The Majesty of the Horse: An Illustrated History

COLOR

Black

APTITUDE

Riding, light draft, dressage, classical dressage, jumping, competitive horse sports

THE MAGNIFICENT FRIESIAN HORSE is one of the less well-known breeds and also one of the most majestic. There are truly few breeds that can match these stunning black horses, which combine an extraordinary regal air with showstopping movement and unmatched temperament. They are descended from prehistoric roots and have remained extremely pure and true to type throughout their history. This history has seen their fortunes greatly fluctuate, and although they are strongly supported today, numbers of purebred Friesians remain unnervingly low.

The breed originated on the northern tip of the Netherlands in the Dutch province of Friesland, which was first properly settled around 500 B.C.E. Horses existed in this part of Europe many thousands of years before this, gradually evolving along separate lines. Excavations in Friesland have uncovered a variety of prehistoric horse bones of differing sizes that could plausibly belong to prehistoric types such as the Asiatic Wild Horse, the stout and heavy Forest horse (Equus caballus silvaticus), the Tarpan, and the large Equus robustus (big horse). There is no way of telling to what extent these horses crossbred, but based on type and frame alone, the Friesian is most commonly believed to have developed from the Equus robustus, a large animal with substantial bone.

During its early history the Friesian, as with most ancient breeds, was used in all capacities from farming and transport to packing and war. Records show they had been exported to northern England around 122 C.E. along with laborers to work on the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, where they influenced local breeds such as the Dales and Fell. They were the favored mount of Friesian mercenaries because of their excellent agility and self-carriage, and by the fourth century they had carried their warring riders to Carlisle in Cumbria, northern England. The presence of these horses at such an early date in the British Isles was most significant in the development of a number of British breeds, including the aforementioned Dales and Fell, the now extinct Old English Black, and the Lincolnshire Black, the last two of which were crucial in the development of the iconic Shire horse. Further Friesians arrived in England during the sixteenth century when Dutch engineers came to drain the fens in East Anglia and brought their beloved horses with them.

During the Middle Ages, the Friesian proved its worth as the mount of knights and was in widespread use in the military, which brought it into contact with horses of eastern origin, particularly the Arabian. It was used again during the Eighty Year War (1568–1648) and came into contact with Iberian horses such as the Andalusian. Both of these breeds had a greatly improving effect on the Friesian and contributed to the development of its characteristic free, high-knee-action trot and the magnificence of its bearing. Other than this, the Friesian has remained very pure genetically and rather than being influenced itself has instead been a significant contributor to a number of other breeds such as the Mérens of the Pyrenees, the German Oldenburg, and the North American Morgan. It has also had a decisive influence on trotting breeds such as the North American Standardbred, the Russian Orlov Trotter, the British Hackney, the Norwegian Døle (Gudbrandsdal horse), the North Swedish horse, and the Finnish Universal.

By the seventeenth century, the Friesian had made its way into the French and Spanish riding academies for classical riding, making its mark alongside the better-known Andalusian, Lippizzaner, and Lusitano, with a number of engravings from this period depicting what are clearly Friesian horses. William Cavendish (1592–1676), one of the preeminent equestrian masters of his time, wrote that the Friesian was very qualified for dressage and High School riding. The breed was also gaining in popularity as a carriage horse, based on its extravagant appearance and movement, and as a trotter for use in short trotting races. Despite its earlier popularity, however, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries a fashion arose for the often lighter-framed European warmblood breeds that were bred for sporting events such as dressage and jumping, and the Friesian gradually started to disappear from the international stage, though it retained importance in Friesland. Significantly, today the Friesian horse can be seen competing in dressage events and competitive driving, as well as show jumping and showing.

The Friesian’s agricultural role in its homeland was jeopardized by the development and use of larger, stronger draft breeds such as the Bovenlanders and Dutch Draft (from the turn of the twentieth century), and suddenly the numbers of Friesians began to decline. To combat this, breeders bred their horses to be stouter and more draftlike, but this resulted in a loss of their elegance and quality. Simultaneously, there was a decline in breed standard, since the horses were increasingly bred specifically as trotters and started to lose some of their fine and versatile qualities. In 1879 the first studbook was opened for the breed to try to rectify the situation, but by 1913 only three stallions were left in Friesland. The situation rallied somewhat during World War II when there was a demand for the horses for use on the land to save on fuel costs. After the war, though, and in line with the increasing use of machinery on farms, breed numbers again dropped. Farmers were unable to sustain horses for pleasure uses, and the Friesian horse became somewhat redundant. The situation began to change during the 1960s, when a group of dedicated Friesian enthusiasts set about promoting the breed and restoring it to its former glory in both quality and numbers.

Breed numbers are greatly improved today, and Friesians are much admired internationally, particularly in the British Isles and North America. Unique in appearance, they are bred to always be jet black now (though chestnut and brown used to occur) and have a magnificent aspect.

ARIÈGEOIS

PREHISTORIC – FRANCE, SPAIN – UNCOMMON

HEIGHT

13–14.3 h.h.

APPEARANCE

A small, high-quality head, broad across the forehead and tapering to a fine muzzle. Short, muscular neck, broad chest, well-developed hindquarters, and sound limbs. Sometimes slightly long in the back, and, like many mountain breeds, often cow hocked, though this does not affect their movement.

COLOR

A very distinctive black.

APTITUDE

Riding, light draft, agricultural use, packing

THIS GORGEOUS MOUNTAIN BREED OF PONY evolved in the remote Ariège region of southwest France along the eastern edge of the Pyrenees on the border with Spain, specifically between the French county of Rousillon and Spanish Catalonia. Both the breed and the region take their name from the Ariège River, which wends its way down through the Pyrenees and north into France. It is a place of great beauty, but also one notable for the severity of its winters; as a result, the Ariègeois has developed into an extremely hardy pony.

Typical of mountain breeds, the ponies are incredibly sure-footed and able to traverse the rocky and often icy terrain with ease. Like other breeds that evolved in harsh environments, the Ariègeois is also able to exist on meager rations, picking its way through the mountain forage and maintaining body condition where less hardy breeds would fail. The breed is also notably resistant to disease and sports a weather-resistant coat similar to British native pony breeds; the Ariègeois has much in common with the British Dales and Fell pony of the English Pennines, both in appearance and constitution. The ponies also bear more than a passing resemblance to the magnificent Friesian horse of the northern Netherlands, and it is fair to assume that these breeds might have evolved from similar primitive roots.

Evidence suggests that the Ariègeois has lived in its mountain home since prehistoric times. Most striking in this respect are the cave paintings found in the Niaux Cave at the heart of the Ariège in the Vicdessos Valley. These breathtaking painted images depict horses that bear a great similarity to the Ariègeois, but there are also images similar to the Camargue horse, which lives to the north and east of the Ariège. Most distinctive in these images is the Ariègeois’ winter coat and characteristic long whiskery beard, which the horses still grow every year.

The first documented evidence of the Ariègeois dates from Roman times to their description by Caesar (100 B.C.E.–15 B.C.E.) in his Commentaries on the Gallic War. The Gauls were renowned horsemen and breeders, and had improved many of their native stock through selective breeding—certainly with Spanish stock and possibly horses of Oriental origin—and there can be little doubt that this would have extended to the mountain-bred Ariègeois. The breed was heavily influenced early in its history with horses of Oriental or Eastern blood, though even today this blood continues to have an influence; as recently as 1971, Arabian blood was introduced to improve the breed’s quality. With the arrival of the Romans it is likely that the Ariègeois would also have been crossed to heavier, larger Roman-bred horses used for draft and war, increasing their size somewhat.

Over the centuries, the Ariègeois has lost some of its original qualities through persistent crossbreeding, particularly to heavier draft breeds such as the Percheron and Breton. Despite this, the Ariègeois remains a highly attractive and useful animal and is still in widespread use in the agricultural mountain communities of its home area. The ponies work on the steep hillside fields, plowing, harrowing, seeding, and harvesting, and they are able to access areas unsuitable for mechanized vehicles. They are also used for packing (though less so now than traditionally), driving, hauling minerals and timber, and riding. Historically, the Ariègeois was also used for smuggling goods across the Spanish border. They are intelligent and quiet ponies, making them great for children and nervous riders.

CAMARGUE

PREHISTORIC – FRANCE – UNCOMMON

HEIGHT

13.1–14 h.h.

APPEARANCE

Tends toward an upright shoulder, with a large head and a short, thick, muscular neck. Well-defined withers, a short, muscular back, and a deep, wide chest. Legs and feet are strong and robust, with wide hooves adapted to the wetness of their home, but so hard that they are rarely shod. A surprisingly long-striding, smooth walk and “armchair” canter.

COLOR

Gray

APTITUDE

Riding, working livestock

THERE ARE FEW SIGHTS QUITE SO MAGICAL as that of the shimmering white Camargue horses galloping through the saltwater marshes of their home in the Rhône Delta in southern France. Appearing suddenly on the horizon mirrored in the waters and amid streams of foam and clouds of hot breath, these tough, unique horses leave a lasting impression on any visitor lucky enough to see them. They are one of the very few horse breeds to still live a semi-feral existence, roaming across the harsh, unforgiving landscape of their home in small manades, or herds. Camargues are born brown or black but mature into their characteristic pure white, a color that accentuates their aura of mystery when they are glimpsed against the wild landscape. The process of changing coat color varies from horse to horse, but it is gradual and can take up to four years or more.

The Camargue is an ancient breed whose roots feasibly trace back into prehistory and to the horse remains found at Solutré. This extraordinary rocky outcrop is far in the south of Burgundy and was discovered to be a Paleolithic site in the nineteenth century. Many hundreds of horse skeletons have been found here along the southern side of the ridge that have been dated between 32,000 and 12,000 years old and bear great similarities to the shape of the Camargue horse. The site is thought to reflect the scene of mass horse slaughter, presumably for meat with a possible further ritual element, that occurred over thousands of years. Further prehistoric links to this special breed can be seen by comparing its likeness to cave paintings at Lascaux, dated to c. 17,000 B.C.E., and also those at Niaux, c. 11,500 B.C.E., both sites in southwestern France.

The Rhône Delta where the Camargue horse lives is enclosed by saltwater marshes, brackish lagoons, sandbars, and coarse reeds in the south, and to the north on the drier land there are vineyards and handkerchief fields of grain. The landscape is battered by the harsh mistral winds, cold and unforgiving, which hurtle down through the Rhône Valley, and baked in the summer months under a scorching sun. It is home to ferocious mosquitoes and flies, which plague the horses, as well as many other species of flora and fauna, including exotic flamingos and wild boar. This untamed, rugged pocket of land is relatively geographically isolated, which has been a contributing factor to the purity of the Camargue horse. The breed is not without outside influences, but these occurred in large part many centuries ago when armies passed through the area on military campaigns. It is likely that the stocky Mongolian horse found its way to the Camargue under warring Indo-Europeans in pre-Christian times, and Greeks, Romans, and Arab peoples passed through the area, presumably bringing their horses with them. The Camargue was highly prized by the Romans, and Julius Caesar wrote of its fine qualities. The strongest external influences on the breed, however, were those of the Barb horse, itself a majestic animal, and Iberian horses. Barbs and Iberian horses were brought into the Camargue during the seventh and eighth centuries by Moorish invaders from the Iberian Peninsula, and the Barb influence is still discernible in the Camargue, particularly in the shape of its head and its proud bearing. Many of the horse-related traditions of the Camargue, especially those of the French cowboys, the gardiens, also still reflect traditions of the Iberian Peninsula introduced by the Moors, including their saddlery with its distinctive metal caged stirrups. Since that time many centuries ago, the Camargue horse has, however, remained almost untouched by other breeds.

The unique and fascinating nature of the Camargue area has led to the development of its own culture, at the heart of which lies the Camargue horse. This is France’s equivalent to the Wild West, where the gardiens live and where they work the fierce, fighting Camargue bulls from the back of their white horses. The bulls, with their long horns, are bred for their highly prized meat, and also for bullfighting and bull running, a sport in which the gardiens excel and in which they must take a cockade from between the bull’s horns. The bulls range largely unchecked across the salt marshes, living alongside the Camargue horses, and are renowned for their feisty nature. The gardiens use the Camargue horse for working and herding the bulls, carrying a long wooden pole—a trident—to help maneuver the animals. Despite its relatively small size (usually 14 hands high or smaller), the Camargue horse demonstrates extraordinary bravery and an innate ability to work the cattle. In a similar way to the American Quarter Horse, the Camargue instinctively follows and tracks cattle, which greatly aids the gardiens.

Such importance is attached to the gardiens in the Camargue that each May they are honored along with their horses by the Fête des Gardiens. During the festivities, the gardiens parade through the streets with their horses before putting on extensive displays of their equestrian skills. The Camargue horse is an integral part of nearly all of the festivals that occur in this region and is used in a number of riding events, including races in which the gardiens jump from horse to horse at a flat gallop—the saut d’un cheval à l’autre—and another in which they must snatch an orange at speed from platters held up by girls standing on the ground.

In large part because of the relative remoteness of the Camargue area and the quiet, isolated life of the gardiens, the Camargue horse remained relatively unknown until the mid-twentieth century. This was to such an extent that the breed was not officially recognized until 1968, when the Association des Eleveurs de Chevaux de Race Camargue was formed to oversee and protect the breed, including organizing annual stallion inspections. Some years before this, however, the Camargue horse had crept slowly into public awareness through the release in 1953 of Crin Blanc (White Mane), a poignant short film by Albert Lamorisse. The film recounts the story of a young boy who tames a wild Camargue stallion he calls White Mane, battling the prejudice of the local ranchers in the process, and ending with boy and horse swimming out to sea. The film, which is beautifully shot on location using local Camargue horses, went on to win the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and the Prix Jean Vigo. It was released again in 2007 to critical acclaim and has touched the hearts of children and adults alike through the tender portrayal of the relationship between child and horse.

Despite its upright shoulder, large head, and short, muscular neck, when seen moving across their landscape or working the fierce Camargue bulls, the Camargue horses are breathtaking animals. Any criticism of their conformation must be balanced by an appreciation for their incredible hardiness. The Camargue, a product of its environment, is able to subsist on a meager diet, picking its way through the tough grasses and reeds of the saltwater marshes, existing and thriving where many other breeds of horse would fail. Their legs and feet are strong and robust, with wide hooves adapted to the wetness of their home, but so hard that they are rarely shod. Despite their upright shoulder, the Camargue has a surprisingly long-striding, smooth walk, and typically an “armchair” canter, gliding across the ground effortlessly. The smoothness and comfort of their paces has made them a popular choice for riders wishing to explore the Camargue Regional Park.

The Camargue horse is truly one of the more magical horse breeds, and certainly one of the oldest. Their unique character and the profound importance they still have to the local Camargue area sets them apart from many other breeds, and makes them particularly special. Although there are breeders of Camargue horses outside France, as a breed they will always retain a profound relationship with their original home, the wild and rugged saltwater marshes of the Camargue. It is these waters and the horses’ propensity to gallop through them with characteristic spirit that has led to their being described as “the horses of the sea” and has lent them such a romantic appeal.

KNABSTRUP

ANCIENT – DENMARK – UNCOMMON

HEIGHT

Up to 16 h.h.

APPEARANCE

Beautiful, well-conformed horses that can exhibit quite some variation in size and type due to breeding for color. In general, they have attractive heads set to a well-arched and set neck, with defined withers, muscular backs of medium length, and muscular hindquarters.