Funky Breeds
republished with
permission of HorsePower
Just when you
thought you knew every horse breed on the planet, they come up with
some new ones. While some are mixes of old favourites, a few are actually
older breeds that are now just becoming popular.
An example of
an old breed gaining popularity is the Florida Cracker, which
are descendants of Spanish horses brought to what is now Florida back
in 1521. They were tough and made great cow ponies, as well as pulling
buggies and working on farms. They got their name from the “Cracker
people” who used loud whips to herd and pen cattle. They range
in height from 13.2 to 15 hands and are quick and handy with a fast
walking pace and a single-foot gait often referred to as a “coon
rack”. They come in all colours, but solid coats are most common.
(Call 352-472-2228 for more info)
The Kerry Bog
pony was almost extinct by 1994. At one point, there were only 20
ponies left in Ireland , its native land. The Kerry Bog Society was
formed to save these little ponies, who are as small as Shetlands
and were used to haul peat out of the bogs to use as fuel.
The Tennuvian
is an example of a fairly new breed. It is a cross between the Tennessee
Walking Horse and the Peruvian Paso, and is praised for its smooth
gait and sweet temperament, making it wonderful as a show or pleasure
horse. (Call 303-841-6731 for more info).
The American
Walking Pony sports the look of an Arabian with the gaits of a
Walking Horse. The breed was established in 1968, and was actually
the result of a cross between a Welsh pony and a Tennessee Walker.
The breed is seven-gaited, and can perform the Pleasure Walk and the
Merry Walk, as well as being great little jumpers and competitive
trail horses. (Call 912-743-2321 for more info).
The Walkaloosa,
despite its name, is not just a cross between the Walker and Appaloosa.
The Shoshone and Nez Perce Indians prized the “gaited” Appaloosas,
descendants of Spanish horses, hundreds of years ago. They were bred
for their nice nature and smooth, gliding gait, and were known by
the cowboys of the time as “the wildly spotted horse with the
Indian Shuffle.” Nowadays, these “shuffling” Appaloosas
are crossed with Plantation-bred natural single-footing Walking Horses
to produce intelligent, colourful, comfortable riding horses. (Call
805-528-7308 for more info).
The list goes
on. The Spotted Draft Horse can be half to full draft blood
with pinto markings. (505-384-2426). The Quarab has been around since
1989, and is a cross between the Quarter Horse and Arabian –
two of the most popular breeds in North America . In 1991, the Painted
Quarab Index was added to allow Quarabs with tobiano and overo coat
patterns to be included. (Call 503-538-0351 for more info).
And just so that
no one feels left out, there is the International Generic Horse Association,
which allows “no name” breeds to register, no matter who
their parents were! (Call 310-719-9094 for more info).
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