pumpkinflirt

The Andravida is a light riding draft breed found in the region of Ilia in Greece. It was developed in the early 20th century from Anglo-Norman stock being crossed with local breeds. Nonius stallions were then used after 1920. This nearly extinct breed's herdbook was established in 1995. It is also known as Eleia, Ilia, or Greek.
The most important part of the Andravida's appearance is that it is a large, strong horse. Its height ranges from fourteen to sixteen hands, with most of the horses at the upper end of the scale. It has a deep, muscular breast and powerful legs that make it a useful draft horse. The head is regular with no remarkable characteristics. The coloration is generally shades of dark bay (often called {"Brown") with chestnut or lighter blonde coloring being slightly less common. Many of the show horses of the breed have white markings on the head or sides, and these are considered perfectly acceptable.
from wiki

Rider

HISTORY:
The ancient breed's ancestry is not known, although it is thought to have been from crosses between the Sorraia, Garrano, and the ancient Celtic pony. The breed has historically faced near extinction, but recently activist groups have been formed to protect the pony.Also known as the Asturcon, this breed originated in Northern Spain. It is used for riding and packing and stands 11.2 to 12.2 h.h. Centuries ago the existence of a small horse breed originating in the northwest of Spain was recorded. The Romans referred to these horses as asturcons and thought well of them - and they were popular with the French during the Middle Ages. Pliny (23-79 A.D.) described them as a small breed that did not trot, but moved in an easy gait by alternately moving both legs on one side.

The ambling gait was natural for this small horse, and done in such a way that it gave a comfortable ride. As a result, they become popular as ladies' mounts. Known as palfreys in England, they were called haubini in France, a word that later became hobbye and eventually hobby horse. Much of this blood was taken to Ireland, where the "Irish Hobby" was greatly admired.

It is thought by some that the Asturian developed as a cross between the Garrano pony of northern Portugal and Spain - a direct descendant of the Celtic pony - and the Sorraia, the original saddle horse of Iberia, which gave the breed its calm temperament. Some other blood must have been present in the Asturian's lineage, however, because the ambling gait is not present in either the Sorraia or Garrano. Suspected by the author is a strong and more direct link to the ancient Celtic pony, of which some strains at least must have been amblers. There is a narrow but clear trail of ambling horses to be found in Turkey, China, Mongolia, and Siberia, tracing the route of the prehistoric horse to the now submerged land-bridge at the Bering Straits.

CHARACTERISTICS:
Living in a feral state for the most part, under difficult conditions, the breed was facing extinction. The predominant colors for the Asturian is black or bay with no white markings.

The Asturian has a small although sometimes rather heavy head, with a straight profile, small ears, and large eyes; the neck is long and quite thin with a flowing mane; the withers are moderately high; the back straight and strong; the croup is sloping with a low tail-set; the shoulder is well sloped. The feet of this pony are well shaped and very tough.

Credits to Wikipedia

Rider

The Appaloosa is a horse breed with preferred characteristics that include coat pattern. It is best known for a distinctive leopard spotted coat color, but has other distinctive physical characteristics. The Nez Perce tribe of the American Pacific Northwest developed the breed. They were once referred to by white settlers as the "Palouse horse", probably because the Palouse River ran through the heart of Nez Perce country. Gradually, the name evolved into "Appaloosa".

For complete reference, please visit wikipedia.

Rider

The American Cream Draft is a rare draft horse of consistently cream color and medium to heavy build, the only draft horse breed developed in the USA.

It is a unique draft breed because of its cream coloring, which is not seen in most other draft horse breeds. Due to its small number of registered animals, the breed has been listed at a "critical" status by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

Genetic research, conducted by E. Gus Cothran of the University of Kentucky, has established that the American Cream Draft is not merely a color variant of the Belgian breed, but unique in type as well as color. The color is caused by a dominant gene known as the champagne gene, and it is neither a cremello nor a palomino.

HISTORY:
The foundation dam of the American Cream Draft was a cream colored draft mare of unknown breeding, Old Granny, purchased in 1911 in Iowa. Many of her progeny carried her distinctive colouring and these foals drew much attention in the local farming community. One of her descendants, the stallion Silver Lace No. 9, foaled in 1931 from a Belgian mare, had the biggest early influence on the breed. In the mid-1930s C.T. Rierson of Iowa purchased a number of creams with the intent of establishing a breed, and for the first time, detailed records were kept. The foundation stock was a mixture of cream-colored horses of unknown background, Belgians, Shires, and Percherons. He created the name "American Cream," and in 1944 the American Cream Draft Horse Association was formed by Mr. Rierson and other interested horse breeders.

The middle of the twentieth century was not the best time to promote a new draft horse breed, as tractors were replacing draft horses for farm work. Thus, by the 1970s, the breed association was defunct and the American Cream was nearly extinct. In response to this danger, a new American Cream Draft Horse Association was formed by the few remaining breeders in 1982. About 300 horses are in existence, with a distribution across the USA.

CHARACTERISTICS:
The American Cream Draft stands between 15 to 17 hands high and weighs up to one ton. Only the cream color is permitted in the breed. Other than the coloration, the American Cream physically resembles other medium-weight draft horses. The head is refined in shape and in proportion to the body, with a short-coupled body, sloping shoulder, and deep girth. Manes and tails are long and flowing. The eye-catching appearance and uniformity of the horses makes them crowd pleasers when they appear in parades and at shows. They usually appear in harness but can also be ridden. The temperament is very docile and willing. There is slight feathering around the fetlocks.

American Creams have a body color ranging from almost white to a dark cream, with a white mane and tail. Horses may have white face and leg markings. Due to the action of the champagne gene, most horses are born with brown hooves, pink skin, and blue eyes. The blue eyes eventually become hazel, amber or occasionally green at adulthood. Skin is preferably pink, but at present darker-skinned mares are permissible for breeding as long as they have the rest of the cream characteristics.

Horses mature late, at around five years of age. Mares mature at around 16 hands in height, and weigh around 1600 lbs. Mature height and weight of stallions is around 16.3 hands and 1800 lbs or more.

Credits to Wikipedia.

Allan

The Anglo-Kabarda or Anglo-Kabardin (also known as the Anglo-Kabardinskaya porodnaya gruppa) is a breed of horse that is a cross between the Kabarda and the Thoroughbred. Representatives of the breed may have between 25 percent and 75 percent Thoroughbred blood. The cross was developed beginning in the 1920s and 1930s to produce a horse that was larger and faster than the native Kabarda, but adapted to the climate of the northern Caucasus region of Russia and able to maneuver in mountainous terrain.

In appearance the breed more closely resembles the Thoroughbred than the Kabarda, and has been used as saddle horses both locally in the Caucasus mountains and to compete in international Olympic events.

Thanks to Wikipedia.

Rider

Arappaloosa is a breed of horse.

Also known as the Araloosa and the AraAppaloosa, the horse is a cross between an Arabian and an Appaloosa.

These horses combine the refined phenotype of the Arabian with the coloring of the Appaloosa. As both breeds are noted for endurance and intelligence, the resulting cross is usually able to excel at endurance riding as well as other disciplines performed by either breed, including ranch work, Western pleasure, and a variety of other horse show disciplines. They may be registered as half-Arabians within the Arabian Horse Association, and may also be registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club.

Credits to Wikipedia.

Rider

The Australian Stock Horse (or Stockhorse), has been especially bred for Australian climatic conditions. It is a hardy breed of horse noted for endurance, agility and a good temperament. Its ancestry dates to the arrival of the first horses in Australia, brought from Europe, Africa and Asia. It is used today in a wide variety of disciplines, and is still valued as a working horse by stockmen throughout Australia.

For complete reference about Australian Stock Horse, please visit this page.

Rider

There are two registries in the US which recognize American Warmbloods -- the American Warmblood Registry and the American Warmblood Society. The American Warmblood is more of a "type" than a "breed". Some breeders in America contend that all European Warmbloods are highly intermingled and, therefore, do not necessarily represent distinct breeds, but rather various types.

The American Warmblood has been influenced by the European Warmblood, the Thoroughbred, and the Arabians as well as some draft breeds.

The American Warmblood has many of the quality characteristics found in other competition warmblood breeds. Its head is similar to the Thoroughbred, as well as it having the sloping shoulders with powerful, well-muscles hindquarters, much needed in competition. A short back makes it an excellent horse for all riding events. It is usually between 15 and 17 hands high and all colours are accepted though most are bay.

Credits to Wikipedia.

Rider

The Albanian is a small horse belonging to the Balkan group. There are two types of native Albanian horse, which are referred to as Mountain and Myzeqea (plains). In recent years interbreeding between the two types has made the distinction less clear. Traditionally the Myzeqea is larger standing at 13.2 hands and the Mountain type on average about 12.2 to 12.3 hands.

The ancient inhabitants of this area were Illyrians, Indo-Europeans who overran the northwest part of the Balkan peninsula around the fifth century B.C. The Serbians settled here during the seventh century A.D. and were overpowered by the Turks in 1386. During the Ottoman Empire, a great deal of Arab blood was infused into the local horses, which were likely various combinations of Tarpan, Turkmenian, and Mongolian stock. The Albanian knighthood of Skanderbeg was a rear force for this national hero, terrifying the Osman invaders (Ottoman Empire) and bringing honor and glory to the country.

The Albanian is known for its freedom of movement, agility in difficult terrain, disease resistance, and endurance. In the past these horses were used more for transport and riding than for agricultural purposes. In the early 1990's, measures were taken to promote and increase the number of Albanian horses and to improve them for agricultural work. The improved breeds are concentrated in large breeding centers such as the Zootechnic Station at Shkodra and at specialized farms where stallions are produced for improving local horses. Since 1980 there has been a great increase in the number of horses in Albania.

The Myzeqea is very good for long distance use and is exceptionally strong for its size and many have an easily ridden ambling gait. The Albanian are hardy efficient horses. They are often used as carriage horses as well as for riding and light draft.

The goals of Albanian breeders today are concentrated increase in number and improvement. Purebred Arab, Nonius, and Haflinger horses are crossed with the native Albanian and several improved types are emerging. The native horse of Albania has few disadvantages of quality, the main need being increased size for better agricultural work. The Haflinger breed was imported from Austria to help improve the working abilities of horses in the hilly regions of the country.

Credits to this site.

Rider

The American Indian Horse is essentially any horse of Spanish origin that has evolved to adapt to a particular environment within the United States (with the help of man in many cases.) Hence, the title American Indian Horse does not refer to one specific breed; rather, it applies to any breed that has proved itself capable of withstanding a distinct ecotone, whether it be the high plains of the Midwest or the low swamplands of the South.

HISTORY:
The history of the American Indian Horse is varied according to which area of the U.S. from which you begin. Its earliest origin is from the Arabian breed that was imported to Spain, then bred with Barb and Andalusian stock to become the Iberian horses which were brought over to the Americas by the conquistadors in the 1500's. Nowadays, the American Indian Horse Registry, established in 1961, has created five categories in which to group the horse. Class A are those with unknown pedigrees, such as BLM horses. Class AA have at least a fifty percent traceable pedigree to distinct American Indian tribe horses. Class M horses have modern type breed blood, such as Quarter Horse and Appaloosa. Class O horses are those horses which follow a distinct bloodline that follows back to specific Indian tribes. Class P is reserved for ponies of Indian type.

CHARACTERISTICS:
Due to the fact that the American Indian Horse Registry has not just one single breed or stock but rather a group that has developed over time in the Americas from Spanish stock, there is no singular characteristic of the horse. At the most general, the American Indian Horse stands between 13 and 15 hands high and comes in any colour from solid to lilac roan or peacock spotted leopard. It does not have small feet in comparison to the body structure, overly muscled/fat body style of the "modern" horse breeds or overly straight legs. Also does not have many of the digestive, nervous, and muscular problems associated with many modern pampered breeds.

Credits to Wikipedia.

Rider

The American Paint Horse is a breed of horse that combines both the conformational characteristics of a western stock horse with a pinto spotting pattern of white and dark coat colors. Developed from a base of spotted horses with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines, the American Paint Horse is now one of the fastest-growing breeds in the United States.

REGISTRATION:
The American Paint Horse's combination of color and conformation has made the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) the second-largest breed registry in the United States. While the colorful coat pattern is essential to the identity of the breed, American Paint Horses have strict bloodline requirements and a distinctive stock-horse body type. To be eligible for registry, a Paint's sire and dam must be registered with the American Paint Horse Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, or the Jockey Club ( Thoroughbreds). At least one of the parents must be a registered American Paint Horse.

TERMS FOR COLOR PATTERS:

• Tobiano: The most common spotting pattern, characterized by rounded markings with white legs and white across the back between the withers and the dock of the tail, usually arranged in a roughly vertical pattern and more white than dark, with the head usually dark and with markings like that of a normal horse. i.e. star, snip, strip, or blaze.
• Overo: Spotting pattern characterized by sharp, irregular markings with a horizontal orientation, usually more dark than white, though the face is usually white, sometimes with blue eyes. The white rarely crosses the back, and the lower legs are normally dark.
• Sabino: Often confused with roan or rabicano, sabino is a slight spotting pattern characterized by high white on legs, belly spots, white markings on the face extending past the eyes and/or patches of roaning patterns standing alone or on the edges of white markings. In some registries, sabinos are registered as having the overo pattern
• Tovero: Spotting pattern that is a mix of tobiano and overo coloration, such as blue eyes on a dark head.
• Solid: A horse otherwise eligible for registration as a Paint that does not have any white that constitutes a recognized spotting pattern.
• "Color": An informal term meaning that the horse has a spotting pattern. (The opposite of "Solid.")
• "Chrome": An informal term of approval used in some geographic regions to describe a particularly flashy spotting pattern.

HISTORY:
The American Paint Horse shares a common ancestry with the American Quarter Horse and the Thoroughbred. A registered Paint horse should conform to the same "stock horse" body type desired in Quarter Horses: a muscular animal that is heavy but not too tall, with a low center of gravity for maneuverability, and powerful hindquarters suitable for rapid acceleration and sprinting.

When the American Quarter Horse Association emerged in 1940 to preserve horses of the "stock" type, it excluded those with pinto coat patterns and "crop out" horses, those born with white body spots or white above the knees and hocks. Undeterred, fans of colorful stock horses formed a variety of organizations to preserve and promote Paint horses. In 1965 some of these groups merged to form the American Paint Horse Association.

For complete reference, please visit Wikipedia.

Rider

The American Saddlebred, formerly known as the American Saddle Horse, is a breed of horse that was developed in Kentucky by plantation owners. Today, they are most commonly seen in Saddle seat style riding in the horse show ring, although they are also used in other disciplines including dressage, hunter/jumper, and even western riding. They also are popular parade mounts.

HISTORY:
In the 18th century, American colonists crossed the Narragansett Pacer with the Thoroughbred. Known as the American Horse, this cross was used in the Revolutionary War, and made its way into Kentucky. In the 1800s, the breed become known as the Kentucky Saddler. It was used mainly on plantations because of its comfortable, ground-covering gaits, and sure-footed manner. It was developed into a very stylish, fancy horse: beautiful for harness, strong enough for farm work, fast enough for match races. In the 1830s, Morgan and Thoroughbred blood was added to give the more substance and action. This produced the American Saddlebred. The horse gained popularity in the 1840s. The stallion Denmark, born in 1839, became the foundation sire, with over 60% of today's Saddlebreds tracing back to this one horse.

General Robert E. Lee had a Saddlebred named Traveller; Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Stonewall Jackson also rode Saddlebreds. After the American Civil War ended, breeders began promoting the breed as a show horse, breeding for flash and animation, and earning the breed one its nicknames, "The Peacock of the Horse World," considered a term of admiration. One of the most famous Saddlebreds in the horse show world was Wing Commander (1943 – 1969). A six-time World Grand Champion, he became a leading sire of saddlebred show horses.

CHARACTERISTICS:The American Saddlebred with its conformation, personality, and stamina is suited to accomplish any task requested, but is most well-known as the "peacock of the horse show world". The horses used for the show ring are flashy, high-stepping animals, with exaggerated action. The Saddlebred is very sensitive and alert. The ideal American Saddlebred is well-proportioned and presents a beautiful overall picture. Large, wide-set expressive eyes and gracefully shaped ears set close together are positioned on a well-shaped head. The neck is long with a fine, clean throatlatch and is arched and well-flexed at the poll. The American Saddlebred sports well-defined and prominent withers, while the shoulders are deep and sloping. Well-sprung ribs and a strong level back also characterize the breed. The legs are straight with broad flat bones, sharply defined tendons and sloping pasterns. Saddlebreds are usually black, bay, chestnut, or brown, but grays, buckskins, palominos, pintos and occasionally roans are also found. The average height is 15-16 hh, but can also be as small as 14.2 hh or taller than 17 hh.

Saddlebreds can also be five-gaited, performing not only the walk, trot, and canter, but the slow-gait and rack. The slow gait is a four-beated gait performed in a prancing motion, lifting the legs very high. The rack is a more ground-covering four-beat gait, and is much faster, with the horse snapping their knees and hocks up quickly. Ancestors of the Saddlebred were naturally gaited, and many Saddlebreds today can naturally perform them, and most can learn the additional gaits.

Credits to Wikipedia.