What is a Palomino Horse?

A palomino horse does not refer to a specific breed of horse. Instead, it refers to the coat color of any breed of horse that has a certain gene. This gene is genetic and can occur in horses after certain conditions are met during breeding. Breeding isn’t always going to result in the gene occurring, but if you were to breed horses that already had the creme or cream dilution gene, you would have a better chance of getting a palomino horse.

A palomino horse is a chestnut-colored horse with that dilution gene. They are genetically chestnut horses, just with different coloration.

What Does a Palomino Horse Look Like?

A palomino horse looks similar to the cremello horse, but they don’t share the pink skin that cremello horses have. Instead, palomino horses have brown skin, and only one of the creme dilution genes compared to the cremello’s two creme dilution genes.

Palomino horses can change color during the year, especially if they live in cold climates. Depending on their environment, the current season, and their diet, your palomino horse may appear to be a different color than they once were. This is perfectly natural for palomino horses of any breed.

The standard palomino will have hazel eyes, white markings on their face and/or lower legs, and a light-colored mane and tail.

There are Four Main Types of Palomino Horse

1. Chocolate Palomino Horse

The idea behind the palomino horse was obviously to create a lighter colored or golden horse from horses of a chestnut color. It’s interesting, then, that the chocolate palomino horse exists.

Chocolate palomino horses have a dark brown coat with a white mane and tail. This is what makes them stand out from other horses. They retain that light cream or white mane from the standard golden horses but have darker coats. The contrast is extremely striking.

2. Golden Palomino Horse

The most sought-after palomino horse coat color is the golden palomino. These horses range from yellow to dark gold and have a light flaxen mane and tail.

Golden palominos share the most desired color coat, which likely gained popularity from the first palomino horse. It’s important to remember that your golden palomino horse will have winter and summer coats which may appear to change their coloring for a time.

3. Light Palomino Horse

The other commonly recognized palomino horse would have a light gold coat and a white mane and tail. These light palomino horses are often confused with cremello horses, but they have brown skin instead of pink as we mentioned earlier.

The combination of brown skin and light hair gives this horse a light tan coat. It’s a great combination with their light cream mane and tail because the horse’s color flows together very nicely.

4. Pearl Palomino Horse

Pearl palominos exist but are often mixed up with the light or golden variation. The difference is that there is a more lustrous sheen on the light cream coat of the pearl palominos, and they have green or blue eyes.

The majority of pearl palomino horses come from Andalusian or Lusitano breeds because these breeds are more likely to produce a pearl palomino horse.

History of the Palomino Horse Color

Having existed since at least the 16th century, the palomino horse is not a new color in the world of horses. They have been depicted in paintings, ridden by royalty, and have a firmly rooted place in horse competitions and shows.

Conquistador Juan de Palomino was known for riding a golden stallion of the palomino variety, and the horses with a palomino coat were greatly endeared to Queen Isabella during her reign. In fact, horses of the palomino color owe their population to the Spanish crown because of Queen Isabella’s love of the creatures. She had around one hundred palomino horses in her stables and ensured that those of non-noble birth could not be able to ride them.

It was also Queen Isabella who eventually introduced palomino horses to North American soil. From there, the horses’ cream gene has only expanded as more breeders attempt to produce the best looking palomino.

Where Did Palomino Horses Originate?

Palomino horses originated in Spain around 1519, though this is a guess at best because there are a lot of differing views on the matter. It is said that they came to be during the beginning of the Spanish New World and Cortez’s reign.

Though the exact origin of these horses is unknown, their popularity is not. Palomino horses have been bred for centuries because of their fascination with their color. They are often associated with the Royal family, nobility, and high-ranking military officials.

Quick Facts about Palomino Horses

• Palomino horses came to (what is now known as) California before any other state in America. They were discovered in the area during the 1848 Mexican War.
• The golden palomino horse is a sign of wealth and power.
• When Thoroughbred horses were imported from Europe, the golden palomino almost became extinct in the U.S.
• The Palomino Horse Association was founded in 1936 and was followed by the Palomino Horse Breeders of America in 1941.
• The palomino color is caused by a recessive gene called the cream dilution gene. For palomino horses to get their color, they only need one of these genes (unlike cremello horses, who need two).

Popular Palomino Horse Breeds

• American quarter horse
• American paint horse
• American saddle horses (Saddlebred)
• Andalusian horse
• Arabian horse
• Galineers cob
• Haflinger
• Kentucky mountain saddle horse
• Lusitano
• Missouri fox trotter
• Morgan horse
• Icelandic horse
• Tennessee walking horse
• Thoroughbred

Palomino Horse Association

In addition to the British Palomino Society, there is America’s Palomino Horse Association. The Palomino Horse Association is the original registry for palomino horses. The location of the association is in Nelson, Missouri, though the first registration for a palomino horse was in California. This registration was completed by Dick Halliday in 1935, who registered his golden stallion El Rey de Los Reyes.

The Palomino Horse Association is a registry that, according to its own admission, does not discriminate against any breed. They recognize all breeds that wish to be registered, provided that they can be confirmed as palomino horses. They have horses from every breed registered with their association, and though they have their preferred ideal coat color, they will accept any palomino with the recessive gene.

Their preferred palomino color is the lighter gold color, but the shade can vary from light to dark gold. The horses’ mane and tail should be white, ivory, or silver, though they allow for 15% dark or sorrel-colored hair mixed in with the light color hair.

In recent years, they have become to accept the palomino that is creme-colored with blue eyes. Research has shown that this palomino always produces another palomino, which makes them the perfect breeding stock.

Palomino Horse Breeders Association

Palomino Horse Breeders of America is an incorporation that was created to collect, record, and preserve the purity of the palomino horse color. While continuing their mission, they also aim to improve the breeding of palomino horses, encourage ownership of horses of this color type, and grow their membership base.

PHBA has records of over 88,000 palomino horses and their owners, plus over a quarter of a million horse show entries that showcase the palomino from its golden shade to its darker coat color

They also provide recreational, financial, and competitive rewards for every age group, with over 900 approved classes for amateurs, novices, youth, and open programs. Their classes include halter, jumping, horsemanship, driving, cutting, saddle seat, pole bending, reining, and barrel racing.

Caring for a Palomino Horse

Caring for a palomino horse is no different from caring for any other horse with different coat color from the same breed. For their coat to really shine during competitions, horse owners and riders might want to spend some extra time grooming them prior to events. Their golden coat is a light color, after all, so it is more likely to attract dirt between washes.

A coat-darkening supplement may be able to add more depth to your palomino’s coat, but you risk losing the lightness of their coat if they’re a brighter color. This technique may be best for the chocolate palomino instead of any with cream or golden coats.

You’ll want to focus on their mane and tail because all true palomino horses have such light hair there. It’s possible to whiten their mane and tail following any dirt incidents or if your palomino horse has a yellowish tint to their hair there that you want to lighten. There are specific horse whitening shampoos that should do the job.

Other than grooming, just be sure that you’re providing your horse with enough time to run free and graze, as well as training time. An overworked horse will become stressed and sluggish, and you’ll put their health at risk. Be sure that your horse is getting regular vet check-ups, too.

As for their diet, the palomino (of any horse breed) can change color slightly depending on what they eat. To keep their gorgeous golden coat, feed them high-quality feed and horse hay.

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If Mongol horses have captured your interest take a look at the following guide where you can learn all about their unique history, grooming needs, personalities, and their reintroduction into the wild after their near extinction in captivity.

Key Takeaways:

• Despite their deceptive short and sturdy appearance, there is no such thing as Mongolian ponies as they are actually considered horses.
• Mongolian horses are endangered but were previously critically endangered.
• These horses are said to have ancient bloodlines evident by ongoing lines down their spines as well as zebra stripes on their legs.
• A Mongol horse (the wild horse) is also known as a Przewalski horse or Takhi. (Przewalski pronounced shuh-val-skee).
• They are not yet recognized by a breed organization despite being around for so long.
• They were used during wars in the 13th century by Genghis Khan.
• Mongol wild horses are regarded as a symbol of national heritage in Mongolian culture.
• Although they may not be as fast as foreign breeds, these native horses are known for their incredible endurance supported by their powerful build and strong legs.

Mongolian Horse Breed Overview

Mongolian Horse Breed History

The exact origins of the Mongolian horse are unclear but sources are certain that they’ve been around for centuries and are actually one of the oldest horse breeds to date. As the Mongol horse has been around for such a long time, they have heavily impacted the breeds we know and love today. This includes the influence of horses from Iceland, the British Isles, Central Europe, and even Scandinavian breeds.

Interestingly, it is said that Mongal horses have been documented since 2000 BC and have frequently been noted as riding horses and transporting animals.

A Valued Tool Used in Battle

Mongolian horses played an integral part in wars during the 13th century. Notably, these horses were favored by Genghis Khan who used a Mongol horse as a war steed.

Mongol horses provided more than just a back to sit on, they were immensely durable, energetic, and had a great talent for finding food independently. Moreover, they provided soldiers with milk and meat. It is also said Genghis Khan prayed to the mountains using a mare’s milk.

The only drawback Mongols had was that they weren’t as fast as other horse breeds but they made up for this with their other defining attributes. Not only were they steeds and offered meat, milk, and hair, but they were also incredibly loyal to soldiers.

The Mongolian Horse Today

Although these horses have been around for centuries, they are still not recognized as an official breed. Also, since Mongol wild horses have almost been driven to near extinction, they are considered endangered. In recent years, efforts have been installed to help reintroduce the species into the wild after they were declared extinct in their native habitat and their numbers dwindled in captivity.

Today, you may know the Mongolian wild horse as ‘Przewalski’s horse’ having been named after Russian explorer N.M. Przewalski. During the 19th century, Przewalski named the species after finding and presenting a rare skull and hide of the horse to a St. Petersburg museum.

Mongolian Horse Characteristics and Personality

Below you can find a plethora of information regarding the temperament and grooming needs of a Mongolian horse. In addition to this, we have provided some more facts about their diet and coat colorations.

Personality

To a complete stranger, Mongolian domesticated horses are described as hardy and inspiringly valiant. To those who have formed a bond with Mongolian horses, they are regarded as gentle creatures with a loyalty to those they are close to.

So for those wanting to get themselves a Mongol horse, patience is key. Before you have bonded with the animal, they may appear aloof and somewhat wary of you. However, as time passes you will form a strong bond and the horse will become more and more affectionate if the right steps are taken.

In addition to this, Mongol horses are said to be highly intelligent animals and will take to horse training very well. However, a lot of these wild horses retain innate wild behavior and can be difficult to approach and bond with.

Mongolian Horse Size and General Appearance

Often, these horses are mistaken for ponies due to their smaller frame compared to other horses. The Mongol horse is short and stocky with immensely strong hooves. They tend to have a large head, short neck, and strong, short legs.

When compared to other breeds, Mongolian horses tend to weigh anywhere between 500 and 600 pounds whereas most horses weigh between 900 to 2000 pounds. Also, they can stand anywhere between 48 to 56 inches tall (12 to 14 hands). Moreover, the horse has a cannon bone external circumference of around eight inches.

Colors and Patterns

Mongolian horses can appear in a wide range of coat colors and patterns including beige, dark brown, roan, white, brown, dun, back, shun, and gray. It’s completely common for Mongol horses to have a lighter muzzle and stomach, with a single color covering the rest of the body. Their mane may also be a different color which is typically darker than the base color across the body.

More often than not, the mane will stand somewhat firm. You can sometimes find Mongol horses with finer manes but they mostly stand erect. Throughout history, it is said that the Mongol horse’s hair was taken and used to string instruments as it’s known to be particularly strong and durable.

Fun Fact: Mongolians don’t generally refer to their horses by name. Instead, they will know them by their markings, coat color, or other defining physical traits such as scars or brands. To add; there are over 500 words to describe the attributes of horses and 250 words to refer to colorings and patterns in the Mongolian language.

Mongolian Horse Care

These horses are renowned for being independent creatures that can fend for and take care of themselves in the wild. However, if you’re hoping to be a proud owner of a Mongolian horse, it’s important that you still maintain their appearance and ensure that they get the best nutrition. A healthy horse is a happy horse and spending the time to care for them will only strengthen the bond between them and their owner.

Diet

Wild Mongol horses are talented at keeping themselves fed when roaming free. They tend to graze and consume around 13 pounds of grass but can also survive on plants, trees, shrubs, and sometimes tree bark. They spend a considerable amount of time searching for rivers or lakes to drink from but can also eat snow to stay hydrated.

Horse owners are encouraged to give Mongol horses access to plenty of lands to graze but can also feed them hay and grains. In addition to this, you can also feed them veggies such as carrots (as a treat). Owners must also be aware that in colder months, Mongol horses will still be safe to graze as they are able to seek out the grass underneath the snow.

For more details about the best diet for your horse, take a look at this article here.

Grooming

Since Mongolian horses live outdoors and thrive best in the wild, there isn’t a lot to be done to groom them. Having said that, there will be a certain amount of dirt and grit that will embed in their thick coat so it will be worth investing in some tools to help release debris and dead hair.

Common Grooming Tools to Use:

• Shedding blade
• Dandy brush
• Finishing brush
• Mane and tail comb
• Hoof pick

You may also want to make sure that they stay clean by hosing them down regularly. You can also incorporate a gentle shampoo specifically for horses to help refresh the coat during hosing.

When grooming a Mongolian horse it’s important to also check for injuries and infections as well as clean vulnerable areas such as their eyes and ears. For this, you can simply use a soft damp cloth to remove the dirt. Make sure you also check the hooves for injury when you’re tending to them.

Healthcare

Although these horses can handle extreme temperatures, and rough terrain, and have generally been around for a long time, they are not invincible.
Amongst general horse conditions, the Mongolian horse is likely to be affected by the following:

Colic: Colic often suggests a troubling underlying health problem. Typically, it creates abdominal pain and can be a sign of further gastrointestinal problems. This condition is rare but worth looking out for if you own a Mongolian horse. Usually, this can be avoided if your horse has access to plenty of water and a good diet.

Laminitis: Many horses can develop laminitis which is when the soft tissue on the horse’s feet becomes inflamed. This can be spotted if your horse has difficulty standing, walking, or running. Laminitis can be avoided if you implement great hoof care and keep a watch on their weight. Moreover, a good diet can also help to stave this off.

An Added Note: It is also speculated that the wild native breed was seriously affected by an extreme winter during the early 2000s and that the result on their health was worrisome. Sources claim that they are now more likely to develop infections as well as suffer from exhaustion, pneumonia, and even stillbirths. However, the sturdy and powerful horse seems to retain good overall health and the efforts made by conservation societies are working together to ensure they are healthy and only grow in numbers.

Mongolian Horse Price

Sadly, there are little to no breeders in the US that breed and sell Mongolian horses. The majority are, of course, located in Mongolia and they may be difficult to obtain there too as they are not bred for commercial use, unlike many horses in western culture. However, there are breeds that are often likened to them such as the Fjord and Icelandic horse.

Looking for any horse breed can be a difficult task so we’ve listed a couple of resources below to help:

• ehorses
• EquineNow

If you’re looking to buy a horse, take a look at this helpful guide to ensure you are prepared and avoid the common pitfalls.

Mongolian Horse Conservation

Currently, there are around 2000 Mongol horses in the world and they have recently been moved to endangered from critically endangered on the IUCN Red List during the 2010s.
Around 300 of these are feral horses that are occasionally captured by Mongolian nomads.

The Mongol horse population was previously dangerously small due to the loss of genetic diversity. Inbreeding meant that there was a lack of foals born, and many died young. In addition to this, breeding dwindled due to their years in captivity as they were unfortunately not given adequate care, habitats, or socialization.

The Foundation for the Preservation & Protection of the Przewalski Horse has been an integral part of increasing Mongolian horse numbers in recent years. During the 1970s the founders established the organization and helped to form breeding programs and reintroduce the horse back into the wild from captivity. Numbers increased and are expected to continue to do so since they now live in their natural habitat and are rekindling their innate wild instincts.

The Russian Geographical Society is also making efforts to increase population numbers by establishing a reintroduction center as well as a research center. Essentially, their goal is to reach the original population size in the horse’s native habitat.

So the good news is, that this beautiful horse breed is not on its way out and is continuing to thrive and grow in number thanks to dedicated organizations such as the FPPPH and so many more.

For more about horses, take a look at our horse archive available here.

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Today, this magnificent and versatile equine commands a high price and is prized as a competition horse. We look a little deeper to discover why as the noblest horse, the Andalusian remains a hugely popular horse breed.

Breed Overview

History of the Andalusian

Also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (from the Spanish, pura raza Española), the Andalusian we know today hails from the Andalusian region of the Iberian Peninsula, where its ancestor, the Iberian horse, is thought to have lived for thousands of years. In fact, the first evidence of the Iberian horse is thought to be in Neolithic cave paintings in Spain which date back 25,000 years.

Powerful yet strikingly elegant, the Andalusian was first recognized as a breed in the 15th Century, and is a closely related to the Lusitano from Portugal. The purest type of the pura raza Española is the Carthusian, which was bred by the Carthusian monks in the late middle ages. A strain of the Andalusian breed, the Carthusian has one of the world’s oldest stud books and can command the highest prices.

Throughout its history, the Andalusian has been prized by the nobility and was renowned for its presence as a calvary horse.  Used by the Spanish government in diplomacy, the Iberian war horse was also owned and ridden by royalty across Europe from the Middle Ages. Even the English King Henry VIII had a couple of Andalusians in his royal stables.

However, the 19th Century saw a decline in the Andalusian population, due to disease, warfare, and crossbreeding with breeding stock numbers across the Iberian Peninsula reduced dramatically by the early 20th Century. This resulted in severe restrictions in the modern Andalusian breed being exported from Spain, which lasted until the 1960s.  Eventually a healthy recovery in numbers opened exports back up and today it is thought that there are over 185,000 registered purebred Andalusian horses around the world.

Bred principally as a war horse that was also used for bullfighting and driving, the Andalusian has also undergone a re-invention and today will be seen in high level equestrian sports such as classical dressage and showjumping as well as a versatile pleasure horse.

This purebred Spanish horse has also influenced other breeds throughout its history, including the Hanoverian, the Friesian, the Lipizzaner, and the American Quarter Horse.

Breeding and Registration

There are several registration bodies for the purebred Andalusian around the world. In its native country, Spain, the breed is protected with the Spanish Military responsible for preserving its purity. The Spanish Ministry of Defense maintains the country’s Andalusian studbook and only approved animals from purebred Spanish horse breeders are allowed to be recorded.

In the US, the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) is recognized by Spain as the group responsible for maintaining the purity of Andalusian breed in the States. Any horse registered by the IALHA must be traced back to Spanish or Portuguese ancestry, with DNA profiling often used. The popularity of the pure Spanish horse has grown over recent years. Just 20 years ago, there were only a couple of thousand Andalusians registered in the US. Today, this figure is over 11,000.

It has also long been a tradition in Spain for only male horses to be ridden, with the Andalusian mare just used for breeding. This means the Andalusian stallion or gelding make up the higher proportion of Andalusians used for working or riding, especially in the competition ring.

Characteristics

The Andalusian is a strong and compact horse, with an average height of around 15.2 hands. But with his muscular body and distinctive thick neck, this Spanish horse gives the sense of a much bigger animal. To be recognized as ‘elite stock’, Andalusian mares need to be at least 15 ¼ hands while stallions should reach 15.1 hands or more.

Despite his stature, the Andalusian is an elegant equine, with a natural elevated movement that means they can excel in the sport of dressage. And their characteristic long flowing mane, forelock, and tail as well as muscular neck and chest means the Andalusian is a very handsome horse indeed.

When it comes to riding an Andalusian, they have a beautiful forward movement which, coupled with their switched-on brain, make them a joy for the more experienced equestrian to train and ride. In addition to dressage, the Andalusian horse also excels in show jumping and long-distance events as well as trail and Western pleasure rides. However, they can be a sensitive mount that requires patience, kindness and understanding to bring out their best.

Colors and Markings

The historic Iberian horse was originally known for having a coat in many colors but over the centuries these have been refined and reduced. Today, the most common recognized coat colors for the purebred Andalusian are gray or bay, although black, dun, chestnut and palomino are also accepted as Andalusian horse colors. Buckskin, pearl, or cremello are considered rare but can also be registered. Eighty percent of Andalusians registered with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association today are gray. The presence of white patches on the body, or excessive white on the head or legs are not accepted by the PRE registry.

While Andalusians have a fine short coat and do not have excessive feathering, regular grooming is essential due to their luxuriously long, thick, and flowing mane and tail.

Health

Known to be ‘good doers’, the Andalusian horse is a generally healthy horse that can maintain a good weight on regular feed. However, they are prone to some health conditions, some related to overfeeding. The health issues to be aware of in the Andalusian include:

Intestinal issues – studies have shown that the Andalusian horse experiences reduced blood flow (ischemic) diseases of the small intestine at a higher rate than many other breeds. Andalusian stallions in particular are 30 times more at risk of inguinal hernias which affect their scrotal area.

Laminitis – as they are prone to intestinal issues, Andalusians are also at a higher risk of developing laminitis. This is a painful hoof condition that can be caused by stress or overeating and requires a long-term treatment plan.

Metabolic conditions – Andalusians, especially as they age, are also prone to metabolic issues such as Cushing’s disease. This condition is caused by an imbalance of hormones produced by the pituitary gland and commonly affects animals over the age of 15.

Melanomas – with gray being the most common color for purebred Spanish horses, the lighter skin on these horses is more prone to skin cancer, or melanomas, especially around the muzzle and tail. Adequate sun protection and shelter, as well as regular checks are advised if your Andalusian could be at risk.

Cracked heels – the Andalusian has a sizeable hoof with the angle of the pastern bone larger than many other horse breeds. This means they can be prone to issues with quarter cracks and contracted heels if their hooves are not trimmed correctly by an appropriately experienced farrier.

To maintain the health of your Andalusian, it is best to schedule preventative vet checks at least once a year and ensure your horse is a healthy weight and always up to date with their vaccine and worming programs.

Andalusian Breed Uses

As we have seen, the noble Andalusian is a very versatile breed that can excel at a host of equine sports. Back in their native Iberia, these beautiful horses were originally bred for stamina and athleticism and for centuries were used for driving, bullfighting, and classical dressage, as well as for calvary and stock horses. This heritage means the Andalusian is highly prized today as dressage and show jumping horses, often making Olympic standard competition horses with the United States Equestrian Federation. Their turn of speed also makes the Andalusian a good racing horse, especially in long-distance and endurance events.

Away from the competitive arena, the talented Andalusian can turn its hoof to a host of equine activities. Their maneuverability and speed make them excellent Western pleasure horses and their stamina and forward movement means they can be a joy to own as a general trail and everyday riding horse. They are also prized as advanced riding horses in riding academies and can excel in working equitation. That said, their power, quick mind and energy means they are not generally the ideal first horse as they need a rider with more experience and confidence to bring out their gorgeous best.

Why Choose an Andalusian Horse

If you have reasonable riding and horse care experience and are looking for a versatile and sporty equine to call your own, then the Andalusian can be a natural fit.

With gorgeous manners on the ground and a quick wit, the Andalusian is also renowned for its smooth forward movement, making it the ideal competition or leisure horse for intermediate riders and above.

However, for all this talent, breeding, and attitude you can expect to pay a premium price as the Andalusian is an expensive horse to buy.  The price for purebred Andalusian horses registered with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association typically start at the $10k mark and you then need to factor the ongoing care costs of this large animal.

As they are an in-demand breed, the Andalusian horses rarely turn up as a rescue so you should expect to pay a premium for the perfect horse. But if your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the full pure breed, there are some wonderful Andalusian crosses you could consider. These include the Azteca (a cross between the Andalusian and an American Quarter Horse), the Iberian Warmblood, the Warlander (Friesian and Andalusian cross) and the Hispano-Arabe (Spanish x Arabian).

Source:

1. Saskia Mier, History of the Andalusian Horse – Andalusia.com

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Eager to please and able to turn their hoof to a wide range of equestrian pursuits, it’s no wonder that the Appaloosa is a horse that’s in demand. We look at the history of this spotted stunner and explore just what it takes to care for and get the most out of the endearing Appaloosa breed.

Appaloosa Breed Overview

Appaloosa History

Think of the Appaloosa and you will most likely think of the iconic spotted horses made famous in Western movies. But this spotted horse is not a one-off as the Appaloosa is in fact one of six spotted horse breeds. The other five are the Danish Knabstrupper, the Falabella Pony, the British Spotted Pony, the Noriker, and the Nez Perce Horse. The latter is in close relation to the Appaloosa.

It is thought that the spotted horse dates to pre-historic times with cave paintings in Europe showing horses with leopard spots. Similar representations have been discovered in both Ancient Greece and China’s Han Dynasty. Fast-forward to the Middle Ages, spotted horses were valuable gifts given to many of Europe’s royal families.

The predecessor of today’s Appaloosa found its way from Spain to the Americas in the 1500s, when the Spanish conquistadores arrived in the New World. Some of these athletic and striking animals escaped and gradually formed their own wild herds, migrating north to the Great Plains. Some settled around the Palouse River region of southeastern Washington and Idaho, where the Nez Percé tribe recognized the animals’ hardiness and athleticism.

The Nez Perce became skilled horsemen, carefully breeding herds of these strong, striking-looking horses, which became known as the ‘A Palouse Horse’. These hardy Nez Perce horses were the precursors of the modern Appaloosa.

The Nez Perce tribe used their horses for traveling the treacherous trails between eastern Oregon and the Rocky Mountains to their summer camps on the Plains. They were also used to hunt bison, developing speed and a smooth gait to allow their rider an accurate aim while at full gallop.

The Nez Perce War

It was during the Nez Perce War over land rights in 1877 that the native Americans’ horses were captured or shot by the US Army after it recognized the advantage that these athletic horses were giving the tribes. While this almost wiped out the breed, a few of these Palouse horses, however, managed to escape and the Palouse region is still home to herds of wild ‘Appaloosa’.

It wasn’t until the 1930s and an article in the Western Horseman magazine that there was a renewed interest in the Appaloosa breed, which had Quarter Horse bred into it from the late 19th Century. As a result, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was formed as a breed registry that oversees strict breeding practices. The continuing popularity of the breed – has meant the Appaloosa Horse Club is now one of the largest horse registries in the world.

As an interesting aside, the Nez Perce tribe started its own horse breeding program in 1994, to restore its own horse breeding tradition. By crossbreeding the Appaloosa with a Central Asian breed called Akhal-Teke, the Nez Percé Horse breeding program has since established the Nez Perce horse as a distinct breed.

More Facts about Appaloosa Horses

Here are just a few more fascinating facts about this spotty breed:

• The Palouse horse – AKA, the Appaloosa – was bred by the Nez Perce tribe to have shorter, sparser tails so they wouldn’t snag in the brush when galloping at speed.
• As a fast horse, the Appaloosa excels at middle distance races. In fact, an Appaloosa set the all-breed record for a 4.5-furlong race, a record that still holds today.
• Born in 1918, a stallion called Knobby, who evaded the U.S government’s confiscation policy, is widely recognized as a foundation sire of the Appaloosa breed today.
• Other ‘celebrity’ Appaloosas include Cojo Rojo, who starred in the 1966 movie, ‘The Appaloosa’ alongside Marlon Brando, and Zip Cochise, who was John Wayne’s steed in ‘El Dorado’.
• The Appaloosa is the officially recognized state horse of Idaho.
• Idaho also happens to be home to the Appaloosa Horse Club, which has registered more than 700,000 Appaloosas since it was founded in 1938.

Characteristics of the Appaloosa

Eye-catching, versatile, and fast, the Appaloosa is a distinct horse that offers the equestrian the chance to take part in a wide range of equestrian sports. And ‘on-the-ground’, this spotted breed has a gentle demeanor that makes the Appaloosa one of the best horse breeds around. But as with all horses, caring for an Appaloosa takes time, commitment, and know-how. Here are the main characteristics of the Appaloosa horse breed you should consider.

Appearance

The Appaloosa horse breed is instantly recognizable thanks to its distinct spotted patterns. There is no one spotted look for this horse breed, as the potential genetic combinations of markings and colors make each one unique. However, all the breed’s spotted patterns are collectively known as the leopard complex as every Appaloosa horse carries the allele of the dominant leopard complex gene. More on this later.

As well as their spotted coat patterns, there are also several other physical characteristics that set this breed apart.

The Appaloosa’s tail and mane are both on the sparse side and are not as dense or luxurious as other horse breeds. Then there is the unusual vertical striping on their hooves, creating a distinct dark and light pattern. Appaloosas can also have mottled skin to create a speckled pattern which is usually found around the muzzle and eyes as well as the genitals. And finally, the white portion of the Appaloosa’s eye around the iris – known as the sclera – is also visible, a trait not seen in any other horse breed.

Size and Body Type

Categorized as one of the light horse breeds, the physical appearance of the Appaloosa is of an athletic, lean animal that is ideal for trail riding, racing, and agility. When it comes to height, they are a mid-sized horse, typically standing between 14 hands/56 inches and 15 hands/64 inches but can be a little larger. A healthy adult Appaloosa should weigh in at 950-1,200 pounds.

An Appaloosa horse body type also shows the influence of the Quarter Horse, the Arabian, and even the Thoroughbred blood. This means the Appaloosa horse breed recognized by the Appaloosa Horse Club typically has a good muscular frame, with powerful hindquarters, which drives their speed, agility, and stamina.

Coat Color and Patterns

The most common base colors of the Appaloosa accepted by the Appaloosa Horse Club include blue roan, red roan, bay roan, palomino, chestnut, black, buckskin, cremello, and dun. They will also often have facial patterns in white, such as a blaze or star as well as white markings on their legs and mottled skin.

Now to the famous feature of the Appaloosa – their spots and colorful coat patterns. And the fact that not all Appaloosas have definite spots. In fact, you can get solid-colored Appaloosa horses, although to be registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club, they need to be blood-typed to confirm that they carry the leopard complex gene.

The Appaloosa Horse Club APHC also recognizes a number of different Appaloosa patterns in their coat, including:

Leopard – with a mainly white body covered in dark spots, this is the clearest example of the ‘leopard complex’ genetic sequencing behind the Appaloosa coat pattern. The leopard pattern can range from lighter spots that give a roan graying effect right the way to distinct dark ‘Dalmatian’ spots against a white coat.

Snowflake – this stunning coat pattern sees the body of the Appaloosa as a dark solid coat with a scattering of white spots or flecks over the body with a concentration on the haunches and hindquarters. This is the reverse of the other coat patterns of dark spots on a white coat, with the base usually a chestnut, dark bay, or black. The result looks like white irregularly scattered snowflakes on a dark background.

Blanket – here the body coat of an Appaloosa is a solid color, with the haunches all-white – known as the classic blanket or snowcap – or white with dark spot speckled (spotted blanket).

Varnish – the varnish roan coat pattern develops over time, with a roan-colored Appaloosa starting out with very little white roaning or flecking. This flecking pattern then develops and spreads with age. This Appaloosa pattern can often be confused with graying or a true roan color.

Marble – another Appaloosa colorway is the marble, which as the name suggests, features white and dark hairs beautifully mingled together to create mottled, marbled coat patterns.

The Appaloosa Temperament

For many, the beautiful Appaloosa horse is the ideal combination between its athleticism and hardiness and its gentle, loyal nature. While it’s important to note that temperament can vary between horses, the Appaloosa is generally recognized as trustworthy and can tend to be human-orientated. This means that they can try hard to please their ‘person’.

The Appaloosa is an extremely versatile horse that is also known for its calmness. However, they can be prone to stubbornness and even aggression if treated unfairly or roughly which means they thrive on thoughtful, natural horsemanship.

Add into the mix their strength and stamina and the level-headed Appaloosa make excellent all-round riding horses that can also step it up a level when it comes to being given a job to do, whether that’s horse racing, show jumping, trail riding, and even as an endurance horse or working herding cattle.

Caring for the Appaloosa Horse

As with any horse, caring for an Appaloosa is a big commitment as they need careful management to ensure all their needs are met and they remain fit and healthy. Here are the key things to consider if you are looking to get yourself a beautiful Appaloosa:

Environment

The Appaloosa is a breed not considered to be high maintenance and can happily live out as a pasture horse. And this is due to the breed’s need to roam and interact with other horses. Even if you plan to stable your Appaloosa you need to ensure they have sufficient daily access to pasture so they can socialize and forage.

Appaloosa horses are better suited to colder weather rather than higher temperatures. Either way, you need to ensure they have access to plenty of water, especially on hotter days to avoid dehydration, as well as minerals, ideally in the form of salt licks. Shade is also important so they will need shelter in their paddock or field. You may also need to rug them during colder, wetter weather and during the winter.

Regular Maintenance

If left barefoot, the Appaloosa will need to have its striped hooves trimmed every 6-8 weeks. If your horse is shod, then their shoes will also need changing roughly every eight weeks, depending on their activity levels and environment.

As the teeth of all horses are continually growing, an annual visit from the horse dentist to check and file their teeth is essential. Younger Appaloosas (under the age of five) should have twice-yearly teeth checks.

Nutrition

The Appaloosa requires the standard equine diet of fresh grass, high-quality hay, and grains, with some fruits and vegetables as cooling, nutritious treats. Depending on their age, health, or workload, they may also need extra vitamins and minerals as a supplement, especially if they don’t have consistent access to fresh pasture.

As all horses are designed to eat throughout the day they are natural grazers, and so forage in the form of hay and fresh grass is a priority. The amount of food, including extra grains and supplements, will then depend on their size and activity levels.

Grooming

The coat of the Appaloosa is a standard length, although their sparse mane and tail are not as thick as many other horse breeds. This means that they are relatively low maintenance when it comes to a grooming routine. A good grooming session a couple of times a week is the best way to keep their coat dirt, debris, and tangle-free, although lighter colored Appaloosas may need more regular grooming. And don’t forget, grooming is a good way to bond with your horse, so shorter daily grooming sessions can also work well.

When grooming your Appaloosa, use the opportunity to check for any injuries or infections and always inspect the underneath of those quirky striped hooves, and use a hoof pick to remove any impacted dirt or stones.

A final, but essential point regarding the grooming needs of an Appaloosa is that their skin can be vulnerable to sun damage, especially if they have exposed pink or mottled skin. To help protect your horse, ensure they have shelter to shade from the sun and consider using a sunscreen, specifically developed for equines.

The Health of the Appaloosa

As a sturdy and robust animal, the Appaloosa is generally a healthy horse and if they are cared for properly, is not generally known for lameness or behavioral issues. However, the breed can be susceptible to certain health problems that can be related to the leopard complex gene:

Sunburn – lighter colored Appaloosas, especially those with the leopard spot pattern or mottled skin are prone to burning easily when in the sun. If left unprotected or untreated, sunburn can eventually lead to skin cancer so taking preventative measures such as sunscreen and providing shelter is essential.

Eye issues – Appaloosas are particularly prone to eye problems, including:

Night blindness – while not usually serious, night blindness can be an issue for some Appaloosas. It is thought the leopard gene causes the condition, which usually develops over several years as a horse age and affects their ability to see clearly after dark or in low light.

Equine uveitis – Appaloosas are also more prone to equine recurrent uveitis than many other breeds. This condition involves an infection of the uveal tract (the middle layer of the eye), causing redness, irritation, and puffiness, which can lead to a damaged retina if left untreated.

Eye infections – as their eyes tend to water, Appaloosas can also be susceptible to general eye irritations and infections. A fly mask, especially during the summer months can help to protect their eyes.

Sight loss – sadly, Appaloosas are also almost eight times more likely to suffer complete blindness, compared to other horse breeds. While more studies are needed, it is thought this is due to genetics.

Buying an Appaloosa Horse

If you are looking for an adaptable horse that’s also a head-turner and has a reliable, loyal personality, then the Appaloosa could be for you. However, you will need to pay more for horses with the more dramatic or highly spotted coat patterns.

In answer to the question, ‘how much do Appaloosa horses cost?’ as a guide you should expect to pay between $1,000 and $10,000 on average for an Appaloosa Horse Club recognized horse. Appaloosas with a competition track record, premium breeding lines, or specific training will most likely cost more. The popularity of the breed also means it is possible to adopt an Appaloosa from a rescue organization.

Whether you are looking to buy or adopt, make sure you follow the best practice rules when obtaining any horse. Always visit the breeder, owner, or rescue center before committing to a horse or handing over any money. You want to see how the horse behaves and interacts and get more information on its history, health, training, and temperament. If you are unsure what you should be looking for, take a more experienced friend or colleague with you. And a veterinary check before finalizing the deal is always a good idea.

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If you’re curious about the dapple grey horse, read on to find out more about what makes these beautiful animals unique and what breeds are likely to produce more of these freckled foals.

What is a Dappled Horse?

The first thing to understand is that a dappled horse is not an individual breed. In fact, dapple is a horse coloration where dark rings of light and dark hairs are present across the horse’s body. It can prominently occur in many different breeds of horses that have a grey coat color. However, other horses with different coat colors have been known to develop faint dappling depending on their condition, diet, and grooming regime.

True Dapples VS Bloom Dapples

True dapples are rings that form due to the horse’s genes whereas bloom dapples are rings that can appear as a result of their health and diet. Bloom dapples are rare in horses and can disappear after some time. However, this doesn’t stop some horse lovers from adjusting their horse’s diet in an attempt to get bloom dapples to occur.

The Gray Gene

The overall coat color of dapple grey horses is the result of the dominant gray gene which is also responsible for the fading of the base color. Essentially, this gene isn’t a coloration gene but is actually a dilution gene and will override the other color gene that exists within the coat. Also, the other color gene is essentially what influences the base color that the horse is born with.

How Long Have Dapple Gray Horses Been Around?

From our research, it is said that horses that carry the gene can be traced back to a single horse that existed over 2000 years ago. Since then, the responsible gene has spread resulting in an increase in the beautiful animals.

How Much does a Dapple Grey Horse Cost?

Any horse owner will agree that any horse breed will not be cheap, let alone one with dappling. The cost of a horse will depend greatly on its training, background, condition, and pedigree. You may find that gray foals or foals expected to form dapples will cost a little more than average due to the demand for dapple grey horses.

Typically, the price of these horses will be in the thousands with prices starting at $3500. Not to mention, owners will have to anticipate the costs for future expenses including food, training, insurance, medical care, homing, and more.

Dapple Grey Horse Appearance

The dapple gray horse is a much sought-after animal and for good reason. The gray coat color genes of the horse make it stand out from others, especially since they can be born with almost any base color that will eventually turn grey and then into pure white as they age further.

Body

The dapple gray horse will not only possess the gene to dilute their hairs, but they will also develop freckles. These will be speckled across their body including their necks and legs. The size and volume of the dapples will vary from horse to horse.

Tail & Mane

The mane and tail of a dapple gray horse won’t show any signs of dappling or freckling but will typically match the overall coat color of the horse. Generally, they will be a shade of gray.

Skin Color

A lot of sources may state that dapple grey horses will have black skin. However, whereas black skin is common with grey hair and dappling, these horses can have other base skin colors also. The skin color is not affected by the grey gene.

Eye Color

A grey dapple’s eye color is also not affected by the grey gene. Typically, these horses will have dark eyes that will remain so throughout their lives.

The Effect of Dappling on Other Physical Features

When an animal has a gene or physical attribute that sets them apart from others it’s normal to wonder if this trait has any effect on its health or other body parts. Here, we’ve broken down whether or not the dapple-gray horse has any other unique characteristics or if there are any health concerns you should know if you’re considering owning one of the beautiful creatures.

Weight & Height

The gray coat gene only has an influence on the coat itself and has no proven effect on the horse’s height or weight. Instead, these attributes will be dependent on the breed of the horse itself and not the gene.

Health Concerns & Lifespan

Much like weight and height, the gene also doesn’t take any toll on a dapple-gray horse’s life span either. Horses generally live anywhere between 25 and 30 years sometimes longer if they are well looked after.

In terms of health, the dapple grey horse can fall ill in the same conditions as other horses. However, it is speculated that these horses are more likely to develop melanoma compared to other horse breeds or colors.

Melanoma

This skin condition can be more common in horses over the age of seven and can cause the skin to form black and/or dark grey nodules. These often occur on the head and neck and will often be benign. However, it’s recommended to have these checked as they have the potential to be malignant.

The Color Changing Process

Interestingly, the gene responsible for the grey dapple has an almost unique effect on the hair of the horse during different stages of its life. For example, older grey horses are often mistaken for white horses as, over time, they develop a completely white coat.

Foal Colors

Contrary to what you might think, dapple grey horses are not born gray. They are also not born with dapples. A foal coat can be from an array of base colors including chestnut, bay, black, and more. Regardless of this base coat color, if the foal carries the gray gene, you will be able to observe silver hairs circling the foal’s eyes.

Eventually, the hair around the muzzle and eyes will begin to lighten. Soon after, the dilution gene will begin to kick in. This will result in the coat becoming grey. However, depending on the base color of the foul, the shade of grey will vary completely. For example, foals born with a chestnut color will lighten to a rose gray color, whereas black foals will turn into a steel gray shade or even iron.

Young Adult Horses

Soon after the dilution gene takes effect, these young gray horses will begin to form dapples. This is typically when they reach anywhere between two and four years of age. The dapples themselves will scatter all over the horse’s body and can become more prominent during adulthood. However, these beautiful spots don’t last forever.

Later Stages

Sadly, as a dapple horse ages, its hairs will eventually turn white. Since the dapples are more prominent between ages two and six, a lot of these horses will begin to turn white shortly after. However, there is no set age or rule as to when a horse will definitely start to turn white as it differs from horse to horse.

The Difference Between a Grey and White Horse

Some will confuse an aged dapple grey horse with a white horse but there are two significant differences between the two. White horses will have blue eyes and pink skin whereas grey horses will be born with different colors that will be replaced with white hairs as they mature. They will also have darker eyes.

Flea-Bitten Gray Pattern

Generally, this coloration will occur after a gray horse has turned white. Flea bitten grays will have a speckled or freckled pattern on their coat. The density and volume of the freckles can vary between horses but can also increase as the horse ages.

Dapple Gray Horse Breeds

If you’re particular about this horse coat shade and are on the lookout for breeds that will produce gray offspring, take a look at the following list. All of the horses below are known to carry the genes as well as endearing personality traits that appeal to horse enthusiasts.

Andalusian Horse

Andalusians are notoriously intelligent, athletic, elegant, and one of the oldest horse breeds around. Around 80% of these horses in the US are said to be grey but can be seen in an array of different coat colors including bay, chestnut, black, and dun.

Arabian Horse

Arabian horses are a gentle breed known for their approachable nature making them perfect for beginner riders. They are an incredibly popular breed in the US and are also known for their stamina and athleticism.

These horses are known to come in a variety of coat colors but can also develop a dapple grey coat. This, coupled with their loveable and kind personalities, makes them a very sought-after and well-loved horse breed.

Check out our article on the Arabian Horse breed for more information.

Percheron Horse

Percheron horses are common with black or gray coats but can also be roan, bay, or even chestnut. These noble and athletic horses were originally bred in France to be war horses.

Lipizzaner Horse

A huge majority of Lipizzaner horses carry the gray gene meaning that these horses will have gray coats. This is due to years of selected breeding as the horse is said to go back centuries. Lipizzaner horses eventually turn gray after around six years and are typically born bay or black.

Irish Sport Horse

This majestic horse breed is commonly used for competitions. Physically, they are muscular and strong and have an elegant structure. Although they can produce black, chestnut, and roan foals some can also carry the grey gene resulting in a dapple-gray horse.

Orlov Horse

It is said the Orlov horses are related to the Arabian breed which gifts them with grey genes. Generally, Orlovs breed black and dapple grey horses but they have been known to have bay or chestnut coats. Just under 50% of Orlavs are dapple gray whereas the next common coat color is black followed by bay and chestnut.

Other Horse Breeds That Can Develop Dapples:

• Thoroughbred
• Welsh Pony
• American Quarter Horse
• Oldenburg
• Dilbaz
• Lusitano
• Camargue

Breeds More Likely To Produce A Dapple Grey Horse

As you can see, many breeds of horses can produce grey coats and dapples. However, the most common breeds to produce a gray foal include the Lipizzaner, Percheron, and Andalusian.

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Key Takeaways

• There are more Arabian breed horses in America than anywhere else in the world.
• Arabians are kindle, gentle horses.
• A beginner would be able to ride an Arabian and benefit from a smooth ride while learning.
• The breed has been around for thousands of years, since at least the time of the Bedouin tribes.
• They’re great at endurance sports and trail riding.

Arabian Horse Breed Overview

Arabian Horse History

The history of the Arabian breed can be traced back to around 3000 B.C.E, thanks to the records from the Bedouin horse breeders and the rest of the tribes keeping the pedigrees of their horses written down. While the very beginnings of this breed are hidden away and lost to time, experts have agreed that they most likely originated somewhere around the Arabian Peninsula.

Arabian Horse Origin: Arabian Peninsula

Geographically, Arabian Peninsula covers Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Yemen, among a few other areas. Though it’s said that the Arabian horse originated here, we don’t know exactly where in Peninsula they came from.

What we do know is the Bedouin tribes bred these horses and used them as war mounts and general traveling horses. The tribes would ride Arabian horses into enemy camps to do battle. Thanks to the Arabian’s large lung capacity and impressive endurance, they were extremely suitable breeds for these tasks.

The Bedouins developed five branches of the Arabian breed. These were the Keheilan, Abeyan, Seglawi, Hamdani, and Headband. Each version of the Arabian had unique traits and could be told apart by these and their body type.

Famous Figures Who Rode Arabians

As well to Alexander the Great and George Washington, there were several other notable historical figures who chose an Arabian horse as their mount. They weren’t all great military tacticians – in fact, several singers have owned Arabians in recent years.

• Genghis Khan
• Napoleon
• The Duke of Wellington (who rode a horse that was a Thoroughbred and Arabian crossbreed)
• Patrick Swayze
• Wayne Newton
• Lady Gaga

Arabians as War Horses

The Arabian breed has been used as a warhorse for thousands of years. In Medieval times, they were among the most common choice for a war mount.

Thanks to their stamina, strength, and intelligence, Arabians have had a solid and continuous place in historical events. They were traded for work and war and were noted for their courage on the battlefield.

Arabian horses would have had many tasks during wartime. These included hunting with their riders, carrying fighters into battle, and pulling chariots. They were used throughout the Ancient empire world, and Arabian horses appeared in a number of artworks discovered from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and Mesopotamia. In these artworks, Arabian horses are depicted serving in wars.

Interesting Fact

Did you know that three foundation stallions made up the genetics for the Thoroughbred breed? One was known as Darley Arabian, an Arabian horse bought by Thomas Darley in 1704 as a present for his brother. 95% of today’s Thoroughbred racehorses can be traced back to Darley Arabian through their Y Chromosome. He was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland back in 1722 and sired several famous and great horses. The other two foundation horses responsible for the Thoroughbred racing bloodstock were Godolphin Arabian and Byerley Turk, who was also said to be an Arabian horse (though some accounts just say he was a horse of unknown breeding).

Arabian Horse Characteristics and Personality

When this hot-blooded horse is pictured, horse lovers can easily see their long, arching neck, chiseled features, and strong, proud expression. The Arabian breed is an elegant example of a horse, and any horse with Arabian blood carries their long history with them. Old horse breeds like the Arabian are sought-after in breeding and competition circles for a number of reasons and looking at the Arabian, it’s clear why.

They are noble animals, known for their courage and intelligence. They have a famous walk, called the “floating trot”, which is one of the most graceful movements in the horse world. The Arabian horse industry is full of energetic, competitive horses. They’re smooth to ride, despite their size, and even good for beginners to learn on.

As for their personality, you can expect a patient, loving horse. They are rarely aggressive, unless provoked or scared. Of all the horse breeds you could choose, the Arabian is known for being gentle and kind.

What do Arabian Horses Look Like?

Arabian horses are recognized by their dished faces and high-carried tails. They have a distinctive wedge-shaped head, with a broad forehead, large eyes, large nostrils, and a small muzzle. Their shoulders are laid back, and they have a level croup.

The breed can grow up to 15.1 hands in height. Despite that, they are compact horses and aren’t the tallest around.

Most Arabians are shown as brown horses with black hair for their mane and tail, but this is not the only color combination for the Arabian breed, though it is the most coom.

Coat Colors and Patterns

Purebred Arabian horses have slightly different coloration to non-purebred Arabian horses. When an Arabian horse isn’t purebred, they may be Dun, Cremello, Palomino, or Buckskin, but these coat colors aren’t registered as official purebred Arabian horse colors.

Purebred Arabians have these registered colors:

• Chestnut
• Bay
• Gray
• Black
• Roan

In terms of patterns, it’s possible for purebred Arabians to have a spotting pattern known as sabino. Sabino spotting on a horse is characterized by visible white patches of hair on their face, lower legs, or stomach. There may also be occasional white hairs on their midsection.

Arabian Horse Health and Care

Caring for an Arabian horse means having the correct amount of space, giving them quality food, and ensuring that they have fresh water each day. Horses also need in-depth grooming, the same as any other breed.

Nutrition

Like most horses, those from Arabian bloodlines will need fresh grass, quality hay, grains, and fruits and vegetables. Because these horses originated in Middle East desert regions where food was scarce, they don’t require quite as much food as other modern breeds to maintain their weight.

An interesting thing about Arabians is that they get more excitable and hot-blooded when given too much sugar.

Adult horses need 10 to 12 percent of their diet to be protein-based. For horses, that means grass hay, alfalfa, or a complete feed that has a guaranteed protein content. Your horse should always have hay to munch on, and freshwater should be easily accessible.

If you’re using your Arabian as an endurance horse, their protein content should be more than 12%. Endurance horses are used for races and competitions where having a light, the fast horse is needed. Arabian breeders often tried to bring out these qualities in their Arabian bloodstock horses.

Suitable fruits and vegetables for horses:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Carrots
• Celery
• Grapes
• Oranges
• Parsnips
• Pears
• Plums
• Pumpkin
• Strawberries
• Turnips

What not to feed your Arabian horses:

• Avocados
• Bran products
• Bread products
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Caffeine
• Cauliflower
• Chocolate
• Dairy products
• Garlic
• Meat (of any kind)
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Rhubarb
• Stone fruits

Grooming Arabians

A horse who is being cared for by a trained professional will be groomed twice a day. A well-groomed Arabian will have a sleek, shiny coat and smooth, untangled hair.

Grooming an Arabian horse is no different from grooming any other breed. Having more Arabian horses doesn’t mean that you can cut corners on caring for each individual one, either. Arabian owners understand that these hot-blooded horses need to be looked after if they’re going to win prizes in the show ring or entice a buyer looking for a horse from one of their breeding farms.

Arabians have very fine coats, so daily grooming is important to keep their hair looking nice. You’ll need to start with a rubber brush to remove dirt build-up before moving on to a bristle brush to add shine to your horse’s coat. A tail brush will also be needed.

To protect your horse’s mane and tail, you can try braiding it.

Hoof care is a little more complex, but even novice riders learn how to pick dirt and debris from their horse’s hooves. What a novice won’t be able to do is replace a horseshoe. Leave that to the professionals.

Common Health Conditions

The health of your Arabian horse will only be at its best if they are regularly attending veterinary appointments and check-ups.

Routine health care should include vaccinations, dental care, grooming, hoof care, and parasite control. Your horse should be going to a vet at least once a year, though older horses (20 years and over) should attend twice a year.

There are, unfortunately, some genetic conditions that exist in the ancestral Arabian line.

Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA)

A neurological disease found in Arabian horses and other breeds with Arabian ancestors (for example, if you crossed an Arabian and a Thoroughbred breed, the foal could still have CA).

Though Cerebellar Abiotrophy isn’t always lethal, it causes a horse to lose their sense of space and distance, which affects its coordination and balance. The condition will be noticed before the horse is 6 months old in most cases, though it is possible for it to progress slow enough to go undetected for some time.

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS)

Also known as “Coat Color Dilution Lethal”, Lavender Foals are born with coat color dilution that lightens the tips of their hair or sometimes the entire hair shaft. The color is usually a dull pinkish-gray and can look silver-toned. Their skin tends to have an unhealthy pink color, too. In some cases, foals may be born with almost iridescent silver or lavender-blue hair. Not all affected foals will have obvious color deficiencies, though they will be noticeably lighter than they should be.

Accompanying the striking coat color is neurological dysfunction that leaves the foal unable to stand. That means that they will be unable to nurse and will also suffer from seizures. If they don’t pass naturally shortly after being born, most breeders will euthanize them on humane grounds because the horse will suffer all of its life.

It’s a rare but notable condition.

Occipital Atlanto-Axial Malformation (OAAM1)

A developmental defect that compresses the upper cervical cord and causes neurological damage to the horse, OAAM is assumed to be an inherited recessive condition in Arabian horses.

The condition is rare and appears to have several mutations, but there have been studies on the defect to better understand it. In foals affected by Occipita-Atlanto-Axial Malformation, the first and second cervical vertebra are malformed, which causes compression of the upper spinal cord. This compression leads to neurological damage, which may cause anything from mild incoordination to complete paralysis of the horse’s legs.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder (SCID)

An inherited genetic condition that can be responsible for the death of young foals of this breed. Thankfully, there are now DNA tests for this condition, to stop people who breed Arabians from choosing horses with ill health that can be passed on.

A foal with SCID will be born with a badly impaired immune system, and are at severe risk of infectious diseases. They may not recover quickly or at all when infected, and general die of an illness like pneumonia before their sixth month.

This is a recessive disease, so it’s safe to breed two non-carriers, and a non-carrier and carrier together.

Breeding Arabian Horses

Arabian horses typically have relatively high inbreeding levels because breeders like to focus on certain characteristics in their breeding stock and try and create foals with those traits.

In our modern world, there are six types of Arabian pedigrees that are sought-after. The six purebred Arabian horses are Crabbet, Egyptian, Polish, Russian, Shagya, and Spanish. Crabbet Arabians are considered the most gorgeous horses in the world, but any Arabian horse of good stock can cost in the region of $5,000 to $30,000 USD.

Purebred Arabian Breeding Program

Top show Arabian stallions can go for up to $150,000. These purebred horses are looked at as prized possessions and are as beautiful as the vision of any wild horse running run across natural wild pastures.

There have been plenty of breeding farms for the Arabian mare and stallion to do their thing over the years, and this eventually led to the first studbook and the Arabian Horse Club of America Registry in 1908.

Before then, though, there was the first purebred Arabian breeding program back in 1888. This was headed by Randolph Huntington in the United States. During the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, 45 Arabian horses were showcased, which led to further interest in the breed in America. That breeding program and its subsequent horses were what gave the world the Arabian Horse Association.

The Arabian Horse Association

Once known as the Arabian Horse Club of America Registry, this association has existed in some form since 1908. The AHA as it is today only formed in 2003, but that was the result of a merger of the original registry club and the International Arabian Horse Association, which was founded in the 1950s.

The purpose of the Arabian Horse Association is to have an organization of like-minded individuals who are enthusiastic about Arabian horses. AHA is the official Arabian horse registry for the United States and Canada.

They offer 344 events and competitions, have the largest online marketplace for Arabians, and maintain official programs that promote breeding and ownership of Arabian horses.

Arabian Horse Registry

With over 16,000 members and thousands upon thousands of registered horses of Arabian breeds, the Arabian horse registry has been going since the original Arabian Horse Club started up in the early 1900s.

Horse breeding is a huge industry, and horse shows are a popular source of Western pleasure and entertainment. It’s no wonder that there are so many Arabian horses out in the world, no to mention all of the other horse breeds, such as European horses.

Although Arabians used to run alongside the Bedouins or the “Nomadic Desert dwellers” in their harsh desert environment, today their place is largely in the show circuit, being led around and shown off by their human owners. It’s not unusual to see new horses enter the circuit every year, Arabians with their high tail carriage, and Warmbloods trained to perform tricks with their riders.

Buying an Arabian Horse

Having already covered the extraordinary cost of buying a horse of this breed, we’ll move straight onto buyer safety and where to purchase your Arabian.

Tips for Staying Safe as a Buyer

• Don’t view a horse alone, always take a friend or another professional.
• Try to view the same horse more than once so you can get a good feel for their personality and spend some time with them.
• Ask to see the horse’s health records, especially from their recent veterinary visits.
• Never pay a deposit before seeing the horse and always get a record or receipt of any deposit that is made.
• Ask to view the parents of any foal you’re looking to buy.
• Ask for the horse’s pedigree and history, where available.

Where to Buy an Arabian Horse

The best place to start is always an organization that caters to the specific animal you’re looking at. In this case, the AHA has a section of their marketplace for horses for sale. You can search by breed, age, gender, color, price, and select a state you’d like to buy from if you want to stay closer to home.

When buying a horse, be open-minded about certain aspects like the color because using too many filters often means that you’ll get little to no results from your search. The AHA also lets you search by sire and dam name, just in case you’re looking for foals from a particular horse registered with their association.

You don’t have to be a member to search, but you do have to be a member to list your horse for sale because the horse has to be registered with the association.

Alternatively, you could try other online marketplaces but they aren’t going to be as safe as purchasing from a member of the Arabian Horse Association. You could also check out horse shows and other horse events to see which breeders and owners have horses for sale.

Check out our latest article if you want to learn more about the Mongolian Horse.

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Breed Overview

Clydesdale Breed Appearance

The horse we know today as a Clydesdale didn’t always look the way it does now. In the early 20th century, the horse was more compact and wouldn’t become a taller breed until selected breeding during the 1940s. That said, this heavy horse was still quite large even before the next round of breeding, only being smaller than the Shire, Percheron, and Belgian horse breeds.

Today’s Clydesdales are some of the most elegant heavy horses, standing between 162cm and 183cm and weighing up to 2000 pounds. They have a broad forehead, a wide muzzle and are extremely well-muscled. In addition, this strong breed is recognized for its wide hooves, which can be as big as dinner plates – even their horseshoes weigh around 5 pounds.

Clydesdale Colors and Patterns

Common colors for this horse breed include:

• Bay (deep mahogany brown)
• Brown
• Gray
• Black
• Roan (bay with white hairs)

It’s typical for a Clydesdale horse to have white markings or spotting on their face, legs, and body. The most common color combination is a bay or brown Clydesdale horse with white markings.

The White Clydesdale Horse

A fully white Clydesdale is very rare, but you may see Clydesdales with large patches of white and a few smaller patches of color. There are also horses from this heavy horse breed that are almost dappled grey and white, which is a superb combination.

Pure white Clydesdale horses will usually have blonde or platinum hair for their mane and tail and may still have some darker, almost gray, patches of hair on their body.

History of the Clydesdale Horse

We mentioned that Clydesdales are used in Budweiser commercials. Still, the history of these draught horses goes back much further than being the star of a brewing company’s commercials and promotional material.

The Clydesdale breed began its life in Clydesdale, Scotland, back in the 18th century. After Flemish stallions were imported to Scotland, they were bred with local Scottish mares, but that wasn’t the end of the creation of this breed. In the next century, Shire horses were added into the mix, and the first use of the breed’s name is recorded as being used in 1826. They originally bred Clydesdales to be draught horses, a type of horse often used for labor on farms. But that wasn’t all these horses were used for!

The reference to the name of these taller horses was made at an exhibition in Glasgow, where the breed was showcased. However, there were many other chances for Clydesdales to be shown off throughout the years, according to written records that date back to 1837 that talk of hiring stallions between Scottish districts. This system included breed shows to choose the best stallion, where the winner would be taken to local mares to be bred.

By 1840, after much crossbreeding, there was no difference between Scottish draught horses and Clydesdales. Some 30 years later, the Clydesdale Horse Society of Scotland was born, quickly followed by the American Clydesdale Association (which would be renamed the “Clydesdale Breeders of the USA” later on).

Who Founded Clydesdale Horses?

Two breeders are responsible for the creation of the Clydesdale breed. These are John Paterson of Locklyoch, and James Hamilton, the 6th Duke of Hamilton.

Two of the stallions originally bred with Scottish mares belonged to these two gentlemen – a black stallion imported from England by Paterson and a dark down stallion owned by the Duke of Hamilton. These two stallions would be two of the main Clydesdale breeding stallions.

Thompson’s Black Horse

During the early breeding of Clydesdales, there was a coach horse stallion named Blaze. Blaze, who was 165cm in height, came to have several foals with kept written pedigrees to keep track of his lineage. Then, in 1806, a filly who would come to be known as “Lampits Mare” was born, whose line could be traced back to Blaze.

One of the Lampits Mare’s foals was Thompson’s Black Horse, also known as Glancer, who would significantly influence the breed of Clydesdale horses. “Why?” You may ask. Well, Glancer can be found in the ancestor of most Clydesdales today. He was described as having flowing, silken hair, thick legs, and clean, sharp bones.

What are Clydesdale Horses Used For?

These horses are still used for farming and agriculture to plow fields, but they have many more responsibilities now.

With a saddle and the correct gear, a Clydesdale can be ridden by an experienced horserider. This opens up the duo to horse shows and competitions where a solid partnership is needed between humans and horses. Some breed owners decide to enter their Clydesdale purely in shows where they are judged on the appearance of the horse, while others partner with their horses further and enter other competitions.

A Clydesdale is a great choice for heavy hauling back on the farm. Even away from the farm, they are often used to pull carriages and wagons, and they make very eye-catching horses for tourists to be driven around.

The Budweiser Clydesdales

Because many general public members don’t know much about horse breeds, the brown and white Budweiser horses are often just referred to as exactly that – Budweiser horses. However, Budweiser’s horses in their adverts and promotional material are commonly colored Clydesdales. Clydesdales are easy to identify thanks to their size and the long hair around the bottom of their legs.

The Budweiser Clydesdales are several teams of horses that travel around the world to promote the brewing company. Only eight horses are driven at any one time, but each team has ten horses if an alternative is needed.

They often appear as animal actors in Budweiser’s T.V. commercials, particularly for Super Bowl adverts. Interestingly enough, the first introduction of a Budweiser Clydesdale team was in April in 1933. The teams are housed in various stables near the company’s brewing facilities in St. Louis, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Merrimack.

Can You Ride a Clydesdale?

You can saddle and ride a Clydesdale, though they may not be the most suitable riding animals for beginners to try. Don’t let their cute white facial markings and gentle disposition fool you. These horses are absolutely huge, and it would be better for a more experienced rider to mount one.

There are, however, riding experiences in the U.S. and Great Britain that offer the chance to ride on the breed that originated in Scotland. These experience companies should be fully trained, but we certainly recommend checking their websites for more information if you go looking for one.

The Clydesdale Horse Society

Referring to the first Clydesdale Horse Society, founded in Scotland, this organization has been around since February 1877. They exist to promote, preserve and do their utmost to keep the Clydesdale breed and knowledge of the breed alive.

The Clydesdale Horse Society is a not-for-profit Charity with their council and semi-regular meetings. Once they’ve paid their membership, members can have a say at these meetings and vote on any decisions to be made regarding the organization. The site also lists upcoming shows.

Clydesdale Breeders of the USA

The American Association for the Clydesdale horse breed, Clydesdale Breeders of the USA, has been around since 1879, so it’s just a couple of years younger than its Scottish counterpart. The website is much more user-friendly, and it’s easy to find what you’re looking for in terms of information.

This organization is open to all individuals interested in protecting the well-being of the Clydesdale breed. Their association aims to collect, revise, preserve, and publish the history and pedigrees of purebred Clydesdale horses. Furthermore, they sponsor national and regional horse shows, hold a national sale offering the largest selection of Clydesdale horses in North America every year, and much more.

Rare Breeds Survival Trust

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is dedicated to reversing the decline in all livestock breeds on their watchlist, intending to have them stable by 2028.

It’s unfortunate, but Clydesdales are on the RBST equine watchlist under the list of “at-risk” horse breeds. The U.K. only has 14 native horses and pony breeds, with 12 considered rare. As with many other draught breeds, the numbers of this breed dwindled following the increased use of mechanical power. The more vehicles and machinery invented to take over, the less draught breed horses were needed for their strength.

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A Short History of Belgian Draft Horses

As the name suggests, the Belgian graft horse originated in Belgium and is the result of breeding the Flemish horse with the Brabant horse. Interestingly, history suggests that this magnificent breed is a direct descendant of the medieval “great horse”. A great horse will have been used to carry knights, with all of their heavy armor, into battle in the middle ages.

Much like the Belgian Heavy draft horse, they were bred for strength and resistance, in order to be the best workers they can be during the industrial revolution. This was at a time when demand on all resources was growing exponentially making both farm and industry labor far more intensive.

Belgian Drafts Arrive in America

The Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America was founded in 1887 to act as a registry and provider of breed standards for the Belgian Horse. They also maintain records of importation and dependency to ensure the pure breeds remain as such.

In 1891 Belgium had already started exporting stallions to various countries around the world including France, Russia, Italy, Germany, America, and the old Austria-Hungary empire. This was quickly followed by an international livestock exposition being sent to Chicago in 1903 which led to a significant shift in what the Americans deemed to be the right breed for farming.

With Belgian drafts becoming increasingly popular, demand for the breed was at an all-time high. However, importation was brought to an abrupt stop in 1914 with the onset of World War I which resulted in American Belgian breeders developing their own version of the Belgian draft.

The Breed Gets Split

The events of World War II along with the common use of internal combustion engines in place of horses meant that the need for a Belgian Horse was quickly dwindling. Fortunately, lovers of the breed sought to protect it – sticking with breed specifications and strict breeding routines to ensure its continuation. At this time the breed was split into two: the American Belgian horse, and the Brabant European Belgian horse.

Belgian Horse Fun Facts

• They were the most popular breed of all the draft breeds in the United States.
• Belgian drafts can weigh anywhere up to 2,400 pounds.
• They’re thought to be the most direct lineal descendants of the knight-carrying “great horse” of the middle ages living today.
• According to Guinness World Records, the tallest Belgian draft Horse in the world was called Big Jake who stood 6 ft 10 inches tall and lived at Smokey Hollow Farm.
• The most expensive draft horse sold to date was a 2-year-old Belgian draft stallion named Mcllrath’s Captain Jim, who sold for $112,500 (around £88,557) in 2003.
• They’re gentle giants with a reputation for being very self-aware and extremely loyal.

Belgian Horse Breed Profile

So here’s some general information that may find interesting or even useful for anyone interested in owning a Belgian draft (aka cheval de trait belge), including appearance, exercise requirements, and health:

Appearance

Belgian draft horses are heavy horses (built for pulling carriages) that were carefully bred to maintain their mass and strength through the years. Not to be confused for the Brabant European Belgian, American Belgians were developed with the American breeder’s own style in mind. The following features are how Belgians are expected to look nowadays:

• Body shape: A thick, stocky, muscular body with short, powerful legs. Even newborn foals will have lean muscular bodies until they fill out.
• Size: Typically between 163-173cm tall.
• Weight: Average around 1,800 – 2,200 pounds when fully grown. (heavyweight class)
• Coat Color: Chestnut, sorrel, bay, roan.

When Belgian importation was limited at the start of WWII American association breeders took it upon themselves to continue the breeding of this gentle giant, subtly changing its physical characteristics and forming what we now know to be the Belgian draft (where the original became known as the Brabant European Belgian).

Temperament

Belgian drafts are thought of as gentle giants. They’re kind-hearted, loyal, and self-aware. Furthermore, a lot of Belgian owners have expressed that their equine pal has shown a fantastic sense of humor and big personality to match their exceptionally large frame, making them super fun horses to spend time around.

Last but not least, they’re extremely intelligent which comes in handy for anyone looking to teach their horse a few tricks. Though this intelligence can sometimes make them stubborn, so anyone thinking of owning a Belgian draft needs to be confident and capable of wrangling them when they become argumentative.

The Health of Belgian Draft Horses

Unfortunately, there are quite a few health issues that tend to affect draft horse breeds – some more serious than others. The most common conditions are listed below:

Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM)

Something that more often begins to affect the horse in early adulthood (though symptoms can occur at any age). EPSM is a condition in which a draft horse is unable to metabolize carbohydrates properly, which means they’re unable to gain the proper energy from the food that they eat. Symptoms of EPSM include:

• Muscle weakness (more so after exercise)
• Muscle fasciculations
• Muscle wasting
• Reluctance to exercise
• Recumbency
• Exercise intolerance
• Intense sweating whilst exercising

Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa

Belgian draft horses can, unfortunately, be born with an inherited genetic disorder known as Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB). This is a progressive condition that affects the skin. It also goes by a series of other names: red foot disease, epitheliogenesis imperfecta (EI), and hairless foal syndrome.

JEB is caused by a recessive gene and affects the pressure points of the body, getting worse with time and exposing the horse to infections, with foals being particularly vulnerable. Sadly, many foals either die from infection or are euthanized at only a few days old as a result of this condition. Symptoms of JEB include:

• Severe blistering
• Skin lesions
• Loss of skin
• Fragile skin
• Rhabdomyolysis

Also known as Monday Morning disease or Azoturia, Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by muscle breaking down into the urine after muscle damage has occurred. It’s believed to be linked to EPSM and so any horse diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis is usually recommended to be tested for EPSM as well. both of which require a change of diet.

Shivers

Usually affecting the hind legs and tail, this is a neuromuscular disease. The cause of Shivers is currently unknown and there is no treatment, however, lessening stress on the horse can help to relieve the symptoms as they are better when relaxed. Symptoms include:

• Trembling tail when raised
• Trembling of the hind legs (one or both)
• Muscle atrophy
• Difficult backing up
• Difficulty lifting the leg when needed

Chronic Progressive Lymphedema

Sadly, if severely affected, this condition can shorten the lifespan or lead to necessary euthanization. CPL causes severe enlarging of the lower limbs that affects mobility and can cause discomfort or even pain. Symptoms include:

• Swollen or enlarged lower limbs
• Thick skin folds
• Crusting lesions
• Fibrosis
• Reduced mobility
• Irritability

Ocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This is when squamous cell carcinoma tumors grow on the eye and eyelids. Additionally, draft horses are susceptible to cataracts as they get older.

Check out our latest article if you want to learn more about the Mongolian Horse.

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What Exactly is a Horseshoe?

What did we do before shoes for horses were made?

Wild and domesticated horses have very different needs – particularly as domesticated horses became relied upon much more over time to complete tasks such as farming. Indeed, horses have been a staple of our lives for thousands of years. Some of the earliest indications of horseshoes being used go as far back as 400 BC.

Clearly, earlier humans understood that horse hooves need to be protected for the good of both hoof health and to soothe existing injuries in the horse’s foot and legs. Effectively, the more we began to use the humble horse for work and to ride, the more we saw that our animal friends needed properly fitted horseshoes.

There’s very little time (that we currently know of) between horses becoming domesticated and the use of shoes. Since the horse’s hoof wears down quickly, in the same way that the human fingernail would if it were regularly working against the stony ground, hoof problems were most certainly afoot.

The quickly wear and tear meant that lameness issues would become common. Even the simplest injury would lead to pain and more harm over time. So, the horseshoe was created to help protect the horse’s hoof.

When Were Horseshoes Invented?

Each source varies on when the horseshoe was invented. Interestingly, before the horseshoe itself, horses wore hoof boots made from leather. These were used as far back as 2500BC when horses were used in war, and the use of chariots required protective footwear for their horses.

Back then, the materials weren’t made from metals as they are now. Instead, everything from plants to rawhide was used, with the Ancient Asians weaving plants together to create soothing, corrective shoeing, temporary protection, and additional traction.

Overall, the consensus seems to be that horses have been wearing shoes since roughly 400 BC. Most notably by the Romans, who called the shoes “hipposandals”. But (!) horseshoes, in general, were not truly widespread until roughly 1000AD, which means that barefoot horses were more common than shoed (or shod) horses.

After this point, many differences were added to the shoe itself. Different types were made for different purposes, and nail holes were added to help attach the shoe to the horse’s feet. By the 14th century, horseshoes had eight holes, and the structure of the shoes was wider and heavier.

By the time the industrial revolution was fully blazing, shoeing horses was essential for work and the machines themselves could mass-produce shoes. Indeed, this came in handy during the American Civil War since the properly shod horse hooves provided a distinct advantage in battle.

What Are Horseshoes Made Of?

Original shoes may have been made from the most basic of materials – but they quickly advanced to better suit the horse’s needs. These days, however, traditional horseshoes are most frequently made from aluminum or steel, although the strength and quality differ, depending on use.

There are also many specialized types of a horseshoe, which can use anything from rubber or plastic to magnesium, titanium, or copper.

How Are Horseshoes Fitted?

When horses need shoes, they require the skills of an experienced farrier, who can measure the hoof. This is because they’ll need to know the depth and width, as well as the height of the hoof, so the right shoes can be ordered or made for your horse. Not only will the shoes need to fit well, but the nails used by the farrier should be the right length to avoid foot problems later.

A good farrier will also ask you questions to understand the needs of the shoes required. If you are looking for a farming horse (for example), you would not only need shoes that can carry the extra weight of pulling, but the shoe would need to provide extra traction to make their work easier.

Similarly, for trail riding, the shoes would need to avoid common mistakes that can place extra pressure on the leg or cause your horse to become too uncomfortable when you’re out riding. In these cases, it’s not just about providing traction, but promoting the health of the foot and leg, too.

In terms of fitting, the farrier is incredibly skilled at ensuring the long-term health of your horse.

The farrier will help to make sure the shoes are comfortable for longer wear and tear by first maintaining regular trimming using a hoof knife. Once the hoof has been trimmed, the shoe is placed against the feet, and nails are used to attach the shoe to the foot.

Once the nails are placed near the outer edge of the hoof, the farrier then bends them over, which creates a hook-like fit. At this point, the farriers file away the sharp points to avoid any accidents or infections around the foot.

Over time, the hoof will grow out, eventually overlapping the shoe. This is a sign that new shoes need to be fitted against the horse! If you want to learn more about this topic, see our article on How to Shoe a Horse.

How Do Horseshoes Work?

Interestingly, there are different types of horseshoe depending on the needs of the horse and rider or master. For riding, farriers need to consider speed and agility while remaining safe for both horse and owner.

Regardless of the type of shoe, however, it’s important to note that horses need shoes to maintain the overall health of their hooves, feet, and legs. They do this by improving the overall durability of the hooves and soft tissue beneath, which can be revealed over time if the horses are left barefoot.

Different Types of Horseshoes

Regular Shoes

The regular horseshoe is the one you’ve probably already seen anywhere and everywhere. They are the kind of shoe you see as a good luck charm, and the majority of horses will never need anything more than this, particularly if the horse is only used for general riding purposes. They help keep great feet healthy and happy but don’t work as effectively as traction devices.

Rim Shoe

The rim shoe takes the standard groove present in the regular shoe and makes it much deeper. While the regular shoe uses the groove to maintain an evenness between the shoe and the nail used to keep the shoes in place, a rim shoe offers much more. This helps creates more traction and are great for maintaining arena footing, as the turns are much quicker and speed much greater, using these shoes on foot.

Bar Shoe

The bar shoe is developed to look more circular and has a constant strength around the entire frame. The extra “bar” on the rear helps maintain the foot’s integrity – particularly for horses who have developed injuries, such as damage around the navicular bone or problems from being barefoot for longer periods of time.

Egg Bar

The egg bar is a deeper, more rounded shoe that extends beyond the heel and offers greater support and protection. The structure’s higher and wider design means that horses with badly damaged feet from being barefoot for longer than usual or through an injury such as navicular disease can be more comfortable and secure.

Heart Bar

The heart bar shoe offers the benefits of all of the above options – but comes with an extra section designed to support the frog, as well.

There is very little difference between the front and the rear in all of these shoes. The only difference might be the shape – but this is often negligible and counteracted through the farrier’s skills.

Why Do Horses Wear Shoes?

Horses wear shoes for many reasons – but the most important and notable reasons are that:

They Provide Better Traction

Using the right horseshoe at the right time means you can ensure that your horse is offered the right amount of traction. This, in turn, stops any additional strain against the legs of your horse and keeps them healthier and happier for longer.

They Help to Maintain the Health of the Foot and Supporting Body Parts

As mentioned above, traction works wonders to keep your horse healthy. But some horseshoes allow your pet to stretch a little and bounce, naturally, without overdoing themselves, which can often cause harm.

They Help to Evenly Distribute Weight Across the Feet of the Horse

Your horse’s hooves are designed to bend slightly when riding – but too far, and they’ll cause damage. Using a horseshoe helps evenly distribute weight, which not only stops certain sections of a barefoot horse from overexpanding but also keeps the supporting muscles and bones healthier, too.

They Increase Protection Against Impacts on the Road or Ground

Shoes are designed to be the first impact when hitting anything sharp or hard while riding. While boots can do a good job against some of the items you’ll come across in your travels; a good quality shoe will be much better equipped to reduce the impact of sharp and dangerous objects.

Horseshoes vs. Barefoot: What’s Better for Your Horse?

Generally speaking – especially when it comes to working horses – having horseshoes is much better than being unshod. This is particularly true when it comes to corrective shoeing and ensuring your horse’s overall health.

As well as the many benefits given above, maintaining your horse will eventually come as second nature to you. You’ll quickly be able to see if something is wrong when you’re regularly working to re-shoe your pet. Effectively, of course, it all comes down to personal preference and what’s best for you and your horse.

That’s not to say, of course, that barefoot horses don’t have their time and place.

Many Arabian horses live their full life without the need to wear shoes. However, it should be noted that these horses build up a tougher hoof over time. As such, anyone considering leaving their horse unshod should be sure that they’re able to work with their horses to maintain their overall health and wellbeing.

Firstly, consider their environment.

If your horse spends the majority of time on softer grounds, such as on grassy pastures, they’re much less likely to develop tougher hooves. So, when it comes to harder grounds, you’ll find that your horse struggles much more and is more likely to suffer from health problems around the hooves and feet.

Then, consider their workload.

If you still want to continue helping your horse to remain unshod, then be sure to keep them away from any work for at least 30 days while they adapt. Expert opinions on whether hoof boots work seem to vary, with some claiming the boots cause horses to take longer to develop tougher hooves. While others suggest, it may help them to adapt.

FAQs:

Q: Why do wild horses not need shoes?

A: Put, wild horses, do not have the same pressures on them as domesticated horses do and therefore have less need to wear shoes. More importantly, wild horses will build up resilience in their hooves as they walk across the dirt and over softer ground – but very rarely walk on hard ground.

If wild horses were to suddenly travel longer distances or need to walk over harder surfaces, they would also need shoes to protect their feet. However, going barefoot does not harm a horse who doesn’t have to work with extra weight, trail riding, or generally being put to work by humans.

Q: Does putting horseshoes on a horse hurt them?

A: If you’re using a good farrier, you can be sure that putting shoes on the hoof of your horse does not hurt them. Since the shoeing requires finding the right shape, material, and design, combined with well-trimmed feet, there’s less risk of causing your horse pain through shoeing than having your horse go barefoot.

This is not to mention that skilled farriers are well-versed in fitting the animals with their shoes. For most horses, having a shoe fitted to their hoof is akin to having someone put some pressure on your nail. The bone itself – the coffin bone – and the hoof wall (which acts as a nail) don’t feel anything as there are no nerve endings here.

A farrier who is not skilled is more likely to miss this part of the hoof and could hit the more sensitive areas of the horse’s feet, such as the frog.

Of course, a farrier who is inexperienced with horses may also pose a risk to themselves. If other horses become scared or aren’t used to the feeling of having a shoe fitted or their feet trimmed, then there’s an increased risk of the horse becoming spooked.

When this happens, you need an experienced farrier to know exactly how to work with the horse to keep them at ease and ensure neither the farrier nor the horse while shoes are put on the horse.

Q: Why does my horse keep losing shoes?

A: There could be a couple of reasons as to why you suddenly find your horse without hoof protection.

For starters, the shoe itself might be of poor quality

Poor quality shoes can twist and lose their shape, becoming more worn more quickly and offering little protection or traction for your horse. For this reason, it’s important to check the feet and hooves of your horse before taking them out for a ride.

The hoof has grown

Easily the most common cause for why most horses will lose their shoe is simply because their hooves have grown. The nails are slowly pushed out of place when this happens, and the shoe comes loose. However, it should also be noted that, before this happens, riders should be aware that loose shoes are likely to trap mud and debris from soft ground. As such, owners should check their horses regularly.

Normal wear and tear

Put simply, over time, there will be general wear. Shoes, therefore, are more likely to come loose from general use – regardless of the type of ground you ride on. But, of course, this will also largely depend on how often and how far you travel while riding.

Q: At what age should you shoe a horse?

A: A lot of this comes down to personal preference. If you’ve read the above and would prefer to wait before having your horses wear shoes, then that’s what you should do. Wearing shoes isn’t necessary for as long as the hoof is in good condition. Because of this, a foal won’t need to wear shoes until you begin training them. Just be sure to keep an eye on your horse and its hooves.

Q: How long do horseshoes last?

A: The answer to this depends on your horse. Very young horses will need their shoes changing much more regularly than fully-grown horses. Also, since horseshoes are attached via the nails into the hoof wall, the nails will become loose as the hoof grows.

As such, the shoe becomes loose and less effective, and more uncomfortable for your horse. Because of this, younger horses often need their shoes changed more frequently.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that horses hooves are much like a fingernail and will continue to grow. So, generally speaking, every six weeks is frequent enough to keep the hooves in top condition. Just be sure to trim the foot, too.

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