Horse Breeds: Abtenauer

If you're looking for a draft horse that is smaller than most others, you might be looking for the Abtenauer. Not a lot is known about these adorable draft horses because there isn't really an official registry for them. We don't even know how many there are today. But their bloodlines are incredibly pure because of their geographic isolation. They are almost never seen outside their region of origin, the Abtenau Valley in Austria.

We don't even really know where the Abtenauer comes from. It's thought to be descended from Greek military mounts that were left in the region when they were no longer needed, but this is speculation at best. All we know is that they have been in the Abtenau Valley for centuries. It's not expected that we'll ever know much more than that.

Standing only about 15 hands high, the Abtenauer is small for a draft horse. They're beautifully built and are incredibly graceful. Their low center of gravity means they have astounding balance and are not easily ruffled. Their sweet disposition makes them a great companion horse, especially for younger people. 

Unlike some other draft horses, the Abtenauer is born with a curly coat. Foals loose this coat as they mature. Typical colors for this breed are roan, black, and chestnut. Leopard spotting sometimes happens but is not desirable.

This undemanding breed is great for both agricultural work and as a pleasant companion. 

Horse Breeds: Abstang Horse

The Abstang Horse is a newer breed that is not yet widely recognized. It's actually a cross between the elegant Arabian and the sturdy Mustang. I find it a little surprising that it took so long for this cross to become popular given the inherently wonderful traits of two of the hardiest and most popular breeds on the planet.

The Abstang didn't exist at all until the 1990s when a woman in Utah (Michelle Brown) experimented with crossing the Mustang and the Arabian. She was hoping that the offspring would be both unique and desirable, and they absolutely were. She ended up with youngsters that were as eager to please as the Arabian and as spirited as an untamed Mustang. But the young horses were also a little reticent, requiring that she work to earn their trust. Once she did, they were impressive horses indeed.

She called her new breed the Abstang and in 1993 the International Abstang Registry & Association was founded. In order the qualify for registration, the horses must display the refinement and endurance of an Arabian and the fearless and stubborn nature of the Mustang.

The adult horses are usually small in size, hardy, and surefooted. Because the breed is still so new, and the Mustang can sometimes have a fuzzy coat, there is still some variation in the conformation and characteristics of the breed. The Mustang features can sometimes override the refinement of the Arabian, but this is not desirable. A more favorable conformation will include a straight profile and a rounded croup. All colors and patterns are acceptable in this adorable breed.

The Abstang makes a great endurance horse, but they can also be used for show and just for pleasure. They tend to be good on the ranch as well because they're so quite and surefooted. They are fearless and loyal as well as spirited and very tough, so they make great trail horses and can be used to herd cattle and sheep if necessary. 

All in all, the Abstang is an interesting and fun experimental breed that definitely has some promise.

Horse Breeds: Morab

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.

Horse Breeds: Missouri Fox Trotter

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.