HORSES AND PONIESHORSES AND PONIES

By Emily Cheng 5M

ARABIAN

The Arabian is the oldest and the purest of all horse breeds. They are particularly suited to the sport of endurance riding. The Arabian often appears to float over the ground.

ARABIAN

The Arabian has large eyes and nostrils, a short refined head and a dished profile.

The Arabian’s height is 14.2 – 15hh. It is usually chestnut, grey, bay and black.

THOROUGHBRED

With its well-sloped shoulders, powerful hindquarters and long limbs. The thoroughbred is the perfect racehorse.

THOROUGHBREDTHOROUGHBRED

The Thoroughbred’s average height is 16 – 16.2hh. They can be any solid color, the most common being bay, chestnut and brown. The Thoroughbred has an easy, ground-covering stride at the gallop.

SHETLAND

Named after a group of remote Scottish islands, the Shetland is the smallest of the British native breeds. They can be strong-willed but it is intelligent and will respond to correct handling.

SHETLANDThe Shetland averages

40 inches at three years old or under. It averages 42 inches at four years or over. They can be any color except spotted. Short-legged and stocky, the breed is noted for its great strength in relation to its small size.

COLORS AND MARKINGS

Most breeds of horses allow all kinds of colors and markings. Markings include leg markings and facial markings. Some breeds allow only certain types of colors. Some breeds only allow certain types of markings or none at all.

           

                Star

- found high up between the eyes -

often a diamond shape.

 

Snip

- small mark on

the muzzle

                 

                    

               

                  Stripe

- long straight marking down

the horse's nose.

Race- long wavy or irregular stripe.

                   

                 

               

                  Bald Face

- marking that covers most

of the horse's face.

Blaze- broad

marking down the front of the horse's face.

                 

                   

               

                     Star and

Stripe- star which continues

down to join a stripe.

Star, Stripe & Snip

- marking which extends

all the way down to the

horse's muzzle.

 

                   

               

Left to right: Coronet, half pastern, sock, half cannon, stocking, ermine spots in stocking

The Evolution of the Horse

The oldest horse that ever lived was a

barge horse in England named ‘Old Billy’ who

lived until the age of 62!!

INTERESTING FACTS

Foals can stand up within several hours of birth.

There are 300 different breeds of horses and poniesaround the world

Albinos (pure white horses) have pink skin. The pink skin

around their eyes arevisible.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• www.angelfire.lycos.com

• www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses

• www.horsefun.com

• www.horses.co.uk