Breeds, Types, and Classes: Part 2

Ponies

  • Definition of Ponies:

    • Smaller than typical horses

    • Notable for thicker manes, tails, and overall coats.

    • Proportional characteristics:

      • Shorter legs

      • Wider barrels

      • Heavier bones

      • Thicker necks

      • Shorter heads with broader foreheads

Behavior and Historical Use of Ponies

  • Temperament:

    • Generally intelligent and friendly.

    • Can exhibit stubbornness, often due to improper training.

  • Historical Roles:

    • Used for driving and transport of freight.

    • Served as mounts for children and recreation.

    • Current roles include competitors and performers.

    • Called “pit ponies” in the UK: used for hauling coal from mines.

Miniature Horses

  • Definition:

    • Weight:150-350 lbs.

    • Size: Up to 34 inches tall (8.5 hands),

      • Some registries accept up to 38 inches.

  • Primary Uses:

    • Mainly kept as companion animals.

    • Used for therapy and emotional support.

Warmbloods

  • Definition:

    • Refers to a category of light to medium horse breeds.

  • Physical Characteristics:

    • Smaller heads and bodies compared to draft horses.

    • Less excitable compared to hotbloods.

  • Uses:

    • Riding and light work.

Historical Background of Warmbloods

  • Development:

    • Resulted from warriors returning to Europe with Arabian horses from the Middle East and Africa.

  • Popularity:

    • Commonly seen/used in the Olympic events.

    • Notable American breeds: Quarter horse, Tennessee Walking horse, and Palominos.

Hotbloods

  • Definition:

    • Horses bred for speed and athleticism.

  • Behavior:

    • Known for their temperament;

    • Require experienced riders due to their handling difficulties.

Examples of Hotblood Breeds

  • Notable Breeds:

    • Arabian, Moroccan Barb, Thoroughbred.

  • Uses:

    • Primarily used for riding and racing.

    • Typically owned by individuals with sufficient resources for their upkeep and hendling

Coldbloods

  • Definition:

    • Known for stable and calm temperaments.

  • Physical Attributes:

    • Generally strong, rugged, and durable; suited for work.

    • The term refers to traits rather than a specific breed.

Varieties of Coldblood Breeds

  • Examples:

    • Range from gentle giants like Clydesdales to rugged Welsh ponies.

  • Temperament:

    • Known for being mellow and hard to spook.

Uses of Coldbloods

  • Roles:

    • Bred for strength and workload, often found in farming and hauling applications.

    • Typically large and heavy breeds (draft horses)

Feral Horses

  • Description:

    • Free-roaming, descended from domesticated horses.

    • Differentiates between feral horses and true wild horses, which never underwent domestication.

    • All feral horses descended from domesticated horses that strayed or escaped from human management.

Behavior of Feral Horses

  • Natural Behavior:

    • Over time, reverted to behaviors similar to wild horses.

    • Live in structured social groups called 'bands' or 'herds'.

    • In Australia known as 'mob'.

    • Alternate Name: Mustangs.

Habitat of Feral Horses in the U.S.

  • Regions:

    • Found in states such as California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

  • Management:

    • Managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service.

Page 19: Federal Protection Laws

  • Legislation:

    • Two Federal Laws to Protect Feral Horses

    • : Public Laws 86-234 and 92-195.

Donkeys

  • Definition:

    • Known as donkey or ass (Equus asinus).

    • Locally called ‘burro’ in the Western U.S.

  • Terminology:

    • Male adult donkey: Jack

    • Female adult donkey: Jenny or Jennet

    • Young donkey (under a year): Foal

    • Young male: Colt

    • Young female: Filly

Interbreeding within the Equidae Family

  • Hybridization:

    • Different species in the family can interbreed, often leading to sterile offspring.

    • Mule: Offspring of a jack and a mare.

Other Hybrid Offspring

  • Rare Interbreeding Results:

    • Hinny: Offspring of a male horse and female donkey.

    • Zonkey/Zebroid: Cross of zebra with donkey, developed from male zebra and female donkey.

    • Zebra Hinny: Cross of female zebra and male donkey.

Donkey Sizes and Historical Uses

  • Size Variations:

    • Donkeys vary in size due to breed differences, generally from 0.9 to 1.4 meters tall.

    • Mammoth Jack is a larger size.

  • Historical Efficiency:

    • Used historically for transportation of supplies and pulling wagons, and occasionally for riding.

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