Global Horse Culture

Horses of the world, 1934 version

It's interesting to see which breeds of horses were widely known in past times. Looking at show programs or books about horse breeds from past decades (or centuries) reveals which breeds were popular or recognized then, and it's often quite different from today.

The map pictured was issued in 1934.

The breeds described are (from bottom center, moving clockwise):

48 horse power!

Nicely done enormous hitch of Belgians. That's a lot of harness to clean!

Back in time

This website has a section about the horse show at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. It's interesting to see what breeds of horses were popular then, and how they were presented. This comment about the Morgan horse class caught my eye: "There were all different shapes, sizes, and colors of Morgans present at the fair. Some fair exhibitors preferred the neat and trappy step.  Others preferred Morgans having the trot more straddled out like an old fashioned Wilkes trotter. Short legs and long legs were jumbled together and it created confusion in the show ring."  I like seeing the photos of the breeds in times past - often they change quite a bit over the decades, sometimes they change very little. Other breeds featured included Roadsters and German Coach Horses. Take a look!

Massive teams of draft horses

The Pony Expression has a recent post about draft animals that includes an impressive picture of an enormous team of horses, plus info about draft horses and oxen. Go take a look!

Italian Horse Breeds

Here's a cool website with a very complete listing of Italian horse breeds. The breeds are listed in the menu on the left side. Clicking each will give you a description (in Italian, of course) and photos (usually towards the bottom of the page). There is quite a diversity, from mountain ponies to saddle horses and draft horses. Many of the saddle horses derive from combinations of Iberian, Arabian and Thoroughbred blood. Worth a browse, even if you don't speak Italian.

PA National: "Dave & Dave"

I had a chance to stop by the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA yesterday. I hadn't even made it to the buildings yet when I ran into this handsome turnout in the parking lot. It's "Dave & Dave" - a percheron gelding and his driver. Dave (the horse) is wearing a really fancy harness. I heard later they won their men's cart class - congratulations!

Dave and his wife, Susie, run a carriage services business in Pennsylvania, providing horses and carriages for weddings and other special events. You can see more of their horses and their amazing Cinderella carriage on their website.

Susie took a spin in the ring, too, winning a ribbon with this new gelding:

Yikes!

Riders at a festival in France ride their horses through a wall of fire. Other photos from the festival in danielguip's photostream feature the Breton horse, a handsome medium-weight draft horse.

The Finnish Horse

What a delightful historic video I found today on YouTube. User Ishexan edited this from old film footage featuring the Finnish Horse - also known as the Finnish Universal or Finnish Trotter or Finnhorse. These are all-round horses, Cob-like in build, strong enough for draft work, fast enough at the trot for good racing, and also used for riding, including jumping. They are most commonly chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail, though other colors occur, including silver dapple (silver bay). There is a breed site in English here.

Another Beautiful Mane

I couldn't pass up this old photo of a stallion with a very long mane. He appears to be a Percheron; the photo is from Wisconsin in the late 1800s. Long manes like this are usually kept carefully braided and wrapped in fabric to prevent snags and broken hairs. 

Photo: Wisconsin Historical Society on flickr.

Horseboats??

Before motor vehicles it was not uncommon for boats to be towed through canals by mules or draft horses, which walked along a towpath adjacent to the canal. In many places, where the canals are no longer used except for pleasure, the towpaths have become pedestrian walks or bicycle paths.

In Britain an organization exists to preserve the tradition of horseboating - that is, towing a boat along a canal with a draft horse. The Horseboating Society brings their horseboats to fairs and events, and performs long-distance trips, with the aim of maintaining access to the canals and of educating the public about this traditional form of transportation.

It sounds like a pleasant way to see the country! The link above has lots of photos, and detailed information about the history and tradition of horseboating.