*DUTCH WARMBLOOD*

A warmblooded sport horse, the Dutch Warmblood is typically used for recreational and competitive purposes, such as driving, three day events, jumping, and dressage. The Dutch Warmblood is the direct descendent of the Groningen and the Gelderlander. There are several different types of Dutch Warmblood Horses and most are bred in an area of Holland.

The Riding Horse Type, also called the rijpaardtype, is known best for its athleticism. It has soundness and excellent characters, making the breed prime for vaulting, combined driving, dressage, and jumping.

Another type is the Show driving Type, also called Tuigpaardtype. This type of Dutch warmblood horse is typically used as a show horse, in areas where high stepping, style, and extravagance is warranted. With this type of breed, the Hackney and the Gelderlander is typically used.

Finally, the Basic Type, also called Basistype. This are more relative to the earlier versions of the Gelderlander. This breed of Dutch Warmblood horse is typically used to maintain the Old Gelderlander gene pool, farm work, driving, and riding.

*EAST BULGARIAN*

A breed developed in the early 1900’s from crossing Thoroughbreds and English Halfbred with Anglo-Arab, Arab and Bulgarian native horses, the East Bulgarian is a draft horse that is often used for light riding. Most horses of the breed are chestnut, black or bay in color.

*EGYPTIAN*

The Egyptian breed of horse, also referred to as Baladi, is an Arab type of horse that lives in Egypt. The breed is used for light riding.

*ERISKAY PONY*

Found off the coast of Scotland on the Hebrides Islands, the Eriskay Pony breed is the only variety of Hebridean ponies remaining. The breed is almost extinct, and they originated with Celtic type horses and no imported bloodlines.

Eriskay Ponies and other Western Isles type of horses were used throughout the Hebrides Islands through the middle of the 19th century, handling tasks like cart pulling, hauling peat and seaweed, and bringing children to and from school. The ponies evolved and learned to survive on limited food supply and coats that grew thicker to adapt to harsh, cold and windy climates. In the early years, while the men were working at sea, women and children handled the work of raising and caring for horses so only those that would adapt and were willing to be trained would be kept.

In the early 1970’s, when machinary really started taking over much of the manual labor and farming tasks, the pure bred Eriskay Ponies dwindled to about 20 horses. During this time, dedicated individuals joine together to try and save the breed from extinction. The number of Eriskays have increased to aroudn 300 currently, but are still listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as a critical category “1”.

Eriskay Ponies are friendly and make excellent family ponies- even playing football with children, or training to work with special needs children.

*ESTONIAN NATIVE*

Despite crossing with other breeds, the Estonian Native breed retained the characteristic features known of native northern horses. The breed has played a significant role in the development of both the Vyatka breed and the Obva breed of horses.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Estonian breed was used in Russia because they had the ability to adapt to conditions well, and were characteristically good workers. With the advancement of agriculture came the need for sturdy, working horses, and the Estonian breed were crossed with larger breeds. Breeding of Estonians with the native horses and light harness and saddle breeds resulted in a crossbred mare with extraordinary pulling endurance and strength.

Unfortunately, as agriculture and transportation industries increased, the Estonian native were not used as much as the new crossbreed on the mainland of Estonia- and is now only found on the islands of Hiiumaa, Saaremaa, and Muhu. There are about 1,000 existing Estonians.

The average height of the stallions are 142 cm at withers, and a body length of 147 cm. Estonian’s enjoy a long life span. Modern Estonian’s are curently used for saddle riding, tourism and light agricultural work.