Auxois Draft Horse: Breed Characteristics

Gentle giant now mostly bred for horsemeat

The Auxois or the Trait Auxois is one of the rarest French draft horse breeds in the world.  This breed has not caught on in other countries because of the massive amount of food that a draft horse needs to consume daily.  Since the mechanization of agriculture, there has not been a demand for draft horse breeds, so time will tell how long this breed lasts. The main reason the breed survives in France is because of the horsemeat industry.  Perhaps it would be better for the breed to die out if it faces such a dismal fate.

Brief History

On some websites, it is mentioned that the oldest ancestors of the Auxois was a now extinct breed ridden by knights of the Middle Ages called the Burgandy.  Some other sources dispute this claim.
What is known is that the modern Auxois originated in the 1800's in the Cote d'Or and Yonne regions in France.  The Auxois was created by crossing a variety of draft breeds, including Percheron, Ardennias, Boulonnais and the Northern Ardennais.  Since numbers of the Auxois collapsed after the World Wars, some purebred Ardennais were crossed onto the remaining breeding Auxois in order to keep from having to heavily inbreed.

Originally, this breed was used for a wide variety of purposes, from pulling plows to hauling public transport wagons.  Most draft horses of all breeds were conscripted to serve the French Army in World War I and thus died pulling heavy artillery.  The breed is known for being incredibly strong but is still not strong enough to save it from the abattoir.

General Appearance

The Auxois looks like a Belgian on steroids. Although they are not as tall as a Shire, only averaging 16 hands, they certainly seem larger because of their incredible bulk.  They can weigh up to 2450 pounds.  The head is blocky, with ears usually described as small and constantly swiveling about.  The neck short and legs short and thick and a low-set tail on muscular hindquarters. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (University of Oklahoma Press, 1995) is full of praise for their sloping shoulders, excellent knees and hints that they would make good riding horses.

Their coat colors are the same as a Belgian's or a Brabant's, being mainly red roan, bay and chestnut. They have a thick mane and tail. Unfortunately, many Auxois have their tails docked as is custom in France.  This was originally to keep the tails from getting caught in harness, but very few Auxois work in harness anymore.  Some breeding stock and show stock are allowed to keep their full tails.

What seems particularly heartbreaking is that the Auxois is always described as being gentle and calm.  They have a good reason to hate people after being treated so badly by them, but perhaps they do not complain.

Additional References

International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds.  Bonnie Hendricks.  University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.

The Ultimate Horse Book.  Elwyn Hartley Edwards.  Dorling Kindersley, Inc.; 1991.

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Black Forest Horse: Breed History and Characteristics

Also called the Black Forest Chestnut 

The Black Forest Horse is better known in Germany as the Schwarzwalder Kaltblut, or the Black Forest Coldblood. It’s also called the Walderpferd and the St.  Margener.  But whatever you call him, this light draft horse breed is very rare in Germany and practically unknown outside of Germany. However, this rare breed has won fans in other parts of the world. Black Forest horses are being bred in North America now as well as Germany. There are an estimated 1000 horses in the world.

As its name implies, it did originate in the Black Forest of southern Germany. Another rare draft breed that originated there was the Schwarzwalder Fusche, or Black Forest Fox-Colored (sorrel or chestnut). With the exception of coloration, the two breeds are nearly identical. The first American Black Forest stud, Black Forest Stables, even listed the two breeds as being the same. Some horse breed books even lump them as a variation of a Norkier.

Brief History

The breed is thought to have originated in the 1200s from possibly Breton crosses with the Noriker. They were bred to be calm, strong and surefooted. The Black Forest area is very uneven, rocky and dips up and down. Until the 1900s, the Black Forest was much larger than it was today.

Most European horse breeds suffered after the two World Wars, but draft breeds were hardest hit. It is surprising that any horses in Germany escaped from being eaten because conditions were so bad during World War II. But right after World War II came the mechanization of agriculture. There was no longer a market for draft horses - except in the forestry industry. Draft horses were far more nimble, more reliable and caused less environmental damage than machines.

By 1981, there were only 160 Black Forest mares of any color left. A concerted effort was made to save the breed(s). Freibergers and Schleswigs were added to keep from inbreeding. One factor that helped was that the horses were flashy enough and intelligent enough to be trained as riding horses. The horses are able to collect themselves enough for lower level dressage.

There are six major bloodlines in the Black Forest horse breed today. They are designated by letters of the first name of the 31 stallions thought to be the most influential. The lucky letters are M, D, R, W, F and V.

General Appearance

The Black Forest Horse averages 15 hands high, although they can be shorter or grow as tall as 16 hands. They are quite muscular, with deep chests, thick necks and sturdy legs. Their colors are various shades of dark chestnut with a pale mane and tail. Sometimes they can appear to be black with a white mane and tail. The mane and tail are encouraged to grow as long as possible.

Additional References

International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.

Cowboy Frank. “Black Forest Chestnut.” 
http://cowboyfrank.net/fortvalley/breeds/BlackForestChestnut.htm

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Ban-Ei Horse Breed: History and Characteristics

The Ban-ei developed after World War II in Japan by crossing three European draft breeds. The horses are used in a unique type of hilly harness race.

Quite frankly, a lot of horse breeds are nearly identical, except for their names. But every once in a while, there's a breed or breed type that really stands out in a horse lover's memory - for good or bad reasons. One such breed is the rare Ban-ei RaceHorse, created and nearly exclusive to the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The memorable thing about these race horses is that they are not Thoroughbred look-alikes, but are draft horses.

According to International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (University of Oklahoma Press, 1995), the Ban-ei is technically not a breed, but more like a type. However, they do have common physical features in order to win (or even finish) in their races. They are built to bull a heavy sleigh up and down a hilly dirt racetrack. It must be seen to be believed. And even then, you may want to have a stiff drink.

Brief History

1948 was not a happy time to live in Japan. The nation had been not only crushed by Word War II, but it was still dealing with radioactive fallout and being the butt of world's jokes. But those Japanese that survived realized that they needed to do something different in order to bring in a steady revenue stream to Japan.

On the island of Hokkaido, it was thought that the local sport of horse-drawn sled racing, ban-ei keiba, would bring in gamblers and their deep pockets. But the native pony breed, the Hokkaido, was decimated by the war. They also were far too small for the impressive racetrack officials planned on building.

So, they decided to breed draft horses solely for the purpose of competing in these races. They crossed Bretons, Belgians with Percherons in order to get their ideal type of strength and spirit. Ban-ei racing spread to the other Japanese Islands.  The horses average about 16 hands high, but can be as small as14.1 hands high. They come in all colors that Bretons, Belgians and Percherons do, mainly chestnut, bay and roan.

Racing Industry

One YouTube member described Ban-ei racing as "slower than baseball". Horses compete in various weight and distance divisions. Horses draw sled that must weigh at least a half-ton or a full ton, depending on the division. Jockeys must weigh at least 160 pounds, but better horses are handicapped by having to pull extra weight. Horses can be raced as young as two years old.

Horses must stay in their own lanes, even when going up hills. In fact, many of the lanes have rope boundaries laid on the ground. The courses are dirt - or mud, depending on the weather.  If a horse cannot pull the sleigh up a hill, they are disqualified. Unfortunately, jockeys are allowed to use bullwhips on the horses.

The sport has fallen on hard times and was to have stopped about 2007, but one track, Obihiro, still stubbornly goes on.  Japan does not pension out retired racehorses, no matter what their breed.  When they are retired and if not suitable for breeding, they are slaughtered and eaten.

References

International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds.  Bonnie Hendricks.  University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.

Which Horse of Course. Mary Ellen Bauer. Xlibris Corporation; 2011.

Equinest. “Ban-ei Horse.”  

Image by Skipperscorp from Wikimedia Commons

Life of a Thoroughbred Racehorse: Before Training at the Track

Thoroughbred foals destined for the track are first trained by their dams and then move on to weaning and turning one year old.

Long before a young Thoroughbred goes to a professional racehorse trainer, he begins learning the life of a racehorse.  His first trainer is his mother or dam.  Watching interactions between his dam and people help to familiarize him with people and learn that they should be obeyed.  Grooms and veterinarians teach him about being handled, about wearing a horse collar, walking on a lead and about receiving medications.

Many stud farms practice imprint training, where they hug and stroke the foal immediately after it is born.  A tiny horse collar may be placed on to get the foal used to wearing one.  This gets foals used to the smells and sensations of being handled by people and help to reduce stress whenever the future racehorse needs to be shod, groomed or tacked up.

Weanlings

The first big milestone a racehorse faces is being weaned from his mother.  Ever since he was two months old, he has been increasingly eating more solid food.  He is almost always in the company of his mother.  But by the time he is six months old, he and his mother are permanently separated.  

Weanlings are often placed two to a stall or pasture in order for them to get over the shock of losing their constant companions, their dams.  Depending on how large the breeding farm is or how mild the weather is, weanlings may be turned out all in one pasture for them to kick up their heels and play, morning and evening.  The company of others help the weanlings become confident in their new lives away from their dams.

Playing is important for foals and weanlings.  Not only does it keep the young horse out of mischief, but also helps develop muscles, bones and agility.  Good grooms begin to note the personalities of weanlings and report them to prospective owners or racehorse trainers.

Yearlings

All Thoroughbred weanlings are considered one year old or yearlings on New Year’s Day, despite what date the weanling were born on.  This is to help keep race records in order so that a horse does not compete with three year olds one day and then suddenly switches to four year olds the next.

By this time, a yearling will be taught some basic ground manners such as standing quietly in cross-ties.  If the yearling is being sent to auction, then the yearling will be taught to stand still and raise his head up with his ears forward in order to best show off to prospective buyers.  The yearling will be taught how to walk into and out of a lorry or horse van.  The yearling will also need their first racing shoes.  Since they are much lighter than ordinary horse shoes, he will need shoeing frequently.  Many yearlings also wear a saddle and bridle for the first time.  Many trainers also give the yearling lunging lessons, especially in Europe, weeks before the horse carries his first rider.  These basic lessons will impact a racehorse for the rest of his life. 

References

“Strategies for Weaning.” Cynthia McFarland. Thoroughbred Times. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/farm-management/farm-management-06-28-08.aspx

Horenstein, Henry and Carol Flake. Thoroughbred Kingdoms: Breeding Farms of the American Rcehorse.  Bullfinch Press; 1990.

Burch, Preston M. Training Thoroughbred Horses. The Russell Meerdink Company Ltd.; 1992.

Miller, Robert, DVM. Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal.  Western Horseman; 2003.

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Welara Pony Breed: History and Characteristics

A Welara looks a lot like a small Arabian, but some have the short, strong necks of ponies, although a Welara's neck may be slightly more arched than a typical pony's neck.

Welsh ponies and Arabians have a lot in common including attitude, endurance, size and beauty. Many equine breeders wondered if an even better breed could be created combining these two. One of these breeders was Lady Wentworth, one of the original champions of the Arabian horse in the UK. She put her champion grey stallion Skowronek to Welsh mares that actually came from Wales.

But breeding the two breeds together so that the offspring would breed true to type would not catch on until 70 years later, and in another country.

Brief History

In the late 1970s, crossing Arabian stallions to Welsh pony mares was catching on in California. A small part of this was due to the success of a lavishly illustrated biographical book featuring just such a cross in Marina & Ruby: Training a Filly with Love (Morrow, 1977). Ruby, the equine star of the book, was a lively yet beautiful black filly.  She was one of the first Welaras (or -- one of the first I'd herd of, really.)

By 1981, the American Welara Pony Society was born. It registers not only Welaras, but half-Welaras (usually crossed with Thoroughbreds), calling them Welara Sport Ponies. Welaras and Wear Sport Ponies are also bred in New Zealand, Australia, Jamacia, France, Germany, Canada and (of course) Great Britain.

General Appearance

A Welara looks a lot like a smallArabian, but some have the short, strong necks of ponies, although a Welara's neck may be slightly more arched than a typical pony's neck. There are some individuals who tend to have more pony-like characteristics than others, but the ideal Welara is long-limbed with excellent hooves and a high-set tail. Since it is allowed for one of the Welara's parent to be a Welsh Cob or Welsh Pony of Cob Type, some may be stockier than others.

Welaras are allowed to come in any color and marking with the exception of Appaloosa patterns. They stand an average of 14 hands high, but can be as small as 11.2 hands or as large as a horse at 15 hands. On occasion, some grow even taller, but they can't be shown as a Welara, although they are allowed to be registered.

Small But Mighty

Welaras weren't just bred for good looks but for athleticism. They compete successfully in many English, Western and harness events. They are particularly noted for their steady jumping ability, tackling jumps set up for Thoroughbreds. And if they happen to bash them down, the Welara often is not bothered and will try again at the next jump.

Welaras are very intelligent animals but need a patient trainer with sense of humor. They also need regular exercise to keep them from getting bored and looking for mischief.

Additional References

• International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.
• Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America. Judith Dutson. Storey Publishing, 2005.
• The Official Horse Breeds Standard Book. Fran Lynghaug. Voyageur; 2009.

American Shetland Pony Varieties: Temperament

Including the Modern American Shetland and the Classic American Shetland

Shetland ponies in America come in four varieties, although all can be registered with the American Shetland Pony Club/Miniature Horse Registry.  This article will focus on two of those varieties, the Modern American Shetland and the Classic American Shetland.  All Shetlands aren't born nasty, but they can easily become nasty if they are not handled properly.  Unlike some other kinds of horses and ponies, American Shetlands do not suffer fools lightly and are only recommended for people that not only have extensive experience in handling horses, but are very patient.

How To Ruin The Temperament

As stated before, American Shetlands are not born nasty.  They are intelligent, which means that they can get bored easily and therefore need to be kept busy.  They can figure out how to open stall doors and gates, so extra locks may be needed. Even then, they may figure out how to dig their way out of a fence, so fence maintenance is essential. They also crave companionship and will be far more willing to escape if they are kept alone.

As foals, it's hard to beat an American Shetland in the cute department.  This means it can be tempting to spoil them to let them get away with habits that may seem cute when foals (like resting their forehooves on your shoulders) but can be downright dangerous when they get to their full weight of a few hundred pounds.

When they suddenly disciplined for behavior they had been originally praised for, this can get an American Shetland understandably annoyed.  They then become mistrustful of people and tend to greet them with laid-back ears.  They then need patient retraining to realize that not all people are mean.  But since they are so small, they may not get this training and are instead sold, ignored or given up to animal rescues.

The Genetic Backgrounds

The Modern American Shetland is a much fierier individual than types more closely resembling the original Shetland from the Shetland Isles.  This is because Hackney and Welsh Ponies were introduced into the breed in the 1850's in order to make a smaller version of the long-limbed, high-stepping Hackney Pony.  American Show Ponies also fall into this category.  They are bred to win ribbons at horse shows where high-stepping and spirited behavior is rewarded.

The Classic American Shetland is a slightly chunkier version of the Miniature Horse and the British Shetland is - well, is what a Shetland used to be before Americans started fooling around with the original design. They are calmer and more adaptable than the show-types, but they are not stupid.  If they don't want to do something, they just plant their feet and will not budge.

In Conclusion

All Shetlands are unforgettable characters.  If they get bad behaviors, it's because of the fault of the people keeping them, not due to the ponies themselves.  Classic American Shetlands have been successfully used in therapeutic riding programs, so when given respect, a proper diet and regular exercise, they can put up with just about anything when they know they have a job to do.

Resources

"The Official Horse Breeds Standards Guide." Fran Lynhaug. Voyageur Press; 2009.

"Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Breeds of North America." Judith Dutson. Storey Publishing; 2005.

"International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds." Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.

"The Ultimate Horse Book." Elwyn Hartley Edwards. Dorling Kindersley; 1991.

"Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies of the World." Maurizio Bonginanni. Simon & Schuster, 1988.

Author’s personal experience.

Image by Firesongponies for Wikimedia Commons

Camargue Horse Breed History and Characteristics

The Wild White Horses of France

Anyone who was a fan of Robert Vavra's books will be intimately aware of the Camargue horse breed of the marshlands of France. Although Vavra photographed any and all breeds of horses, the Camargue is front and center in his landmark book, Such is the Real Nature of Horses (William Morrow & Co.; 1979.)  Since they live so close to water, they are sometimes nicknamed the horses of the sea.

General Appearance

The Camargue is a semi-feral breed that was developed in the marshlands of southern France. They are most often born dark and then gradually lighten to a white-grey when they mature at around four or five years old. This region of France is also known for its feisty black bulls, and Camargues broken to saddle have remarkable cow sense. They would have to, because bullfighting in southern France is done on horseback.

Camargues show a large influence of Spanish-bred horses, not only with their cow-sense, but their ability to use their hindquarters well under them for propulsion. They have large heads, wide eyes, deep chests, short backs and a low-set tail. They are usually called ponies because they rarely grow over 14 hands in height, but have the body shape of a horse rather than a pony. 

History

It is unknown just how old of a breed this is. It is thought to be one of the oldest breeds in France and perhaps second only to the Pyrenean Tarpan in age. Another theory is that the Camargue is the descendant of the now-extinct breed, the Soutre. Camargues have undoubtedly been influenced by any horse that managed to wander away from camp or were turned loose in the marshes to fend for itself.

However, Camargues breed remarkably true to type, almost making clones of themselves, which is something that does not happen to the feral herds of Mustangs in North America. Currently, the breeding is supervised by just one group - the Biological research Station at Tour de Valat.

This is a breed that has stayed close to home, although there are Camargue breeding societies in many European counties, including Germany and Great Britain. When feral-born colts turn four, they are caught, selected and only the best are allowed to return to the marshes. The rest are gelded and become excellent riding horses for the local bullfighters as well as for pleasure and endurance riding.

Camargues are excellent swimmers and tend to have a pretty steady temperament. Perhaps living out in the marshes has helped them to quickly adapt to many situations. Camargues have been used in many television shows and films where a horse needs to swim.  One such movie was The Black Stallion (1980). Five in all portrayed the Black, including two Arabians, one Thoroughbred and a Camargue dyed black for all of the swimming scenes. 

Image by Kersti Nebelsiek,Wikimedia Commons

Health Concerns in Thoroughbred Race Horses

Many racehorses suffer many health problems as a direct result of their breeding, in their training and during their racing careers. 

The thoroughbred racing industry is concerned with making money and not with preserving the health of the equine athletes.  Thoroughbreds are considered disposable since there are so many available for sale to replace injured, sick or dead horses.  Racehorses suffer many health problems as a direct result of their breeding, in their training and during their racing careers. 

Breeding Problems

Thoroughbred horses are bred to do one thing run. They are not bred to survive just run. All Thoroughbred descend from just three stallions, The Bryerly Turk, The Godolphin Arabian and the Darley Arabian. It is thought that 90% of all Thoroughbreds alive today trace their ancestry back to the Darley Arabian through once stallion named Eclipse. All of these foundation horses lived in the very late 1600s and early 1700s.

Since then, the gene pool has condensed even further. It is thought that about 90% of all Thoroughbred horses alive today trace their ancestry to Northern Dancer, who was born in 1961.  This intense inbreeding has produced a fast animal, but one that easily shatters. Although there was an intense public reaction to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's death from a racing injury, thousands of racing thoroughbreds die in America every year with no tears or media coverage.  

Training Problems

A thoroughbred's bone structure is physically mature when the horse reaches five years of age. However, when the bones are still soft, the thoroughbred race horse is broken to saddle and begun heavy training when they are yearlings. As soon as the knees close, they are ridden, whether the rest of their body can handle it or not.  Horses are often given drugs such as steroids to build muscle and powerful painkillers to make them run when they are in pain.

In order to toughen up young thoroughbred race horse's legs, they are either pinfired or chemically burned. Pinfiring is exactly what it sounds like. Even though The Thoroughbred Times declared pinfiring "obsolete" in 2006, the practice is still common.  In 1989, Sports Illustrated very casually mentioned "blistering" (chemically burning) in an expose on champions Easy Goer and Sunday Silence.

Racing Problems

During a race, a thoroughbred runs all out for a couple of minutes on hard surfaces carrying an adult rider and any lead assigned to carry, whipped, spurred, crowded, then shut up in a stall to go traveling to do the whole thing over again, sometimes as often as twice a week.

Small jockeys are getting harder and harder to find as worldwide nutrition improves. So, they are getting heavier while the horses get weaker. Today's thoroughbred race horse has no chance of living a long, healthy life. They are thwarted every chance through irresponsible breeding, careless disregard of a natural horse's anatomical requirements and no thought as to tomorrow. No wonder they self-destruct so often.  Those that survive racing are often too damaged to ever work again. Very few people are willing to have a horse that cannot work.  For example, the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand was sent to slaughter when he failed to sire enough winners.

Image of Northern Dancer statue at Woodbine Racetrack by JDG for Wikimedia Commons

Famous Racehorse Profile: Phar Lap

Known as the Red Terror

As America had Man o’ War and England had Red Rum, so Australia had Phar Lap, its most famous racehorse.  A 17 hand red chestnut gelding, Phar Lap won 37 or 51 starts, including Australia’s most prestigious race, the Melbourne Cup.  He was set to conquer the North American turf in 1932 after winning the Aqua Caliente Stakes in Mexico when he suddenly died due to mysterious circumstances, but could have been from poisoning.

Phar Lap’s obscure beginnings, rise to fame and tragic death at the age of 5 was the subject of a blockbuster film, Phar Lap (1983.)  His unusually large heart, weighing 14 pounds (6.35 kilograms), may have been one reason why he became a champion.  It was originally donated to the University of Sydney and then had a home in the Australian Institute of Anatomy.  It can now be seen in the National Museum of Australia’s Landmarks Gallery.

Humble Beginnings

Phar Lap was foaled in New Zealand on October 4, 1926, the son of Australian Leading Sire, Night Raid.  He was a gawky, uncoordinated, ugly-looking yearling with warts when he went up for auction.  Australian trainer Harry Telford admired Phar Lap’s pedigree, even though most of the horse’s half-brothers and sisters were doing poorly at the track.  He talked his boss, American businessman David J. Davies into buying the yearling for the very low price of 160 guineas.

When Davis saw Phar Lap, he wanted nothing to do with the horse and sold part-ownership to Telford.  In addition, Davis did not have to pay any training fees for Phar Lap.  The yearling was soon gelded and did very poorly his first year on the track, winning only one race.  It looked as if Phar Lap was a dud.

The Champion

Phar Lap had a much better three-year-old season and buy the time he was four he was on his way to becoming a legend.  In 1930, he won four races in four consecutive days, including the Melbourne Cup, where he went off as the favorite.  He won the race despite carrying a very heavy 138 pounds (9 stone 12 lbs.)  From September 13, 1930 to March 4, 1931, he won 14 races in a row.  This feat was not matched in Australia until 2011, when the spectacular mare Black Caviar brokeit.

Phar Lap won many of his races with a sudden come from behind move, even when he broke slowly and pushed to the extreme outside.

Appaloosa Horse Health Issues

Please do not use this article in the place of your veterinarian's advice.

Appaloosas are impressive horses, even if they are “few spot Appaloosas” and have a few hard-to-spot spots. They're impressive to look at, impressive to ride and impressive in their characters about the barn. They also have an impressively sobering history linked to the near-extermination of the Nez Perce tribe. But if you want to bring an Appaloosa home, you need to be aware of their most common health issues.

Sunburn

Appaloosas that are predominately white, such as those who sport the leopard spotted pattern, are more prone to getting sunburn than horses of darker colors. They get sun burnt especially on any areas of pink skin, such as the muzzle, lips, ears and genitals in stallions and geldings. Even if the skin is mottled grey and pink, it still can get sunburnt. If a horse’s skin is constantly damaged by sunburns, it is prone to getting skin cancer.

Human sunscreen products that are safe to use around the eyes would be safe enough to protect your Appaloosa from sunburn. You also want to be sure there is shelter in their fields and paddocks.  If possible, keep pink-skinned Appys indoors during the hottest parts of the day.

Night Blindness

Horses can see very well in the dark unless they have night blindness. Although not the most traumatic thing that can happen to a horse, night blindness can make a horse accident prone. A one thousand pound animal getting into an accident can prove to be traumatic, indeed. So far, night blindness has only been discovered in Appaloosas. It is thought that the gene that is responsible for the Appaloosa's spots can also cause night blindness. But few spot and "snowcap" Appaloosas can still be born night blind.

Congenital stationary night blindness tends to not get worse as the horse gets older, but you do have to arrange for the horse to either be close to a "seeing eye" horse or to be stalled all night. You definitely have to curtail riding at night. Lightning flashes can also make the horse temporarily blind. Usually an Appaloosa is born with the condition, but we are still in the early stages of learning about it.

Total Blindness

A 2006 study by the University ofMinnesota concluded that Appaloosas were eight times more likely to gocompletely blind than any other breed of horse. This might also be due to genetics, but so far, the reason why a horse gets this disease is unknown. Appaloosas seem to be more prone to contracting a disease called ERU (Equine Recurrent Uveitis) which then causes the blindness. This is also called "moon blindness". Not all horses with ERU go completely blind.

Although blind Appaloosas can be great companions and can be used in riding and pulling carriages to some extent, most people do not want to deal with them and just have them put down. More and more, people are opening their eyes to the fact that living with a blind horse isn't too much different than living with a sighted horse.

Additional References

• Horse Health and Nutrition for Dummies. Audrey Pavia & Kate Gentry-Running, DVM, CVA.  John Wiley & Sons; 2008.
• The British Appaloosa Society. “Health Matters.” 
• BlindAppalosas.org

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Waler Horse Breed Facts

Infamous cavalry horse breed from Australia

Waler horses, also called New South Walers, originally meant any bred in New South Wales, Australia. By World War 1 (1914 to 1918), any horse or pony bred in Australia was called a “Waler”, according to the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. Walers came to fame during World War I, where they excelled as cavalry horses. Pedigrees and organized breeding programs for Walers did not begin in Australia until 1971.  Walers became the basis for the Australian stock horse breed.

Breed Origins

Horses were not native to the Australian continent. Two stallions and four mares arrived with European colonists in 1788. By 1846, the Waler emerged in the State of New South Wales. Many breeds went into making the Waler, including the Timoor pony, the Basuto pony, the Welsh pony, the Barb, the Arabian, the thoroughbred and the Welsh cob. Draft horse breeds such as the Clydesdale, the shire, the Percheron and the Suffolk punch also contributed to the mix, according to International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (University of Oklahoma Press; 1995.)

Functions and Uses

Walers were the all-purpose horse, used for riding, agriculture work and herding stock. But the biggest demand was for cavalry remounts for the British Army. It was the British Army in India that began calling the horses “Walers” and the name stuck. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds estimates that about 121,000 Walers served in World War I. Today, they are used for riding, working stock and for meat.

Misconceptions about Walers

The policy of the British Army after World War I was to shoot any surviving horses. Because of this policy, many Australians assumed that all Walers were wiped out. But some were sold (despite the orders to shoot them) and breeding stock still existed in Australia. Still other horses managed to escape their owners and join the herds of brumbies, the name given to the feral horses of Australia.

Controversy: What is a Real Waler?

Since 1971, three Waler-loving groups have tried to find horses that fit the Walers described in historical documents and use these horses to create a Waler breed registry. All three groups fought each other over what kind of horse should be allowed. The Waler Horse Society ofAustralia claims there are four types from ponies to drafters. In contrast, the Waler Horse Owners and Breeders Association Australia state that there is only one type. There is no universal breed standard for what a Waler should look like.

Fun Fact

The most famous Waler was a World War I gelding named Bill the Bastard, so named because he always bucked when a rider mounted him during the Battle of Romany. The only time he didn’t was when five wounded soldiers mounted him. Three riders were on his back, one balanced on the right stirrup and another one the left stirrup. Despite soft sand and being pursued by Turks, Bill managed to get the soldiers to safety.

Additional Resources

International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press; 1995.The Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Tasmin Pickeral. Paragon Publishing; 1999
AnimalInfo.com "Today's Australian Walers."
University of Oklahoma Breeds of Livestock: Australian Stock Horse 

3 Main Differences Between Horses and Zebras

Is a zebra a black horse with white stripes or a white horse with black stripes? Actually, zebras are very unlike horses in temperament and physical appearance. However, both zebras and horses share similar herd social structures. Horses and zebras can mate, although the resulting offspring, zebroids or zorses, are sterile. Zebras can also successfully mate with ponies and donkeys, producing zonies and zedonks, respectively, but these are also sterile.

Body Build (Conformation)

Zebras more closely resemble donkeys than horses in conformation. Their ears are long like a donkey's. The manes are short and stand stiffly upright, like a donkey's rather than the long flowing manes of horses. Some breeds of horses such as the Fjord have a mane that will grow up stiffly like a zebras for a couple of inches, but then it falls over. Zebra manes usually grow very short so they never have a chance to fall to one side.

Zebra tails are also built like a donkey's instead of a horse's. They resemble a paintbrush in that the only part covered with hair is at the end. Horses tend to have tails entirely covered with hair.
Zebras also lack withers that horses have. Withers are a slight bump where the neck meets the shoulders. Having withers makes it far easier for a saddle to stay in place. Although differences vary in individual zebras, many zebras have a mostly level spine instead of a dip from withers to middle of the spine and up to the rounded hindquarters seen in many horse breeds.

Vocalization

Both horses and zebras have a wide range of vocal displays from a snort to a scream. Both species can snort and nicker, but the horse whinnies in a more brassy way than a zebra, which "hee-haws" like a donkey.   Zebras will also make barking sounds similar to geese honking.
In contrast, horses can whinny, which can sound quite shrill or even similar to a bugle.  When aggressive, horses can emit a chilling roar.

Temperament

This is the biggest way in which horses and zebras differ. Horses will readily be domesticated. Even feral horses that have spent years living on the range can be domesticated if given a patient and forgiving trainer. But, outside of a few instances using questionable training methods, zebras will not have anything to do with pulling a carriage or letting someone ride them.

In this way, zebras are identical to Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalksii) in that this species refuses to be domesticated.  There have been rare individuals that have been able to pull carts or temporarily allowed themselves to be ridden.  However, Przewalksi's horses are a different species than domestic horses (Equus caballus) in that they have a different number of chromosomes. Domestic horses only have 64 while the Przewalski has 66. A zebra, in contrast, has 44 chromosomes. Both horses and zebras are prone to spooking, but this instinct is intense in the zebra or in zebroids.

Image of a zorse by Christine and David Schmitt for Wikimedia Commons

Azteca Horse Breed History and Characteristics

The Azteca is a relatively new breed that appeared in the 1970's in Mexico first by crossing Andalusian stallions and Criollo mares with American Quarter horses. According to International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (University of Oklahoma Press, 1995), this is the first horse breed to be developed in Mexico, where it is very popular.

Hard to Register

Although rare anywhere else but Mexico, Aztecas have a loyal following in the United States. However, the Azteca Horse Registry of Americahas slightly different rules for registering a horse than the original Mexican registry. There is also a Canadian registry, called the International Azteca Horse Association.

Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America (Storey Publishing, 2005) notes that thoroughbreds and American paint horses with the correct conformation are accepted. The Mexican registry, Asociacion Internacional deCaballos de Raza Azteca, does not allow any pinto coloration and no Thoroughbred blood. In order not to offend the Mexican registry, any Azteca accepted into either of the American Azteca registries are called American Aztecas and not just "Aztecas".

Another reason for the scarcity of Aztecas is that the registration process is difficult. Even if a foal's sire and dam are both registered, the foal will not be accepted until he is officially inspected at seven months of age and then again at three years old. Horses need to be tested for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) if they in any way trace back to the highly influential Quarter horse stallion Impressive.

Function

Although Aztecas are very attractive and perform well in many horse sports, the breed was developed to work on Mexican cattle ranches and in the bullring. This breed is suited for the Mexican climate as well as being agile and intelligent enough to work fractious livestock. The Azteca also has a dash of "brio", or spirit. Never handle this horse with a heavy hand, because they are smart enough to rebel. However, they will go to the ends of the earth for a quiet, empathetic owner.

With their intelligence and natural athleticism, Aztecas also work in rodeo events, reining, beginning dressage, team penning, polo, in harness and as a companion horse, which is probably the most difficult job of the lot.

General Appearance

As noted previously, American Aztecas are allowed to be spotted, but only solid colors are allowed in the Mexican registration. Grey seems to be the most popular color, but all shades of bay, chestnut, dun, roan and black also appear. The ideal mane and tail are hoped to be long and flowing, but the actual thickness can vary with each individual.

Aztecas average 15 - 16 hands high and about 1000 pounds, but mares are allowed to be as short as 14.3 hands. Although small, they are strong. They are a slim, sturdy build with small ears, spirited eyes and a straight or convex profile to their heads. Their necks often are arched, although not as dramatically as an Arabian's. Their backs are short, withers are usually prominent and tails set low. This conformation is thought to be similar to the original Spanish horses brought over by the Conquistadores to the New World.

References

• International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.
• Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America. Judith Dutson. Storey Publishing, 2005.
• The Official Horse Breeds Standard Book. Fran Lynghaug. Voyageur; 2009.

Image from Wikimedia Commons

What the Heck is Hippophobia?

Please Note: This article first appeared at Bright Hub back when it had a mental health section.

Equinophobia or Hippophobia is a powerfully strong and often irrational fear of horses. Hippo is the Greek word for “horse” while equus or equine are Latin words for horses.   The patient does not need to have been injured by a horse in order to develop this phobia.  People with equinophobia often are also afraid of other animals, situations, objects or people. 

Little Hans

The father of modern psychiatry, Sigmund Freud, had a patient that suffered from Hippophobia.  His patient was a 5 year old boy that Freud called “Little Hans” that was intensely afraid of two things -- being bitten by a horse and of growing up to have a large penis.  Freud, already convinced of the strength of the Oedipus complex, concluded that horses represented a father figure.  In the Oedipus complex, boys are often afraid of their fathers cutting off their penises because they wanted the love of their mothers.  Fathers were competition.

In the case of Little Hans, he did seem to be genuinely frightened by an actual horse.  He lived in the early 1900s.  One day, a cart horse collapsed in the street.  The noise of the horse’s collapse frightened the boy.  However, his fear became so intense that just the sound of horse hooves on cobblestones gripped him with terror.  But in his place and time, Little Hans heard horses pass by every day.  Freud wrote extensively about the case in his paper “Analysis of a Phobia in a Five-year-old Boy" (1909.)

Freud’s interpretation of equinophobia in the case of Little Hans is now considered extreme.  Fear of the father may have played some role, but Hans saw and heard horses every day.  Seeing any cart horse triggered the memory.  The panic would return and the boy was frightened all over again.  After a few weeks, Hans had been conditioned to panic whenever he heard or saw a cart horse, according to Michael W. Eysenck, author of “Psychology: An International Perspective” (Psychology Press; 2004.)

Modern Exposure Therapy

Any sort of phobia, including hippophobia, is now considered an anxiety disorder and not a fear of getting castrated by a parent.  The Anxiety Disorders Association of America explains that although phobias of very specific objects like horses can develop ion childhood, they can also develop at any time of life.  Symptoms of a panic attack can come anytime.  Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, painful tightness of the chest, nausea, sweating and trouble breathing.  Just the fear of having a panic attack, let alone of meeting a horse, can trigger panic attacks. 

Patients with equinophobia may need antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication in conjunction with therapy in order to be calm enough to go through therapy.  The goal of therapy is reprogram a conditioned response with another response.  Patients can watch videos of horses or listen to short tapes of horses whinnying, galloping or making other noises.  The therapist helps supervise these sessions and praises the patient for being calm. 

The goal is to pet a real, live horse without experiencing a panic attack.  However, this may not be necessary depending on the individual patient.  For example, if a patient has many other phobias and getting access to a live horse is difficult, working on another phobia may help cure all of the patient’s phobias.

Over time, the patient can replace the memories of fear caused by horses with the memories of nothing bad happening when a horse appears or makes noises.  Each patient recovers at his or her own rate.

Sources

Simply Psychology. “Sigmund Freud Case Study: Little Hans Case Study.” 

Psychology: An International Perspective. Michael W. Eysenck. Psychology Press; 2004.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America. “Specific Phobias.”

Ailments.com. “Equinophobia.” http://www.ailments.com/716/Equinophobia.html

Image from Wikimedia Commons

What are Gaited Horses?

Thoroughbreds are not considered a breed that can "gait" as the breed is now since they lack the gaiting set of genes. Perhaps in the future thoroughbreds will be crossed with gaited hroses to make for a more comfortable ride. But if you are curious as what a gaited horse is in the present times, read on.

EDIT: The Trail Rider magazine claims that some thoroughbreds do seem to learn at least one gait.

Gaited horses are horses that can perform certain gaits, or ways of moving. These gaits are different than the usual walk, trot, canter and gallop. These gaits have gone under many different names over the centuries, such as the amble or the Indian shuffle, but in modern times they are often called the slow gait, rack, running walk, foxtrot and the pace.  This pace is different from pacing seen in harness racing.

Naturally gaited breeds include the Icelandic horse, the Sorraria pony, the Tennessee Walker, the Rocky Mountain horse, the Missouri Foxtrotter (pictured), the American Saddlebred, some strains of mustangs, the McCurdyPlantation horse, the Racking horse, the North American Single-footing horse, the Marawri of India, the Rahvan of Turkey and several South American breeds such as the Peruvian Paso and the Paso Fino.

The Rise of the Trotter

In the days when people had to ride for hours every day, horses and ponies with comfortable gaits were a must. These horses were bred so that their spine stayed as still as possible while their legs were moving. This not only became more comfortable for the rider, but also more comfortable for the horse. Gaited horses and were among those sent over to North America on Christopher Columbus’ second boat ride in 1493.

But then roads were developed. In the 1800s, speed was of the essence. It was discovered that many horses trotted faster than they ambled. These trotting horses were strong enough to pull wagons at a steady pace for many miles. They could not go at a flat out-gallop, because the horses would wear out in a few miles. But horses could go much further with less risk of injury if they kept up a good trot.

Trotting breeds took over in the 1800s to the point that even riding horses such as the developing Thoroughbred trotted rather than ambled. But some ambling horses remained and were nurtured by a diminishing number of people who still rode for many hours a day. One notable exception was the Icelandic horse, which are all born gaited. Iceland banned importing any horses in 930 AD.

What’s Old is New Again

Horses are now ridden recreationally more than ever, although there are some areas in the world that still rely on the horses for transportation over rugged terrain, such as rocky parts of Kazakhstan and the great cattle ranches of South America. Interest in horses that didn’t hurt the rider’s behinds rose after World War II.

There is now a great interest in revitalizing gaited breeds from all over the world and teaching other horses such as retired Standardbred race horses these gaits in order to make them more adoptable. Theoretically, any horse can be trained to do these gaits, but those breeds with a genetic predisposition to gait will learn faster.

Sadly, some horse shows encourage exaggerating gaits withartificial devices like chains, growing hooves absurdly long or painting the hooves with chemicals that cause a burning sensation.  Horses trained like this may win a few ribbons, but are crippled for life.

Image: Missouri Foxtrotter stallion Quick Trigger by Kayla Oaks for Wikimedia Commons

A Short History of the Triple Crown

NOTE: This little article was first published on the late lamented website Helium.com in 2013. Imagine my surprise when 2015 rolled around and American Pharoah did the seemingly impossible to be Triple Crown winner #12.

The American Triple Crown in thoroughbred flat racing is based on the English Triple Crown, as most elements of American horse racing are based on English horse racing.  The English Triple Crown consists of the 2,000 Guineas run on the first Saturday of May at Newmarket, the Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs in early June and the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse which is run in the summer.

Both Triple Crowns are restricted for three-year-old colts and fillies.  For many years, geldings were restricted from some of the races but have been allowed in recent years.  This age restriction makes the Triple Crown so hard to win.  Thoroughbreds do not mature until they are five years old so they are the human equivalent of teenagers when they run in Triple Crown races.

Enter Bryan Field

Bryan Field was a prominent turf writer for The New YorkTimes in the early 1900s.  In the 1920s, he proposed that America should have a Triple Crown similar to the English Triple Crown.  He suggested that the three best candidates for the race be the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore and the Belmont Stakes in New York.

His idea caught on.  By the 1930s, the idea was established so firmly that a special trophy was commissioned for past and future winners of the Triple Crown.  Because the idea of an American Triple Crown was not established before the 1930s, thoroughbred superstars like Man o’ War were never entered in one of the three races.  Man o’ War, for example, never ran in the Kentucky Derby.

Only 12 Winners

The main difference in the American Triple Crown than the English version is that a horse has to win three grueling races in just five weeks.  In England they have at least seven weeks, depending on when races were scheduled.  As a result, there have only been 11 winners of the American Triple Crown.  They are:

• ·         Sir Barton in 1919
• ·         Gallant Fox 1930
• ·         Omaha, son of Gallant Fox, in 1935
• ·         War Admiral, son of Man o’ War, in 1937
• ·         Whirlaway in 1941
• ·         Count Fleet in 1943
• ·         Assault in 1946
• ·         Citation in 1948
• ·         Secretariat in 1973
• ·         Seattle Slew in 1977
• ·         Affirmed in 1978

And, oh yeah -- in 2015 American Pharoah came out nowhere to sweep the Triple Crown and a newfangled race called the Breeder's Cup Classic.

There have been many speculations as to why so few have won the Triple Crown, as opposed to 13 winners for the English version.  The main theories are that it is just too much to ask for a three-year-old thoroughbred; the rise of international travel which makes more thoroughbreds able to compete in the races and the deterioration of the thoroughbred’s overall health as a breed.

Image of the Triple Crown trophy from Wikimedia Commons.

Life of a Racehorse: Retraining after Retirement

If the racehorse has survived a racing career....

To train a racehorse is a complicated process.  Horses cannot experience a sudden change of diet and exercise without risk of potentially lethal colic.  Therefore, Thoroughbreds destined for retirement and a new life outside of the racetrack need their diets and exercise levels gradually tapered off before they can go into retraining.

Thoroughbreds live an average of 30 years but usually are retired from flat racing when they are just five and from jumps racing when they are teenagers.  Only champion mares and stallions head for a new life in the breeding shed.  But the majority of racehorses are geldings or neutered males.  Although they cannot breed, their calmer temperaments make them excellent candidates for retraining for pleasure riding or driving in harness.

Challenges Ahead

It is a popular misconception that all racehorses are retired due to untreatable injuries.  Although injuries may occur to prompt a racehorse trainer’s decision to retire a horse, not all retired racehorses are lame or sick.  Some are retired just because the horses are too slow for competitive racing.  Some have treatable illnesses.  Within a year, they can be sound and ready for their new careers.

It is also a popular misconception thatThoroughbreds are crazy.  The high-energy diets that racers need leads to high-energy horses.  This is why a retired Thoroughbred needs to gradually have his grain rations reduced so he is not so full of excess energy.  Thoroughbreds are intelligent creatures that are curious about their surroundings and love food.  They are willing to learn new things if given a small food reward like a chunk of carrot.

What Retired Racehorses Can Do

Racehorses need to unlearn some habits that the track taught them.  Training a racehorse to be a calm pleasure mount means training the horse as if he never has been ridden before.  Many racehorses equate the weight of a rider with running as fast as possible.  But gradually the horse will learn to wait for a rider’s cues before walking, trotting or running.

Once a retired racehorse learns the basics of responding to bridle commands on a lunge line and walking under a rider without breaking out into a gallop, then he is ready for just about anything his new career demands.  Ex-racehorses can be found doing tricks for the movies, carrying police officers for crowd control and given riding lessons to the physically and mentally challenged.  But the majority will go on to be pleasure mounts and compete in sporting events like hunting and dressage.

Conclusion

The end of a racing career does not mean the end of a racehorse’s life.  Retired racehorses are suitable for a wide variety of future careers.  Training a racehorse for a new life is first started by a racehorse trainer and then to trainers and volunteers in horse rescue organizations.  There are many sound and sensible ex-racehorses ready for adoption.

Recommended Reading

• ·         Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racehorse to Riding Horse. Anna Ford and Amber Heintzberger.  Trafalger Square Books; 2008.
• ·         HorseChannel. “Starting with Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds.”  Cindy Hale.  September 2007. 
• ·         Steuart Pitman.  “Retraining Thoroughbreds for Dressage.”  Dressage Today. January, 2013.