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| Breeds |
Horse
& Pony Breeds
There are over 170 breeds of horses and ponies in the world; here are brief fact files on those that originated in the UK and Ireland.
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Unfortunately
a significant number of these breeds are considered endangered by the
Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), which has assessed each population.
The RBST has different categories of risk, which depends on a number of
factors - including the number of breeding females registered with the
breed society. You can find more information on the RBST by visiting www.rbst.org.uk
Anglo-Arab
Originated in: The UK (also France and Poland); a cross between
a Thoroughbred and an Arab, with a minimum 12% Arab blood
Height: Usually 16 to 16.3 hands high
Colour: All solid colours (ie bay, black, brown, chestnut
and grey)
Characteristics: Brave and intelligent. Physical characteristics
vary, some show more Arab characteristics, others more Thoroughbred.
Used for: Dressage, jumping and eventing.
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Cleveland
Bay
Originated in: Cleveland, North East England
Height: Usually 15.2 to 17 hands high
Colour: Always bay; no white markings on the legs.
Characteristics: Intelligent, bold and honest. Hardy; with
excellent stamina.
Used for: Eventing, show jumping and driving.
Breed status: Critical; (1997 RBST survey - only 150 registered
adult females).
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Clydesdale
Originated in: Lanarkshire, Scotland
Height: 16.2 to 18 hands high
Colour: Bay, brown, black or roan. White face, legs and feet
are common.
Characteristics: Powerful; swift stepping with a long free
stride. Long silky feathers. Brave and willing 'gentle giants'.
Used for: Historically used for haulage of wagons and agricultural
implements. Now mainly bred for showing; also riding and driving.
Breed status: At risk; (1997 RBST survey - 500 registered
adult females).
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Connemara
Pony
Originated in: Connemara, County Galway, Ireland
Height: 13 to 14.2 hands high
Colour: Grey (most common), black, brown, bay and dun.
Characteristics: Intelligent, manageable and exceptionally
kind; hardy and sure-footed; good jumping ability.
Used for: Riding, jumping and driving.
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Dales
Pony
Originated in: Eastern Pennines, England
Height: Ideally 14 to 14.2 hands high
Colour: Usually black, also bay, brown, grey and occasionally
roan. The only white markings allowed are a star and/or snip and
white hind coronet or fetlocks.
Characteristics: Alert, intelligent and calm. Good strength and
stamina. Extravagant stepping action.
Used for: Riding and driving.
Breed status: Vulnerable; (1997 RBST survey - 800 registered
adult females).
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Dartmoor
Pony
Originated in: Dartmoor in Devon, England
Height: Up to 12.2 hands high
Colour: Bay, black and brown are preferred. Grey, chestnut
and roan are permitted, however piebalds and skewbalds are barred
and excessive white markings are discouraged.
Characteristics: Kind, willing and sensible; hardy and surefooted;
ideal child's first pony.
Used for: Riding and driving.
Breed status: Vulnerable; (1997 RBST survey - 330 registered
adult females).
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Eriskay
Pony
Originated in: Eriskay, Outer Hebrides
Height: 12 to 13.2 hands high
Colour: Grey; sometimes black or bay. (Foals are often born
brown or black and turn grey with maturity).
Characteristics: Hardy with great stamina; kind-natured -
make excellent family ponies.
Used for: Riding and driving.
Breed status: Critical; (1997 RBST survey - only 100 registered
adult females).
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Exmoor
Pony
Originated in: Exmoor, Somerset/Devon borders, England
Height: Up to 12.3 hands high
Colour: Brown, bay or dun. All have 'mealy' (cream-coloured)
muzzle. No white markings of any kind.
Characteristics: Intelligent, alert and kind-natured. Strong
and hardy, with a double-layered winter coat.
Used for: Riding, driving, trekking and riding for the disabled.
Breed status: Endangered. Only around 200 are living freely
on Exmoor.
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Fell
Pony
Originated in: Cumbria (the Lake District)
Height: Up to 14 hands high
Colour: Black (most common), bay, brown and grey.
Characteristics: Strong, sure-footed and versatile. Ponies
are good-natured, with a lively and alert appearance. They are known
for their great energy and stamina.
Used for: Riding, trekking and driving.
Breed status: Endangered (1997 RBST survey - 400 registered
adult females). During the past 20 years the breed has been threatened
by a clinical syndrome known as Fell pony immunocompromising disorder,
which causes certain death in young foals. The Fell Pony Society
and pony breeders are working hard to identify carriers of the disease
and eliminate it.
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Hackney
Originated in: The UK; a combination of Arab, Thoroughbred
and Norfolk Trotter (now extinct) bloodlines
Height: 14 to 16 hands high
Colour: Bay, black, brown or chestnut.
Characteristics: Alert head with high stepping action in
both front and back legs; excellent stamina.
Used for: Carriage driving.
Breed status: Vulnerable (2002 stud book data - 499 registered
adult females)
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Hackney
Pony
Originated in: The UK; Hackney horses were crossed with Fell
and Welsh Ponies.
Height: 12.2 to 14 hands high
Colour: Bay, black, brown or chestnut.
Characteristics: Alert head with high stepping action in
both front and back legs; hardy with typical pony personalities.
Used for: Carriage driving.
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Highland
Pony
Originated in: Western Isles and mainland of Scotland
Height: 13 to 14.2 hands high
Colour: A range of duns; also grey, black and brown. Many
ponies have a dorsal stripe.
Characteristics: Quiet, intelligent and responsive.
Used for: Riding.
Breed status: Vulnerable (RBST - less than 900 registered
adult females).
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Irish
Draught
Originated in: Ireland
Height: 15 to 17 hands high
Colour: Any solid colour; white leg above knees or hocks
is not encouraged.
Characteristics: Powerful, with plenty of stamina; intelligent
with a gentle nature.
Used for: Riding, particularly hunting, show jumping and
eventing.
Breed status: Critical (1997 RBST survey - 120 registered
adult females)
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New
Forest Pony
Originated in: New Forest, Hampshire
Height: 12-14.2 hands high
Colour: Any solid colour; white markings are permitted.
Characteristics: Intelligent, willing and docile. Hardy with
plenty of endurance.
Used for: Riding - particularly children's ponies - and driving.
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Shetland
Pony
Originated in: The Shetland Isles
Height: Up to 42 inches (smallest native breed in UK).
Colour: Any, except spotted ponies. Black is most common.
Characteristics: Extremely hardly, sure-footed and adaptable;
considered strongest breed (for its size).
Conformation: Small ears, broad foreheads and open nostrils;
deep body and short, strong legs. Ponies have abundant manes and
tails and a "double coat" in winter, which keeps their skin dry.
Used for: Mainly riding and driving, sometimes kept as pets.
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Shire
Orginated in: Midlands (central) counties, England
Height: Average 17.2 hands high
Colour: Black, brown, bay and grey.
Characteristics: The largest 'heavy horse' breed: great strength
and stamina; gentle and kind. Long feathers on the legs.
Used for: Haulage and riding.
Breed status: Traditional (1997 RBST survey - 1,000 registered
adult females)
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Suffolk
Punch
Originated in: East Anglia, England
Height: 16.1 to 17.1 hands high
Colour: Chesnut (traditionally spelt). There are seven shades
- bright, red, golden, yellow, light, dark and dull dark. A star,
stripe or blaze are the only white markings allowed.
Characteristics: A compact 'heavy horse' with a muscular,
crested neck and deep body; no feathers on the legs. Kind and honest;
strong and hardy.
Used for: Haulage, particularly timber; traditionally agricultural
work.
Breed status: Critical (1997 RBST survey - only 70 registered adult
females)
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Thoroughbred
Originated in: England (All thoroughbreds can be traced back
to three foundation sires: the Darley Arabian, the Byerley Turk
and the Godolphin Arabian).
Height: 14.2 to 17.3 hands high
Colour: Bay, brown, black, chestnut or grey.
Characteristics: Fast, bold and active. Physique varies slightly
according to type, but generally has a fine, straight face, long
neck, short back and a good length of leg. Can be flighty and high-spirited.
Used for: Racing, riding, showing, hunting and eventing.
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Welsh
Ponies
Originated in: Wales
Colour: Any solid colour (not piebald or skewbald).
Sections: The Welsh Pony Stud Book is divided into four sections:
A to D.
Welsh Mountain Pony - Section A
Height: Not to exceed 12 hands high
Characteristics: Intelligent, hardy and spirited.
Used for: Riding and driving.
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Welsh Pony - Section B
Height: Up to 13.2 hands high
Characteristics: Intelligent, spirited and kind.
Used for: Riding.
Welsh Pony (Section C) & Cob (Section D)
Height
Section C: Not exceeding 13.2 hands high
Section D: Should exceed 13.2 hands high - no upper limit.
Characteristics: Active, surefooted and hardy.
Used for: Riding and driving.
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