Name of breed: Nonius Country of origin: Hungary Breed origin: This heavy-boned warmblood breed is named after its foundation stallion, Nonius, an Anglo-Norman horse who was captured in France during the Napoleonic Wars and brought back to the Hungarian State Stud. Nonius was either a plain-looking horse or a living collection of conformation faults, depending […]

Name of breed: Tersk Country of origin: Russia Breed origin: The Tersk horse was developed from the 1920s to 40s at the Tersk and Stavropol studs in the North Caucasus mountains in Russia. The Tersk Military Stud was established in 1921, in the aftermath of the Russian Civil War, in order to restore Russia’s much-depleted […]

Name of breed: Fell Pony Country of origin: England Breed origin: The Fell Pony originally lived in the fells of northwest England, specifically Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland (Cumbria). The name ‘fell’ comes from the Norse word for hills, and these ponies’ ancestors lived in the area long before the Romans came to England in the […]

Name of breed: Misaki Country of origin: Japan Breed origin: The Misaki horse is one of eight native Japanese breeds of horse. Although it is quite short, it is always described as a small horse rather than a pony. The Misaki comes from the Miyazaki Province, and remains dating back to 1185-1333 have been found […]

Name of breed: Haflinger, also known as the Avelignese Country of origin: Austria and northern Italy Breed origin: The Haflinger is a breed of horse that developed in Austria and northern Italy (namely the South Tyrolean mountains) during the late nineteenth century. The breed’s ancestry traces back to the Middle Ages. Writings from the era describe […]

Name of breed: Bardigiano Country of origin: Italy Breed origin: The Bardigiano is a small breed of horse named after the town of Bardi in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. It is thought to be descended from horses ridden by Belgian Gauls who invaded Italy during the Roman era. The horse of the Gauls is also […]

Bonjour Madame and Monsieur and welcome to the Route du Poisson (say that in your best French accent)! Also known as the Fish Road, this 300-kilometre cart horse race through the French countryside is a popular event that occurs every two years along the route from Mareyeuses de Boulogne to Compiègne. It is not a […]

Name of breed: Boulonnais Country of origin: France Breed origin: Also known as the ‘White Marble Horse’, the Boulonnais is a French draught horse. The breed’s origins predate the Crusades, but the details are the subject of much debate. What is known is that during the Crusades, a strong, fast and agile war horse was […]

Name of breed: Caspian Country of origin: Iran Breed origin: The Caspian is believed to be one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. Persian art and artifacts from as early as 3,000 BC depict small, refined horses, often ridden or driven by nobles and kings. The oldest known specimen of Caspian horse was […]

Name of breed: Frederiksborg, or Frederiksborger Country of origin: Denmark Breed origin: The Frederiksborg’s claim to fame is that it is Denmark’s oldest breed of horse, and the world’s oldest pedigree domestic animal breed! This is all thanks to King Frederik II, who opened the Royal Frederiskborg Stud (named after the town where it was […]

Once a year, the town of Douz in Tunisia plays host to a festival that, although little-known to tourists, brings thousands upon thousands of visitors to its doorstep. The International Festival of the Sahara is a multi-day celebration of the traditions, arts, culture and lifestyle of North Africa. Set at the literal gateway to the […]

Name of breed: Lipizzan, or Lipizzaner Country of origin: Developed by the Habsburg Monarchy in what is now Slovenia. Breed origin: The Lipizzan breed has its roots in ancient Iberian stock, but the breed itself dates back to the 16th century, when it was developed by the Habsburg family to fill their need for a powerful […]

Name of breed: Gelderland, or Gelderlander Country of origin: Netherlands Breed origin: The Gelderland is a heavy warmblood breed that developed in the 18th century in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. Native mares of this province were crossed with Andalusian, Neapolitan, Norman, Norfolk Roadster and Holsteiner stallions to produce a stylish, versatile horse […]

Name of breed: Connemara pony Country of origin: Ireland Breed origin: Named after the Connemara region in County Galway, western Ireland, this pony is versatile and athletic, yet as tough and sound as its home is rugged and wild. There are a number of theories as to how the breed came to be: some believe […]

Name of breed: Namib Desert Horse, or Namib Wild Horse Country of origin: Namibia Breed origin: The Namib Desert Horse is a feral breed that has lived wild in the Namib Desert for around 100 years. The origin of these wild horses is still a matter of contention, and several theories exist. One theory is […]

In the middle of the Australian outback sits Kings Creek Station, a place where red sands blow and twist through desert oaks and elusive wild horses roam the wide open spaces. This is the site of our epic Desert Brumby Safari – and once a year, it also plays host to Brumby Week, the most […]

Name of breed: Irish Draught Country of origin: Ireland Breed origin: The history of the Irish Draught dates back many hundreds of years to a time when Ireland and Spain were regular traders, swapping goods such as wool, butter, wine, and horses. In the 16th century, the Spanish brought horses with Iberian (today’s Andalusian and […]

Name of breed: Sandalwood Pony Country of origin: Indonesia Breed origin: The Sandalwood pony developed on the Indonesian islands of Sumba and Sumbawa. It is named after the Sandalwood tree, which was once of the island’s major exports. Not much is known about the history of the Sandalwood breed, but it is believed that Arabians […]

Name of breed: Karachay (also called Karachai, Karatschai pony and Karakachan Pony). Country of origin: Russia – the Northern Caucasus region. Breed origin: The Karachay horse has been bred for around seven centuries in the north-western Caucasus Mountains of Russia. It is named after the people who bred it, the Karachays, who lived in these […]

Name of breed: Irish Sport Horse (also known as the Irish Hunter) Country of origin: Ireland Breed origin: The Irish Sport Horse is the result of a cross between an Irish Draught and – typically – a Thoroughbred, although European warmblood infusions are increasingly common. Now recognised as a separate breed rather than a crossbreed, […]

Name of breed: Sorraia Country of origin: Portugal Breed origin: Thought to be the last remnant population of the indigenous wild horses that once roamed southern Iberia, there are many different theories as to the origins of the Sorraia horse. It is known that the breed (or subspecies, some claim) developed in the southern part […]