Personal reflections on the horses of yesteryear have inspired this article. My memories are that horses were tougher and sounder, but why did we have fewer problems with our horses? To answer this we need to think about how horses have changed over the last 50 years.
Horses have changed
In England, many people now ride warmblood horses. These horses typically stand at 16.2hh to 17.1hh and are derived from a mixture of breeds and types. Nevertheless, warmbloods are easily recognised as a type of riding horse. The best are very impressive with extravagant elastic paces and a trainable disposition. So what is not to like about the modern warmblood horse?
A modern warmblood horse with size and presence.
What’s not to like about Warmblood Horses
Warmblood horses are the horse of choice If you are competing at high-level dressage, eventing, or showjumping. However, as a type, they do not have hybrid vigour and are not tough and robust.
The Horses with Hybrid Vigour
A horse with hybrid vigour will be the offspring of two distinct breeds rather than a cross between two types of horse. In this respect, the more established these two breeds are the better chance of the foals having toughness through hybridisation.
So a straightforward first cross between two distinct breeds of a horse offers hybrid vigour. This means the offspring from two breeds with closed studbooks and the longer these studbooks have been closed the better.
What is a Closed Studbook
A closed studbook means that to be of that breed both parents are in that breeds studbook. Nothing else will do, so for example an Arabian horse has both parents as Arabian.
Horses in the Past
Going back to the purpose of this post. 50 years ago first crosses between two distinct breeds were common riding horses. In many cases, these horses were sired by Thoroughbred or Arabian stallions and out of native registered pony mares. These horses were small but with few health issues.
Hunters were typically Thoroughbred crossed with Irish Draft or Cleveland Bay horses. Again first crosses were usually tough horses.
An honest and tough hunter with Cleveland Bay and Thoroughbred blood.
The Ultimate cross for Hybrid Vigour Obviously, a mule is a cross between two equine species and as such will have real toughness and considerable hybrid vigour. In the USA mules are increasingly bred with quality and participate in many equine activities alongside their weaker horse cousins.
This well-put-together and good-looking barrel mule has a sensible and kind outlook.
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