In the Era of the Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, great works are being implemented in the field of providing the equestrian industry with experts and scientific approach, as a result of the tireless efforts of our Hero Arkadagly Serdar, who successfully pursues the initiatives of our Hero-Arkadag. Establishment of the training of specialists in horse riding arises the need to not only train cultural horsemen, but also educate the origin of horses and their descendants.
Ponies. The word «pony» is a word with English origin that refers to horses up to 58 inches or 147 centimeters in height by modern standards, regardless of breed. In the Russian hippological literature, horses of Shetland, Welsh, Scottish, Icelandic and other horses with short, uneven legs, height of 80-140 centimeters and other characteristics are called ponies.
Up to date, about 20 types of riding and transport ponies have been bred. Their main homeland is considered to be an Atlantic island. Unique pony breeds also exist on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. With big heads and hairy legs, these horses were born in atmospheres isolated from the outside world. As no other breeds of horses were brought to their place from another continent, they grew up in kinship relations. The owners of these horses did not pay attention to the issue of selection when they used and bred the horses. A breed of hardy ponies that can withstand cold weather and food shortages has arrived at this age through the natural process of selection. Therefore, there is no basis for saying that the ponies were «spoiled» on the islands.
Although they are low in height, they are very strong and steadfast. Therefore, ponies are widely used in various economic activities and transportation. Nowadays, ponies have found their decent place in various types of children’s equestrian sports. The youngest athletes win first prizes in competitions with ponies. Ordinary horses live an average of 20 years. Ponies live 10 years longer. Among them are the ones that lived long and even some of the set records as longest-lived. In England two ponies lived 47 years, and a stallion at a farm in France lived 54 years. Little lovely horses (falabella). Occasionally, horse breeding for a specific purpose other than for entertainment has been undertaken. Times are changing. These days, it’s easy to acquire dog-sized horses. Argentina is the homeland of these extraordinary little horses.
Nowadays, it is now well known that falabella horses are small and low in height. The fact that the horses are so small is the result of new symptoms arising due to the changes in their genes and the disruption of the functioning of growth hormones. Shetland ponies have short legs, a large head, and a stocky neck in that they have a body similar to that of a regular pony, but are smaller in proportion. Ponies are hardy and resilient by nature. Falabellas are delicate and volatile. They require special attention and delicate care. Fascinatingly, the gestation period of Falabellas is 2 months longer than that of other horse breeds. Their gestation periodlasts 13 months. Falabella foals are very small, but during the first year they grow fast. Generations of young horses become smaller year after year.
Despite the expensive cost, small horses are of high demand in many parts of the world. Although the loafers first kept the small horses as a beloved pet, member of the family, they later found employment. Recently, in America, they have started using the small horses for caring for the blind. The small horses can be trained immediately; they learn their owner’s places to go and come back, and the routes leading to them. They quickly deliver carts loaded with groceries to their destination. They even learned how to use public transport.
It remains doubtful whether or not the small horses will replace out of work the dogs used for guiding the blind. But horses have their own advantages over dogs. They live up to 30 years, while dogs live two to three times less. Today, breeders have bred horses with a height of 38-45 centimeters. Its weight is about 20 kilograms. The smallest horse, named Little Pumpkin, was 35.5 centimeters tall and weighed 9.7 kilograms. In recent past, falabella horse exhibitions are being widely organized and becoming increasingly popular. Generally saying, great works are being carried out in the world in studying horse-breeding and exchanging experience. This will have a positive impact on the modern development of world horse breeding.
Gulshirin Hydyrova,
Jemal Orazgeldiyeva
Source: «Turkmen horse and world horse breeding art» Abstract of reports of the XVI International Scientific Conference April 25, 2024.