People have bred horses for centuries, which has led to the existence of hundreds of breeds used for different purposes. Most people know about the well-known breeds such as the Arabian or the Quarter Horse, however, there are a lot of other breeds that are not quite famous but have interesting characteristics. In this blog, you will find information on ten rather non-standard breeds of horses, which will help you to understand the true variety of the equine world.
1. Akhal-Teke
Origin: Turkmenistan
Recognised internationally as the Akhal-Teke or the desert ‘s ‘Golden Horses’, their coat shines like metal. This has made them to have this look of other world beings due to the nature of their coat quality. They are also noted for their long distance capabilities and therefore can be used as sports horses.
Unique characteristics:
- Metallic coat sheen
- Almond-shaped eyes
- Lean, athletic build
2. Marwari
Origin: India
Anchored readily the Marwari can be defined by the strategies in which the ear tips of the Marwari can touch at the points. This breed was created as a weapon for wars and is famous for loyalty and ability to withstand harsh conditions.
Unique characteristics:
- Inward-curving ears
- Able to withstand sub zero temperatures
- Natural ambling gait
3. Knabstrupper
Origin: Denmark
Known also as the Leopard horse because of the coat’s speckled pattern, the Knabstrupper is one of the oldest breeds of such a coat in Europe. It’s a kind of versatile performer and they are even used in circus because of their looks.
Unique characteristics:
- Leopard-like spotted coat
- Strong, compact build
- Calm temperament
4. Bashkir Curly
Origin: Russia/North America
These horses have a so-called curly hair, meaning that the hair is curled and can change from being a little wave to a typical corkscrew curl. However, the fact that many people who are allergic to horses are able to be around Bashkir Curlies show that this breed is largely resistant to this allergy.
Unique characteristics:
- Curly coat, mane and tails
- Hypoallergenic qualities
- Hardy and cold-resistant
5. Falabella
Origin: Argentina
A Falabella is a small horse breed that does not exceed 32 inches in height; in fact, the breed is a miniature horse. However, they are quite smart and can be trained for different purposes.
Unique characteristics:
- Extremely small size
- Proportionally smaller hooves
- Long timespan of use, as the range of 40-45 years has been identified for them.
6. Przewalski's Horse
Origin: Central Asia
It is also called the Mongolian wild horse and is the only naturally feral horse type in the whole world. They were once believed to be extinct in the natural environment, but the species has been successfully transplanted back into their natural environment.
Unique characteristics:
- Never domesticated
- Thickset and has a stiff bristle like hair on the head.
- 66 chromosomes in comparison with 64 in the domestic horses.
7. Gypsy Vanner
Origin: United Kingdom
A breed of the Romani people with long well developed manes and tails and feather like legs. They are large and powerful but these animals are very docile in nature.
Unique characteristics:
- Abundant mane, tail andlegg Feathering
- Piebald as well as skewbald in coloring
- Compact, muscular build
8. Fjord Horse
Origin: Norway
Fjord horses have a cream dun coat and black and white stripe on their legs. They have mane that is spiraling over the neck and is usually shaved to give a prominence to the central line that is black.
Unique characteristics:
- Dun coloration with primitive markings.
- Crescent-shaped ears
- Strong, arched neck
9. Kathiawari
Origin: India
As for the Kathiawari, related to the Marwari, it has distinctly curved ears in the process. These horses are quite robust and in the past, they used to be desert war horses or horses for chasing.
Unique characteristics:
- Curved ears (though not even nearly as much as Marwari)
- A head portion of high precision wherein the profile is a concave one.
- Spirited temperament
10. Mangalarga Marchador
Origin: Brazil
Out of all horse breeds, this breed has a very distinct walking pattern called the “marcha” that is very fluid and jarring-free when riding. Mangalarga were used in Brazil especially when it came to long distance riding.
Unique characteristics:
- Marcha Gait: This gait is characterized by the smooth four beat lateral ambling.
- Durability and a very comfortable ride
- Convex facial profile
Conclusion
As seen above, every single breed is a reflection of different aspects of horse diversity; the ability to adapt and dazzling looks. Starting with the Akhal-Teke that can be easily recognized by its metallic coat of the mini Falabella breed, all of these horses only serve as a constant nod to the many breeds in the world of horses. Whether work, environment, or looks were the criteria for breeding these horses, each of these breeds are coming from distinct backgrounds and conforming to features that make each one distinct in the world of horsemanship.
