This book is a reference to the many equine breeds found in North America. It is for anyone interested in horses or ponies who would like to become better acquainted with the qualifications and structure of a breed. It contains descriptions, histories, and official standards of what each horse and pony should be, as presented by their registry. As well as a guide for registering purebreds, it is also a surprising revelation on the many different kinds of equines.
As much as possible, all North American equine breeds with a national registry or representative organization were included. For accuracy’s sake, it was important to use registry information because breed facts and standards originate from them. It was attempted not to change their wording or meanings in any way. Contributing registries were either parent societies, or those affiliated with the foreign parent societies and are representatives of them in North America.
It is hoped that a new understanding of the breeds and clarity of the differences among them will bring light to all of the wonderful and interesting horses and ponies.
A NOTE ABOUT THE EXPERTS
The importance of implementing the expertise of national breed organizations and registries for this book cannot be overstated. They are the best recognizable authorities and encyclopedias on equines, as well as the best sources to interpret or expound on equine standards. In most cases, they have facts and insights not accessible anywhere else. Their concern for the breed is the basis for a consistent group effort that endures over time with the purpose of advancing breed purity and understanding.
They provide guidelines for accepted conformation through careful study and by utilizing the knowledge of respected professionals. Having an acute interest in the betterment of their individual breed, they work diligently toward that end. After researching the facts, pooling their sources, and giving much thought and deliberation, they institute breed standards to be as correct and exact as possible. Usually this is done without pay or reward of any kind, yet oftentimes at the risk of criticism and disregard of others. Yet they do it because they love their breed.
Consequently, what they have to say is received as a serious definition. When entering a horse show or registering a horse, their qualifications are all that should matter.
It was through their extraordinary group cooperation and patience that this book was made possible. I am deeply grateful for the privilege and honor of working with them. They win the blue ribbon in the arena of selflessness for caring enough to share the intricacies and many facets of their beloved equines with others.
—Fran Lynghaug
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Without a doubt, this book was made possible only with the help of a great number of professional horse people who participated with their time and effort to provide a true representation of their breeds, either with articles, advice, research, reviews, or photographs. I regret that space inhibits me from naming each one, but they did a remarkable job. I wouldn’t have been able to do this book without these sources and am deeply grateful to them all.
Especially crucial and worthy of special mention were the contributions and professional advice from the Equus Survival Trust and Victoria Tollman. More than a few breeds in this book would not have been included or they wouldn’t have been accurately presented without her.
I am particularly grateful to Michael Dregni at Voyageur Press, who understood the vision for this book and was willing to undertake it.
I appreciate the input from my good friend, Theresa Williams, whom I bounced many ideas off and whose input was invaluable.
My husband, Dick, is at the top of the list for his patience while I worked on this project. My kids—Ameé, Tara, Rick, Cat, and Josh—all contributed in some way. My mom and sisters—Karen, Cathy, and Sue—all provided their support in one way or another. My granddaughter, Haley, was particularly patient and lent a hand with the illustrated diagrams.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
—Fran Lynghaug
“I can do all things through Christ Jesus which strengtheneth me.”
—Phil. 4:13, KJV
DISCLAIMER
Some horse experts may contend that not all of the equine breeds presented in this book are true breeds. Genetically speaking, that may be true, yet in general equine social circles, they have been accepted as breeds.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Handbook No. 394, “A breed of horse may be defined as a group of horses of common origin and possessing certain, well-defined, distinctive, uniformly transmitted characteristics that are not common to other horses. . . .”
The purpose of this book is to honestly depict the traits usually common to a particular kind of equine. For that reason, it is attempted to give equal attention to all the breeds as represented by the breed organizations and to take each one seriously. There are no presumptions as to which breeds are “authentic” and which are not.
It may also seem that there are several representations of the same breed. If attention is focused on the breed standards, it will be evident that there are differences.
The hope is to define the various breeds or types as accurately as possible, for they are so wonderfully diverse and beautiful in their own unique ways.
THE BREED STANDARD
What are breed standards and why are they important?
Webster defines a standard as “an accepted measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; criterion.” Criterion is a standard on which a judgment is based. In other words, a standard is the epitome of a person’s or group’s intelligent deduction of what the ultimate object is; what it contains, what it looks like, how it acts, and the measure of its worth. A standard is the ideal of what something should be.
Purebreds are supposed to look and behave the way their standards describe. The quality of a horse is directly related to how closely it resembles its breed standards. Observers who marvel at the beauty of a particular horse are, in essence, agreeing with the standards of that breed.
Standards differ from breed to breed. Due to the differences in background and uses, what is an asset in one can be a serious fault in another. Therefore, equine registries have found it necessary to define their own individual breed standards. A knowledgeable breeder is familiar with his or her breed’s particular standards and is constantly attempting to achieve them.
In dealing with the genetic nature of animals, physical perfection can never be attained, but the ideal standard is held up as the comparison of how close a horse can be to this ultimate goal. In the show ring, equines are judged by comparing them to their standards. Those that deviate greatly from their breed standards, such as having an unacceptable color, are not considered in any way to be better because they are unique or are different from others in the breed. Instead, they are considerably distanced from what their breed is supposed to be. Individuals that adhere closely to their standards are typically regarded as more desirable for showing and breeding. They hold a higher prestigious position and have much to offer their breed. They are considered more valuable, being appreciated for their better quality.
The difficulty is not in producing a unique horse, but in producing many horses that closely resemble their standards. When this is achieved, it is a sign of a stabilized, recognizable type and good professional breeding. Overall, the purest breeds typically contain many horses with common characteristics, for their gene base is proven and consistent. When a breed like this is mentioned, an immediate mental picture of what it looks like easily comes to mind. An observer is assured of what kind of equine he or she is seeing because it looks the same as others in the breed.
The ironic twist is that an individual horse that carries most of the attributes of its breed to the highest degree is, in fact, unique because of the difficulty in producing this kind of quality. Gene combinations of sire and dam are always a gamble. Not until eleven months later will it be evident if the result mirrors what the pedigree says is there. It is a wonderful challenge attempting to produce the perfect equine.
It can be easy for breeders to be blinded to the faults in their breed lines, due to seeing their own horses on a daily basis. Anything different may look wrong to them, until the quality of their own stock is proven in the show ring under the (hopefully) unbiased opinion of a judge familiar with the breed standards, or the performance ring where the better individuals naturally surface. A horse’s worth can also be tested in day-today riding or work. These are the defining elements that prove the true quality in a horse or pony and are the reasons why adhesion to standards is so important.
Webster’s first definition of a standard is a flag, and that is what the standards in this book are, brilliant flags waving for all to see.