While it might be hard to personally visit all the horse museums in America—they span from Maine to Idaho—you can learn a lot about horses and their amazing history by just checking out their websites. Pay a virtual visit to these museums to learn more about horses, shop their online souvenir stores, and if you like what you see, make plans to see them in person.

Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center

The Appaloosa Horse played an important part in the history of the Pacific Northwest, and the Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center in Moscow, Idaho, pays tribute to this colorful breed.

The record of the spotted horse, going back to prehistoric times, begins your journey on the museum’s website, featuring historical artwork showing the origins of colorful-coated equines. You can get a sense of the exhibits at the museum on the Museum Features page, and get details on how to book an in-person tour.

Don’t leave the site without stopping at the museum store, where you can buy everything from Appaloosa posters to jewelry.

Learn more at appaloosamuseum.com.

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum

The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed of horse in the world, and the museum dedicated to it in Amarillo, Texas, reflects that popularity. This grand museum features galleries, halls and theaters, all dedicated to the what the American Quarter Horse Association has dubbed America’s most versatile horse.

On the museum website, you’ll find photos and exhibit details, along with information on how to visit the museum in person. Bring your wallet if you make the trip—the museum has a great gift shop.

Learn more at aqha.com/museum.

American Saddlebred Museum

The American Saddlebred Museum, dedicated solely to the American Saddlebred Horse, is located in Lexington, Ky., on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park. It houses the largest collection of Saddlebred horse artifacts in the world. 

The museum website provides images from the John P. and Dorothy Lenore Gallery Wing, which houses the museum’s temporary exhibitions, as well as the gift shop.

For in-person visitors, the Elisabeth M. Goth History Wing features interactive areas covering early history and formation of the breed; a mare and foal sculpture; a movie about the breed in the American Saddlebred Experience Theater; a children’s area where kids can color and put together puzzles; a section where visitors can try on show clothes and check their riding posture; and an interactive display where visitors can experience the feeling of being on a horse.

Learn more at asbmuseum.org.

International Museum of the Horse

The largest and most comprehensive of all horse museums is the 64,000-square-foot International Museum of the Horse, located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Dedicated to exploring the history of all horses and their impact on human civilization, the museum maintains an ever-growing library and archives, and serves as a resource for scholars and researchers throughout the world.

The museum’s website contains a searchable collection, which allows you to view museum items online based on keywords. You can also get a glimpse of exhibits inside the museum, which will whet your appetite for an in-person visit.

Learn more at kyhorsepark.com/explore/international-museum-of-the-horse.

Kentucky Derby Museum

The most famous horse race in America has its own museum! Located at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., home of the race itself, the Kentucky Derby Museum recently celebrated its 150th anniversary of the race with new exhibits, track tours and a History of the Kentucky Derby book release.

A visit to the museum website provides you with a peek at the new exhibits (including a “Long Shots” exhibit and a display dedicated to Secretariat), a review of the museum’s permanent collection, and a chance to shop online at the Derby Museum Store.

Learn more at derbymuseum.org.

National Morgan Horse Museum

Located at the Pineland Farms Equestrian Center in New Gloucester, Maine, the National Morgan Horse Museum is run by the American Morgan Horse Association, and is dedicated to the history and development of the Morgan Horse in the United States.

The museum website includes historical photographs and articles about Morgans, plus promotional videos about the museum, which provide a look into what the museum has to offer to in-person visitors.

Learn more at morganhorse.com/about/museum.

National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame

You can learn everything you need to know about Thoroughbred racing in a fascinating series of exhibits at the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, located in historic Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Paintings from the collection of 20th century racing enthusiast Charles H. Thieriot, an exhibit on the famous racehorse Ruffian, and a juried racing photography exhibit are all currently on display at the museum. The permanent collection includes sculptures, trophies, racing memorabilia, an assortment of paintings and photographs, and of course the Hall of Fame.

Visitors to the website can learn more about what the museum has to offer, as well as buy select items at the online gift shop.

Learn more at racingmuseum.org.

National Sporting Library & Museum

Founded in 1954, the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) is located in Middleburg, Va., the heart of Virginia’s beautiful foxhunting country.

The inviting six-acre campus, world-class research library, and fine art museum highlight the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. Angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeplechase, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching, and wildlife are among the subjects you can explore in the institution’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives, and art collection.

The NSLM also offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions, and family activities throughout the year.

Learn more at nationalsporting.org.

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

The post Horse Museums You Should Visit appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The 33rd modern Olympics being hosted by Paris is fitting since the city will host the Games for a third time in 2024. Paris first hosted the Olympics in 1900, then again 100 years ago in 1924 and both years have significant ties to equestrian sports. Hosting for the third time ties Paris with London at the top of the list in number of times a city has hosted the Games.

The year 1900 was the first modern Olympics to include horse sports. Although records indicate the ancient Olympics in Greece did include horse racing and chariot racing, the first modern Games in 1896 did not have any horse events.

Four years later, the 1900 Games staged five Olympic-medal equestrian events, as well as exhibition polo matches (with four mixed teams of players from Great Britain, France, Mexico, Spain and the United States). The five Olympic-medal contests were: individual jumping; high jump; long jump; hacks and hunter combined (included a flat class followed by a course of jumps), and mail coach (driving).

For more news, visit our 2024 Paris Olympics main page.

Five nations competed in those 1900 Olympic jumping events, with three more (Germany, Spain and Austria) in the driving classes. Interestingly, even though we think of female riders competing for the first time in the Olympics at a much later time (the 1950s), there were three female riders who competed in 1900, all in the “hacks and hunter combined” event: Italian Elvira Guerra and Frenchwomen Jane Moulin and Blanche de Marcigny.

In 1924 at the second Paris Olympics, equestrian competition took on a look more akin to today’s disciplines. And, that year marked the appearance of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as the governing body for the international equestrian sports. Dressage (individual medals only), eventing (individual and team medals), and show jumping (individual and team medals) were contested. Seventeen nations fielded equestrian teams and a total of 97 riders and 126 horses competed.

Notably, the 1924 Olympics marked the the first-ever Olympic individual equestrian medal for the USA when U.S. Army Major Sloan Doak won individual bronze in eventing aboard Pathfinder. He also competed in eventing in the 1920 and 1928 Olympics and was multi-talented, competing in the dressage competition at the 1920 Games and in show jumping in the 1920 and 1924 Games as well. Later, he served as the Chairman of the Olympic Equestrian Jury, the first American to serve in that capacity. He was co-designer for the Olympic show jumping course at the 1932 Olympics.

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This was also the first year that an Olympic Games was broadcasted live. They used the Eiffel Tower as a radio broadcasting structure to report on the competition. The show jumping and eventing jumping that year were held in the Olympic Stadium in Paris.

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

The post 2024 Paris Olympics: Equestrian Sports’ Close Ties With Paris appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Just weeks earlier, America had been attacked. The country was reeling from the shock and devastation of 9/11.

The mission for ODA 595? Team up with local Afghan warlords and resistance fighters to defeat the Taliban. The operation: Task Force Dagger.

It was a dangerous insertion. The unknowns far outweighed the known.

On the Chinook that night were several 50-pound bags of oats. How that grain figured into the mission would soon become clear. About 48 hours before insertion into Afghanistan, the team was informed that they should “be prepared to use indigenous animals for transportation.”

Turns out those “indigenous animals” were native Afghan horses. Stallions, to be precise.

The Green Berets’ Horseback Mission

At sunrise the next morning, about 60 Afghan men arrived mounted on horses. Accompanied by outriders and scouts, they were led by General Abdul Rashid Dostum, an Uzbeck warlord.

ODA 595 was tasked with coordinating with Dostum, other warlords, and Afghan resistance, collectively known as the Northern Alliance, to take the fight directly to the Taliban.

The Special Forces team was led by Captain Mark Nutsch, the only man of the 12 who had any serious riding experience, thanks to his early years on a Kansas ranch.

It was soon obvious that some of the Green Berets would be riding out that very morning.

“This wasn’t a cavalry unit; these horses were owned by the Afghan men who rode with Dostum,” recalls Staff Sergeant Will Summers, who became a Green Beret in 1996. “He literally pointed out six men and told them to get off and let the Americans ride their horses.” The Afghan horses were light-boned and hardy, relatively short, and barefoot.

Tack Challenges

Unlike the tack North American riders take for granted, most of the Afghan saddles were made of thin wood, or even bone, covered by wool carpeting held together with nails and glue. There was a blanket on the horse’s back and a single cinch.

“The ‘saddle’ I rode in was the pelvis bone of a cow flipped upside-down, covered with carpet and held onto the horse with a braided rope,” says Summers, who had only ridden once before.

In the six years he’d been a Green Beret prior to Task Force Dagger, it never crossed the mind of Sergeant First Class Vince Makela that he might ride a horse onto the battlefield.

“The stirrups couldn’t be adjusted, and that was really uncomfortable,” says Makela. “We learned this the hard way the first day—our knees were way up there.”

He adds that they soon improvised with parachute cord to lengthen the stirrups.

“The bridles were handmade leather with some fabric ornamentation,” says Makela, adding that horses were trained to “plow rein,” not neck rein.

“I didn’t see any horses that weren’t being treated well, but we, on the other hand, had plenty of saddle sores,” says Summers. “There were times we had to get up in the morning and pour water into our pants to loosen up the blood and pus that had dried and stuck to our pants overnight.” He says that their sores never totally healed during the mission due to the hours spent riding.

Captain Nutsch put in a request for lightweight McClellan-type saddles to better accommodate his men. The saddles were air-dropped in mid-November, but by then their mission was completed, so the men of ODA 595 never rode in them.

The Green Berets Ride Into History

As the mission unfolded, two special operations airmen from the Air Force joined ODA 595. They broke into teams of three or four men, advising and calling in airstrikes for Dostum and other Northern Alliance commanders.

At times, the Special Forces teams were scattered as far apart as 12 or more hours riding. And those were not easy riding miles.

“Some of the gorges were very steep with up to 1,000-foot drop-offs,” says Makela. “The trails were very narrow with exposed rock. My horse was pretty sure-footed; one time his back legs slid out from under him, but he caught himself. Some of the other horses did slip and fall.”

Summers adds that sometimes they had to form a switchback to zigzag down the mountainside.

“There were places that were sheer rock and others where I never knew God could stack dirt that high,” he says.

Because all the horses were stallions, they were constantly vying for dominance.

The men of ODA 595 learned it was a status symbol to have a horse, and that Afghan men only wanted to ride stallions—not geldings or mares.

“My horse would be biting and kicking at the horses in front of and behind us, and those horses were doing the same to us,” recalls Summers, adding that it was “very unnerving” to have the horses doing this along mountain passes with plunging drop-offs.

Heavily loaded donkeys accompanied the teams, packing in equipment and supplies. The men themselves carried crucial equipment in their vests, backpacks and wool saddlebags purchased in local villages.

Making it Happen

Green Berets are known as “the quiet professionals,” highly skilled men who aren’t outspoken about their abilities, but readily adapt to each situation and do whatever is needed to make a mission succeed.

Makela vividly recalls standing with General Dostum and hundreds of Northern Alliance horsemen overlooking a huge gorge and seeing the Taliban forces below.

Their on-site presence allowed the men of ODA 595 to radio coordinates to U.S. pilots in the area to drop JDAMs (bombs that use GPS for increased accuracy) on the enemy’s locations.

“Having eyes on the ground after we arrived made a big difference in the accuracy of these bombs because we could get them better coordinates,” says Makela. “We’d prep the battlefield with bombs and then General Dostum and his men had a better time of it.” He notes that the horses were safely held back during the bombing runs.

“It was like watching history to see this many horsemen fighting. It was an overwhelming experience to witness,” he adds.

Makela will never forget the first village they rode through.

“We got word the Taliban was trying to get out the other side of town, so we were going in at a full gallop,” he says. “The villagers were coming out of their houses and cheering us.”

Horse Care

Depending on where they were needed, the men of ODA 595 rode as long as 10 hours a day and stayed in one place for a day or two.

At night, the Afghan fighters who owned the horses took care of them, but some of the Green Berets offered to help.

“The Afghan horsemen would try to teach us; we saw it as we were all in this together,” says Makela. “Just like taking care of our weapons, we wanted to take care of the horses.”

Grain was put into burlap nose bags for each horse, and the animals were staked out near where the men camped.

The Afghans put handmade blankets on their horses as the windy nights dropped temperatures into the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit.

The horses were tired. Makela remembers pulling guard duty one night and seeing all of them lying flat on their sides to sleep.

The rigorous physical demands of the mission took a toll on men and horses, who all dropped significant weight. Summers started the mission weighing 185 pounds and was down to 143 when he left Afghanistan five weeks later.

Mission Accomplished

A major objective of Task Force Dagger was to capture the Taliban stronghold of Mazar-i-Sharif, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities. Wresting control of the city from the Taliban would allow the U.S. to use its airport for transport of supplies and troops.

On November 10, 2001, ODA 595 and the Northern Alliance succeeded in liberating the city.

After the capture of Mazar-i-Sharif, the men of ODA 595 stayed in safe houses there before shipping out of Afghanistan.

During that short time, some of them watched a buzkashi game. The country’s national sport is a fast-paced, dangerous game in which men on horseback battle for control of a goat carcass, attempting to score points by dropping it into a designated spot on the field of play. To call it a rough version of polo is an understatement.

Hollywood Version of the Green Berets’ Mission

The 2018 movie 12 Strong was promoted as “the declassified true story of the Horse Soldiers.” The movie was based on the New York Times bestseller, “Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan,” by Doug Stanton. (Pseudonyms were used instead of team members’ real names in both the movie and book.)

Although the movie packs an emotional punch, according to the men of ODA 595, it was perhaps 50 percent accurate.

“We led the greatest unconventional warfare campaign of all time, and they turned it into an X-Men video,” says Summers. “The Afghans did ride and shoot off their horses, but we didn’t.” He notes that the climactic scene in which Chris Hemsworth gallops, shooting into the Taliban stronghold, was totally Hollywood, and didn’t go down that way.

“They superimposed a lot of the Afghan deeds on us,” Summers explains. “Our whole job was to take command, utilize the Afghan men, and call in the air strikes. The movie dramatized everything, but the violence towards civilians and women was true; that part was underplayed. The Taliban were intentionally savage.”

In real life, none of the men of ODA 595 were seriously injured or almost died, as the movie portrayed.

The Horse Soldiers have their own book (release date May 17, 2022). Written by team veterans Mark Nutsch and Bob Pennington with Jim DeFelice, “Swords of Lightning: Green Beret Horse Soldiers and America’s Response to 9/11” tells the true story of the mission from men who were there.

Even by Green Beret standards, Task Force Dagger was a unique campaign, combining 21st century technology, communications and weapons with centuries-old horsemanship skills, hand-to-hand combat, and primitive conditions.

“It was like making it to the Super Bowl for us, being in an unconventional warfare environment and not only surviving, but winning,” recalls Summers. “It was amazing seeing the men on my team taking all their skills, talents and strengths and using them for a common good.”

This article about how horses played a role in the Green Berets’ historic mission as horse soldiers appeared in the July 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Role Horses Played in 12 Green Berets’ Historic Mission appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Deep History of the Arabian Horse

Perhaps the Arabian horse’s legendary history is part of what has contributed to its popularity.

“The Arabian horse was used as an ambassador and was often given as a treasured gift to royalty or important political figures,” says Susan Meyer, vice president at large of the Arabian Horse Association, vice president of the Arabian Jockey Club and a trustee of the Purebred Arabian Trust. She and her husband, Jim, have owned and operated Meyercrest Arabians in North Carolina for 39 years, and have owned, bred and shown horses to championships at the local, regional and national level. They have also owned, bred and raced purebred Arabians across the United States.

“Arabians were also prized as spoils of war, and many governments established purebred breeding programs of their own,” continues Meyer. “As a result, almost all Arabian pedigrees can be traced back to a horse that was part of a historical event or figure. This link with history is a fun and exciting part of owning an Arabian horse.”

Despite the Arabian horse’s long and alluring history, it’s incredible that the breed has remained so true to its original physical traits, and that it has been able to perpetuate those qualities for so long.

Although the specific area of the Arabian Peninsula where the breed originated can’t be pinpointed, it is widely accepted that around 2500 B.C., the Bedouin people were responsible for developing the desert horses that became the ancestors of the Arabian horse. The nomads’ keen horse sense and meticulous attention to proper care and breeding created an animal that could withstand the harsh environment of the desert, surviving extreme heat and cold with little water and the food they shared with their handlers. A life of travel also required horses with great lung capacity, endurance and stamina.

Fascinating Facts

Many of the Arabian’s characteristics have an ancient religious or superstitious belief attached to them. These traits were highly sought after and became the focus of the Bedouins’ selective breeding practices.

• Jibbah: The bulging forehead was considered a blessing from God. The Bedouins believed that the larger an Arabian’s forehead, the more blessings he brought with him.
• Mitbah: The area where the head attaches to the neck—behind the ears along the topline of the neck and the throatlatch. The Mitbah symbolized courage.
• The Arabian was also prized for a petite, refined muzzle that could “fit into a teacup.”

In addition to wealth and good luck, most of the Arabian’s traits have a significant physical benefit. For instance, the short, dished head and flaring nostrils promote optimum oxygen intake. Furthermore, the Mitbah’s long, fine characteristics prevent the windpipe from being constricted when the head is in a collected frame, which promotes the free flowing of oxygen to the lungs at all times. And the deep chest and wide ribcage permit lung expansion.

• The breed’s Arabian name “Kohl-ani” is a reference to its eyes and skin. The smooth skin is the color of Kohl, a bluish-black substance that was used in Egypt in ancient times as eyeliner and eye shadow.
• Mares were prized over stallions because they perpetuated the breed. They were also preferred for war because they wouldn’t nicker to the enemy’s mounts during raids. Mares were so valued that they were rarely sold. If they changed owners, it was considered a very honorable gift

“The Bedouins and their horses depended on each other for survival, and this interdependency created a very strong human-animal bond,” says Meyer. “Also, only the soundest, most trainable and hardiest individuals survived and bred on. The Bedouins recognized the importance of preserving the attributes that they depended on so much, and their selective breeding practices concentrated on the positive attributes of individual lines. Because of this concentration of blood, even today’s Arabians are able to consistently and predictably pass on their abilities to their offspring. This makes them highly prized as breeding animals.”

Cultural Influence

The Arabian’s physical traits and ability to pass them on to other horse breeds became a major force behind its appeal to other societies in history. About 3,500 years ago, the Arabian helped expand empires such as Egypt and shaped cultures by influencing the horses that were used to settle nations, fight wars and grow economies.

When Arabia worked to spread Islam in 600 A.D., the Arabian horse carried Arab warriors throughout the Middle East and as far as North Africa, Spain and China. Through this effort, and as a result of the expansive Christian Crusades during the 11th and 13th centuries, the Arabian horse began leaving its mark on European horses. It added refinement to heavier draft breeds and height to smaller ponies.

However, its greatest influence was likely that of developing the English Thoroughbred. Three stallions—the Godolphin Barb, Darley Arabian, and Byerly Turk—are credited with being the foundation sires of the Thoroughbred breed between the late 1600s and mid-1700s. Today, the majority of Thoroughbreds can be traced to one of these sires. In turn, the Thoroughbred added to the influence of the Arabian by passing on the traits it inherited from this ancient horse to many other breeds, particularly the American Quarter Horse.

“The Arabian has demonstrated a unique ability to consistently pass on its desirable traits,” says Meyer. “For centuries, nearly all light horse breeds and some draft and warmblood breeds have used the Arabian horse to develop or improve their breed. The Arabian’s ability to influence other breeds is well demonstrated by today’s Thoroughbred racehorses. Genetic testing has proven that 95 percent of all modern Thoroughbred racehorses trace to [one of these foundation] stallions. The mighty Secretariat traced to all three of the foundation stallions.”

Rise and Fall of the Arabian Horse in History

In the 1800s, influential Arabian stud farms were established all over Europe. The historic Crabbet Arabian Stud in England, founded by 15th Baroness Wentworth Lady Anne Blunt and her husband, Wilfred Blunt, produced horses that contributed to the spread of the Arabian breed to Russia, Poland, Australia, Egypt, and North and South America.

In the United States, Randolph Huntington started what is considered to be the first purebred Arabian horse breeding program in history, established in 1888. Later, 45 Arabian horses exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair inspired further interest in the breed in America. This led to the formation of the first stud book and the Arabian Horse Club of America registry in 1908, now known as the Arabian Horse Association. Subsequent breeding farms and importations in the early and mid-1920s led to further growth of the breed in the United States. Davenport Arabians and Kellogg Ranch, which was established by cereal tycoon W.K. Kellogg, were two of the breeding farms that moved to the forefront of the industry at that time.

“In the late 1800s and early 1900s, several wealthy American entrepreneurs became enthralled with the history, beauty, athletic ability and unique human-animal bond that the Arabian horse represented,” says Meyer. “They began importing Arabian horses from the Middle East and Europe. These horses were not only used to cross with indigenous horses, but they were also used to establish herds of breeding stock to preserve a source of purebred Arabians here in the United States.

“In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the large inventory of purebred Arabians that were the result of these breeding programs enabled the Arabian to become affordable for the average American family, and the same attributes that attracted the early breeders to the Arabian made them extremely attractive to American families,” continues Meyer. “During that time period, more than 30,000 purebred Arabian foals were born every year. These were unprecedented numbers that far exceeded any other country, and as a result, there are as many registered Arabian horses in the United States as nearly all other countries combined.”

An unfortunate result of this boom in the U.S. Arabian population was a severe downturn in its popularity during the 1980s. Changes in the economy and indiscriminate breeding gave rise to misconceptions that left reputable breeders and promoters disheartened and struggling to pick up the pieces.

“After the breed became extremely affordable, it was also embraced by many celebrities, and the most valued breeding stock and show horses sold for astronomical amounts,” says Meyer. “These were the horses with the highest profiles and the stories that were most often publicized, so the perception that Arabians are extremely expensive still persists. However, Arabian horses run the gamut of price ranges, and the vast majority of them are as affordable as any breed.”

Making a Comeback

A new focus in the 1990s on ability and promoting the Arabian as an all-around performer and family horse helped launch a resurgence for the breed after its rich history. Because of this, Arabian horse owners enjoy participating in various equestrian sports today, from reining to dressage. The breed particularly excels in endurance and trail riding.

“Many people in the modern dressage world value Arabian blood to bring lightness and suppleness to their horses,” says Meyer. “Even working western disciplines appreciate the endurance that Arabians can add to their horses that must work long hours over rough terrain. And in distance riding events, the Arabian is king. All of the major distance events are dominated by Arabians.”

The Arabian also continues to fight an enduring misconception about being high-strung, which has a lot to do with the breed’s past, says Meyer.

“The most prized horses of the Bedouins were the mares that were used in raiding other tribes,” explains Meyer. “A mare not only had to be unfailingly loyal to her master, but she also had to be fierce and courageous in battle. The uninformed can believe Arabians are naturally aggressive, when in fact, these traits are learned behaviors.

“The natural brilliance that the Arabian displays while at play has been emphasized in the show-ring in the halter division,” adds Meyer. “This learned behavior has only perpetuated the myth that the Arabian is flighty and nervous. This isn’t the way the Arabian deports itself day in and day out. The Arabian was the original family horse and is still an ideal horse for families today.”

A Bright Future

With so many qualities and rich history to admire about the Arabian horse and an exhibit such as the Arabian Galleries to promote it, the breed can look forward to maintaining its popularity in the horse community, according to Meyer.

“The same qualities that propelled the Arabian horse throughout the world are what ensure its longevity and continued popularity,” she explains. “The Arabian has proven that it has the ability to adapt and be successful. One horse can serve as a mount for [adults] and children in multiple disciplines. In today’s economy, with ever increasing pressures on space and the environment, the ability to serve multiple demands bodes well for the Arabian breed.”

Meyer believes two trends that have made their way into the Arabian horse industry will propel the breed into a successful future that will build upon its expansive history.

“Probably one of the most significant new trends has been the natural horsemanship approach to training,” says Meyer. “It’s especially suited to the Arabian personality. Arabians are naturally curious and interested in people, and particularly enjoy the interaction that is so important in this type of training. Arabians learn much faster and are easier to deal with using this approach versus other methods of training that depend more on negative reinforcement.”

Like most attributes about the Arabian horse, Meyer says this inclination toward natural horsemanship is linked to the breed’s past. “Because Arabians had to live among the Bedouin families, even residing in the tents with them at times, they had to be particularly docile and tractable,” explains Meyer. “The foals were weaned only a few days after birth and were raised by the women and children on camel’s milk and dates. The foals’ lives depended on their bond with humans, and over the centuries, the foals that had this affinity for connecting with humans have been the ones that bred on. The natural horsemanship methods allow this connection to develop to a very high level.”

Meyer says another trend that has secured the Arabian’s top position in the horse industry is the baby boomers’ growing interest in riding, and their desire for suitable mounts that are both athletic and reliable.

“The Arabian’s sensitivity and athletic abilities are particularly suited to the athletic challenges that the mature rider deals with, particularly in competitive disciplines,” says Meyer. “The strength and stamina of the rider is not as crucial when riding Arabians, as they are so easy to collect and maneuver.”

With an appeal that has drawn people of so many different backgrounds to the Arabian horse over the ages, the breed is sure to continue its influential role for a long time
to come.

Part II: A Fitting Tribute to the Arabian Horse >>
The Enduring Arabian >>
Question of the Week: Skinny Lesson Horse>>

This article about the history of the Arabian horse originally appeared in the January 2011 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe.

The post A Brief History of the Arabian Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Today, tourists can cycle, hike, drive, and ride parts of the more than 1,800-mile route, and intrepid equestrians can replay the adventure on their own mounts by joining the National Pony Express Association’s annual Re-Ride.

The Pony Express Trail

In 1775, just one year before declaring independence from Great Britain, the Second Continental Congress established the Postal Service. Benjamin Franklin took the helm, serving as the first Postmaster General, and established an impressive mail system that ran from Florida to Maine and connected the colonies to Britain.

Franklin left the job in 1776, but by then other leaders of the time, such as James Madison, had also begun to embrace the role of the post in bolstering a nascent democracy.

For the next 80 years, mail delivery continued to expand along the eastern seaboard and west to the Missouri River, evolving from a system dependent on stagecoaches to one that made use of railroads.

By the mid-1800s, settlers were heading west as part of the Gold Rush, the Mormon exodus to Utah, and a misguided sense of Manifest Destiny, putting down roots in lands still inhabited by hundreds of thousands of Native Americans.

For the first half of the 19th century, the town of St. Joseph, Mo., was the westernmost point reached by railroad or telegraph. Consequently, while communication sped along in the East, it limped between the smattering of outposts and towns across the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and beyond. What’s more, with the still-young nation on the brink of civil war and California pondering secession, connection became a political imperative.

At that time, one needed patience to send mail to or from California. By stagecoach, the trip averaged 25 days; by sea, it took months. But a trio of transportation pioneers—William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell—had a solution. Horse-rider teams, they said, could cover the rugged landscapes much more quickly.

From January to March of 1860, the team, operating as the Central Overland Trail and Pikes Peak Express Company, set up relief stations along the route, purchased more than 400 horses, and began advertising for riders. According to the book Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and lasting Legend of the Pony Express, one ad from a California newspaper at the time read as follows:

Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk life daily. Orphans preferred.

The work, clearly, would be risky. The Pony Express route stretched 1,966 miles from California to Missouri, crossing through what is now Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, which were territories at the time. Weather was extreme, terrain was rough, and threat of attack almost imminent.

But it worked. Instead of taking almost a month, letters, newspapers, and more could now reach California in as little as 10 days, and only one bag of mail was reported lost during the service’s 18 months in operation.

That degree of efficiency is somewhat amazing considering that the Pony Express functioned as a relay. To live up to the “express” nature of the system, riders averaged 10 miles per hour—which equates to a fast, extended trot or a leisurely lope—and rode day and night. Between 165 and 190 relief stations were scattered along the route.

Most riders covered 75 to 100 miles on a given leg, while horses only went 10 to 15 miles. When he arrived at a station, a rider simply moved his mochila—a leather skirted saddle cover with pockets—to his fresh (already tacked) mount, hopped aboard, and got back on the road.

Riding the Pony Express Trail

The last Pony Express rider finished his run on November 20 of 1861, less than a month after the completion of the transcontinental telegraph that rendered the service obsolete. In the years that followed, much of the original trail was swallowed by land development, but in 1992, Congress added the Pony Express National Historic Trail to the National Trails System.

Today, almost the entire route can be followed by horse, foot, or auto, and it still cuts through some of the U.S.’s most remote and dramatic landscapes. An interactive map highlights sites along the route, such as Oregon Trail ruts, a stagecoach ambush site, and ruins of an old Pony Express relief station. Because there is not a continuous route, riders should research equestrian-friendly trails along the route within the state where they want to ride.

For those who want a sense of what it was like to carry mail on horseback in the 1800s, consider participating in a re-ride. These events have been happening sporadically since the early 20th century, as history buffs and horse enthusiasts commemorated the legendary trail on horseback.

In 1935, a group of 300 Boy Scouts carried letters from governors and other officials to then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1960, the National Pony Express Centennial Association organized a re-ride to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the service.

In the mid-1960s, an avid group of trail riders began riding and re-enacting parts of the route. In 1977, they formed the National Pony Express Association (NPEA), an organization dedicated to preserving the trail, its sites, and its history. By 1980, they had extended their re-ride to incorporate the entire distance, from Sacramento to St. Joseph.

Now, the NPEA organizes a 10-day annual event in which more than 700 horse-and-rider teams can don costumes—red western shirts, blue jeans, a yellow scarf, and cowboy boots—and deliver actual mail, riding east-to-west and west-to-east on alternate years.

“Riders ride legs from 2 to 5 miles or so, depending on the terrain,” explains NPEA Stablemaster and media spokesperson Mary Cone. “They may ride more than one leg, leap-frogging ahead as needed.”

While the legs are shorter than they were back in the day, and modern equestrians must provide their own mounts, the experience will be reminiscent of the original in a few key ways: riders are expected to average 10 mph; letters are carried by mochila; and they carry the mail 24/7.

“Just like the old days,” Cone says.

How to Join the Pony Express

In order to participate, riders must be at least 14 (with parental consent for those under 18) and signed up for the state division where they hope to ride. Visit NPEA’s website for more details.

All horses should be properly conditioned and equipped for the pace of the event, and NPEA recommends riding your segment ahead of time. For example, a horse may need to cross concrete, cope with people cheering, face extreme wilderness, or wade rivers. Some states are more commonly in need of riders.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with the 2020 event, the 2021 event is slated for June 16-26. If you want to participate but aren’t sure about saddling up yourself, send a letter or follow the progress of the mail via an interactive map.

This article about the pony express appeared in the May 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Standing on a remote beach in Ireland, I breathed in the salty air and listened to the sound of the North Atlantic lapping its shores. I felt a wave of nerves as I stepped up to take the reins of the large gray stallion in front of me. My foot reached for the stirrup and I swung my leg up and around to settle in the saddle. Closing my hands softly on the reins, we connected with each other. In that moment, all nerves disappeared. I was home.

The Beginning

I grew up in a tiny town in northwestern Wisconsin. No one in my family was interested in horses, yet at 3 years old I was completely obsessed. Thankfully, my amazing parents were supportive even though they had no idea what they were getting into. Horse owners in our community recognized my passion and offered up their horses for excellent riding and learning opportunities.

I understood from very early on that having horses was special and not something to take for granted. They were my responsibility, which meant learning everything I could about the care and training that they needed.

It also meant learning how to earn and save money. At 12, I was paid for my first professional training job, and at 13, I built a website and launched an online horse advertising business that connected buyers and sellers around the United States.

From working with Skyrian ponies at a therapeutic riding center in Greece to riding at the original Stud farm of the Lipizzaner horse, the years went by and I rode every breed I could in every discipline that I could.

The Dream

You know that idea, dream, or goal that always hangs around in the back of your head? The one that you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t done yet? Goals like writing a book, starting a business, adopting a dog, traveling to a new country, learning a new discipline or buying that new horse.

For me, the dream was to ride every breed. This idea has changed every aspect of my life. It is now sending me around the world on a journey unlike any other.

Why?

We no longer need horses in the way we used to. Many people don’t even realize the influence that horses have had on our past. Horses helped us build and conquer civilizations. They provided ways for us to carry goods faster and over longer distances. They even helped with the spread of languages.

The Irish Draught, which is now an endangered breed, was developed because farmers in Ireland had small plots of land and needed one horse that could do it all. The American Saddlebred was used during the Civil War as the preferred mount of choice by Generals. After the war, they inspired the country to reconnect through horse shows. The Nez Perce Horse is a breed developed in the 1990s by the same tribe that originally bred the Appaloosa.

What I have found on a regular basis is that all around the world there are people dedicating their lives to their horses. Yet many breeds are not well known, even within the horse industry and between horse owners.

The Quest to Discover the Horse

“The Quest” was officially launched in September of 2017. I am documenting my journey and every breed along the way. I invite you to come along for the ride.

Meet the horses and hear their stories, like one of the horses that played Hidalgo in the movie of the same name. See what it’s like to ride each breed. Learn the history of what makes each breed so special.

(Left) Peruvian stallion at Meadowbrook Farm. (Right) Icelandic gelding at Elk Ridge Ranch. Photos Courtesy Alyssa Mathews.

Some of the breeds even I hadn’t heard of before, including some that originated right here in the United States: the Blazer, Camarillo White Horse, California Vaquero, Georgian Grande and the McCurdy Plantation Horse.

The project is still in its early stages, and yet I’ve been honored by the response and encouragement from the equestrian community. Over 2 million video views and 16,000 horse fans from 45 different countries are along for the ride. Almost 1,500 different horses have been suggested as breed representatives, and more emails arrive daily.

People have welcomed me with open arms on my journey to discover the horse. They have shared their homes, their horses, their lives, their joys and their struggles with me.

No matter the discipline that we ride or the breed that we own, we all have a connection because of these amazing horses—a connection that I’ve felt around the world.

It spans all generations and types of people. We are equestrians, and that is a truly incredible gift.

This article about Alyssa Mathews’ quest to discover the horse originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Sixty years ago, in 1956, a mare named Dandy Doll delivered a little chestnut foal on a ranch in Arizona owned by Tom Finley. The foal was named Doc Bar, continuing a line of ‘Bar’-named colts descending from his legendary grandsire Three Bars. Doc Bar’s pedigree is star-studded; on the paternal side he had almost completely Thoroughbred blood, and on the maternal side, almost completely Quarter Horse. He had several prominent stallions in his pedigree, including My Texas Dandy.

When Doc Bar was two, Finley sent him to the Quarter Horse races in Tucson in hopes of developing him as a star racer, but Doc Bar proved to be much less than a star. In four starts, he came away with less than $100 in winnings and his racing days came to a swift halt—the only thing “swift” about his career as a racer.

But his defeats on the track only paved the way for his true calling. In the show ring, Doc Bar racked up numerous championships, and his potential as a sire quickly became apparent. In 1963, Finley sold him to California ranchers Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen for $30,000. You can get an idea of what an extremely valuable animal Doc Bar was by that figure; it may not seem like an exorbitant amount for a champion horse today, but when you adjust for inflation, that $30,000 investment would equal over $225,000 today. Undoubtedly, the Jensens recognized Doc Bar as a quality animal, and he proved them to be absolutely correct!

Doc Bar’s progeny took the cutting horse world by storm. Anyone familiar with the sport knows the names and achievements of such Doc Bar descendants as Doc O’Lena, Smart Little Lena, and Lynx Melody. Doc O’Lena became a prolific sire in his own right, siring over 1,300 foals.

One of the keys to Doc Bar’s success as a sire was his prepotency. He sired consistently talented, handsome offspring, and his descendants are still making their mark—they have amassed thousands of AQHA points, collectively, with the number still climbing. It’s quite clear that the influence of Doc Bar will continue to have an impact on the Quarter Horse breed for generations to come.

More Horses of History:
*Raffles

Samantha Johnson is a freelance writer and the author of several books, including The Field Guide to Horses, (Voyageur Press, 2009). She raises Welsh Mountain Ponies in northern Wisconsin and is a certified horse show judge. Follow her on Twitter: @miraclewelsh.

The post Horses of History: Doc Bar appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.