Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
The Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) on the virtual horse adoption and breeding site "Howrse," is a genetic indicator that helps users predict the breeding potential of a horse. The higher a horse's BLUP, the higher the chance it will produce a foal with a higher genetic potential and certain traits. On "Howrse," you improve the outcome of the prediction by caring for, training and aging your horse, as the BLUP calculation is based on the level of training in three best skills, competition wins and age. To see this tool, you must check your horse's "Genetics" information area.
"Howrse" is a browser-based game that allows you to purchase your own virtual horses with virtual currency, breed them and create a horse farm. Unicorns are a special rare species of horse in the game. You can only get a unicorn at first by purchasing it from another player. When you have a male and female unicorn of the same breed, you can mate the unicorns together at two specific minutes of the day, in order to have a chance to breed a unicorn foal.
Many people breed their own horses and they all have their own goals. Some breed for type, size, temperament and movement. Others breed for color, such as the colors found in paint, pinto and certain pony breeds. Such horses have any combination of brown, white and black in their coats. Two of these color patterns are tobiano and sabino. Tobiano horses have white legs, dark eyes and crisp color patterns over their body. Sabino horses have subtle colors that range from mostly white and roan to patches of white. They often have blue or two-toned eyes. Breeding for color is…
The Shire is the Great Horse of England. Shires were originally developed for use as heavy cavalry chargers to carry knights in full plate armor. No longer used extensively as either cavalry chargers or work horses, they're now returning to their original role as heavy riding horses. The Shire is one of the largest and tallest breeds of horses in the world. The Shire Horse Society requires stallions to be at least 17 hands (or 5 feet, 8 inches) at the withers, and mares, 16 hands, but quality Shire mares can be 18 hands (or 6 feet) at the withers…
The Arabian horse has been selectively bred for beauty and stamina over thousands of years. Imported from its native home in the Middle Eastern and North African deserts, the horse influenced the establishment of dozens of modern horse breeds. Today's Arabian horse organizations have maintain breed standards that exemplify the finest characteristics of the animal and keep true to the original equine's appearance.
Although it is used worldwide, the Friesian horse is native to the Netherlands, excelling at carriage driving, showing and dressage. It is considered a medium build horse -- heavier than Arabs and Thoroughbreds, and lighter than Shires and Percherons. The breed is characterized by an attractive head, feathers on the legs, an extravagant action and glossy black coat. A true Friesian has no white markings, and those who show this breed aim to keep the color of their coat black by careful feeding and management.
The equestrian competitions are one of only two Olympic events where men and women contend against one another as equals. There are three equestrian genres in the Olympic Games, which are dressage, jumping and eventing. Each one demands a specific breed of horse capable of performing at an advanced, professional-level to compete with the best riders from all over the world.
The proper amount of food to feed your Haflinger horse depends on a number of conditions. Ideally, you will need to know its body weight, age and the level of work it performs every day in order to calculate the amount of feed it should be getting in order to stay healthy. Other factors matter too. For example, a lactating mare will have different nutritional requirements than a geriatric pasture bond retiree. Here are some general guidelines for figuring the proper amount of feed for your Haflinger horse.
Over thousands of years, horses have responded to their individual environments to develop specific characteristics. For example, horses that evolved in conditions where food was scarce evolved to become small in stature and very efficient in digesting food with a low nutritional value. Groups of horses evolved into distinct "breeds," with different physical characteristics and temperaments than other groups. More recently, humans have created different breeds for specific jobs, or to accentuate certain characteristics. Nowadays, a breed is defined generally as a viable true-breeding group, and the members of the group are called "purebreds."
The Arabian horse is one of the earliest breeds of horse. This breed is valued for its pace, good looks, strength, cleverness and calmness. The breed was developed in the seventh century, in Arabia. The long history of the breed has become a legend. Arabian horses are known for their appearance with heads that look like wedges, broad foreheads with large eyes and nostrils, and small muzzles. There are a number of light, modern breeds that have been developed from the Arabian horse, choosing its best qualities. The breeds created from Arabian horses were such that they could withstand the…
Shire horses are one of the largest horse breeds, with a mature Shire measuring an average of 17 hands and weighing approximately a ton. Because of its size it's important that, when rearing a Shire horse, its owner handles the horse daily to gain its trust. Known as the "gentle giants" of the draft breeds, Shire horses are often used for farming and pulling wagons. They're known for their pleasant personalities and ease of training.
Dozens of different breeds of horses exist today, each with its own distinct traits and uses. Some types of horses are bred for show or racing, while other breeds are developed as work horses for tilling fields or hauling cargo. Certain breeds are more well known than others, thanks to their appearance in popular culture, presence on the racetrack or from being a common sight on the field or farm.
Friesian horses originated in the Friesland region along The Netherlands' northern edges. They are typically black in color and have long, fast growing, wiry hair. During the Middle Ages they were used as war horses for soldiers and cavalry units. Friesian horses have thus been domesticated for centuries. Training your Friesian horse can be a long but ultimately rewarding task because of the Friesian's power, speed and level of obedience.
The romance of horses seems to be a bit richer than that of many other types of animals from recent centuries, part of which can likely be attributed to the glamour and glitz that Hollywood bestows upon them. Although many people have an interest in horse riding and training, the reality of doing this is a different story. Horse training can be difficult for a beginner. Beginners can keep in mind many tips that will make the first few horse training experiences flow more smoothly.
Arabian horses are symbols of the Bedouin culture. They were raised as partners and friends, living with the family and being entrusted with responsibility in their desert homeland. This horse readily bonds with humans, and traits of intelligence, curiosity and trust remain with many individuals today. Horses are trained as individuals, and while Arabs are renowned for their athleticism and mental acuity, they are not handled any differently than any other similar type of horse.
One of the most widely used horse breeds in France, the French Trotter is a relatively new breed that excels on the racetrack, both in harness and under saddle. It is also used in the sport of skijoring, a race on snow in which the horse pulls a driver on skis.
The name Haflinger comes from the Austrian Tyrolean village of Hafling. Haflinger ancestry can be traced to the Middle Ages in the mountains of northern Italy and Austria. There is a draft strain and a pleasure-strain of Haflinger and both are flashy horses well suited to almost any task.
Horses have a long history in the United States and remain a large part of American culture. Many are raised for sport or work or as pets, and have a variety of of purposes within these fields.
Haflingers are a breed of sturdy horses that have seen an increase in popularity due to their striking looks and range of use. This breed's docile personality makes Haflingers a wonderful choice for beginners and children, while their athletic ability makes them desirable for the serious competitor.
The Friesian, also known as the Belgian black, is a breed of light draft horse thought to be one of the oldest of European horse breeds. The breed is named after the area once called Friesland, which now is in the Netherlands and Denmark. After almost being wiped out by World War I and World War II, this striking black breed is becoming popular in Europe and North America.
The Spotted Saddle horse is the result of crossbreeding Spanish-American ponies with different gaited horse breeds, predominately the Tennessee Walking Horse. These horses are colorful, good natured and comfortable to ride. Most of this breed falls in to a height range of 13.3 to 16 hands high, each hand equals four inches, and between 900 and 1100 pounds. Well-conditioned horses are able to maintain their gaits for extended periods of time, great for covering long distance in comfort.
The Morgan horse breed began in the United States with a single stallion possessing exceptional qualities in endurance, power, speed and gentleness. This stallion became the founder of what is now known as the Morgan breed. The calm disposition of the Morgan means that this breed is an ideal horse for handlers of all experience levels. Additionally, the Morgan is highly versatile and able to perform in harness and under saddle.
Andalusian horses, with their large, powerful bodies and magnificent coats, are both intelligent and dependable. Popular as both parade and performance horses, Andalusians have come close to extinction in the past and are therefore subject to some strict breeding guidelines.
Arabian horses, made popular in films like "The Black Stallion," are one of the oldest breeds of horse and are known for their grace and beauty. These horses are still heavily favored in many equestrian circles. Their temperaments require some careful handling, though Arabians, once attached, can be loyal and affectionate to their owners.
Most horse breeds are able to move in three distinct forward movement styles, or gaits, called walk, trot and canter. Gaited horses, however, can move in additional gaits beyond the typical three. Several different breeds are considered gaited horses, each with its own rhythm and style of movement.
The Nokota horse has its roots in 19th-century Wild West history. Today, Nokotas roam free in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in southwestern North Dakota. National Park Service-sponsored roundups throughout the 20th century devastated the population and diluted the gene pool, but Nokotas are slowly making a comeback through private breeding programs.
Shire is a horse breed that is easily distinguished from other breeds. While the tremendous size of the Shire horse can be intimidating, it is considered one of the most docile equine breeds. Part of the Draft horse family, Shires are considered "cold blooded" horses, referring to their steady, mellow nature.
Despite its name, the Rocky Mountain horse did not originate in the Rockies but in the hilly region of eastern Kentucky in the early 1900s. Other breeds that originated there were the American Saddlebred, the Tennessee walker and the Missouri fox trotter. The Rocky Mountain horse is the least-known breed but steadily gaining popularity in North America and Europe for its beauty and smooth gaits.
The horse (equus caballus) can be found throughout the world, with only a few wild (or feral) groups remaining. Natural grazers, domesticated horses have learned to live on grains and hay as well as natural grassland.
Horse breeds were developed in order to predict what foals would look and act like. According to International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (Bonnie Hendricks, 1995), a breed is recognized only when mares and stallions can produce foals that look very much like those particular mares and stallions. Breeds are usually, but not always, run by groups or associations that maintain the history of pedigrees, known as stud books.
