Horse Breeds And History Of Horses That Begin With The Letter G.

Galiceńo horse

Galiceńo horse breed

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of Galiceńo horse, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of Galiceńo horse.

In 1519, when Cortez landed in North America with the Conquistadors, they brought with them, several small framed horses to work the mines of Mexico and to carry wounded and dead from the fields of battle. These horses "galicenos" had been captured in the mountains of the Galicia region of Spain. Galicenos were primarily solid colors, with a rapid, smooth forward gaiting that is characteristic of other Spanish breed horses and that belied their heritage: galicenos were a cross between the wild garrano type mountain ponies of Spain and Portugal, the wild Sorraia horses of the swamplands and the war horses, the Andalusians.

Hundreds of years prior to the sailing of the Conquistadors, the Spanish shepherds would drive their flocks into the hills using their favorite breed of horse as a mount: Andalusian. The shepherds rode their stallions up into the hills, then released them at night where they would often breed with the wild small mountain ponies. The mix was further complicated by the wanderings of the Sorraia stallions from the lower lands of the penninsula. These crosses created many breeds that remained withen each breed of horses.

As a result, unique to the Galicia region, the mountain ponies exhibited a more refined head, body and movement than other wild ponies: a result of their blend of Sorraia, Andalusian and Garrano heritage. The Garrano and Sorraia are also "gaited" breeds meaning that they show the Spanish gaiting coveted by many horse lovers. The galiceno, depending upon the individual horse's heritage, may or may not show this movement, but it is written into the breed's standards, and most of the horses captured in the Mexican interior showed this Spanish movement. Remember these accounts are to the best of our knowledge.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I'm sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

The horses released into the hills of Mexico's interior by the Conquistadors, remained wild and isolated for several hundred years. They were captured by some groups and during the movement into the American frontier, many Galicenos were released during conflicts or brought in by Spanish missionaries.

The galiceno is one of the original Indian ponies and many references to it in combination with the mustang are made in the old 1800s literature. The galiceno was brought out of Mexico in the 1950s by several groups, and the registry for the breed was started in Texas in the late 1950s.

Since galicenos are still a rare breed and may be considered for the endangered list, availability is limited. Galicenos are intelligent, easily trained, and very "aware" animals - they make excellent mounts for children, and for small light framed adults. They are hearty animals and very easy keepers.

As your knowledge about Galiceńo horses continues to grow, you will begin to see how Galiceńo horses fit into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how they relate to the rest of the horse industry important too.

Galician Pony

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Galician Ponys? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Galician Pony.

This is a region with a very wet climate and numerous low mountains. This breed is used for meat production and for riding. Its size is between that of a pony and a normal horse. These animals are very rugged and hardy. A herdbook was formed in 1994.

This breed was used in the development of the Galiceńo.

The Galician Pony belongs to a wide family of ponies which live on the Atlantic coastal area from Portugal to Scotland. In the past, the main use of this animal was the hair of the mane and tail used to make different kinds of brushes. Today synthetic fibers have replaced this natural material and meat production is the principal production destination.

The Galician Pony is a mix of Celtic horses, Roman horses and horses brought to Spain by the Suevos ( definition below). More recently they have crossbred with other breeds. It is short-bodied and strong-legged. Despite their ethnic heterogeneity (three types of Galician ponies can be found in different parts of Galicia) the main characteristics are its straight profile,linear proportions, height of between 1.20 and 1.30 meters, and a chestnut coat. An interesting characteristic of one of the three types is the long mustache which appears on the upper lips of the older mares.

In addition to meat production, which is very sad but necessary to some of the people to survive they have a tourist value. One of the most traditional and popular festivals in Galicia is the "curros." * This festival consists in getting the semi-wild horses from the Galician mountains once a year, usually in summer, to brand, cut their manes and tails and sell them in the "curro." In this fair everyone participates in bringing the horses to the curro. Afterwards people buy some of the horses and the rest are set free again. This festival attracts a lot of tourists and generates financial resources for the region. A must see similar to the horses of chincoteague.

The Suevos was one of the Sprung from the same father and mother peoples deriving of the region between the rivers the Elba and Oder . Later, and with other tribes of different etnias, they participate in the foundation of the Suábia in the south of Germany

When word gets around about your command of Galician Pony facts, others who need to know about Galician Ponys will start to actively seek you out.

Gelderlander

The best course of action to take sometimes isn't clear until you've listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

Although warm-blooded, the nose is frequently convex (Roman) and the head is plain. Gelderlanders have a medium-sized neck and rather long back. Their tails are set quite high. This breed has good shoulders, generous quarters, clean legs, and stands between 15.2 and 16.0 hands high. The most common colors are chestnut and gray, with frequent white markings on the face and legs. The Gelderlander is a good example of a successful cross between a variety of breeds. It is a fairly recent addition to the list of horse breeds in existence. They have a stylish gait, large body, docile temperament and jumping abilities that the inherited from their many ancestors. They were bred for their abilities in light agricultural and harness work. They are becoming more appreciated for their abilities as a riding mount and jumper. The Gelderlander has a plain head and often have a convex nose. The neck is medium sized and the back is fairly long. They most often appear in chestnut and gray and often have white markings on the face and legs.

The Modern Dutch Warmblood evolved from the two "native" Dutch breeds - the Gelderlander and the Groningen. The Gelderlander, which evolved on the light sandy soils of central Holland was a stylish horse of medium stature, frequently chestnut with flashy white markings; while the Groningen evolved on the heavy clay soils of northern Holland into a larger and heavier horse, frequently black.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I'm sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

The Dutch Province of Gelderland has a tradition of excellence in horse breeding. The province gives name to an excellent breed of horse which has evolved over the last century. The Gelderlander is a result of extensive crossbreeding between old local breeds, notably the Friesian, and numerous imported breeds, including the Thoroughbred, Hackney, Oldenburg, East Friesian, and Anglo-Norman. Originally, the Gelderland horse was used in light agricultural work, and road harness in which its stylish gait was appreciated. More recently, the Gelderlander has been used for riding, and its abilities as a superb jumper are becoming well known.

The Gelderlander is a successful example of the careful crossing of different types of breeds to achieve a new breed of horse. Gelderlanders are descended from crosses between the Dutch Friesian, German East Friesian, Thoroughbred, Hackney, and Anglo-Norman horses. The Gelderlander's substantial body and stylish gait reflect their Hackney ancestry. Gelderlanders are docile, cooperative temperament reflects the influence of the Friesian, and their excellent jumping ability is probably due to Thoroughbred influences.

Knowing enough about Gelderlanders to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about Gelderlanders , you should have nothing to worry about.

Gidran

An Arabian stallion named Siglavi Gidran born in Arabia in 1810 by the tribe "Nejd" and imported in the year 1816 to a Hungarian stud farm Bábolna, founded this line of oriental halfbloods. According to well-preserved records, he was very elegant and graceful in appearance, of lively temperament, lest distinct withers and lighter back. He stood 15'1 hands tall. In Bábolna he was bred to various mares of domestic breeds, producing much offspring. The most prosperous of his sons were Gidran I and Gidran II who was out of a bay Lipizzaner mare Fortuna. On account that the progeny of Gidrans was somewhat too heavy, when bred to mares from a military stud farms, the entire herd of Gidrans was moved from Bábolna at first to Mezöhegyesh to be cross bred with English fullbloods (thoroughbreds). From here, part of the herd was moved to the Austrian stud farm in Radovec. Here they were crossbred further with halfblooded and oriental mares. It was common those days, to exchange larger counts of horses, since both of these stud farms worked closely together. First one to excel from the first stallions in Mezöhegyesh was Gidran XIV, sired by Gidran VII out of Arabian mare 375 Koheil I, born in Bábolna.

In Mezöhegyesh the Gidran line was bred to English fullbloods (thoroughbreds) every 2nd or 3rd generation. Henceforth, in appearance they resembled the English type of horses, which was detectable in the straight head, long and low set neck, longer and mildly sloped hind quarters, strong back and build.

In the first half of the 20th century the line of Gidran was bred in Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. The most common color of the Gidran line is chestnut.

Until 1855, the dams of the Gidrán chief stallions were 33% Arabian, 22% Transylvanian, 16% Spanish, 16% Nonius, 6% Native Hungarian, and 6% Gidrán mares

The general impression is of power and vigor without coarseness. Particularly well known for their jumping ability, their well balanced temperaments and overall strength has made them unrivaled as a driving horse. Because of their enormous courage, agility, and endurance Gidráns excel in competitive disciplines. Their noble stature and aristocratic bloodlines give them the willpower to triumph.

An exclusively chestnut, Hungarian Angol-Arabian

The modern Gidran is a high quality riding and driving horse

An endangered breed - there are less than 200 in the world

Sizes range from 15.3 - 17 hands high

Golden American Saddlebred

What does one look for in a Golden American Saddlebred? First and foremost, is conformation. A beautifully shaped, well-proportioned head is a must. The ears are small, alert, and placed at the top of the head. The neck is long, and well-arched, with a smooth clean throatlatch. The eye is bold, bright, and intelligent. Well-sloped shoulders and sharp withers well above the height of the hips is characteristic. The croup is long and level with the tail coming out high, and the hind quarters are well muscled to the hocks. The back is short and strong. The long legs are straight with long sloping pasterns that are so necessary for an easy, well cushioned ride. The shallow, full-sprung rib cage make the barrel of the Saddlebred more rounded than in other breeds. Height is generally from 15 to 17 hands and weight from 1000 to 1200 pounds.

The complete picture of Golden Saddlebred should be one of refinement, smoothness and strength. Coloring can vary from cream to copper and all shades in between. However, the ideal color is that of the untarnished gold coin. Eyes must be brown or dark. White markings on the face and legs are allowed, but no spots. Mane and tail should be white and purity is desirable.

The American Saddlebred is an adaptable horse, and easily trainable. For many years they have carried the image of being high-strung, fire-breathing show horses, but just as every person is an individual, so is every horse. Some temperaments are suitable for the show ring and some are meant strictly for the trail. Each horse, and rider, must find the area most suitable for them. The ways that Golden Saddlebreds can be used are many, there are show horses, pleasure horses and parade horses (in the show ring or down the street). They can be used for eventing and choring, all depending on the individual horse’s disposition and conformation.

In the show ring, Golden Saddlebreds are eligible in all the classes in the Saddle Horse Division of the American Horse Shows Association and the Golden American Saddlebred Division of PHBA; five-gaited, three-gaited, fine harness, English and Western pleasure, parade, western show horse, driving, trail and so on. One can see the possibilities of teaming a horse with a division are almost endless.

The Golden American Saddlebred is registered with the American Saddlebred Horse Association.

The American Saddlebred was started in Kentucky in 1832 and was known as the Kentucky Saddler. It was used to carry plantation owners around the fields and over long distances in comfort. Saddlebreds are either three or five gaited. It is still shown harness and can be used as a pleasure and trail horse. Despite its versatility, the American Saddlebred Association still describes it as "America’s most misunderstood breeds" because of the artificial way in which it is produced and it’s image of a cropped, high set tail, overlong hooves and the use of somewhat dubious training aids.

The Golden American Saddlebred first horse to be registered was Pot O’ Gold who was foaled in 1939. The coloring of the Golden Saddlebred does range from cream to copper with the perfect color being untarnished gold coin. The mane and tail must be white and eyes should be dark or brown. The Golden Saddlebred must have no spots but may have white markings on legs and face. This horse has a well-proportioned heat, small ears, and long neck, with a short, strong back. The Golden American Saddlebred is a trainable, adaptable horse and depending on the individual temperament of the horse would be suitable for show ring, trail, pleasure, parade, and eventing.

Gotland

Russ, the Swedish word for the Gotland pony, comes from Old Norse hross and is related to English word "horse." Gotlanders themselves often call the ponies, skogsbaggar, which means "forest rams" or "little horse of the woods." It is commonly thought that the Russ, as other European horse breeds, is a descendant of the wild Tarpan.

There are few ancient references to the Gotland ponies, but it generally believed that they lived in freedom in the forests in a half-wild state. Discoveries made in the Iron Age village called Vallhagar (220 B. C. – 500 A. D.), a few kilometres from Lojsta Moor, show that horses became increasingly common as domestic animals during that period. The oldest reference to the Russ is found is Skĺnelagen, a legal code from the 13th century, where "the wild horses of Gotland" are mentioned.

The Gotland is light and elegant in conformation. The breed has pronounced withers, a long back, and a sloping croup. The chest is deep, and the shoulders long and sloping. The legs are strong and the feet are hard. Gotlands stand 11.2 to 13 hands (46-52") at the withers. Dun and bay predominate in the breed, but all colors are allowed except albinos, roans, and piebalds. Characteristic of the breed is a gentle disposition and a lively intelligence. Gotlands are athletic, making excellent trotters and jumpers. Though strong enough to carry adults, they are primarily used for driving and as children's mounts.

The herd of ponies at Lojsta moor on the island of Gotland is unique. The Gotland pony, or Russ, as it is called in Sweden, has been called a living relic of the past, and that is precisely what it is. Thanks to decisive intervention on the part of the local inhabitants, Sweden's most primordial horses still live as they have for thousands of years on the wooded moors of Gotland

The Gotland Russ Association of North America, Inc. is a new organization for owners, breeders and friends of Gotland horses. The association is non-profit and promotes, preserves and protects the Gotland in North America. They publish a quarterly newsletter the Russ Review and operate and maintain the North American Gotland Horse Registry.

Groningen

In the course of the year this type had been developed for working the heavy clay soil. A massive and powerful horse in its agricultural work, but a great and royal presence in front of the coach, The Association The Groningen opened a special studbook for this type in 1982 with the objective tot preserve this powerful type of horse for the future.

As a result of its breeding policy designed in 1982, the Groningen survived as an individual type and the number of horses has steadily grown. Under the articles of association, this breeding objective is described as follows: to preserve and breed the Groningen: 'a heavy warmblood horse with a powerful musculature, an appealing head, a strong and well-carried neck, good withers, not too steep in the shoulders; a wide and deep rump, full, round rib case, solid bones, short and strong cannon bones and wide, hard feet. Its walk is roomy, the trot brisk and groping. This breed has a calm temperament. The primary colours are black, bay or brown. The Groningen stands between 15.3 and 16.1 hands.'

The association presently has more than 400 members. The studbook and breeding register together list just over 300 horses. At present about 20 stallions are approved for breeding the Groningen. Every year in August there is a National Groningen Show in which the horses that qualified at Regional Selections are presented in hand in various categories for final selection. For any further information about organisation and breeding please contact us.

The Groningen originated in the Netherlands during the late 1800's from Oldenburg horses bred to the local draft breeds. The breed almost was lost in the 1970's as most of the animals were obsorbed into the Dutch Warmblood breed. At that time only a single purebred stallion remained. Oldenburg blood has been used to reduce the inbreeding during the reestablishment of the breed.

This breed has a plain, honest head carried on a short, strong neck

The withers are prominent and long and the back is also long

The croup is flat with a high set tail

The quarters are very powerful and the chest is wide and deep with great depth

The legs are short, well muscled, and strong with excellent joints and well-shaped hooves

The primary colors are black, bay or brown

The Groningen stands between 15.2 and 16.2 hands high

Guangxi

The Guangxi pony is distributed in the Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. It is even smaller than the Jianchang and Lijiang, with a wither height of about 100 cm, the lowest being 86 cm, as observed in a survey conducted at Jingxi. Further studies are necessary on these interesting ponies.