Intro
Also called Hai-La-Erh, Hailar, Sanpeitze and Sanho, the Sanhe Horse comes from eastern Inner Mongolia at a grassland basin formed by three rivers (Sanhe means ‘three rivers’) in China.
Origins
Horses have been in this area for at least the last thousand years and used as war mounts over the centuries. At the turn of the 20th century Zabaikal animals from Russia were brought to the area and about a decade later Orlov and Bechuk animals came with Russian settlers. These three types lent genetics and by mid century a stud farm was established with Anglo-Arab, Arabian, Thoroughbred and American Trotter animals.
In the mid 20th century the Ministry of Agriculture assessed crossbred horses of the area and created stud farms to develop a new breed called the Sanhe. They are thought to be among the finest of the breeds developed in China, partially because the area is well suited to raising equines.
Features
Average height 14.3 – 15 hands
Physique
Neck is slightly heavy
Shoulder is well slanted
Legs are strong with good joints
Hooves are hard and sound
Traditional Colors
Use
Riding horse
Racing
Light draft
Harness