Name of breed: Giara Country of origin: Island of Sardinia, Italy Breed origin: The origins of the Giara horse are uncertain, with one theory suggesting it may have been brought into the island of Sardinia by the Phoenicians or the Greeks in the 4th or 5th century BC. It has characteristics of oriental horse types,…
Name of breed: Curly, also known as the Bashkir Curly or the American Curly Country of origin: North America Breed origin: The origins of the Curly horse are a mystery, with many theories but no clear answers. When the Curly started to gain recognition as a breed in the 20th century, it was called the…
Name of breed: Trakehner Country of origin: Prussia Breed origin: The Trakehner breed was originally developed at the East Prussian state stud farm in the twon of Trakehnen, from which the breed takes its name. The state stud was established in 1731, and between 1817 and 1837, Arabian, Thoroughbred and Turkoman horses were crossed with…
Name of breed: Shire Country of origin: England Breed origin: The Shire is a breed of draught horse that originated in England in the 17th century. During the 16th century, Dutch engineers brought Friesian horses with them when they came to England, and these horses probably had the most significant influence on what became known…
Name of breed: Nokota Horse Country of origin: United States of America Breed origin: The Nokota horse is a semi-feral breed located in an area in southwestern North Dakota known as the ‘badlands’. The breed developed in the 19th century from foundation bloodstock consisting of ranch-bred horses produced from the horses of local Native Americans,…
Name of breed: Criollo, sometimes called the Argentine Criollo Country of origin: South America – Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay Breed origin: The Criollo is synonymous with the gaucho (the horseman and cowboy of the pampas) – the saying goes that a gaucho without a horse is the same as a man without legs. The Criollo’s…
Name of breed: Tennessee Walking Horse Country of origin: Tennessee, USA Breed origin: The Tennessee Walking Horse was developed in the 18th century after Narragansett Pacers and Canadian Pacers were crossed with gaited Spanish Mustangs. These horses were bred on the pastures of central Tennessee, and were originally known as Tennessee Pacers. They were known…
Name of breed: Lipizzan, or Lipizzaner Country of origin: Developed by the Habsburg Monarchy in what is now Slovenia. Breed origin: The Lipizzan breed has its roots in ancient Iberian stock, but the breed itself dates back to the 16th century, when it was developed by the Habsburg family to fill their need for a powerful…
Name of breed: Cleveland Bay Country of origin: England Breed origin: The Cleveland Bay is England’s oldest breed of horse, although the Cleveland Bay Horse Society and studbook was not formed until 1884. It is also the last remaining pure breed of warmblood! The origins of the Cleveland Bay predate any written records of its…
Name of breed: Bashkir Horse Country of origin: Russia Breed origin: The Bashkir is a horse breed of the Bashkir people, although its origins are not known. In the 19th century, breeding centres were set up in order to increase both its working abilities and its traditional qualities as a producer of milk and meat.…
Name of breed: Kabarda, or Kabardin Country of origin: Former USSR (Russia and Georgia) Breed origin: The Kabarda horse has been known for at least 500 years, but its origins are quite possibly as old as the Hittite civilisation, which existed from – wait for it – 1680 to 1178 BC! The mountain tribesmen in…
Name of breed: Connemara Country of origin: Ireland Breed origin: Named after the Connemara region in County Galway, western Ireland, this pony is versatile and athletic, yet as tough and sound as its home is rugged and wild. There are a number of theories as to how the breed came to be: some believe it…
