Dakota is a Paint Pony
Paint
Read about the breed
Discussion:
The term "Paint" can refer both to a horse's color pattern, and their breed! The
breed was originally developed in Spain before the colonization of America. The
American Paint Horse shares a common ancestry with the Quarter Horse and the
Thoroughbred. Quarter Horses were later used for transportation and work
because of the horse's inherent strength, agility, and stamina. The Paint Horse is
used in a variety of equestrian disciplines, most commonly Western
pleasure, reining, and other Western events, although it is now common to see
Paint horses in all equestrian disciplines!
Paint horses are known for their unique
color patterns and their stocky build. Paint horses can either be Piebald (black
and white) or skewbald (brown and white).
Is Dakota a Skewbald or Piebald Paint pony? Why?
Ginger and Peter Pan are Miniature Horses
Miniature Horse
Read about the breed
Miniature horses are horses defined by their small height. They can be found in
many nations, particularly in Europe and the Americas, and are the result of
centuries of selective breeding. Depending on the particular breed registry
involved, the height of these horses is usually less than 34–38 inches as measured
to the withers. Miniature horses are bred to be friendly and interact well with
people. For this reason they are often kept as family pets, but must be treated
like an equine, even if they primarily serve as a companion or service animal.
Miniature horses are also trained for driving, equine agility, and other competitive
horse show type events.
Discussion:
What activities are not listed above that our minis get to participate in?
Polly and Shay are Percherons
Percheron
Read about the breed
The Percheron Horse originated in France, and was introduced to the United
States in the 1800's. This breed has been the most influencial in the American
Agriculture industry. Percherons were bred to do a tremendous amount of farm
work in one day. They are able to pull giant loads and carry heavy farm
equipment. Percherons are a draft breed, but they typically staybetween 16 and 17
hands, making them one of the shorter draft breeds in the horse world. Most
commonly, Percherons are black or grey in color. Because of their docile
temperament, many people refer to them as "Gentle Giants!" Today, Percherons
are used in many disciplines like fox hunting, vaulting, and competitive driving.
When crossed with lean breeds like thoroughbreds, they make fantastic eventing
horses!
Discussion:
We have 2 resident Percherons at Madison Fields. What do you think some of their
past jobs included? Hint: some are listed in the decription above!
Schatzie is a Trakehner
Trakehner
Read about the breed
Trakehner is a light warmblood breed of horse, originally developed at the East
Prussian state stud farm in the town of Trakehnen from which the breed takes its
name. The Trakehner typically stands between 15.2 and 17 hands. They can be any
color. Trakehners are athletic and trainable, with good endurance, while some
are more spirited than horses of other warmblood breeds. While Trakehners
compete in nearly all equestrian disciplines, they are particularly prized
as dressage mounts, due to their sensitivity,
intelligence and way of going. Our
Trakehner, Schatzie competed all over Montgomery County in her previous career
as a hunter jumper.
Discussion:
What is the name of the Trakehner on the United State's show jumping team that
brought home a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics?
Lua is an Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Read about the breed
The Oldenburg is a warmblood horse from the north-western corner of Lower
Saxony, what was formerly the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. This breed was
originally bred from Friesian horses to pull carriages for transportation. This
breed began to grow when the need for carriage horses declined in the 1970's
and these horses started to be bred to be sport horses. Oldenburg's are tall sport
horses with excellent gaits and jumping ability. The modern Oldenburg can best
be identified by the "O" and crown brand on the left hip.
You can find Oldenburg
horses in Olympic horse sports today, and they usually excel in dressage.
Oldenburg horses have been know to rank as one of the most successful breeds
in the dressage ring.
Discussion:
Why might breeders cross carriage pulling horses with Thoroughbreds to build a
more athletic breed?