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.