British Spotted Pony
Encyclopedia
The British Spotted Pony is a small pony
breed originating in England
. It has existed for several centuries. The main distinguishing feature of the breed is its leopard-spotted
colouration. The height at withers
varies greatly, between and . An even larger horse-type variant existed, but is nowadays considered to belong into the Appaloosa
breed. The breed is unique for its unusual colouration and origins, and is rare with only about 800 registered animals.
colouring, coming in many variations. Other forms of spotting
are not permitted. Other requirements, consistent with leopard genetics, include rosy pink, mottled skin around the eyes, muzzle and inside the ears, and a white sclera
(in most other horses the "white" of the eye is dark, matching the iris
). The hooves must be striped.
The British Spotted Pony is a breed with clear pony
characteristics. It is hardy and very active, and its height varies from as little as up to ; there is also a powerful cob-type
riding pony variation. However, the smallest animals are the most popular, and are often sold for showing and as companion ponies. Some are also driven.
The spotted colouration does not always breed true, as two spotted animals may produce a solid-coloured
foal. Many spotted animals are not registered because they lack a visible white sclera or striped hooves.
Various other European horse breeds have been used from time to time to produce a more useful spotted horse. These included horses sent as gifts by royal families from elsewhere in Europe. A painting from the mid-nineteenth century features a lady (believed to be Queen Victoria
) in a carriage drawn by a spotted horse, followed by a spotted Dalmatian dog
. Spotted ponies were popular for their colouration, and were sold for large sums of money.
In 1947, the British Spotted Horse and Pony Society was founded to register
and preserve the breed. At this time both ponies and horses were registered. In the 1960s, the association imported Knabstrupper horses, another leopard-spotted breed, from Denmark, to help to make the colouration consistent. In 1976 the breed association split in two, the British Spotted Pony Society for ponies, and the British Appaloosa Society for horses. Today, larger spotted horses are registered as Appaloosa
s.
Interest in the breed has grown since World War II
, with many horses exported to Australia
, USA, Canada
, Netherlands
, Germany
and France
. However, the breed associations put a stop to exporting in the 1970s, when it was found that many of the best stallion
s and mare
s were lost due to high demand. Today the breed has about 800 registered ponies in its stud book, but it is believed that many unregistered animals of the breed exist.
Pony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
breed originating in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It has existed for several centuries. The main distinguishing feature of the breed is its leopard-spotted
Leopard complex
The leopard complex is a group of genetically-related coat patterns in horses. These patterns range from progressive increases in interspersed white hair similar to graying or roan to distinctive, Dalmatian-like leopard spots on a white coat. Secondary characteristics associated with the leopard...
colouration. The height at withers
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
varies greatly, between and . An even larger horse-type variant existed, but is nowadays considered to belong into the Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
breed. The breed is unique for its unusual colouration and origins, and is rare with only about 800 registered animals.
Breed characteristics
The most prominent feature of the British Spotted Pony is the leopard-spottedLeopard complex
The leopard complex is a group of genetically-related coat patterns in horses. These patterns range from progressive increases in interspersed white hair similar to graying or roan to distinctive, Dalmatian-like leopard spots on a white coat. Secondary characteristics associated with the leopard...
colouring, coming in many variations. Other forms of spotting
Pinto horse
A pinto horse has a coat color that consists of large patches of white and any other color. The distinction between "pinto" and "solid" can be tenuous, as so-called "solid" horses frequently have areas of white hair. Various cultures throughout history appear to have selectively bred for pinto...
are not permitted. Other requirements, consistent with leopard genetics, include rosy pink, mottled skin around the eyes, muzzle and inside the ears, and a white sclera
Sclera
The sclera , also known as the white or white of the eye, is the opaque , fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye containing collagen and elastic fiber. In the development of the embryo, the sclera is derived from the neural crest...
(in most other horses the "white" of the eye is dark, matching the iris
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
). The hooves must be striped.
The British Spotted Pony is a breed with clear pony
Pony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
characteristics. It is hardy and very active, and its height varies from as little as up to ; there is also a powerful cob-type
Cob (horse)
A cob is a small horse, usually of a stout build, with strong bones, large joints, and steady disposition; it is a body type of horse rather than a specific breed...
riding pony variation. However, the smallest animals are the most popular, and are often sold for showing and as companion ponies. Some are also driven.
The spotted colouration does not always breed true, as two spotted animals may produce a solid-coloured
Cropout
A cropout, crop-out or crop out is a horse with body spots, including pinto or appaloosa spotting, or "high white" horse markings, with a sire and dam who both appeared to have been solid-colored. There are several variations in the definition, depending on the breed registry involved. There are...
foal. Many spotted animals are not registered because they lack a visible white sclera or striped hooves.
History
Paintings and drawings from across Europe over a range of centuries feature similarly spotted horses. A document from 1298 mentions that Edward I of England kept a large number of spotted horses.Various other European horse breeds have been used from time to time to produce a more useful spotted horse. These included horses sent as gifts by royal families from elsewhere in Europe. A painting from the mid-nineteenth century features a lady (believed to be Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
) in a carriage drawn by a spotted horse, followed by a spotted Dalmatian dog
Dalmatian (dog)
The Dalmatian is a breed of dog whose roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia where the first illustrations of the dog have been found. The Dalmatian is noted for its unique black- or brown-spotted coat and was mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days...
. Spotted ponies were popular for their colouration, and were sold for large sums of money.
In 1947, the British Spotted Horse and Pony Society was founded to register
Breed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
and preserve the breed. At this time both ponies and horses were registered. In the 1960s, the association imported Knabstrupper horses, another leopard-spotted breed, from Denmark, to help to make the colouration consistent. In 1976 the breed association split in two, the British Spotted Pony Society for ponies, and the British Appaloosa Society for horses. Today, larger spotted horses are registered as Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
s.
Interest in the breed has grown since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with many horses exported to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, USA, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. However, the breed associations put a stop to exporting in the 1970s, when it was found that many of the best stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
s and mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
s were lost due to high demand. Today the breed has about 800 registered ponies in its stud book, but it is believed that many unregistered animals of the breed exist.
See also
- AppaloosaAppaloosaThe Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
- Colorado RangerColorado RangerThe Colorado Ranger is a horse breed named for its Colorado High Plains origins in the United States of America.-Characteristics:The registers horses that can be traced back to one of the two stallions and which also meet additional registration requirements. The breed traces back to one of the...
- British Riding PonyRiding PonyThe Riding Pony was developed in the United Kingdom, and are now bred all over the world. The term is used to refer to as show ponies, divided into classes based on height and type, hunter classes, side-saddle and in hand classes...
- FalabellaFalabellaFalabella is a Chilean department store retailer owned by the Falabella company-Locations and products:Falabella department stores can be found in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Falabella Department stores sell a wide variety of merchandise including apparel, home furnishings, electronics and...
- Knabstrupper
- Leopard complexLeopard complexThe leopard complex is a group of genetically-related coat patterns in horses. These patterns range from progressive increases in interspersed white hair similar to graying or roan to distinctive, Dalmatian-like leopard spots on a white coat. Secondary characteristics associated with the leopard...
- Pony of the AmericasPony of the AmericasThe Pony of the Americas, or the POA, was developed to be a children’s pony. The breed’s origins are in America, where an Iowa breeder accidentally crossed a Shetland stallion with an Arabian/Appaloosa mare to produce a pony-sized mount with leopard complex spotting.-Breed Characteristics:The POA...
- Tiger HorseTiger HorseTiger horses are gaited, spotted horses with a coat color much like the Appaloosa. The tiger horse can exhibit various ambling gaits including various lateral gaits called the "Glider Gait" or Indian shuffle, stepping pace, and running walk, as well as the diagonal Fox Trot...