Though the breed itself is relatively new, originating in the mid-1970s, crossing the Morgan and the Arabian was popular more than a century earlier. This particular hybrid led to a stunning champion show horse that was also graceful when trotting. Despite the popularity of the hybrid, it wasn't until the 1920s that anyone thought it might be a true breed. It was really a single man, William Randolph Hearst, who started the breed on his ranch in California. He was trying to create a sturdy workhorse, and when he crossed his Arabians with his Morgans, he coined the term "Morab" to describe the resulting offspring.
But this still wasn't the true start of the breed. It was another fifty years before the first registry for Morabs was created, which allowed breeders from across the country to register their horses as Morabs. At first, standards were quite lax, but today horses must have documented Arabian and Morgan bloodlines, with neither breed comprising more than 75% of the bloodline for an individual horse.
Intelligent and sweet, the Morab is a people loving horse, great with children and prized for their docile nature and calm disposition. The Morab brings all the best traits if the contributing breeds together, combining the muscular build of the Morgan with the speed and endurance of the Arabian. A rather compact horse, this breed is powerful and beautiful, exhibiting the flagged tail, upright neck, and expressive face of its parent breeds.
Standing between 14 and 15.2 hands high, the Morab is a stout and strong horse. They can be found in all solid colors, but, bay, chestnut, and gray are the most common. Tails and manes can be equally varied, with white or grey being common, but all colors are allowed.
They may have started as ranch horses, but today Morabs are common for both show and pleasure. They make great carriage horses and are often found competing in endurance or even competitive trail. For more information on this robust breed, contact the Purebred Morab Horse Association or the International Morab Horse Association.
As its name suggests, the Missouri Fox Trotter has its roots in Missouri, specifically the Ozark Mountains. They were created by crossing the region's Arabians, Morgans, and Thoroughbreds. This wasn't necessarily because the locals wanted to create a new breed, but more because those were the horses they had at the time.
The distinctive fox trot of this breed didn't have to be bred for. It developed because of the uneven terrain in the Ozarks. Because the smoothness of this gait, the Missouri Fox Trotter became prized above any other, and this is when selective breeding truly started. Other gaited horses, such as the Standardbred and the Tennessee Walker, were added into the gene pool to help stabilize the breed and ensure the fox trot would breed true.
Standing between 14 and 16 hands high, the Missouri Fox Trotter isn't a large horse, but he has a sweet face and a pleasant disposition. This breed can be found in all colors, including buckskin, pinto, and spotted. The truly distinctive thing about this breed is the fox trot, where the horse appears to trot with the rear legs but walk with the front legs. It's fascinating to watch, especially when you notice this gait does not bounce like the traditional trot. This lack of bounce makes for a smooth ride over most terrain. The horse nods with each stride and the gait has a particular rhythm that cannot be mistaken. All in all, this horse is a joy to watch.
The Missouri Fox Trotter was originally used for transportation and cattle work, and this really hasn't changed all that much. Today you're most likely to find this breed hard at work on the ranch, used for long distance trail riding, or simply for pleasure riding. For more information, contact The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association.
Back in the 17th century, when oddities and strange animals were irresistible to the nobility, horses that were smaller than the norm were set aside and used in breeding programs across Europe. When crossed with the Shetland Pony, these smaller horses produced even smaller offspring. Those offspring with a less refined appearance were inevitably used in the mines as pit ponies, hauling carts of supplies and materials. Those more attractive ponies found their way into circuses and shows throughout the continent.
Over time, other breeds were added to the mix. The Hackney brought a little more refinement. Horses with pinto coloring were used to introduce new colors. Eventually, with selective breeding, horses that resembled smaller versions of Arabians, American Quarter Horses, and others came about, especially as the Miniature Horse spread throughout Europe and North America.
Unlike other breeds, Miniature Horses are measured in inches, not hands. They should stand no more than 34 inches at the base of the mane at the withers. That's under 3 feet, so these guys are a little small. For this reason, they are not ridden, not even by children. Despite this, they are vastly popular and available in practically every color, including palomino, pinto, and a strange pattern called Pintaloosa, which is really a cross between a pinto and an Appaloosa.
Though they cannot be ridden, Miniature Horses are used today for driving and in-hand classes such as obstacle courses and halter. For more information about this adorable breed, contact the American Miniature Horse Association.
Though it's generally agreed that the Marwari originates in India, there's not much more known about the ancient history of this magnificent breed. We do know that horses with similar features, specifically the curved ears, appear in cave paintings that were in existence in 2000 BCE in the Rajasthan region of India. Indian warriors, usually referred to as Rajputs, used these horses as cavalry mounts. They have also been used as ceremonial mounts in various parts of the world.
Standing between 14.2 and 16 hands high, the Marwari is an average size horse. Its most amazing feature is clearly the curved ears, though no one really knows why the ears developed this curve. Some horses have ears that actually touch or cross, giving them an even more exotic appearance. But the ears aren't the only impressive feature. They also have gracefully arched necks and are sometimes born with a pacing gait called either the apchal or the revall.
The Marwari is a true desert horse, but it's not exactly like other desert horses. Though not exactly stocky, this breed is certainly heavier than you might expect, almost as heavy as the Spanish horses. They have a similar build to the Kathiawari, though we don't exactly know much about that breed either.
Available in just about any color (except chestnut), the Marwari is used today to pull tourist carts and is also frequently ridden by police and for ceremonial events such as weddings and festivals. For more information on this special breed, visit Horse Marwari.
