to be athletic & desirable and their lines later went on to become instrumental in the creation of both the Orlov Trotter & the Morgan. More recently in the 1960’s more Arabian blood was added to Friesian mares with the intention of increasing lung capacity, endurance & strength while retaining the baroque Friesian look.

Arab-Haflinger

Another Arabian cross that was initially met with resistance, the Arab-Haflinger came to be when some breeders decided Arabian blood might refine the Haflinger animals.

Scientific Process

This was a methodical process on the part of the breeders, and the idea was to slowly refine the Haflinger through several generations of cross-breeding.

Due to this careful process, breeders were able to retain the strong, friendly physical characteristics of their Haflinger breed while creating a stronger animal with slightly refined & more elegant features.

Araboulonnais

Relative to the previous two, the Araboulonnais is a relatively new breed of France. Created by combining the blood of two unlikely sources, the small, lively Arabian and the strong & elegant Boulonnais.

An Interesting Mix

This cross came about late in the 20th century and began with the idea that these two breeds would blend beautifully while preserving both the handsome gentleness of the draft and the hardy refinement of the desert horse. This was a successful combination and the resulting animal is a perfect compliment to both breeds.

More to Come

Next week we’ll take a look at one more Arabian cross, the mighty Aralusian, the sturdy Ardennes and the highly endangered Arenberg-Nordkirchener.

Pleased to Introduce

The breeds for this week all come from the granddaddy of many horse breeds, the mighty and beautiful Arabian whose blood has refined many a modern breed. Today we’ll also take a look at the colorful AraAppaloosa & the ancient Arabian-Berber cross.

With their well-shaped ears, arched neck and high-set tail the Arabian is one of the most physically appealing (and recognizable) of all horse breeds.

Arabian

Image from Trescastillos

The Arabian horse is not just one bloodline, there are hundreds and hundreds of types bred in isolation from one another. Each one bears a slightly different confirmation, however they all retain basic physical characteristics.

These animals date back roughly to 2500 BC and have been bred for centuries by Bedouin tribes on the Arabian Peninsula.

A Strong Tradition

Over the years the Arabian became very ingrained in Muslim tradition and the Muslim conflicts in the 7th century AD were instrumental in spreading the breed.

In more recent times Arabians have become increasingly popular throughout the world, loved for their high endurance, fleeting speed, handsome looks and versatility. This is a breed found in almost all disciplines and aspects of the horse industry.

AraAppaloosa

Image from Equine Now

Said to be the original Appaloosa horse, the AraAppaloosa animals are thought to have been a foundation of the Arabian breed.

Artistic Reference

Art from centuries past found in both the Middle East & Egypt clearly depict spotted animals, so it is believed that these animals made their way up through Spain during Moorish occupation and then taken to the Americas.

Today there is a registry in the US dedicated specifically to the breed in the hopes of combining the best elements of the two breeds.

Arabian-Berber

The Arabian-Berber is a cross between two ancient bloodlines the Arabian & the Barb and was initially developed by Moroccan tribesmen as a warhorse.

Building the Perfect Desert Horse

This cross drew from the finest characteristics of both desert breeds and the resulting animal was bold, fearless, versatile and highly adapted to a hostile desert environment. Some of these animals are known to display a tolt gait, making them even easier to ride over long distances.

Today this is one of the most popular breeds found in North Africa and their popularity has grown throughout Europe.

More to Come

Be sure to check back next week when I’ll share info about a few more cousins of the Arabian, the lovely Arabo-Friesian, the adorable Arab-Haflinger & the mighty Araboulonnais.

Pleased to Introduce

The breeds for this week are an interestingly similar mix the lovely appaloosa, it’s cousin the Appaloosa Sport Horse and the Appendix Quarter Horse (which, interestingly enough may also carry appaloosa white patterns).

All three are fairly new breeds from North America, each one created with a specific purpose in mind.

Appaloosa

The appaloosa breed is a color breed and that means they are classified & registered based on their coat patterns, not confirmation features.

A breed developed in the Pacific Northwest of North America, the Appaloosa was bred by the Nez Pierce people from Spanish animals. The native people prized their animals not only for their spectacular coats, but for their courage & tenacity making them suitable for a variety of purposes.

Troubled Times

Sadly it was the U.S. Government that almost put an end to this lovely breed when they seized tribal lands and relocated the Nez Pierce tribes.

Luckily in 1938 the Appaloosa Horse Club was founded in Idaho and since then they have become one of the largest breed registries in the world.

Appaloosa Sport Horse

Another North American breed, the Appy Sport Horse was created with the goal of breeding a European style sport horse with the brilliant appaloosa white patterns.

The Perfect Cross

To achieve this appaloosas were crossed with Trekehners & the resulting animal is colorful but possesses longer limbs and finer lines than the traditional appaloosa. These confirmation differences are also better suited for English showing & eventing disciplines.

Appendix Quarter Horse

Image from Spicyrogue

The Appendix Quarter Horse must be a first generation cross between a registered Thoroughbred & an American Quarter Horse (both of which make great racehorses).

Began With Resistance

The cross began in Texas and quickly took hold within the racing industry. Although the Quarter Horse Association had their reservations initially – not wanting to dilute registered Quarters with Thoroughbred blood. In the end they relented to allowing crosses with Thoroughbreds that carried Quarter-type characteristics.

Through refined breeding & limited registration with the AQHA the resulting animal is larger than the average Quarter horse with more refined features.

More to Come

Be sure to check back next week when I’ll share info about the colorful AraAppaloosa, the ancient Arabian & their cousin the Arabian-Berber cross.

Below are a few articles that go a little more in-depth about equine feed, different types and a closer look at the types of hay, grain and of course treats (pleeease don’t feed your horse candy).

Horse Feed Types
A a closer look at Hay | Grain | Treats
Don’t forget to make sure you know which plants are toxic to horses

When it comes to quality of food, GM crops are suspect. They haven’t been in the food chain long enough for their effects to have been tested long-term & they have already been linked to reproduction issues.

With our modern lifestyles very few of us are in a position to keep our animals how nature intended, & feeding them properly helps to alleviate that stress & keeps them working properly.

Despite popular belief that spotted horses come from North America, they were actually brought from Europe by the Spanish and adopted by the indigenous people in the Americas.

How The Breed Began

Although records of spotted horses span centuries prior to coming to North America, they weren’t given their own distinct breed. The first to breed for the colorful patterns were the Nez Perce in mid-18th century in the Pacific Northwest. The name Appaloosa comes from the Palouse River running through Nez Perce territory.

These animals were not only bred for color, but for endurance and versatility so they would be suitable for everything from agriculture work to war ponies.

A Sad Tail

The Nez Perce breeding programs thrived and they became known for their horsemanship and the quality of their animals. That is, until the US Government began seizing their tribal lands and re-locating the survivors to reservations. Although the tribes fought for their land, they were defeated and many of their animals were slaughtered by the government.

Becoming Legit

Later in 1938 an appreciation for these spotted animals spurred the forming of an Appaloosa Horse Club in Idaho. Their intent to revive the breed and protect it from future harm. Today the Appaloosa Registry is one of the largest in the world, documenting & preserving these historical animals.

Learn More

America Appaloosa Association Worldwide
Appaloosa Horse Club
International Colored Appaloosa Association

The pages below discuss some of the basics of horse ownership & care, with info about everything from choosing a stable to costs associated with horse ownership (ouch).

Horse Basics | Breeds | Colors
Horse Care | Care Tips | Care Costs
About Horse Stables

Whether you are just starting out in the horse world, or you are an old pro brushing up on your basics will always serve you well.

So Many More Basics

Like I said, there is always more to learn and I’ll continue to compile handy guides on Saturdays about horse care and a whole host of other horsey topics.

Anglo-Luso horses come from Portugal and are a cross between Thoroughbred and Lusitano bloodlines. The mighty Lusitano has long been used in the bullring and the Thoroughbred blood was introduced in the hopes of creating a quicker, more agile animal.

Many Portuguese objected to this cross, not wanting to pollute the bloodlines of their purebred animals.

Breeding Continued

Although there were objections, there were others who valued the results of the mix and the breeding programs continued. However centuries of strict breeding practices persist and each cross is carefully recorded. The Portuguese Lusitano studbook added a special section to recognize and record the Anglo-Luso breed.

Useful Animals

The result of the breeding programs is an animal that retains the baroque look and the courage of the Lusitano, while possessing the additional speed and agility of the Thoroughbred. Their quick action and bold determination make them versatile & quite handy in the bullring.

No Pics?

Like many of the Anglo mixes, images and information have been more difficult to come by. If you know about or have pictures of the Anglo-Luso breed, I’d be delighted if you’d get in touch and teach me a thing or two. Glad to provide full credit & links to anyone interested in sharing what they know.

The Anglo-Karachi is very similar to the Anglo-Kabarda horse that was featured last week. They are the result of a cross between Thoroughbred and Karachi bloodlines, and to be registered a mix must be at least 25% and no more than 75% Thoroughbred blood.

Origins

The Karachi is a type of Kabarda horse that is bred specifically in the Karachi Republic and tend to be the most robust of the breed. Their differences spurred a breed registry split from the Kabarda breed in the 1960’s.

Similar to the Kabarda, Thoroughbred blood was added in the hopes of creating a larger, more refined animal that was still tough enough to thrive under difficult living conditions. Breeding unofficially started late in the 19th century using English, German & French Thoroughbreds and breeding then to select Karachi animals.

Not Much Out There

As with many of the smaller, less documented breeds (in English anyway) I could find very little about the Anglo-Karachi. If you know about the breed or have pictures, I’d love to hear from you.

The Anglo-Kabarda is a mix breed that combines the blood of Thoroughbred and Kabarda horses, to register an animal must possess no more than 75% and no less than 25% Thoroughbred blood.

This breed began in the Caucasus regions of Russia and began by crossing Kabarda mares with Thoroughbred stallions.

Not Such A Strange Mix

Image from WomEOS

The end goal was to create an animal that retained the prized characteristics of both breeds and still remained a versatile mount.

The result was an animal with the size & speed of the Thoroughbred and the endurance & inherent toughness of the Kabarda horse. They were larger, but still able to negotiate difficult mountain terrain & live in herds out to pasture year round. This adaptability allowed these animals to be used for everything from calvary mounts to farm animals.

Interesting fact: the Anglo-Kabarda horse is said to be very protective of its herd members.

Can You Help?

Unfortunately I was unable to locate much about this breed online and would love to learn more. If you know more about or have pictures of the Anglo-Kabarda horse I’d love to hear from you.

Learn More

The Anglo-Arabian horse combines the Arabian and Thoroughbred bloodlines. A variety of crosses are allowed within the two breeds, however a true Anglo-Arab has no more than 75% and no less than 25% Arabian blood.

These two bloodlines have rich histories and have been interwoven throughout history, both of them quick and high energy animals.

How It All Started

Image from muddypawed

The official breed began in France in 1836 under the watchful eye of the French National Stud Service. The intention was to create a mix that enhanced the desired elements of each breed, with an emphasis on retaining the refined confirmation of the Arabian.

Widely Loved

The resulting animal possesses the the endurance and confirmation of the Arabian coupled with the speed and size of the Thoroughbred. A larger and high-energy animal who is willing, personable & intelligent.

Today these animals have been well-received in many disciplines, but are particularly favored by English riders who want a higher-energy mount with plenty of spring.

Learn More

North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association
Anglo-Arabians