As I continue to power my way through the site looking for sections that may need attention I’m finding things I can’t wait to share with my readers again.
Some time ago I began collecting lists of plants that are toxic to horses. As my list grew I even started trying to take some of my own images to use. Today I’m proud to say that I’ve contributed a variety of the images in that section.
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Lets face it, palominos are really pretty animals. What with that golden color and those long blonde locks, what’s not to like?
Although most people think of deep, copper animals with creamy mane & tail (like Barbie’s horse) palomino shades are actually quite varied & interesting. In fact, they can range from an almost white color, to a very deep chocolate brown (all the while retaining their white-blonde locks). But interestingly enough there are a number of different color genetic combinations that create such a similar coloration it’s hard to tell them apart.
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Two horse colors that are perhaps the most commonly mistaken for one another are buckskin & dun. However there is a world of difference between the two and although a similar coloration they come from completely different genetics.
Both dun & buckskin can be a golden colored body with a black mane, tail & legs. The body color can range from a light, creamy tan to a deep, rich gold. Both of them stem from a different dilution gene on a bay animal, so it’s easy to see the confusion. I probably say this about all of them, but I do love this coloring.
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Lately I’ve been on a mission to get older sections of the site updated with new copy & graphics. The breeds section was a huge project that took months to complete so other parts need attention.
Today I’m proud to announce that I’ve given my care section a new face & I’m hoping it’s easier to navigate and use. This section features general tips, info about horse feed, a general layout of ownership costs, tips for stabling your horse and a guide to plants your horse shouldn’t eat.
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At this point I’m working my way into the lower half of the breed alphabet and I’m looking forward to the next letter. I’m officially up to the I’s at this moment and getting motivated for the J’s.
If you haven’t met the rest of the alphabet, be sure to do so A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H. Today it’s about breeds that begin with I, from the robust Ibérian Warmblood a larger, more athletic Ibérian animal to the lightning fast Italian Trotter that have made a racing name for themselves worldwide.
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Writing about so many different breeds has been a real education, not just about horses but about the road we’ve traveled on their back. In doing that I’ve earned an even larger appreciation for an animal I’ve loved my entire life.
Every single breed is important for the contributions they have made and we have a responsibility to these animals whose numbers are so low. Be sure to take a look at animals with even lower numbers from the critical list as well.
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Hitting H feels like a big accomplishment, the horse breed alphabet is heavy in the first half and right now I’m almost half way through.
If you haven’t met the rest of the alphabet, be sure to do so A | B | C | D | E | F | G. Today we’ll take a look at notable breeds that begin the letter H, from the lively stepping Hackney Horse the quintessential carriage horse from England, to the golden colored Hungarian Dun an aboriginal horse of Hungary.
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As I’ve spent the last few months researching & writing my breeds section I’ve come to care about each & every one of them. Not only for their contribution to life as we know it, but for their continued patience and understanding with us as a species.
Because each one is so precious to us for their unique contribution, we have to take care of those that carry low numbers. There are a number of breeds that are in very real trouble and each one listed on this page is in critical danger of becoming extinct.
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After getting through the first 3 letters of the horse breed alphabet I felt like I was over the hump and the letters started to get themselves written at a far more rapid pace.
If you haven’t been following the series, be sure to take a look at earlier letters A | B | C | D | E | E. Today it’s about breeds that start with the letter G, from the tough as nails Galiceño a Mexican breed of Spanish ancestry, to the flashy Gypsy Vanner in all it’s glorious technicolor.
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As I get older, I’ve become more focused on leaving the world a better place than I found it. A large part of that is using & consuming environmentally conscious products and allowing that to overflow into the lives of our animals.
Natural horse care options are gaining in popularity, as they should because horses are natural too. Feeding GM-free is as important as using products that don’t pollute your (& your animal’s) surroundings.
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Each letter of the horse breed alphabet we visit gets them one step closer to being finished. (I’ll have to keep writing the pages if I want to keep writing these posts).
If you haven’t seen some of the earlier letters of the alphabet be sure to check them out too A | B | C | D | E. Today we take a closer look at the breeds that begin with the letter F, from the pure blooded Faroe Pony who live remote enough to be almost untouched by outside blood to the elegant Furioso named for it’s flagship stud.
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There is a great deal of debate in the horse world surrounding albino horses. From everything I’ve read & everyone I’ve talked to it seems evident that albinism does not exist in the equine world.
Generally what people think is albino is actually a double dose of the cream dilution gene which dilutes the coat to a shiny white color with light skin and light, clear eyes. However that’s not the only white horse type that can cause mistaken identity.
There is a surprising list of genetic types which may produce an animal that can be mistaken for an albino. They are listed below from the most likely suspect to least.