The Clydesdale

The Clydesdale is a draft breed that was built for strength and power. These horses were originally bred and developed in Clydesdale, Scotland for the purpose of pulling carts and wagons loaded down with farming equipment and goods. Their strength and stamina made them the perfect animal for farmers. Often, they were hooked up to plows in order to break farmland for planting. Today, Clydesdales are still a favorite for pulling carriages in parades and are a perfect driving horse. People worldwide recognize the Clydesdale as being the famous "Budweiser horse". They are also commonly seen in the showring or on trail rides. Clydesdales are known to be "cold blooded", which means they are very calm and docile. Because of these traits, these horses are great with parades, children, and areas of high activity that would normally spook or agitate other breeds of horses.

An adult Clydesdale will stand between 16 and 18 hands and weigh around 1800 to 2000 pounds. They are one of the largest breeds we have discussed so far. They exhibit heavy muscling throughout their body which enables them to outpull and outwork many other breeds. They have strong, broad bone structure and large hooves (the size of dinner plates!). Clydesdales are commonly recognized to have coats of a bay color, but can also exhibit colors such as roan, chestnut, black, and gray. Many will have white markings, especially on their legs or around the face. Like the Friesian we discussed earlier, Clydesdales also have feathering around their legs (long hair). While Clydesdales are bulky, heavy creatures, they exhibit smooth gaits with lofty steps and proud head carriage.

For more information about this unique breed, visit www.clydesdaleusa.com

Happy trails,
Mary Helen

The Hanoverian

The Hanoverian Horse is originally from Germany and is one of the oldest (and most successful) Warmblood breeds. Originally a horse bred for pulling carts and carriages, a slight crossing with Thoroughbred blood resulted in an agile, athletic animal showcasing strength and endurance. Hanoverians are known to be extremely graceful and carry themselves with pride. They are spirited horses exhibiting a fine step and balanced stride. Hanoverians may stand between 15.3 and 17.2 hands tall, but most will fall in between 16 and 16.2. Colors such as chestnut, bay, brown, black, and gray are common. Certain rules prohibit colors such as buckskin, palomino, cremello, or horses with too much white from being registered.

Hanoverians are seen most often used for the English riding discipline and are top competitors in their area. In 2008, a group of 3 Hanoverian horses and their riders obtained the Gold Medal in the Dressage event at the Olympics in Beijing. Because of their athleticism and strong bones, Hanoverians are also successful as show jumpers and eventing mounts.

For more information about this unique breed, visit: http://www.hanoverian.org/.

The Morgan

Hi Readers!

This week's post is centered on the Morgan Horse- a beautiful animal named after the original breeder, Justin Morgan, who moved from Massachusetts to Vermont in 1788. This man purchased a young bay colt named Figure (born 1789) who grew into a stylish stallion with a graceful stride and defined muscular structure. He could outwalk, outrun, and outpull any other horse in the area. Pioneers liked the look and abilities of Figure and desired to have his offspring, so Justin Morgan provided stud services throughout much of the New England area. Not only was Figure a beautiful animal, but he also proved to pass on his unique features to his offspring. A few of his most famous include Sherman, Woodbury, and Bulrush, who all contributed a great deal to the making of this unique breed.

Most Morgan horses generally stand between 14.1 to 15.2 hands, with some individuals being under or over that mark. They are extremely willing, agile, and athletic animals with a proud step. Morgans showcase a defined head with large nostrils for taking in lots of air and large eyes set apart by a broad forehead that may be slightly dished. They have a sloping neck that leads into a short, strong back. The legs are long and well-refined with perfect amount of muscling.

Morgans are very versatile animals, but are perhaps most popular as a hunter/jumper mount. In addition, many Morgans are used for driving or harness work because of their endurance and calm attitude. Whether on the cross country course, in halter competitions, in the dressage ring, in the reining pen, or out on a trail ride, a Morgan is a willing horse that can excel in many areas.

To learn more about this amazing and unique breed, visit http://www.morganhorse.com/.

Until next week,
Happy Trails!
Mary Helen

The Appaloosa

Hi Readers!

This week we will discuss the Appaloosa horse. This breed is known mainly for it's unique coat coloring and patterns. Appaloosas will exhibit many different body types as a result of the influence of foundation horses. The weight of a typical adult App will generally range from 900-1250 pounds and they will stand between 14 and 16 hands high. Appaloosas are very popular in most Western disciplines such as reining, western pleasure, and rodeo sports, but can also be seen in the hunter/jumper circuit and throughout other English competitions.This breed is often used as a parade horse, as well, due to the unique leopard patterns and willing attitude. The Appaloosa is the official horse of Idaho, and is often associated with indians due to the fact that the Nez Perce indian tribe played a major role in developing the breed. Today, the Appaloosa and an indian rider serve as the mascot for the Florida State Seminoles.

There are many coloring patterns accepted by the Appaloosa Horse Registry. To learn more about this unique breed, visit http://www.appaloosa.com/ today!