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How could we not like this picture. It provides us a snapshot into a fun afternoon frolic. This old girl has got all four feet off the ground & has almost achieved liftoff! She is a lovely animal & we wish we’d had front row seats at her frolic.
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The rare breed for this week comes from the horse infested land of Mongolia. The Astrakhan is also called the Kalmykskaya & Kalmyk. They are ancient & a member of the Mongolian equine group
The Astrakhan breed went to Russia from Dzungaria in the 17th century, brought by the Kalmyk people. The breed was described as plain, medium-sized animals that were very tough & possessed speedy gaits. They were hardy, useful animals & were traditionally bred in the territory along the Volga & Ural rivers. This continued until the mid 1940s when selective breeding in any official capacity ended. Read more
This is a really simple image, but there is something about the contrast & balance that we really like. Of course we do love a pretty palomino as much as the next horse lover too. While it may be simple, it’s clear as a bell & you have to love that little patch of white on his cheek.
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This week’s rare breed comes from Iran & they are a different kind of rare. The Asil horse is rare by design. Named for the region where they are bred in Khuzestan, the bloodlines of the Asil horse have traditionally been kept within local tribes & families.
The actual origins of this horse seems to have several theories & it seems that many of the western interpretations of their history are lost in translation. However rock carvings depicting animals similar to this fine Arabian strain have been found in the area that date back 5,000 years. Read more
It’s exceptional to catch horses being wild on camera. They are difficult to photograph anyway, but catching those amazing, wild moments is never easy. The horse is gorgeous & a stunning example of dark chestnut with a flaxen modifier, a striking combination.
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This Week’s rare breed comes from Greece & like many native Greek breeds it’s dangerously rare & close to extinction. The Arravani breed only has a couple hundred members.
A wide variety of different breeds helped to develop this breed over the last couple of millennia, from Thessalian animals to the mighty Arabian. Originally they were bred as workhorses, which provides them a robust, surefooted foundation. Later outside influence (especially the Arabian) lent them a refinement that can still be seen today. Read more
Images of foals require no explanation, they are just cute (especially baby drafts). While this baby isn’t very interested in the camera, it almost looks as if it’s lost in thought. This is also a fine example of a mealy mouth on a young horse. What a cutie!
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This Monday’s rare breed is known as the Merens or the Ariègeois pony. They are a rare mountain pony native to the Pyrenees and Ariègeois mountains of Northern Spain & Southern France.
Thought to be of prehistoric ancestory, these rugged mountain ponies were originally domesticated for use in mines & for hauling timber. Physically they are very similar to Dales pony & the Friesian horse which probably shared an ancestor with them. It is believed that during the Muslim invasion local stock was also enhanced by Arabian blood. Read more
We’d like to admit that we like all horse breeds equally, but it’s just not true. We have a thing for the draft breeds. Whether it’s because the 20th century was so hard on them collectively or just because they are so darn big & cuddly we can’t say. This one is beautiful & a lovely example of a healthy bay coat.
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This week’s rare breed comes from Germany & sadly they are among the rarest equines on the planet. So rare, in fact that we can’t find any images or video of them to share with you. The Arenberg-Nordkirchener Pony is dangerously close to extinction & are listed as critically endangered with their numbers in the teens.
These animals are a fairly recent breed (during the 20th century) & originally come from wild horses of Munster, Westphalia crossed with Lithuanian broodmares. This was a semi-wild breeding program (similar to that of the Dulman pony). Read more
We love images of horses that give them a vaguely human air. This one is no exception, with its windswept mane & bright eyes this handsome animal is as pretty as any supermodel. We can’t deny the lovely contrast of well manicured pastures & stark white fences in the background. It’s a well balanced image & it looks like paradise.
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The rare breed for this week comes from Greece & come from incredibly ancient bloodlines. This breed is also called the Eleia, Ilia, or Greek, the Andravida are a rare & mysterious light draft breed found in the region of Ilia, Greece.
The Andravida ancestors were cavalry horses used by the Athenians in the fourth century BC. Later, in the seventh century BC the Greek cavalry again used the Andravida for war. Originally bred as a light riding draft breed they were a cross of local breeds with Anglo-Norman animals. During the 13th to 15th centuries Arabian blood was used to refine stock, which created a lighter animal. Read more
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