Many of the horse breeds still around today are the result of breeding programs. The Camargue is not one of those. The Camargue horse is an ancient breed that has been running around the south of France, specifically the marshy plains of the Rhone delta, since prehistoric times. This is a breed of horse that has developed quite naturally. However, once in a while soldiers passing through would breed their own mounts to the existing Camargue of the area, strengthening the breed and preventing it from dying out altogether.
The Camargue has been ridden, at least traditionally, by the cowboys who look after the feral bulls in the area. These horses still run while across the marshes they call home. They are overseen by the Biological Research Station of la Tour du Valat. The Camargue Regional Park is responsible for caring for and protecting the horses. Each year the horses are rounded up and several stallions are gelded.
The Camargue is a very consistent breed. One horse looks very much like the rest, with a little difference in size and build depending on the gender of the horse you're looking at. They are stocky horses, standing only 13 to 14 hands high, with stout haunches, legs, and hooves. Their heads are large and square and the eyes are flush to the skull. The mane and tail are heavy and give the horse a primitive look. All of these horses are born dark and fade to a light grey as they grow to maturity.
Used today for endurance racing and English sports such as dressage, the Camargue is one of the most evocative and primitive of horses.
The Russian Budenny, also known as the Budonny or the Budennovsky, has a bit of a sad origin. During both World War I and the Russian Revolution, many horses were killed. At that particular point in history, horses were still actively engaged in war on European battlefields and they died as often as soldiers did. This meant that horses in the area were in short supply. A horse had to be bred to replace the many who had died, and this breed had to be something a soldier would be proud and even honored to ride.
The best of the calvary riders were to Cossacks who rode their native Don. The new horse had to be at least as strong as the Don but with greater stamina, more height, and beautiful movement. So Thoroughbreds were bred to existing Dons, creating the Budenny. The Russians called his horse the Budennovskaia.
Standing 15 to 16 hands high, the Budenny horse can be found in many shades of chestnut, typically with white markings. The breed has large bones and powerful muscles and moves with both agility and fluidity. You might almost mistake the Budenny for a Thoroughbred since they have the same same long neck, slender and strong legs, and pretty head. But the Budenny is sturdier by far.
Today, the Budenny can be found in dressage, show jumping, and eventing. They are a lovely breed, but because of restrictions put in place during the rise of the Soviet Union, Budenny horses are still relatively rare in the United States. There is currently no real breed association for the Budenny, but the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of the Horse (VNIIK) located outside Moscow manages the studbook and could even be said to oversee the breed itself.
Back in the time of knights and ladies, a black draft horse was bred on the plain of Belgium. This heavy horse, often used as a mount for powerful knights, eventually became known as the Flemish. From this stocky horse came the breed known today as the Belgian Draft Horse. Despite being a breed in its own right, the Belgian Horse has many of the same characteristics of the Flemish, including the ability to haul large loads or carry a heavy weight.
The Belgian has its start in the farming regions of Belgium where it was used to pull wagons on farms. However, it quickly spread to the cities and could be found working alongside other large draft breeds in the warehouse districts. Fishing wharfs and freight stations also made use of the Belgian's desire to work.
Despite their popularity throughout continental Europe, it wasn't until 1866 that the first Belgian Draft Horse made the crossing from Europe to North America. This breed didn't really catch on until 1885 when a small group of men in Wabash, Indiana finally began importing Belgian Horses and selling them to farmers and horse breeders throughout the West.
In today's world the Belgian isn't used as much as it once was. Draft horses aren't often used in modern farming, but those involved in historical or hobby farming will often make use of the Belgian Draft Horse. They can still be found in forestry work where the terrain is too difficult for machines. But their most frequent modern use is for pleasure driving. These horses are particularly suited for hauling a hayride.
The appearance of this horse is fairly standardized. The Belgian's most common color is sorrel, usually with a white mane and tail, white face markings, and white stockings or socks. You will occasionally see a roan Belgian Horse and perhaps even a bay (which is a throwback), but these colors are not considered desirable. The Belgian, being a draft horse, stands from 16 to 18 hands high and has the ability to pull just over 6000 pounds. They can also work for up to 8 hours. If you're looking for a driving horse to pull a hayride or a sled, you might want to look into the Belgian Draft Horse.
The ancient Barb had its origins in Middle Asia. In fact, it was first established in the Fertile Crescent, which is is a crescent-shaped region containing the moist and fertile land of Western Asia and the Nile Valley and Nile Delta of northeast Africa. This must have been the ideal environment to raise horses in ancient times as the Barb thrived in the arid conditions.
The Berbers were the first people to use the Barb as both a mount and a war horse. They favored this breed so much that they took it with them as they conquered the lands around them. When they left a region, some of their horses were inevitably left behind and eventually bred with native stock. This founded several different breed throughout the area, some of which are still popular today.
Highly desired as a war horse, the Barb spread quickly throughout Europe and Asia. They remained the most plentiful along the northern coast of Africa. This was a rather central location for the breed and allowed many different countries and cultures access to them. The Moors used them to invade Spain. The Conquistadors took them to the New World where the Aboriginal people took advantage of their speed and stamina.
Throughout all of this, the Barb horse was mixing and mingling with other breeds along the way. The Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse, Standardbred, and Mustang are among the breeds that have been influenced by Barb blood running through their veins. Unfortunately, there are few pure Barbs left in the world. Most of them were gathered up by Barb Horse Registry founder Richard Painter in the 1950s in an attempt to reestablish the breed. This effort has met with limited success.
The Barb is a stocky breed standing from 13.2 to 15 hands high. Its colors are many, but most common are palomino and dun. The Barb differs physically from most other breeds in that it has fewer lumbar vertebrae and only sixteen or seventeen ribs rather than the more common eighteen.
This ancient breed is known for its stamina and its loyalty to its rider. Today, the International Society for the Preservation of the Barb Horse & Barb Horse Registry makes an effort to preserve this horse that could be considered endangered.
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