Recognising and Identifying Black Horses
The Black Breeds
The truly black horse is a rare beast, and can be difficult to positively identify. The colour is also much commoner in certain breeds than others. We will examine this in the following article.
Recognising Black Horses
A truly black horse is a rare thing indeed. Many horses that the lay person would describe as black are actually dark brown.
To be classified as truly black the horse should have dark brown eyes, black skin and every hair in the horse’s coat should be black. Only white markings, which may have pink skin beneath them, are permitted. A single brown or reddish hair in a black coat would classify a horse as brown, for example, many dark and apparently black horses have sandy muzzles, and are therefore brown. To further complicate matters, black horses may bleach in the sun, acquiring a brown or reddish tinge especially to the mane and tail.
Sun bleaching can be difficult to tackle, but may be combated by turning out at night in hot sunny weather, turning out in a lightweight sheet in daylight and by using sun block on extremities like the muzzle. Some owners swear by supplements such as corn oil and paprika, and there are commercial brands that promise to maintain a black coat, although the effectiveness of each of these seems to vary with individual horses.
Black Breeds
Black is a more common colour for certain breeds, and the exclusive colour in some. The breeds most exhibiting this colour in their modern day forms often share an ancestry, and are frequently traced back to Europe’s primitive Forest Horse.
The Ariegeoise Pony
Solid black and usually devoid of white markings bar the occasional white flecking on the flanks, the Ariegeoise mountain pony is an ancient breed, identified in cave carvings and paintings made by Cro-Magnon man at Niaux in the Ariege. It originates from the Pyrenees mountains in France. The pony has a neat, expressive head, strong, short legs and usually has very good feet. In winter it grows a distinctive beard on the lower jaw, and the coat takes on red-brown highlights. In its native habitat the Ariegeoise usually only achieves around 13.1 hands in height, but can reach 14.3 on good grazing. Parallels are drawn between the Ariegeoise and the British ponies of the Pennines, the Fell and Dales.
The Friesian Horse
Always Jet black and hence often known as ‘the black pearl’ the Friesian originates from the Netherlands. Striking in appearance the Friesian has a lean, elegant head, a profusion of thick, long mane and tail hair, and a strong, compact body. The horse’s presence can make it appear larger than it is, usually standing around 15 hands high. The breed has a kindly, willing nature without losing an energetic attitude to work. Popular in carriage driving they are increasingly being used for general riding, with some types excelling at dressage.
The Dales Pony
One of two native breeds originating from the North of England, the Dales is from the Eastern side of the Pennines. Standing around 14.2hh the Dales is predominately black but also comes in bay, brown and rarely, grey. Renowned for its strength and surefootedness, the breed has a small, neat head, a compact, deep body and strong limbs. They have a sensible, calm temperament and make excellent ride and drive ponies.
The Fell Pony
The Fell Pony is also from the Pennine region, but from the Northern and West of the mountain range. Often black, it may also be bay, brown or grey, preferably without white markings. Smaller and lighter than its relative the Dales pony, it stands no more than 14hh. The breed is noted for excellent paces and an intelligent, gentle nature.
The Lincolnshire Black
Now long extinct, it is interesting to note this 16th century ancestor of the shire horse, developed by crossing Friesian horses with the ‘Great Horse’ from the 14th century. Its legacy to the modern day shire can be traced in a continued popularity of black shires with white feathering.
The Fell Pony
|
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles