The Icelandic horse is one of the most colorful breeds in the world.
The Icelandic horse has over 40 colors and up to 100 variations and, with only few exceptions, most of the known horse colors can be found within the breed. This fact adds both to the charming look of the Icelandic horse and to variation within the breed. Not only are all colors allowed in the studbook, but variety is encouraged, as the official breeding goal is simply to preserve all colors naturally occurring in the breed.
Although the commonly known statement “a good horse has no color” is true to a degree, people often have their favourites and will discuss the range and characteristics of colors extensively.
The most common colors are red (chestnut) and black (brown). All horses have a base colour that can vay from black, red/chestnut or bay. Black horses can be either heterozygote – containing both the red and black genes – or fully black, where red offspring would be impossible. The red base color comes when both parents give the red gene, but it is not a dominant gene, meaning it only shows as red when in homozygote state, that is, when inherited from both parents. Therefore, if both parents are red, the foal can only be red.
On top of these base colors come all the variations, like skewbald, dun, palomino, grey, silver dapple, splash-skewbald and roan. These can often also be combined so the same horse can have a black base color, but have both the dun gene and the silver dapple gene, making the outcome much lighter than the base color prescribes. Grey can come on top of all colors and basically means that the horses turn white with age.
The silver dapple variation is hidden in the red base color, so although not shown, it can be present and inheritable. In bay and black base colors, it lightens the mane and tail as well as the body to some degree, causing the famous “chocolate color” when the base color is black. Although very pretty, it is crucial to breed silver dapple horses carefully as a link has been found between multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) and this color when the horse is homozygote.
The rarest color variations found in Icelandic horses are sabino and roan. Until 2003, no sabino variation had ever been seen within the breed but a mare was then born in Germany with a specific sabino mutation. In 2013, a second, different sabino mutation occurred, this time in Iceland and in a stallion. Every Icelandic sabino horse can now be traced to one of those two horses.
The second rarest color variation of Icelandic horses is roan. Icelandic roans are often called color-changers, because the horses with this variation show their “real” color in summer coat as well as in full winter coat, but in spring and autumn the middle layer in their coat has no color, and is, in other words, white.
On top of all the possible colors and variations, multiple add-ons such as a blaze, star, snip, socks or other markings can also be found within the Icelandic horse breed, making each horse as unique on the outside as on the inside.
This article originally appeared on The Horses of Iceland and is published here with permission.
You can find more interesting articles in our section on Health & Education.
The following is an excerpt from Mini School – Train Your Mini to Be All He Can Be, by Sabine Ellinger
Today’s stylish and perfectly proportioned Miniature Horses are the product of nearly 400 years of selective breeding. Classically elegant, gentle by nature, and appealing to people of all abilities, sizes, and ages, this small and unique equine stands no taller than 34 inches at the withers as measured from the last hairs of the mane. The American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) has established an official “Standard of Perfection” in which the general impression of the Miniature Horse should be “A small, sound, well-balanced horse, possessing the correct conformation characteristics required of most breeds, [including] refinement and femininity in the mare [and] boldness and masculinity in the stallion. The general impression should be one of symmetry, strength, agility, and alertness. Since the breed objective is the smallest possible perfect horse, preference in judging shall be given to the smaller horse, other characteristics being approximately equal (www. amha.org).
Severe conformation flaws can still occur but not to the extent that was the case 20 years ago. The modern-day Mini has been bred with more emphasis placed on his suitability for driving and riding. Quality of the gaits, jumping ability, conformation, and temperament have all been enormously improved in the past two decades because in addition to the suitability for specific disciplines, breeders have put a strong emphasis on breeding and creating a cooperative and friendly a Mini as possible.
Conformation flaws usually won’t really affect a Mini’s ability to perform tricks, but they can pose difficulties when training him in dressage, driving, or jumping. Minis often do not have ideal conformation because many breeders select their breeding stock with a focus on small size rather than on other physical parameters. Poorly set necks, improperly angled or weak hindquarters, a lack of room in the throatlatch, and bad bone structure can make training and conditioning a Mini for an equestrian discipline much more difficult and in some cases nearly impossible.
The same criteria that apply to the conformation of full-size horses are relevant in Minis. Thick throatlatches limit the horse’s ability to flex at the poll, weak hindquarters hinder collection, and crooked legs make the horse less resilient over time. The Mini’s smaller size and the fact that he is not ridden—or at least not ridden to the same degree his full-size cousin is—makes the severity of the problems relative.
When selecting a Mini for training, the buyer should choose one that resembles a “scaled-down” version of a normal-size riding horse. With a critical eye, you’ll want to evaluate the following points:
A Mini should have a kind face with big, expressive eyes. You can tell a lot about his character just by looking at his facial expression. The shape of the head is not so important but a “clean” throatlatch is crucial. A thick throatlatch makes it very difficult for a Mini to “give” at the poll, which should be as moveable as a ball bearing. Wide cheek bones combined with a thick throatlatch area are quite common and are unfortunately very limiting.
A correctly shaped neck enables correct contact with the bit and the handler’s hands, and thus establishes a better connection with the Mini. Ewe-necks, “swan necks” (those that are unusually long and set on too high), and low-set necks are much more difficult to work with to achieve an optimal connection with the Mini’s mouth. The neck should be wide at the base, set relatively high, and should taper gradually and harmoniously up to the poll.
An elastic, swinging stride can only come out of a well-angled, sloping shoulder. Minis with upright shoulders tend to hurry and “shuffle along.”
A well-shaped, gently curved back of an appropriate length facilitates dressage and driving training. The development of impulsion (forward thrust generated by the hindquarters) and carrying capacity (ability of the hindquarters to assume more of the Mini’s weight and reverse his natural heaviness on the forehand), and everything else that comes from the hind end relies on a “swinging” and supple back. Swaybacks and roach backs are stiff and inflexible, making it harder for the Mini to perform.
If a croup-high Mini is asked to collect (an optimal state of balance with more weight over his lowered hindquarters and with a gently rounded topline), he must expend vastly more energy than one with better hind end conformation. Most collected movements, depending on the degree of collection required, may not be possible for a croup-high Mini.
The hindquarters are the Mini’s engine! It is hard for a Mini to compensate for conformational flaws in this area. Correctly angled hind legs make collection immensely easier. The hindquarters should be as broad as possible from the top down in order to allow enough room for optimal muscle development.
The Mini’s legs carry his body. For him to withstand work, he should have clean legs and feet. They should be straight and without serious conformational defects. The legs will have to withstand stress if the Mini is to jump, or perform collected movements or “airs above the ground”. More pronounced joints are usually more resilient. Otherwise the legs should be “clean” with no spongy spots or bumps.
Although you may not care to always be “looking for a problem,” you must be able to recognize and evaluate conformational faults in a prospective Mini purchase. There are some that do not hinder a Mini’s training and should not discourage a buyer. However, there are others that make any sort of work—in hand or in harness—a constant challenge, despite the Mini’s best efforts. Such a Mini must work many times harder to achieve the same results as one with good conformation. When you are informed about what good and poor conformation looks like in a Mini, you will be better able to create a training program that is suitable for the Mini with whom you are working.
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This excerpt from Mini School was published with permission from Trafalgar Square Books. You can also visit them at Horse & Rider Books.
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Julie Goodnight shows you the proper and safe way to handle or hold the horse for the Vet or Farrier
For more information on the largest certifying body of riding instructors and barn managers in North America, Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA.horse.
Read more: Holding the Horse for the Vet or Farrier with Julie Goodnight (7:03)
Back Door Horse (Excerpt) from Book One of the Green Mountain Romance Series By Heather Wallace
Imogen was having a wonderful but strange dream. She’d always had vivid images that she remembered snippets of the next morning upon waking, then faded slowly. This time her imagination created a big, lumberjack of a man barreling into her home. She didn’t know why he was there, but he was ruggedly handsome with dark hair pulled underneath a trucker cap, piercing blue eyes filled with concern, and wow, quite a muscular chest heaving with exertion. She felt like the heroine of a romance novel.
“Ow,” Imogen moaned and clutched her head. It felt like a bomb exploded behind her right eye as her gaze focused, immediately regretting the light streaming in from the door. While it was weak, it was still enough to make her eyes water so she closed them again. Wait a minute, she didn’t think dreams usually involved discomfort.
A discreet cough made her whip her head to the doorway. A sharp, stabbing pain traveled up her neck, and she cried out at the surprise of it.
Where the hell was she?
She struggled to open her eyes again and when the room swam, she leaned over to vomit, narrowly missing a pair of scuffed boots. Oh god, she felt terrible.
Now she knew she couldn’t be dreaming. This was a nightmare.
A cold nose rubbed against her hand, and she focused on her pup, refusing to be embarrassed that she had just vomited all over her aunt’s rug and a strange man. Serves him right for coming in, uninvited. Who the heck was he anyway?
A glass of water underneath her nose had her looking up into bright, blue eyes. She should have been scared – she was alone and obviously indisposed with a stranger – but the concern in his face was obvious.
With a sigh, she straightened up off the couch. “Not a dream then,” she muttered under her breath. Then she addressed her companion. “Great guard dog you are, you traitor.” Cookie wagged her tail on the ground and opened her square jaw in a Staffy smile.
Imogen refused to be charmed. She turned her attention to the stranger in the room.
“I really hope you aren’t a pervert because I am definitely not in the mood.”
Gabriel burst out laughing, shocked. He took the situation in and decided to be blunt with the sassy woman. “You’ve been in an accident. You found your way to your aunt’s house, but I’m pretty sure you have a concussion.”
“That makes sense, I guess. Now, who the hell are you?”
“Not a pervert, although under better circumstances I could be convinced.”
She blinked at the sudden wattage of his smile. Whoa, he was handsome. No, Imogen, she thought to herself, you will not be charmed by a stranger in a remote mountain cabin. Life is more Dateline than Hallmark movie.
“I’m Gabe, the neighbor. Your aunt told me to keep an eye out for your arrival. I didn’t expect it to be with such drama though. Did you know your car is in a ditch about a mile down the road?”
“Anything worth doing is worth doing big.” Imogen muttered under her breath.
He seemed to have bat ears because he laughed again and responded, “You certainly did at that. You must be her niece.” Closing her eyes again, she leaned back. Any friend of Aunt Josephine’s certainly couldn’t be that dangerous. Cookie loved everyone so she wasn’t a good judge. “Yeah, I’m Imogen.” She pointed blindly at the dog, whose tail she could hear whipping the floor in excitement. “That’s Cookie Monster. But apparently you are friends already.”
Ignoring the sarcasm, Gabe knelt and gave Cookie a head rub and scratched under her big, block head. Her jaw opened wide, and she gave him a proper kiss on the mouth in appreciation.
“Who’s a good girl guarding Mommy?”
Imogen grimaced. Baby talk. Really? It should be annoying but damn if it wasn’t adorable. She was guilty of the same. Good looking and a big softie. Ugh, just her luck swearing off men for the foreseeable future.
He walked into the house, straight back to the kitchen, and opened the freezer.
She sighed. Apparently, he was familiar with her aunt’s home. Good for Aunt Josephine pulling this one. Here she thought she was a lonely old mountain woman, but instead she was playing kissy face and acting like a cougar.
He cleared his throat again, surprising her at his proximity. When did he come back into the room? Maybe he was the cougar; he was damn quiet on his feet. She peeked her left eye open in response. It was all she had to give at this moment.
Gabe handed her a bag of peas and a few Ibuprofens. “For your head. We should probably get you to the hospital and have that checked out. What the hell happened anyway?”
Taking the preferred offering, she swallowed the pills dry, and one got stuck in her throat. She sat up quickly, hacking and gagging. She grabbed the glass of water that appeared in front of her and took a sip, finally catching her breath.
Gabe sat on the coffee table in front of her, petting her dog and looking genuinely concerned.
Read more: Back Door Horse - An Excerpt from the Book by Heather Wallace
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