Horses are one of the most beautiful and majestic animals on this planet. It is also one of the most expensive animals to own. From the many common breeds we see today, like the Thoroughbred, Arabian, etc., some breeds are so rare that most of them are becoming a part of the extinct animals list. If you are an equestrian enthusiast and are always curious to learn about rare breeds of horses, this article is for you.
1. Marwari Horse
The Marwari horse is an Indian Horse that comes in colors like black, chestnut, grey, etc. they have inwardly curved ears, a roman straight head, thin skin, and a high tail. It is around 1 meter tall, weighs 350 to 450 kgs, and is used for religious purposes, racing, and event shows.
2. Eriskay Pony
This pony is a lovely breed that originated in Scotland. Grey in color, these Eriskay Ponies have a waterproof, dense coat that helps shield from the harsh weather of Scotland. Before this name, this pony was called the Western Isle Pony. This pony can adapt to different situations and are usually calm to handle. They are used in agricultural work and help farmers to carry seaweeds and pull carts for them. Unfortunately, this unique breed has become extremely rare. In fact, there are only 300 of them left on the planet. . But animal conservationists are working to make this breed come back from near extinction.
3. German Black Forest Horse
This magnificent creature originated in Germany and is also known as Schwarzwalder or Kaltblut. They are chestnut-colored, with a white flaxen mane and tail. These hefty horses can weigh around 500-600 kg. Its uses are in agriculture, forestry, and riding purposes. Due to the overuse of this breed for human purposes, they are now nearly extinct.
4. Friesian Horse
This breed got its name from the province named Friesland in the Netherlands. These large horses weigh around 544-635 kg. They are black with sloping shoulders, compact, muscular bodies, hindquarters, and low-set tails. This breed gets primarily used for racing and riding. Their beautiful long wavy tail and mane never fail to amaze the audience.
5. Gypsy Vanner
The Gypsy Vanner can be traced back to origins in Ireland from the United Kingdom. They are usually piebald and skewbald. These majestic horses are kind and obedient in temperament, which makes them perfect as a family horse – which is why they are often in high demand. The horse is a draft horse and has features such as cob conformation and feathered heels. It is one of the most expensive breeds.
6. Bashkir Curly Horse
It is also known as American Bashkir Curly and North American Curly Horse. The aspect which makes them stand out is their beautiful curly hair. These medium-sized horses come in all shapes and colors. It is friendly and perfect for training purposes. The horse can do jumping, roping, and other types of games presented in events.
7. Akhal Teke
Akhal Teke originated in the country of Turkmenistan. Arguably one of the most beautiful horses in the world, this breed is, unfortunately, becoming rarer each day. The breed stands for 1 to 2 meters tall, and the weight is around 450 kg. Their silky, shiny golden fur has made them quite the show-stopper. These intelligent horses have impeccable speed and resilience and are mostly used for racing purposes.
8. Shire Horse
The horse is a large draught breed that came from the United Kingdom. It is a big horse with feathered legs and draught conformation and comes in black and brown. They have a height of 173 cm and weigh around 850 to 1000 kg. These gentle and docile horses are mostly used for draughts and eventing.
9. Hackney
This horse also originated from the United Kingdom and has a height of around 15 to 16 hands. It weighs around 2000 pounds. The horses come in different colors like black, brown, and chestnut. Hackneys are fun-loving breeds that are easy to tame. They are carriage-carriers and are also riding horses.
10. Colonial Spanish Strains
Colonial Spanish Strains include numerous horses such as Abaco Bard, Banker horse, Corolla and Shackleford Islands, Carolina Marsh Tacky, Florida Cracker Horse, Baca-Chica, Belsky horse. Havasupai, and the Spanish Mustang. These horses are 14 to 15 hands tall and have an average weight of 320 to 400 kg. They have a strong personality, but these traits vary from breed to breed.
11. American Paint Horse
This unique breed’s origin is America. The colors range from having brown with white specks to brown with white dots and so on. The markings on the body are usually scattered, and white markings are reminiscent of a paint stroke. They are around 16 hands tall and weigh about 420 to 550 kgs. This horse is a calm, relaxed and intelligent breed used for racing, driving, and event purposes.
12. Appaloosa
Appaloosa is another rare breed that originated in the United States Of America. It is a unique breed which has speaks on their coat. These specks are round and white, which cover most of their body parts. The specks and the coat come in different colors. This adorable breed also has the cutest big doe eyes. It has a height of 14 to 16 hands and weighs around 450 to 500 kgs. Appaloosas are courageous, intelligent, and independent breeds. They are mostly bred for racing, eventing, show jumping, and fox hunting.
13. Fjord Horse
The Fjord Horse originates from Norway. This breed was first discovered in the post-glacial era. It has a beige coat, with a short mane and a long tail. It is also called Fjording, Fjordhest, and Fjord. It is around 13 hands tall and weighs around 400 to 500 kgs. These horses are known for their calm and gentle nature – although some horses can get aggressive sometimes. It is mostly used for racing and driving purposes and also serves as a vehicle for handicapped people.
14. Miniature Horses
Miniature Horses originated from Europe. They have a variety of colors mixed in their coat and are small in size compared to most breeds out there. These horses are gentle, kind, and are easily trained. It is around 8.5 hands tall and weighs 150 pounds. Don’t be fooled by their small stature though, they can pull quite a heavy load for their stature. These horses are used mostly as pets, guides for the blind, and therapy animals for the differently-abled.
As beautiful and unique as these horses might be, we are slowly moving closer to making them extinct forever. The bitter truth about these rare horses is that they are all endangered species. We need to take a crucial step and spread awareness to save all these endangered animals from extinction and preserve these beautiful species for upcoming generations to witness.
