The horse [part one, breeds, terms, description.]

WARNING: VERY VERY LONG


First off, I had NO idea what category to put this in, so I put it in art, because sometimes when I see a horse, it seems like poetry in motion.

To some people, the sight of a galloping horse is an embodiment of the very spirit of the earth.

To others, horses are a lifeline, either as transport or buisness.

Some people see horses as a novelty, or something smilar to a motorbike (not that i'm making fun of them)

And some just don't see them as anything.

For the people like me who spend a fair amount of time around assorted horses and ponies, horses a more than just pets. They can make (or break) careers, become great friends, and even help in the advancment of a civilisation.

Let's start off with what a horse IS.

Horses belong to a family called Equus. They are grouped with donkeys, mules, wild asses, zebras and many other similar animals.

Equines are usually herd animals, with few exceptions.

They are also essentially prey animals, built standing on the hard toes of their long strong legs, and equipped with large powerful muscles for power when running and jumping, and a long back to help it stretch out its stride and flex over jumps.
The fact they are prey animals also provides them with an almost borderline paranoid personality, reminiscent of a deer. Though some horses a relativley calm by nature (e.g. My standardbed Jack), just like others are what some pepple call "highly strung" but I call "possesing the mental status of an escaped convict" (e.g. My mum's arab Shiloh)

That is one of the downsides of riding a horse, keeping an eye out for any potential dangers should your horse bolt or "shy" unexpectedly.

What is "shying"?

A shy is what happens when a horse wanders near something, then suddenly becomes convinced that something wants to eat it (this can be anything from a kangaroo, a bird, a peice of paper, a bin, a random noise or even another horse.) It then stops dead for an unpredictable amount of time, then leaps away to a random direction (you get used to this and eventually learn to just go with it over time) the leap could be of any size.

Horsey terms

Conformation: How a horse is built.(horses come in all shapes and sizes) a well-built horse is said to have "good conformation" or be "well conformed" and vice versa. The standards of conformation differ from breed to breed.

Wither: This is the lumpy bit at the base of a horses neck, just infront of where the saddle should go. Its size varies from horse to horse.

Crupper: This is an attachment to the back of a saddle to help keep it in place. It takes the form of a long strap that runs from the back of the saddle down to the base of the tail, where it forks and encircles said tail. Most horses somewhat dislike it, most people I know don't bother with one, but it is useful if your horse likes to buck.

Forelock: This is the horses fringe. Do I need to explain any further?

Hands (hh) The measurement of a horses height, being roughly four inches (go here for a conversion table. A pony is 13hh or under, a horse is anything over that.

If you have any other queries, I will add it to this list.

Breeds

Ah, my favourite part. These are only a select few of the MANY breeds of horses you will find and if you want me to add one to the list, I will. (I picked the most flattering pics I could find,but you get not-so attractive horses in any breed.)

Arab (Arabian)


The arab is one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world. They have influenced many breeds of horses, most often improving that breed. Bred in the deserts of (you guessed it) Arabia, they are hot-blooded and tough, with phenomenal endurannce. They are recognised by their compact and graceful body, their silky coats their "dished" faces (with rather large nostrils to enhance air intake because desert air is quite thin) and their rather nervous natures. The arab breed has a very large following, having several associations in many countries.
Predominant colours: Black, bay,grey, chestnut.

Shire



Often praised as the tallest horse in a the world, some shires may reach up to 18hh tall! (around 6ft)
The breed was originally created in England, but is gaining poppularity worldwide.They are traditionally bred for draught (pulling carts/ploughs, etc...) but they can also make excellent (if somewhat intimidating) riding horses. Don't let their size get to you though, large draft horses like the shire are usually very gentle, especially with young animals of humans! (just watch the hooves)
Predominant colours: Bay, brown, black or grey with plenty of white on the legs and feet.


Andalusian
One of my favourites.


The Andalusian is a Spanish breed, one of the few not influenced by the Arab, because the people who were in control of the Andalusian studs wanted the horse to be purely Spanish. It moves beautifully, quite literally poetry in motion, which is why it excels in dressage. (i'll be putting up a list of equine sports in the next part)
It is powerfully built, and distinguished by its long, wavy, flowing mane and tail, its smooth paces, & straight, honest face.
Predominant colours: Mostly grey, but also black, bay, and sometimes chestnut or other colours.

Appaloosa


Ah yes, the famous Spotted Horse. It was develop by the American Nez Perce tribe. With a rather thin mane and tail, and a white sclera around the eye (in other words, a white ring around the eye) it is not often considered attractive, but they make reliable and versatile mounts. It is distinguished by it's striking spotted coat, as seen in the above pictures.

Thoroughbred


All hail the almighty Thoroughbred. Most people have heard of this breed, mostly due to is racing prowess although it does quite well in other fields as well. The thoroughbred was created in England by a fusion of the best of a great many breeds, resulting in a horse with size, athleticism, presence, and elegance. The throughbred typically has the following characteristics: A large athletic body with good muscle and bone, with a straight, honest, and often somewhat large head.
Predominant colours: black,bay,grey and chestnut.


I will continue with more breeds and other things in the next part. What did I tell you about length, eh? Glad you made it this far, it says a lot for your character.