The Suffolk Punch, also historically known as the Suffolk Horse or Suffolk Sorrel, is an English
chestnut in colour, although the colour is traditionally spelled "chesnut" by the breed registries. Suffolk Punches are known as good doers, and tend to have energetic gaits
.
The breed was developed in the early 16th century, and remains similar in
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, there has been a resurgence in interest, and population numbers are increasing. As well as being used for farm work, the breed pulled artillery
and non-motorised commercial vans and buses. It was also exported to other countries to upgrade local equine stock.
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word "thoroughbred" is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered a "hot-blooded" horse, known for their agility, speed and spirit.
The Thoroughbred as it is known today was first developed in 17th and 18th century England, when native
foundation mares of English and Oriental (Arabian or Barb) blood. During the 1700s and 1800s, the Thoroughbred breed spread throughout the world; they were imported into North America starting in 1730 and into Australia, Europe, Japan and South America during the 1800s. Millions of Thoroughbreds exist worldwide today, with over 118,000 foals
The Arabian horse is a breed of horse that originated in the Middle East. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is one of the oldest horse breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses that resemble modern Arabians dating back 4,500 years. Throughout history, Arabian horses from the Middle East spread around the world, used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, and good bone. Today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse.
The Arabian developed in a
war. This combination of willingness and sensitivity requires modern Arabian horse owners to handle their horses with competence and respect. Arabians dominate the discipline of endurance riding, and compete today in many other fields of equestrian activity. Arabian horses are now found worldwide, including the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, continental Europe, South America and the Middle East
Although they can trample both plants and ground nesting animals, and they are not considered
indigenous to the islands, Bankers are allowed to remain due to their historical significance. They survive by grazing on marsh grasses. Water is usually obtained from temporary freshwater pools and from moisture in vegetation. To protect the habitat from overgrazing and avoid overpopulation and inbreeding, the horses are managed by the National Park Service, the State of North Carolina and several private organizations. Island populations are limited by adoptions and by birth control. When taken from the wild and trained by humans, Bankers are used for trail riding, driving
The Haflinger, also known as the Avelignese, is a breed of
therapeutic riding
programs. The World Haflinger Federation (WHF) is the international governing body that controls breed standards for the Haflinger. The WHF is made up of a confederation of 22 national registries, and helps to set breeding objectives, guidelines and rules for its member organizations.
. Studies are currently ongoing to discover the relationship between the Sorraia and various wild horse types, as well as its relationship with other breeds from the Iberian Peninsula and Northern Africa.
Members of the breed are small, but hardy and well-adapted to harsh conditions. They were occasionally captured and used by native farmers for centuries, and a remnant population of these nearly
zoologist
in the early 20th century. Today, the Sorraia has become the focus of preservation efforts, with European scientists leading the way and enthusiasts from several countries forming projects and establishing herds to assist in the re-establishment of this breed from its current endangered status.
The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland. The breed develops late, but is long-lived and hardy. The Icelandic displays five gaits, rather than the typical three displayed by most other breeds. Horses living in their native Iceland have few diseases, and laws prevent animals from being imported to Iceland or returning to the country after they are exported. They are still used for traditional farm work in Iceland, as well as for leisure, showing and racing.
The breed was developed from ponies brought to Iceland by
Viking settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. Horses were worshipped in Norse mythology, and these beliefs were brought to Iceland by the original settlers. The Icelandic breed is mentioned in both literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history, from the 9th century on, with the first historical reference to an individual horse appearing in the 12th century. Selective breeding and natural selection have developed the breed into its current form. The first Icelandic breed society
was created in 1904, and today the breed is represented by organizations in 19 different nations.
pack horses, where they gained their nickname of "Chapman Horses". Over the years, the breed became lighter in frame as they were employed more as carriage and riding horses. The popularity of the Cleveland Bay has greatly fluctuated since it was first imported to the United States in the early 1800s. Despite serious declines in the population after World War II
, the breed has experienced a resurgence in popularity since the 1980s.
The breed has also been used to develop and improve several
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
consider the population to be at critical limits for extinction.
Kathiawari, also from India. Many members of the breed exhibit a natural pacinggait. The Marwari are descended from native Indian ponies crossed with Arabian horses, possibly with some Mongolian
influence.
The
Rathores, traditional rulers of the Marwar region of India, were the first to breed the Marwari. Beginning in the 12th century, they espoused strict breeding that promoted the purity and hardiness of the breed. Used throughout history as a cavalry horse by the people of the Marwar region, the Marwari was noted for its loyalty and bravery in battle. The breed deteriorated in the 1930s, with breeding stock diminishing due to poor management practices, but today has regained some of its popularity. The Marwari is used for light draft and agricultural work, as well as riding
and packing. In 1995, a breed society was formed for the Marwari in India, and in the 2000’s horses have begun to be exported to the United States and Europe.
black horses are very rare and are not allowed to be registered with the breed registry. Their history reaches back to Ancient Rome, and throughout the years blood from several other breeds has been added to the Ardennes, although only the Belgian breed had any significant impact. The first Ardennes were imported to the United States in the early 20th century, and the first breed registry was established in Europe in 1929. The horses have been used throughout history as war horses, both as cavalry mounts and to draw artillery, and are used today mainly for heavy draft and farm work, meat production and competitive driving
events. They have also been used to influence or create several other horse breeds throughout Europe and Asia.
grey in color, and has a dense, waterproof coat that protects it in harsh weather. The breed developed in ancient times in the Hebrides islands in Scotland, and a small population remained pure and protected from crossbreeding by the remoteness of the islands. It is used for light draught (draft) work, as a mount for children, in many equestrian disciplines, and for driving. The breed is rare today, with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust considering their status critical. There are two breed registries
for the Eriskay, the first formed in 1972 and the second in 1995.
The Andalusian, also known as the Purebred Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española; in English, Pure Spanish-bred), is a
gray
, although they can be found in many other colors.
The ancestors of the Andalusian have been present on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years, but they became recognized as an individual breed beginning in the 15th century. Throughout its history, the Andalusian has been known for its prowess as a
war horse and was prized by nobles. There are currently less than 20,000 Andalusians in the world today, including around 4,500 in the United States. Today, Andalusians are used for many equestrian activities, including dressage, show jumping and driving. They have been used extensively to create and improve other breeds, including the Lipizzan. The breed is also used extensively in movies, especially historical movies and fantasy epics, and one serves as the current mascot for the University of Southern California
A Brumby is a free-roaming feral horse in Australia. Although they are found in many areas around the country, the best-known brumbies are found in the Australian Alps region in south-eastern Australia. Today, the most are found in the Northern Territory, with the second largest population in Queensland. A grouping of Brumbies is known as a "mob" or a "band".
Brumbies are the descendants of escaped or lost horses, dating back in some cases to those belonging to the nation's early
split, and the Portuguese strain of the Iberian horse was named the Lusitano, after the word Lusitania, the ancient Roman name for Portugal. There are three main breed lineages within the breed today, and characteristics differ slightly between each line. There is also the Alter Real strain of Lusitano, bred only at the Alter Real State Stud.
Lusitanos can be any solid
World Equestrian Games as part of the Portuguese and Spanish dressage teams. They have also made a showing in driving
species of plants. The varying heritage gives the breed a wide range of heights, body patterns and colours. They are usually well-muscled, sure-footed and tough.
Horses were first reported in the
Aupouri Peninsula
at the northern tip of the North Island. Roundups have been carried out annually since 1993 to manage the size of the herd, removing around 2,800 horses altogether. The Kaimanawa population is listed as a herd of special genetic value by the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization, and several studies have been conducted on the herd dynamics and habits of the breed.
chestnut in color, and is strong and muscular. There are three distinct subtypes of the Breton, each coming from a different area of Brittany. The Corlay Breton is the smallest type, and is generally used for light draft and under saddle work. The Postier Breton is used for harness and light farm work. The Heavy Draft Breton is the largest subtype, and is generally used for the hardest draft work. It has been used in military, draft and agricultural capacities. The Breton has been used to improve and create many other draft breeds, as well as being bred to produce mules
harness horses and related breeds. The Nokota was almost wiped out during the early 1900s when ranchers, in cooperation with state and federal agencies, worked together to reduce competition for livestock grazing. However, when Theodore Roosevelt National Park was created in the 1940s, a few bands were inadvertently trapped inside, and thus were preserved. Today, the park conducts regular thinning of the herd to keep numbers between 70 and 110, and the excess horses are sold off. In the late 1970s, brothers Leo and Frank Kuntz began purchasing the horses with the aim of preserving the breed, and in 1999 started the Nokota Horse Conservancy, later beginning a breed registry through the same organization. Later, a separate breed registry was begun by another organization in Minnesota
.
The Nokota horse has an angular frame, is commonly
ambling gait called the "Indian shuffle". The breed is generally separated into two sections, the traditional and the ranch type, which differ slightly in conformation and height. They are used in many events, including endurance riding, western riding and English disciplines
gray. They are a tall breed, with mares standing 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) and over and stallions standing 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm) and over. The breed has an enormous capacity for weight pulling, and Shires have held the world records for both largest overall horse and tallest horse at various times. Throughout its history, the breed has been popular for pulling brewery wagons that delivered ale
to customers. This practice continues today, with the breed also being used for forestry, leisure and promotional pursuits.
In 1884, the organization now known as the British Shire Horse Society was created, with the American Shire Horse Association beginning in 1885. The breed was exported from Britain to the United States in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but popularity fell with the advent of mechanization, reaching a low point in the 1950s and 60s. Popularity began to increase again in the 1970s and after. However, population numbers are still considered to be at critical levels by both the UK-based
Criollo, to produce horses for range work and competition. Purebred Percherons are used for forestry work and pulling carriages, as well as under saddle work, including competition in English riding disciplines such as show jumping
The Carolina Marsh Tacky or Marsh Tacky is a rare breed of horse, native to South Carolina. It is a member of the Colonial Spanish group of horse breeds, which also include the Florida Cracker Horse and the Banker horse of North Carolina. It is a small horse, well adapted for use in the lowland swamps of its native South Carolina. The Marsh Tacky developed from Spanish horses brought to the South Carolina coast by Spanish explorers, settlers and traders as early as the 16th century. The horses were used by the colonists during the American Revolution, and by South Carolinians for farm work, herding cattle and hunting throughout the breed's history.
The breed is considered to be critically endangered by both the
Hainaut border region, it was bred for size and pulling power. The Trait du Nord was also used extensively in mining through a greater part of the nineteenth century. During the mid twentieth century, the breed was in demand for the production of horse meat
, and due to this became larger and heavier as higher production was demanded. In the early 1970s, the demand for horse meat began to decline and it wasn't until the 1990s that the breed experienced a slight revival through an increased interest in recreational riding and driving.
The breed is considered to be endangered, with fewer than 100 new foal births a year. The national breed registry in France is working with local initiatives in an attempt to promote this breed and bring breeding numbers back up. The breed currently has a high risk for inbreeding, due to the low number of breeding stallions, and is also at risk for extinction.
The Narragansett Pacer was the first horse breed developed in the United States, but is now extinct. It was developed in the United States during the 18th century and associated closely with the state of Rhode Island, and it had become extinct by the late 19th century. The Pacer was developed from a mix of English and Spanish breeds, although the exact cross is unknown, and they were known to and owned by many famous personages of the day, including George Washington. Sales to the Caribbean and cross-breeding diminished the breed to the point of extinction, and the last known Pacer died around 1880.
The Narragansett was possibly an
pacing breed. It was known as a sure footed, dependable breed, although not flashy or always good looking. Pacers were used for racing and general riding. They were frequently crossed with other breeds, and provided the foundation for several other American breeds, including the American Saddlebred, Standardbred and Tennessee Walking Horse
The Chincoteague Pony, also known as the Assateague horse, is a
Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company
, where ponies were auctioned as a way to raise money for fire equipment. The annual event has continued to the present day. While only around 300 ponies live on Assateague Island, around 1,000 more live off-island, having been purchased or bred by private breeders.
The Italian Heavy Draft, or Rapid Heavy Draft, is a
chestnut in color, the breed is known for its combination of strength and speed. Its development traces to 1860 and continued through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its versatility has led to its use in both agricultural and military capacities, as well as for the production of mules. In the 1970s, selective breeding goals were changed to produce a horse suitable for meat
production, which today remains the primary use of the Italian Heavy Draft.
pack horse, today the heavier Dole type is used mainly for agricultural purposes. Both types have been crossed with other breeds to develop horses for harness racing and riding
Viking raiders in what is now Great Britain. A stud book
was created in the late 19th century, and the Jutland population grew to a maximum of around 15,000 by 1950. Numbers subsequently declined, and as of 2011 it is estimated that there are only about 1,000 horses remaining.
and a flaxen mane and tail. Because the Finnhorse breed and its progenitors were the only horses in Finland for centuries, the history of horses in Finland parallels the history of the Finnhorse itself. The documented history of the distinct breed begins at the turn of the 13th century, and an official Finnhorse studbook was founded in 1907. The Finnhorse population plummeted from a high of just over 400,000 animals in the 1950s to a low of 14,100 in 1987. However, the breed managed to survive thanks to its popularity for harness racing and its versatility as a mount.
The Clydesdale is a breed of draft horse derived from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named after that region. Although originally one of the smaller breeds of draft horses, it is now a tall breed with impressive presence in harness. Often bay in color, they show significant white markings due to the presence of sabino patterning. The breed was originally used for agriculture and haulage, and is still used for draft purposes today. The Budweiser Clydesdales are some of the most famous Clydesdales, and other members of the breed are used as drum horses by the British Household Cavalry. They have also been used to create and improve other draft breeds. However, during World War I population numbers began to decline due to increasing mechanization and war conscription. This decline continued, and by the 1970s, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust considered the breed vulnerable to extinction. Population numbers have increased slightly in the intervening time, but they are still thought to be vulnerable.
Agisters, employees of the Verderers of the New Forest. The ponies are gathered annually in a series of drifts, to be checked for health, wormed, and tail-marked; each pony's tail is trimmed to the pattern of the Agister responsible for that pony. Many of the foals bred on the Forest are sold through the Beaulieu Road
pony sales, which are held several times each year.
Colonial Spanish Horse, the actual origin of Cerbat Mustangs is unclear, but they have been identified by DNA testing as of Colonial Spanish Horse ancestry and they are recognized by the Spanish Mustang
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