“More people are becoming familiar with the Icelandic horse, its unique gaits, traits, and rich history tied to Iceland,” says Emily Potts with the USIHC. “The breed is a major attraction for tourists in Iceland, with many tour operators offering trail rides and horseback tours to explore the country. This growing interest is mirrored in the U.S., where USIHC membership has increased by nearly 18 percent since 2022. While registration numbers have grown more gradually over the years, the increase has remained steady.”

Currently there are 6,986 registered Icelandics in the United States, with just over half of them being born domestically; the rest are imported.

Photo by Mark Lawrence

A Breed for Every Sport

Icelandics are a hardy and agile breed that, while short in stature at around 13 to 14 hands, can handle almost any discipline or recreational sport. And their five natural gaits—walk, trot, canter, tölt, and pace—means a comfortable seat for their rider.

Potts says that Icelandics can be found excelling in many disciplines, including dressage (USIHC participates in the U.S. Dressage Federation All-Breeds Program), liberty, endurance riding, competitive and recreational trail riding, working equitation, archery, skijoring, and eventing.

The USIHC also puts on its own national-ranking shows and sport competitions. In 2024, they held 16 national-ranking shows and six world-ranking shows in the U.S.

Lucy Nold, owner and trainer at Five-Gait Farm in Eugene, Ore., has earned the Anne Elwell Breeding Award twice, in 2018 and 2022. She is on the USIHC National Team and is nationally and world ranked. She also works with youth at her own farm and has led many youth initiatives within the breed.

Youth rider Greta Alsauskas participates in classes that show off the Icelandic’s special gaits as well as in eventing. Photo by Kevin Zibart

“The Icelandic horse breed has an easygoing, willing, and forward temperament that makes them excellent riding horses for so many different activities,” says Nold. “The versatility of the breed makes them truly a partner for everything, and our competition horses make the best trail horses.”

Icelandics also make wonderful youth mounts, due to their size and temperament.

“I quickly fell in love with the Icelandic horse because of their sweet and willing nature and the supportive and caring community that surrounds this discipline,” says Greta Alsauskas, a youth rider who is both nationally and world-ranked among professionals. She qualified and participated in the Youth Cup for the U.S. Team in July 2024 in Münsingen, Switzerland. Alsauskas performs in special track classes that are meant to show off the Icelandic’s tölt and flying pace. She also does eventing.

The flying pace is the fastest gait performed by the Icelandic, and is displayed in special competitions to show off the breeds’ unique gaits. Shown: Heidi Benson and Strokkur frá Syðri-Gegnishólum. Photo by Laura Benson

In 2023, a team of five U.S. riders qualified for the World Championships in the Netherlands, the largest USIHC team assembled in several years.

Virtual Rides

Bred to carry adults over long distances at a fast and smooth pace, Icelandics truly excel at covering long miles. It’s no surprise that one of the most popular programs the USIHC puts on is the Sea 2 Shining Sea ride. A truly unique program, this virtual ride is a year-long quest that Icelandic riders can participate in.

“This 4,000-mile ride follows a different route each year, organized by committee members,” explains Potts. “Past routes have included the Pony Express Trail, historic Route 66, and Annie Wilkins’ journey from Minot, Maine, to Hollywood, California, as featured in Elizabeth Letts’ book The Ride of Her Life. Riders log their hours weekly and reach checkpoints and can compete individually or in teams of up to six.”

Scott Smith is one of these riders, who logged over 1,100 miles in 2024, and is in the Top 10 for the 2024 Sea 2 Shining Sea ride.

Scott Smith logged over 1,100 miles riding Icelandic horses in 2024. Photo courtesy Shelby Walker

The USIHC also holds virtual shows, which are very popular. These include both national-ranking classes and classes that are just for fun or schooling. Shows have a panel of five judges from around the world, giving riders a change to get feedback from top judges, no matter when they live.

Supporting the Icelandic Horse Breed

The USIHC continues to add new programs to support those who love the breed. In 2023, they launched the Virtual Education Series, which covers topics like shoeing, saddle fit, endurance riding, nutrition, gait analysis, breeding and conformation, trailering horses, and more.

In addition, they are developing a U.S. Trainer Certification System to help those aspiring to train Icelandics. The International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations tasks each member country with creating a system based on their education matrix. The USIHC launched their Fast Track for Level 1 Certification in 2022, and they’re now working on Level II Certification modules.

The Icelandic horse is a hardy, easy keeper that steals hearts as fast as it covers ground.

To learn more, visit icelandics.org.

This article about the Icelandic Horse breed appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Icelandic Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Others believe these are rare instances of misuse, and that most horse owners are doing what’s best without the need for regulations or laws.

Flash Nosebands

Flash nosebands have a second attachment coming off the center of the cavesson or regular noseband that circles around the lower part of the horse’s face in front of the bit and around the mouth. The purpose is to keep the horse from opening his mouth—gaping—and possibly getting his tongue over the bit. Proponents say it encourages the horse to chew on the bit and stabilizes the bit in the horse’s mouth while not allowing the horse to evade it, thus giving more control.

Due to questions raised about overtight nosebands at the recent Paris Olympics and other events, The FEI has introduced a measurement tool to ensure all nosebands, not just flashes, are not overtightened at competitions.

“Currently, there is not a rule change proposal banning flash nosebands, but the FEI has introduced a measurement tool to ensure the appropriate tightness of the noseband at competitions,” says Danielle Henson, sport communications manager for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

The FEI started checking noseband tightness with a measuring device May 1, 2025. Photo by Shawn Hamilton/CLiX/Adobe Stock

“We are not aware of discussions regarding flash straps or any initiatives to ban them,” shares Malina Gueorguiev, manager, governance communications, stakeholder & media relations communications department for the FEI.

There are those who believe this is not enough, however, and that flash nosebands should be banned to avoid people misusing them at home as well as in the show ring. Those against them claim that training can overcome issues including bit evasion and opening their mouth, which can also be signs of discomfort that owners and trainers should not dismiss.

“Flash nosebands don’t solve anything other than masking improper training, in which the horse shows proof of that by opening the mouth to escape pain and pressure of harshly handled bits,” says Josepha Guillaume, a horse welfare consultant, trainer, and author of Dressage in Hand: What horses want you to know. “Tight nosebands, whether flash or otherwise, prevent the horse from relaxing and mobilizing the jaw, which is in turn needed to mobilize and relax the shoulders and back. Having to brace against harsh bit action and a too-tight noseband prevents the horse from using the correct and natural muscles, and therefore prevents correct movement and the much-sought-after collection in any form. No one would expect a human athlete to perform his best with someone forcing a head and neck shape, or tight belts along the face, or the mouth strapped shut. Yet, it is expected from horses.”

Mary Kautz, founder of Equine Harmony Connection in Oregon, explains that flash nosebands restrict licking, chewing and swallowing, all of which are ways horses release tension.

“Banning flash and drop nosebands in competitive events will result in more relaxed horses, increased harmony between horse and rider, and higher standards for ethical training practices,” she says. Both trainers agree that the issues flash and other nosebands mask could be fixed with humane training, rendering the need for the nosebands moot.

Whisker Trimming

Many continue to trim their horse’s whiskers for breed and other shows. Go to any Arabian or Miniature Horse show in the United States, and you won’t find a single hairy face. Owners and trainers feel the clean look accentuates the horse’s facial features.

“At this time, USEF is not pursuing a ban on whisker trimming,” says Henson. “We recognize that discussions surrounding the topics of nosebands and whisker trimming are ongoing. USEF is committed to ensuring that our rules and regulations reflect the best interest of horses and the sport, and we will continue to monitor developments both nationally and internationally.”

Like your cat and dog, a horse’s whiskers are not just facial hair, like a man’s beard, but are sensory tools the animal uses to interact with his environment.

“The horse’s whiskers are sensory hairs, and horses use them like ‘feelers’; trimming them therefore reduces the horse’s sensory ability,” says Gueorguiev when asked why the FEI banned whisker trimming.

Article 1004.1.i of the FEI Veterinary Regulations specifies: Horses are not permitted to compete in FEI Events: if the Horse’s sensory hairs have been clipped and/or shaven or in any other way removed unless individual sensory hairs have been removed by a veterinarian to prevent pain or discomfort for the Horse.

The FEI banned whisker trimming at its competitions in 2021. Photo by Nigel Baker/Adobe Stock

“The sensory hairs around a horse’s eyes and muzzle serve many functions, including helping them locate food and avoid injury,” explains Kautz. “These whisker hairs allow the horse to compensate for the blind spot in front of their nose and detect electric fences. In low-light conditions, the whiskers help the horse detect objects in their environment. Horses whose whiskers are trimmed suffer many disadvantages. These horses are unable to navigate as effectively or gather details about their environment. Without their eye whiskers, they are also more likely to injure their eyes.”

With articles like “Why it Might be Time to Stop Riding Horses” in the mainstream media, the equestrian world will continue to face issues like these—and more—in the coming years. The hope is that, at the end of the day, regardless of what side of the fence you graze on, we will all come together for the benefit of the horse.

This article about the issues of whisker trimming and flash nosebands appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post At Issue: Whisker Trimming and Flash Nosebands appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Many people use these words interchangeably, but there are some differences. Let’s start with the one basic fact: all Paints can be Pintos, but not all Pintos can be Paints.

Pinto Horse Registry

The PtHA was formed in 1956 to register horses of any breed background that had splashy white markings. In 2005, a solid registry was formed to allow solid-bred horses from PtHA stock to be registered.

“The PtHA realized that a lot of solid horses were related to horses with color, and we wanted solid horses to be able to come show with us,” explains Jenna Henson, director of marketing and communications for PtHA.

Any equine—including mules and donkeys—can be registered as a Pinto. The registry has different divisions for registration. Horses have types: stock (Paint and Quarter Horses); pleasure (Arabians and Morgans); hunter (Thoroughbreds and warmbloods); and saddle type (Saddlebred).

Pintos can be found across all equestrian sports. Photo by Christiane Slawik

Ponies (measuring 39 to 59 inches) can be pleasure, hunter, saddle or stock type. Minis are divided by size: An “A” Mini is 35 inches or less and a “B” Mini is 35 to 39 inches. “Long Ears” are the donkeys and mules. Utility horses come in two types: Gypsy and Drum. Drums have to have a percentage of Gypsy breeding crossed with other draft breeds, usually Shire or Clydesdale.

At shows, the solid-bred and colored Long Ears show together. For the others, they have separate colored and solid classes.

Pintos can come in any body type and breed background. Photo by Christiane Slawik

Paint Horse Registry

In 1962, Rebecca Tyler Lockhart founded the American Paint Stock Horse Association at the same time the American Paint Quarter Horse Association was formed. In 1965, the two associations merged to form the APHA.

“It was established to promote and preserve colorful, stock-type Paint Horses,” says Jessica Hein, senior director of communications for the APHA.

Unlike PtHA, the APHA is “limited to stock-type horses descending from Paints, Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds,” she adds.

To be registered with APHA, both of a horse’s parents must be known and registered with APHA, AQHA or the Jockey Club. Also, Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds that meet the minimum white requirement—at least 2 inches of solid white hair with some unpigmented skin in the qualifying area—can be dual-registered with APHA.

The APHA registry is restricted to stock-type horses descending from Paints, Quarter Horses, or Thoroughbreds. Photo by Christiane Slawik

If at least one of those parents is APHA-registered, the foal is eligible for APHA registration regardless of qualifying white markings. However, if both parents are AQHA or Jockey Club registered, the foal must meet those minimum qualifying requirements based on white markings to be eligible for APHA registration.

The APHA, like the PtHA, also has a solid registry. Formerly called Breeding Stock, Solid-Paint Breds can still be shown and used for breeding.

So, all Paint horses can be registered as a Pinto as well, but only Pintos that have Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred breeding, or at least one registered APHA parent, can be registered with the APHA.

Solid-Bred Paints can still be used for breeding and showing. Photo courtesy APHA

Splashing the Competition

It should be no surprise that Pintos can do anything—after all, any breed of equine is eligible for registration.

“Pintos are a good all-around horse; they are very versatile with a willing attitude,” says Henson. “We have had a lot of national champions go on to claim world or national titles in other associations.”

The Pinto World Championship Show is one of the largest shows in the United States. In 2024, it featured over 700 classes. About 500 breed shows are held each year all over the U.S.

Not to be outdone, the Paint Horse is also known for its versatility.

“Paints are highly versatile and can excel in almost any event,” says Hein. “We have Paint Horses that have bested horses of all breeds in the sports of reining, cutting, reined cow horse, racing and more. We have Paints that excel in hunter/jumper competitions, dressage, premier rodeo events and more. As a stock-type breed, you’ll most often find Paint Horses excelling in western performance events, where their athleticism and disposition combine to help produce winning performances. The extra chrome on their coats, in many cases, helps them stand out from the crowd even more.”

The same cow sense and stock-horse build that makes the American Quarter Horse so popular is also on display in the American Paint Horse. Photo courtesy APHA

There were around 731 APHA breed shows in 2023 worldwide. The 2024 APHA World Championship Show had 1,469 horses competing, with the APHA/WCHA Halter Million—which includes their World Champion Halter Competitions—drawing in an additional 466 horses, according to Hein.

While regular registry and solid Paints previously competed in separate classes, all Paints show together beginning Jan. 1, 2025. 

Although a stock-type breed, the Paint can be found doing just about any sport. Photo courtesy APHA

If you are looking for an all-around horse with a splash of color, consider a Pinto or Paint. Visit pinto.org or apha.com to learn more.

This article about Paints and Pintos appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Difference Between Paint and Pinto Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Kelsey Erickson/Midnight Studios Photography

Due to growing popularity, the American Shetland Pony Club, Inc. (ASPC) created the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) in the 1970s. It’s the oldest Miniature Horse association.

Size Matters

When it comes to Miniature Horses, size matters. The AMHR has two height divisions, and an equine must fall into one of these two scales to receive permanent registration papers. Division A Miniatures are up to 34 inches in height, and Division B Miniatures are between 34 and 38 inches tall. (Unlike other equines, Miniature Horses are measured at the last mane hair, not at the top of their withers.)

The height divisions are mainly used for show purposes, explains ASPC President Rob Crater of CLC Stables.

Minis excel in in-hand classes, where they tackle trail obstacles, jumping, and more. Photo by Kelsey Erickson/Midnight Studios Photography

Other Small Facts

Along with two sizes, Miniature Horses come in a full spectrum of coat colorings and patterns, including Appaloosa, which is a very popular color pattern, according to Crater.

The Falabella is a small equine breed from Argentina. Registered Falabellas can be dual-registered with the AMHR if they meet the height requirements. Miniature Horses registered with the American Miniature Horse Association can also be registered with AMHR.

Miniature Horses are given temporary AMHR papers until they are done growing.

“We don’t give a permanent height card until they have reached their actual 6th birthday, and that is when their papers go permanent as well,” shares Crater.

Registering around 10,000 equines each year, it’s clear the Miniature Horse is very popular, and it’s easy to see why. As farms get smaller, having an equine that takes up less space is an asset. And as hay and grain prices soar, the Miniature Horse is easier on the feed bill, too.

Success in the Show Ring

But owners of Miniature Horses love them for more than just being more economical; the breed is known for being easygoing, calm, and a willing equine partner.

“My love for the Miniature Horse started shortly after purchasing my first Mini, RHMF Geminis Twinklin Star,” says Katie Gauthier, a member of Aerial Performance Horses, owned by Brenna Hardin. “It didn’t take long for me to jump headfirst into the world of showing Miniature Horses, and I have never looked back! I’ve found Minis to be excellent companions and partners that are a joy to work with and be around.”

Aloha Acres Neon Memory (“Gizmo”) and Brenna Hardin, owner of Aerial Performance Horses, a program dedicated to developing and highlighting the Miniature Horse. Photo by Kelsey Erickson/Midnight Studios Photography

Many Miniature Horse owners are equestrians who can no longer have a larger equine for a variety of reasons. Miniature Horses allow people to continue doing the sport they love with—let’s face it—an adorable partner.

They excel at all types of driving classes, from combined driving to carriage classes. And while most seem to truly love driving, many also excel at in-hand events, including jumping, showmanship, and trail.

“Miniatures also often compete successfully at local all-breed open shows, and they can be found in the 4-H show ring as well,” says Crater. “The AMHR National Championship Show hosted each September in Tulsa, Okla., consistently draws more than 1,500 Miniature Horses from across the United States and Canada, making it the single largest competition for Miniature Horses. In fact, AMHR Nationals is one of the larger horse shows of any kind in the United States. AMHR rated shows offer a variety of classes, including halter, showmanship, obstacle driving, costume, park harness and roadster driving.”

Ever popular as a driving breed, the Miniature Horse shows in many types of harness classes. Photo by Phil Zander/Horsepics Photography

Miniature Horses: Fun for All

Outside of showing, Miniatures Horses have proved their prowess as therapy animals, visiting hospitals and nursing homes. They are even used as service and guide animals.

Want something that will take you down the trail, road, or beach in a cart? The Miniature Horse will do it with a style and willingness. You can see them in parades, as pasture companions, and more.

“They are great all-around horses,” says Crater.

This article about the Miniature Horse breed appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Miniature Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“To help preserve the breed, individuals should prioritize continuing to register purebred livestock,” says Stacie Lynch, PHAOA executive director. “This investment is crucial for maintaining the breed’s integrity and ensuring the ability to trace pedigree and breeder information.

“It’s important for breeders to recognize the broader impact of registration, extending beyond just mares and stallions to include geldings,” she continues. “By registering all horses, regardless of their roles, breeders contribute to the breed’s welfare, support the registry, and safeguard the legacies of exceptional horses. This proactive approach ensures that each remarkable individual is duly recognized and remembered for generations to come.”

And the Percheron is definitely a breed worth remembering. Not many breeds can go from energetic high-stepping show horses to calm, quiet stable ponies, but the Percheron can. It’s one of the reasons lovers of the breed are so dedicated to them.

The Ames Percherons

“I grew up with draft horses,” says Jacqui Shaw, manager at Ames Percheron Farm, Inc., in Minnesota. “My dad, Jim Westbrook, bred Percherons when I was young and then became a professional hitch driver. It’s a family tradition. It just gets in your blood.” Jacqui’s husband Travis is also hitch driver for Ames Percheron Farm. He got his start in middle school with his neighbor’s draft horses.

The Ames family has a long history with the breed, starting with John and Eliza Ames, who immigrated to America from England in 1874 and farmed with Percherons. In the early 1900s, they began to show them.

As time went on, showing became their focus. In the early 1990s, brothers Dick, Butch, John and Ron Ames decided to invest in a team of driving Percherons to be sponsored by their company, Ames Construction. It was a way to keep their family tradition alive, and Dick had a real passion for the horses.

Showing a Big Hitch

Today, the Ames Percherons show in six- and eight-horse hitch configurations year-round, attending between 10 and 15 shows annually. And they have it down to a science. A team of five to six people can get the team ready in as little as 45 minutes, though the average is 90—still a speedy time!

The Ames Percherons show in six- and eight-horse configurations year round. Photo by Avalon Photography

And getting to the show? That takes two 53-foot big rigs: One that holds the harnesses and cart, and one that hauls the 10 horses. The trailer has space for 15 horses, but Jacqui says they never take that many.

Ames used to show teams of dapple grays, but Jacqui says the color is getting harder to find as it fell out of fashion, and some of the main breeders of gray Percherons were PMU farms in Canada that are now closed. So, they switched to an all-black team, for the most part.

“We still have a couple grays that get dyed to match the blacks for shows,” says Jacqui. (They use animal-safe cattle dye, and it’s legal at the shows they compete at.) “It’s all about appearance at these shows, and we even dye the blacks to make sure their coats really shine. Some get bleached by the sun, so we need to cover the brown. Almost every team at our level dyes their horses, in all breeds.”

While once common within the breed, gray Percherons are now outnumbered by black horses. Photo by Bob Langrish

A Dual Personality

Since 2000, Ames Percheron Farm has won the North American Classic Series six-horse Championship four times, and has multiple national titles in both the six- and eight-horse hitch. But Jacqui says that even if they couldn’t show, she and her husband would be content to just take care of the horses.

“These guys, the big horses, have a real gentle demeanor in the barn,” she says. “We train them to be flashy when they are showing, so you hook them up and they have a whole different personality. They are a powerful athlete that gives their all.

“But then you take them back to the barn and they put their heads down and just want to be petted,” she continues. “I’ve had a lot of riding horses, but they don’t have that split personality, where they can turn off the ‘hot’ when they aren’t showing.”

Jacqui Shaw says her Percherons can turn on the fire when it’s time to perform, but are sweet in-your-pocket horses around the barn. Photo by Shelley Paulson

This sweet personality makes them a fan favorite, as crowds of people gather around to meet and pet them at shows.

“We get people saying they want one when they are ready for retirement, because they are so sweet and gentle,” Jacqui says.

This article about the Percheron appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Percheron appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Bob Langrish

In 1807, when Pedro IV of Portugal migrated to Brazil due to Napoleon’s invasion and became Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, he brought with him the best of the royal cavalry. These horses were the Alter Real—an Iberian breed closely related to Lusitanos and Andalusians that were reserved for royalty.

Alter Real stallions were crossed with local Brazilian mares to create the Mangalarga Marchador. Known for being docile, intelligent, and extremely comfortable to ride, the breed grew quickly in popularity.

There are over 700,000 Mangalarga Marchadors in Brazil today. In 1992, a Brazilian family moved to Florida and brought their beloved Mangalarga Marchador with them. Today, the U.S. Mangalarga Marchador Association works to preserve the breed in the United States and currently has 425 registered horses.

Special Gaits

The marcha gait is when the feet move alternately laterally and diagonally. The marcha picada gait has more lateral movements in a step, and is generally considered the smoothest of the gaits. The marcha batida has more diagonal movements in a step and is described as a broken trot.

Another, not-yet-recognized gait may occur, called the marcha de centro, where lateral and diagonal movement happens equally. In all these gaits, one foot is always touching the ground, so the horse is never suspended off the ground like in the trot or pace, creating a more comfortable and secure feeling for the rider.

In all of the Marchador’s special gaits, at least one foot is always touching the ground, creating a more comfortable and secure feeling for the rider. Photo by Belarmino/Adobe Stock

A Noble Steed

“I had been told that Mangalarga Marchadors were very smart, but I didn’t believe it until I owned one for myself,” says Randy Gassett of Phoenix, Ariz.

Gassett had a business deal with a friend that breeds Mangalarga Marchadors, making her part owner of an unborn foal. When that foal ended up being a colt, not a filly, the plan was to sell him. But Gassett knew the colt wasn’t going anywhere once he got to her ranch.

“I fell in love with the colt and knew he was going to be as nice or nicer than my Fox Trotter,” Gassett shares. “So, I bought out my friend’s share, and Nobre do Summerwind [nobre is Portuguese for ‘noble’] was mine. He is the only Mangalarga Marchador that I have owned and is an exceptional horse!”

Now 5, Nobre is 15.2 hands and performs the marcha batida as well as the walk and canter. Gassett trained Nobre herself, competing him in in-hand trail competitions as a yearling.

“He has such a wonderful temperament, loves people, is curious and full of play, and has never tried to buck or rear while under saddle,” she says.

Now that he is older, Nobre competes in dressage and working equitation. They have qualified for the Working Equitation Zone Championship in Missoula in 2023, finishing 5th in level two.

Randy Gassett and Nobre compete and excel in working equitation. Photo courtesy Randy Gassett

He has many champion and reserve champion titles at both schooling and rated shows, and is now competing at level three. Gassett says Nobre has the smoothest canter she has ever ridden.

Plenty of Charisma

Carolina Peterson, who lives in Friday Harbor, Wash., has known the Marchador breed since childhood, having grown up in Brazil. She owns two geldings, Tigre do Summerwind and Kharisma do Summerwind. Tigre performs the marcha picada and is a fantastic trail horse that also does working equitation. Kharisma performs the marcha batida, and aside from trail, excels in eventing.

“Kharisma came to San Juan Island, Wash., and started his development with eventing trainer Servando Garcia, who soon introduced Kharisma to jumping,” says Peterson. “It’s easy to say it was ‘love at first sight.’ Kharisma loves to jump, loves the challenge, and trusts his rider. He is still young, but should have a great career in eventing or whatever job he chooses to do.”

Kharisma loves to jump and has been in training for eventing. Photo by Ashley Kemp Photography

While a gaited horse in eventing could normally be a challenge, Peterson says Kharisma shines.

“He has successfully competed at Novice level, quite a challenge for a gaited horse, but with Servando’s endless efforts and Kharisma’s willingness to work, he is moving toward being successful at a higher level,” she says. “Kharisma is the only Marchador participating in eventing competitions in the U.S.”

Peterson explains that dressage is difficult for gaited horses, but Kharisma is taking that on too.

“We believe quality, ambitious and well-trained Mangalarga Marchadors will perform well in any job,” she says. “Tigre and Kharisma are kind, docile, coachable and intelligent horses with big personalities.”

This article about the Mangalarga Marchador breed appeared in the October 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Mangalarga Marchador appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Owners of these tough horses share that they can do pretty much anything you ask of them—and excel at it.

Stewie

If you ask a Haflinger owner why they own one, one of the main reasons is because they are safe and dependable.

“As a ‘middle-aged’ woman with an equestrian hobby, having a horse that’s gentle, intelligent, and can do it all is important,” shares Kendal Vaitkus. She went to a Haflinger show in 2011 and became hooked on these horses, as well as the kind, inviting atmosphere of the other owners.

“In 2018, I had an opportunity to purchase a Haflinger, and I haven’t looked back since,” she says. “I can’t afford to have one horse that trail rides, one horse that drives and another to ride dressage. The Haflinger is a great solution for me!  This breed generally likes to keep busy, so they don’t mind learning all sorts of fun and interesting things. To me, the Haflinger is a perfect, versatile pony wrapped up in a beautiful golden package. I’ll admit, they’re like potato chips … you can’t have just one.”

Kendal and Stewie do Second Level dressage, western, halter, trail riding and driving. Photo by Plus One Photography

True to her words, Vaitkus owns two Haflingers. Will Beat the Storm of 2s (“Stewie”) was her first Haflinger. Now 15, Stewie takes her out on the trails and into the dressage, western, halter and driving rings. He has won numerous high points and is currently schooling Second Level in dressage. Her other Haflinger is a gelding named Northstar LLRH.

Rollie

Sometimes a love and appreciation for the breed is passed down through the generations.

“Grandpa Bill was searching the internet for the perfect family horse he could share with his young grandchildren,” shares John Ellingson. “He quickly learned that the Haflinger was known for being very sensible and was a great choice for young families.”

Ellingson’s grandfather drove eight hours to buy his first Haflinger, a daughter of the famous Aristocrat. That was 20 years ago. Since then, the Ellingsons have bred and trained Haflingers.

“Not every Haflinger is suited for children, but on average they are calmer, less reactive and more cold-blooded than most breeds,” says Ellingson. “We try to identify very calm individuals at a young age. We give them plenty of age-appropriate training. You can create a very special horse that is relaxed and gentle.”

One of their current horses is N-Rollie TVS, a 15.1-hand gelding, who started life working on an Amish farm. Rollie is now shown and co-owned by 16-year-old Talayna Steiner, a neighbor of the Ellingsons and part of their 4-H Club.

Rollie has many wins in pleasure driving, hitch, obstacle driving and halter, and is now taking the western rings by storm. Photo courtesy Ellingson Family

Aside from being an excellent farming horse, Rollie excels at many disciplines in the show ring, including winning state 4-H jumping, hunter and equitation over fences, and English pleasure. Outside of 4-H, he has many wins in pleasure driving, hitch, obstacle driving and halter. He is now taking the western rings by storm.

Rollie is shown and co-owned by 16-year-old Talayna, a neighbor of the Ellingsons and part of their 4-H Club. Photo courtesy Ellingson Family

Von

Tara Williams, who sits on the board of directors for the American Haflinger Registry, first rode one just to keep the mare trained up for her young sister. A self-professed big bay Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred girl, she wasn’t expecting to fall hard for the Haflinger.

“As I rode my sister’s horse, I then had offers to catch ride others, and I realized that they are remarkably athletic and smart,” she says. “Von was one of those catch rides, who I then purchased. He was my gateway Haflinger!”

Wil-Von Mikas RVH (“Von”) is a 14-year-old, 15-hand gelding Tara still owns and shows. He is a multiple national champion, 2018 Reserve Versatility Champion and 2023 Versatility Champion.

Von excels in everything from dressage to western and trail riding, earning the title of 2023 Versatility Champion. Photo by Blakley’s Captures Photography

“I love a horse that can make good choices and has the athleticism to back it all up,” says Williams. “They are a very hardy breed that generally stays sound and performing well long into their golden years. One of the other things I love is how versatile they are. I can grab the same horse to go trail ride one afternoon, drive at a competition the next, and go jump a hunter pace the next.”

When not in the breed ring, Von drags her arena, goes on trail rides, competes in Second Level western and classical dressage, and even does ranch classes. Previously, they were members of the High Flying Haflingers Jumping Drill Team, performing at events like Equine Affaire’s Fantasia show and the Mane Event in Canada.

Von can drive in a competition one day and ride in a hunter pace the next. Photo by Blakley’s Captures Photography

Roush

The Haflinger stands his ground when put up against horses that may be much larger in stature.

Roush, owned by Anika Sadler, has taken his owner to many wins. Some of his many accomplishments include qualifying for the Great American Insurance Group/U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championships, winning the Idaho Dressage & Eventing Association (IDEA) Adult Amateur USDF Freestyle Champion, Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Adult Amateur Freestyle Champion, and Reserve Champion at the Rainier Northwest Championship.

Roush loves to jump and is a Beginner Novice champion in eventing. Photo by Katherine Schot Photography

He is an IDEA Adult Amateur U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Beginner Novice Champion, and has top-10 placings with the Western Dressage Association of America’s International Challenge multiple years in a row.

When he isn’t in the show ring, you can find him skijioring in the winter and gaming in the summer. He has even been used as a model by Kastel Denmark, Outback Trading and more.

“He is an excellent ambassador of the breed, their wonderful character and versatility,” says Sadler.

Outside the show ring, Roush can be found trail riding, skijoring, and modeling for equestrian catalogs. Photo courtesy Anika Sadler

Haflingers Can Do It All

Williams says Haflingers were bred to be this versatile, having to traverse the terrain of the southern Tyrolean Mountains and be the work horse, children’s horse, riding horse and haul-the-crops-to-town horse.

“It resulted in a low-maintenance horse with a varied job description, and that lends them very well to a lot of modern jobs, from hitch horse to hunter,” she adds.

This article about the Haflinger breed appeared in the September 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: Haflinger appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Bob Langrish

The breed performs three distinct gaits. The flat walk is a brisk, long-reaching walk that ranges from 4 to 8 mph. A nodding head motion, along with overstride, are unique features of the gait. The running walk is an extra-smooth gait like the flat walk except faster, at 10 to 20 mph, giving the rider a feeling of gliding through the air as if propelled by a powerful machine. The canter is performed in much the same way as other breeds, but with lots of spring and rhythm, giving an easy front end rise and fall referred to as a “rocking chair” canter.

The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) currently has 234,418 registered Walkers, and many of them hit the trails annually through TWHBEA’s trail programs. In 2023, riders logged 13,438 total hours in the distance program.

Hours in the Saddle

Via’s Sugarfoot, owned and ridden by Glory Redmond of Lowell, Ind., was the TWHBEA Trail Horse of the Year for 2023, logging 387.5 hours.

Glory Redmond and Via’s Sugarfoot in Missouri on a cross-country trail ride. Photo courtesy Glory Redmond

Sunday Morning Rain and owner Susan St. Amand have logged more than 3,000 hours on trails, more than any other Tennessee Walking Horse in TWHBEA’s program.

Sunday Morning Rain and owner Susan St. Amand have logged more than 3,000 hours on trails, more than any other Tennessee Walking Horse in TWHBEA’s program. Photo by Janet Cyr

“We ride on the hundreds of miles of ATV public trails in the Northern Maine woods, and witness plenty of wildlife,” says St. Amand.

“The Tennessee Walking Horse has long been recognized as a superior trail mount because they are smart, strong, surefooted and smooth,” says Paige Liggett of TWHBEA. “The Tennessee Walking Horse was originally bred to be a utility horse capable of carrying a rider over the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee in comfort and style. This inherent ability translates perfectly to most any terrain or situation.”

From Trails to Mounted Archery

Lila Corey of Youngsville, N.C., owns three Tennessee Walking Horses that she uses for trail riding and mounted archery. Her 9-year-old mare, Patience; 9-year-old gelding, Lakota; and 18-year-old gelding, Aston, are all skilled on the trail as well as the archery track. They carry both her students and her granddaughter with ease and care.

Lila Corey’s three Tennessee Walking Horses (Aston pictured) are all used for trail riding and mounted archery. They also carry her students and granddaughter with ease and care. Photo courtesy Lila Corey

“I trail ride for fun and relaxation,” says Corey. “Tennessee Walking Horses are very smooth, and that makes them easier to shoot off of when cantering. The hunt course, being like a trail ride with targets at a canter, is so much fun on a gaited horse.”

Kristin Munson from Sandia Park, N.M., grew up riding Tennessee Walking Horses.

“I can’t post worth a darn,” she laughs. “That’s a pretty necessary skill for most long-distance riders, unless they are lucky enough to ride gaited!”

Now, Munson rides Cruise Until Midnyte, aka “Cruze”, a 5-year-old gelding, on endurance rides. (The pair are featured on this month’s cover.)

“Tennessee Walking Horses are known for being level-headed, considerate of their riders, gentle, and comfortable for long periods of time,” she says. “Because they were bred for riding on extensive plantations in the south, especially Heritage Walkers [these have no or limited high-stepping breeding lines] are famous for traveling long miles without complaint and being a joy to ride.”

Since Cruze is young, Munson is competing in the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) limited-distance races, ranging from 25 to 35 miles. As he grows up, her goal is to complete the 100-mile Western States Trail Ride (also known as the Tevis Cup). She says that Arabians and Mustangs tend to win endurance rides, but she and Cruze enjoy the time together.

“I believe the AERC motto that ‘To Finish is to Win,’ and I wouldn’t want to spend 35, 50, or even 100 miles on any other breed!”

Mounted Orienteering

Pushers Phoenix Sun, affectionately called “Nacho,” is a 12-year-old Walking Horse gelding owned by Laurie Heffington of Winlock, Wash. She purchased Nacho sight unseen from British Columbia because she had been searching for years for a gaited horse.

Lauri Heffington and Nacho at a local competitive mounted orienteering (CMO) event. Photo by Ashlynn Winter

A friend of hers got her into competitive mounted orienteering (CMO) a few years ago. In mounted orienteering, a team or individual uses a compass to find hidden objects—usually a paper plate with a letter on it—on a trail. The event is timed. Heffington has found Nacho to be the perfect partner.

“From what Nacho has shown, they have wonderful personality and grit,” says Heffington. “He can go and go. My husband calls him ‘The Bulldozer,’ because he will plow through anything I point him at, regardless if there’s a path. That is great when we’re searching around in the brush for a plate!”

Heffington and Nacho placed first in the Washington Chapter of CMO for the short course and second in the nation in 2022 and 2023.

Although Tennessee Walking Horses are known for their fast running walk, Heffington says that Nacho has no problem slowing down, and will even keep pace with her son’s 12-hand pony on the trail.

This article about the Tennessee Walking Horse breed appeared in the August 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Spotlight: Tennessee Walking Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

A Monumental Decision

For me, it was a phone call with my dentist. I couldn’t afford the yearly X-rays they were requiring before I could have a cleaning (I hadn’t had a proper dental cleaning in longer than I care to admit). I started to cry on the phone because they wouldn’t make an exception for me.

When I hung up the phone, I stared at my budget on my computer and thought, “I am 40 years old, what am I doing?” I had no savings, no retirement plan. Thankfully no kids depend on me and my husband, but I am not super healthy. I was diagnosed with arthritis in my 20s and was told I was already halfway to osteoporosis due to low bone density. I haven’t seen a regular doctor since then.

I spent the last several years showing a Gypsy Vanner mare—my heart horse. I loved her more than anything else, except for my husband. My only friends were those I saw at horse shows and events. But all that money, along with Covid and a series of things breaking, including needing to replace all three of our cars, had led to mountains of debt. Those memes weren’t funny anymore—they were heartbreaking and stress-inducing.

It was that day that I made the decision to get out of horses. The amount of money we had invested in a truck and trailer, tack, and the horses themselves was enough to completely pay off all our debt, except for my student loan. But also because—if I was honest with myself—it was very hard on my body and caused a lot of pain.

Saying Goodbye

I feel like there are two types of riders. The ones that ride occasionally for the fun of it. They can ride or not ride; it’s not a big deal. My husband is that type. Then there are the ones where “equestrian” defines who they are. I am in the latter group. Getting out of horses was like removing my identity.

Selling my heart horse meant saying goodbye to my best friend. I cried as if she had died. Non-horse people offered unhelpful statements like, “You’ll get another one someday when money is better.” Only those who have owned a heart horse understand; they are not replaceable.

Months passed and I wasn’t getting better. Tears flowed whenever anything triggered me: a photo, a memory on Facebook, a song we did a freestyle to, or her namesake Disney character on someone else’s feed. Since all my friends were horse people, I was suddenly alone, which didn’t help the depression that was stifling me.

I hit rock bottom when I sent a text to an old high school friend in another state: “I cried most the day, had a fight with the husband, contemplated why I’m even alive, then cried more. Life sucks right now. Selling the horse was the worst … and I have no friends.”

At this point you may be judging me, thinking my reaction was a bit extreme. But when you don’t have friends, and your horse was your sole means of socialization, losing everything at once can have serious effects on your mental health. That’s the spot I was in.

Mini Steps

When you start to think about not living, something needs to change. We had paid off all our debt and took a good look at the budget, deciding how much we wanted to save to finally have a safety net. We decided we could still meet our goals while owning a couple of Miniature Horses to “mow” the pastures and provide me with a horse fix.

I am not going to lie and say it was an overnight fix. It wasn’t, and still isn’t. I haven’t bonded with Argyll—my 2-year-old Mini—like I did with my heart horse. Will I in the future? I hope so. But he provides me with a reason to get outside.

Kristina and Argyll. Photo by Brent Lotz

I am taking driving lessons with a lesson Mini to see if my body can handle it. If not, we can do in-hand things like tricks and trail. Showing is still not in the budget, but there are many free things like parades, walks on trails, and even the International Horse Agility Club offers reasonably priced online competition.

As for my heart horse? We still don’t say her name in the house. She has become a proper noun, “Her,” that is implicitly understood.

I still cry sometimes, and I think I always will, but my heart is not heavy as it was. I can walk into the barn and hear whinnies again. I can smell a horse and feel his sweet nose on my face—Argyll loves to give kisses.

Kristina in a lesson learning to drive Minis.

I hope those of you in my position take heart. How you interact with horses may change due to finances or getting older, but there is always a way to have them in your life, even if it means volunteering at a riding center or downsizing.

If you need horses in your life, find a way, because they are truly irreplaceable and the world’s best therapy.

This article appeared in the July 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Selling My Heart Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Bob Langrish

The Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian Horse Registry were subsequently established by IAHA for the purpose of registering, transferring, and maintaining the official registration records concerning Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. The Half- and Anglo-Arabians are treated as different breeds within the registry.

The Anglo-Arabian is a cross between a purebred AHA or Canadian Arabian Horse Registry (CAHR) Arabian and a Thoroughbred registered with the Jockey Club or other approved foreign source, or two registered Anglo-Arabians. They cannot be more than 75 percent Arabian blood or less than 25 percent. Those over 75 percent can be registered as a Half-Arabian.

JAG Royal Knight, a half-Arabian/half-Welsh Pony. Knight is a half-sibling to JAG Kalico Kid (below), and he helped greet hundreds of families each day at BreyerFest. Photo by Jessica Ann Designs

A Half-Arabian is a cross between an AHA- or CAHR-registered Arabian and another breed of horse. The number before the A in the registration number indicates the percentage of Arabian blood in the horse.

The AHA says the two most popular Half-Arabian crosses are American Quarters Horses (for western and working western disciplines) and American Saddlebreds (for English, country English, park and saddle seat equitation).

JAG Kalico Kid, a half-Arabian/half-Saddlebred, ridden by Kathy Gilker at a demo at BreyerFest in Lexington, Ky. According to the AHA, on of the most popular Half-Arabian crosses is with the American Saddlebred. Photo by Photography by KRae

Current registration numbers as of 2023 are 357,119 Half-Arabians and 10,096 Anglo-Arabians.

All-Around Half-Arabians

Amy Pike had always ridden purebred Arabians and says she didn’t make the switch to Half-Arabians consciously. A trainer offered her a Half-Arabian gelding (75 percent Arabian and 25 percent Saddlebred), Megas Four Onthefloor+++/ (aka “Four”), after the tragic loss of a young purebred Arabian she owned.

“I’d ridden some wonderful Half-Arabians previous to Four and had great experiences,” she shares. “I had ridden and shown a National Show Horse (Saddlebred cross) named Rohara Marc Twain for a few years in the mid-2000s and loved him. After Marc, I was open to a nice horse to ride and show, whether purebred or half. These days, though, I find I really love my Half-Arabians, and they’re very special.”

Pike also owns a 3-year-old 50-50 Arabian/Quarter Horse Half-Arabian named Johnny Paycheck+ (aka “Whalen”), and is part owner of Uncle Buck Dunit, a 16-year-old 50-50 Arabian/Quarter Horse Half-Arabian.

With her Half-Arabians, Pike has done a bit of everything, including showing in reining, dressage, western dressage, hunter, western, ranch horse, cow sorting, trail, backwoods trail riding, and camping.

“I even packed out an elk from a hunting trip with Four,” she says. Four has several national titles in dressage and sport horse in hand.

Amy Pike and Four, who is 75% Arabian and 25% Saddlebred. While she competes him in several disciplines, he once packed an elk out during a hunting trip, showcasing incredible versatility. Photo by Ella Chedster

“But I think the most special thing about him is his love of people,” Pike adds. “He went to the Oregon State Fair and carried a young lady to several placings in her State FFA Horse competitions this last summer. She lost her horse just weeks prior to fair, and Four was able to step in and carry her. They practiced three times before hitting the show arena.”

Drill Team

Marlene Manuel was looking for a purebred Arabian that would be a smooth ride for her bad back when she saw Joe Fabulous G, a 50-50 Arabian/Quarter Horse Half-Arabian, at a drill clinic.

“I fell in love with his way of moving,” she says. “Although he was big and had a Quarter Horse build, he moved like a graceful Arabian.”

Marlene Manuel acquired Joe Fabulous G, a 50-50 Arabian/Quarter Horse Half-Arabian, for her drill team riding. She loves his combination of quick acceleration, stamina, and hardiness. Photo by Spirit of a Cowboy Images

Being a drill team member herself, Manuel needed a horse with a lot of athleticism and stamina.

“His athleticism allows him to easily accelerate, decelerate, and quickly change direction, all very smoothly,” she says. “This has not changed over the years, and you would never know he is 18. He’s got that hardy Arabian blood, yet is sturdy and strong, like a Quarter Horse.”

Reining In Wins

Melissa Shaver, DVM, grew up showing purebred Arabians, but now she competes in reining with her Half-Arabians. Why did she make the switch?

“Having always been drawn to the working western events, especially reining, the Half-Arabian and Quarter Horse cross is perfect,” she says. “They are pretty, strong, and athletic, and we can show in the open reining shows as well as the rated Arabian shows and be competitive in both.”

Melissa Shaver, DVM, loves the Arabian/Quarter Horse cross, and has shown her mares Bee My Bucks (pictured) and Megas Dunnit in Gold to National Reserve Champions in reining and multiple regional titles. Photo by Howard Schatzberg

Her mares, Bee My Bucks+/ and Megas Dunnit in Gold, have both been shown to National Reserve Champions in reining and multiple regional titles.

This article about appeared in the June 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Breed Portrait: The Half-Arabian appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.