The Basic Morphologial Types of a Horse | ||
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The Basic Morphologial Types of a Horse | ||
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Breeds are typically classified into three main morphological types by many authors in their listings of the horse breeds, but some authors tend to just group the breeds into just warm-bloods and cold-bloods, the distinction made by the degree of Arabian influence. Horses may also be classed into broad categories as saddle and light draft, heavy draft and pony, for some reference manuals.
The dolichomorphic breeds are typically long-limbed, and are particularly well-suited to running and racing. The mesomorphic breeds have more harmonious lines, and are more sturdy and have a powerful and rapid action which makes them suitable for riding. Brachymorphic breeds are usually more massive and compact, with predominantly short and strong lines, and they are particularly suitable for heavy draft and farm work. There are also intermediate types, which combine the characteristics from each parent breed.
All present-day horses may be traced back to three main progenitors, all belonging to one single species - Equus przewalski gmelini (or Tarpan), Equus przewalski poliakov, and Equus robustus. The now-extinct Tarpan roamed in the eastern European steppes, and Equus robustus was from Central Europe (the first to become extinct). Equus przewalski poliakov is from Mongolia, and it is now in danger of becoming extinct. The lighter-built dolichomorphic and mesomorphic breeds have descended from Equus przewalski gmelini and Equus przewalski poliakov, while the brachymorphic type of central and southern Europe descend from Equus robustus.
While any animal species can be subdivided into a number of natural or artificial breeds, most of today's horse breeds are artificial, created by man after a desire to perpetuate desirable characteristics of an individual. Natural selection forms the natural breeds by individuals who succeed in surviving, their distinguishing characteristics passed on to their descendants. Artificial selection is when individuals from different breeds are cross bred, and then hybridized by coupling these crossbreds. The choice of artificial selection can be based on morphological features or by functional characteristics. When a selection is for a functional purpose, the morphological characteristics become more variable and less well-defined.
The history of the heavy horse is not well documented, nor does it follow a consistent course. Its history is , however, closely interwoven with human history, and encompasses migrations. It was used for building and tearing down, growing and harvesting, games and ceremonies, and horses took part in these event practically from the beginning. Sumerian civilization in the 3rd millennium BC shows the earliest documentation of the usage of horses pulling chariots. There was no indications of a rider on any of these early drawings, but over 1000 years later, the first known portrayals with riders were carved on an Egyptian relief in the 14th Century BC.
Thought these horses seemed to have been strong and beautiful, they did not have much in common with today's heavy horses. Oxen were mostly used for the heavy work until the middle of the last century, and when horses were used, the purpose of which was to take advantage of their speed instead of their power. The ox, in spite of its horns, was likely to be no match in the realm of the battlefield. There the horse had speed and strength, combined with agility, diligence and courage, which led to it being important for battle. This brought about the development of the various heavy breeds. With the advent of armored medieval knights and heavier armor and mail, the selection and breeding of a yet stronger and heavier type was encouraged - the Great War-horse. This title is in irony of the "gentle giants" of today and it is misleading when it is taken out of context of its time. The larger size of these horses is known by the surviving armor of protecting leather and metal plating. These trappings indicate the modest proportions of the Great War-horse, while the noble chevaliers who rode the were small by modern standards. those chevaliers would have probably fallen off their mounts at the sheer sight of a present-day Shire stallion. Still, their war horses were the forerunners of today's heavy horses, thus deserving closer examination.
During the 1st Century BC, when Caesar and his Roman soldiers crossed the Alps to invade Northern Europe, they found a dark, stocky and powerful horse. They had never seen these before and by their descriptions, the horses were considerably heavier in build than the common types of the Mediterranean region. This horse was apparently native to the plains of Flanders, but it was also discovered along the River Rhine and the Danube. The abundance of rich pastures diminished the need to be fleet of foot, thus the horses seemed to be much slower than the Roman horses. Other factors of a temperate to cold climate and marshy lands also favored this type.
At the battle of Tours and Poitiers in 732 AD, Charles Martel's men, who were heavily armored and on sturdy northern horses, stopped advancing Muslim armies with their fearsome light cavalries. In that victory, the Heavy Horse had proven its worth. However, a favorable impression on French horsemen was made by the stallions of Oriental descent. these stallions were bred to heavy European mares with hopes to improve offspring. This began more systematic breeding and as more regions were added, more varieties were developed.
These new breeds shared the distinctive heavy anatomy with those war-horses of Northern Europe, but they soon surpassed them in size and weight. The German term "kaltblut" is perhaps on account of the comparatively cold climate of the habitat. In English, it literally translates as "cold-blood." Though it has a chilling connotation, cold blood refers to calmness and stolidness in horse language. While the heavy breeds are referred to as cold-bloods, Thoroughbreds and Arabians are considered "hot-bloods" and all other breeds as "warm bloods."
There are approximately two dozen lines of heavy horses recognized today, of the many which evolved over the centuries. Even so, some of today's breeds are on the brink of extinction. The "Big Five" breeds are the Belgian (Brabant), Percheron, Shire, Clydesdale and Suffolk Punch. These five are the most popular in western Europe and in North America. One of the oldest of today's breeds is the Noriker from the Austrian mountains. There are many other breeds of heavy horses, and most are often interrelated to the five major draft breeds.
Although many heavy horses resemble one particular breed, they are not called by that breed's name as they lack a pedigree. These horses are said to be not of "pure blood," a seemingly biased statement when viewing all the varieties of races from which the pure ones have descended. Though they lack a family tree, these common horses are equally close to those who look after them. These are the heavy horses which have borne the main burden throughout history.
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© 1997-2007
NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 3/13/2007 |
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