There are many warmblood horse breeds, but the Danish Warmblood is the newest of them all, dating back to 1962. At this time, there were actually two Danish saddle horse associations in Denmark. But in 1978, the Danish Lighthorse Association and the Danish Sport Horse Society were merged to form the Dansk Varmblod (Danish Warmblood Society). With the founding of the Dansk Varmblod, the best horsemen in Denmark came together. These horsemen wanted to create the perfect sport horse, and this could only be done by selective breeding.
Breeding horses were carefully chosen from across Europe. Stallions of a variety of breeds were chosen, including warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. These stallions were put to mares of strictly Danish descent. Eventually, the Danish Warmblood emerged. And while the studbook is still technically open, the Danish are quite choosy when it comes to adding new stallions. Not only must they conform to a given standard (set out in the studbook), but they must have a strong competitive aptitude and be easily ridden. This is not always easy to find, so the addition of stallions to the studbook is rare.
The goal of the Danish Warmblood Society used to be breeding an all-around sport horse. This changed in 2004. Today, the goal of the Society is to create top show jumpers and dressage horses. The Society has been successful on that front and now Danish Warmbloods are found in show jumping and dressage around the world.
Standing from 15.3 to 17 hands high, this is an elegant breed. The Danish Warmblood is a riding horse that is similar to the Thoroughbred, but with a more substantial build. Acceptable colors include almost any solid color, including black, bay, brown, chestnut, and dark brown. True Danish Warmbloods are branded on the flank with a small wave topped by a crown (as can be faintly seen in the photo). Horses without this brand are not recognized by the Dansk Varmblod.
A tall and elegant breed, the Danish Warmblood is coveted by anyone wanted a horse with a touch of royalty about them.
The ultimate English farm pony is the Dales Pony. This little horses comes from the dales of northeast England and was used to herd sheep, plow fields, and pulling carts of many sizes. They were also used in mines back in the days when horses were actually used in mines. The Dales Pony was a pack pony in the lead mines and also carried ore to the cargo ships all around England. English farmers, in an attempt to better the breed, crossed Welsh Cobs and Clydesdales with the Dales Pony, but the Clydesdale blood was considered undesirable and was eventually bred out.
The Dales Pony defies expectations when it comes to the loads it can carry. A single horse can carry 220 pounds despite its small size. It can also trot a three-minute mile and is surefooted enough to make an excellent trail pony. This horse breed is also friendly and reliable, making it a great horse for children.
The Dales Pony is what most people think of when they hear the term pony, even if they don't realize it. This pony had thick legs and hard, dark-colored hooves. The legs are feathered and the hindquarters are strong. This horse may be short but its well muscled, especially the neck. The head of the Dales Pony is fine featured with tiny ears and wide-set eyes. Standing between 14 and 14.2 hands high, this pony is generally black. Brown and grey are seen on occasion, but neither color is considered desirable.
The perfect pony, the Dales Pony is now represented throughout most of the world. Enthusiasts from The Dales Pony Society and The Dales Pony Society of America maintain the stud books for most of the horses born throughout the world.
Most of the Curly Horses (also called the American Bashkir Curly Horse) in existence today are descended from a group of three horses found wandering the mountain ranges of Nevada by the Damele family sometime in 1898. No one really knows how they got there, and we'll probably never know. They might have been brought to North America by the Spanish, Russians, or even the Vikings. Genetic testing has shown us that the Curly Horse is not its own unique breed. Instead, it is comprised of many other breeds including the Missouri Foxtrotter and the Morgan.
When a Curly Horse is first born, it has curly hair. Everywhere. The hair all over the body is tightly curled, as is the hair on the head, covering the legs, and even in the ears. The mane and tail are particularly curly. As the horse grows to maturity, the hair settles a bit. By two years of age, the hair lies mostly flat, though it is still curly enough to be noticed. Though many people believe Curly Horses have a running walk, this is actually not characteristic of the breed. Some horses will have a running walk. Others will not. There is great variety among these horses.
When it comes to color, almost anything goes. You can have blacks, bays, roans, palominos, and many other colors. Patterns and size also vary according to type. The most common type is the Curly Horse saddle type, so they tend to be what people are referring to when speaking of Curly Horses. As such, the standard size of 14.1 to 15.1 hands high applies specifically to the saddle type. Curly Horses are a viable option for some people who are allergic to horses as they are often hypo-allergic. This hypo-allergenic hair is also suitable for spinning and sweaters have been made for Curly Horse enthusiasts.
These curly coated horses occur in many varieties these days. You'll find ponies, gaited, sport, draft, and even miniature Curly Horses wandering the world. They are sure-footed, hardy, and nimble and can be found participating in sports such as gymkhana. They're also popular in western sports.
There is only one breed of horse native to the glimmering island of Ireland, and the Connemara Pony is that breed. If you go far enough back in time (to around the 5th century BCE), the native pony of Ireland (or Erin as it was called) looked more like a Shetland Pony than the Connemara Pony we're familiar with today. But Celtic raiders tend to change things, and the Irish pony was no exception. They bred the little horse with several different breeds, including the Arabian, Thoroughbred, Irish Draught, Irish Hobby, Welsh Cob, and the Spanish Jennet.
These breedings helped to establish the modern Connemara Pony, which is named for a small area along the west coast of Ireland bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Galway Bay. This area is known for its rugged landscape and is made up of moorlands and bogs. This environment cultivated a sturdy and hardy pony, turning the Connemara into the ultimate sport pony. Though once used almost exclusively by Irish farmers (which tended to own only a single mare apiece), you can now see the Connemara Pony in jumping events all around the world. This breed is also frequently crossed with the Thoroughbred to create an exceptional event horse.
The Connemara Pony is indeed a pony, but it's a large one as ponies go, standing from 13 to 15 hands high. They come in a variety of colors, most commonly dun, brown, grey, and black. You will also sometimes see a Connemara with roan, chestnut, or even palomino coloring, though this is considered less desirable. The perfect jumping pony, this little breed has sloping shoulders and a long, arched neck. With thick and sturdy forelegs and strong thighs and hocks, this pony is considered sweet and beautiful by enthusiasts around the world.
