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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
<!-- Begin Infobox Horse. The text of the article should go AFTER this section. See: -->
{{Short description|Iranian breed of horse}}
<!-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template talk:Infobox Horse -->
{{More footnotes|date=July 2008}}
<!-- for full explanation of the syntax used in this template. -->
{{Infobox Horse
{{Infobox horse
|name= Caspian Pony
|name= Caspian
|altname= Caspian Horse
|altname=
|image= Caspian Stallion (caspians are considered horses, not ponies).jpg
|nickname= Mouleki or Pouseki
|nickname=
|features = Some ponies lack chestnuts or ergots. Some ponies have 65 chromosomes, other 64. The ponies also have an additional molar on each side of the upper jaw.
|features = Small horse breed founded in 1965 from stock believed to be of ancient origins; now bred in several other countries
|country= Iran
|country= [[Iran]] and surrounding regions
|note= This pony is facing extinction.
|group= Breed Standard
⚫
|}}
|std1=https://www.caspian.horse/s/CHBA-Breed-Standards.pdf
<!-- End Infobox Horse info. Article Begins Here -->
⚫
}}


The '''Caspian''' is an Iranian [[list of horse breeds|breed]] of [[pony]] or small [[horse]] of [[Oriental horse|Oriental]] type.
The '''Caspian Pony''' was rediscovered in 1965 in a mountainous region of Northern Iran, not far from the [[Caspian Sea]], by American Louise Firouz. Firouz was searching for small ponies to be ridden by children, when she happened upon a bay stallion in the town of Amol. The horse was pulling a heavy cart, and was nicely conformed with the body of a "well-bred oriental horse." She purchased the stallion, naming him Ostad, and he became a successful sire of children's ponies and a foundation for her breeding program. Finding that the animals were few in number and in poor condition, she began a breeding program at her riding school in Norouzabad.


The breed was created in 1965 by [[Louise Firouz]], an American living in Iran, from a base stock of a small number of small horses found in the [[Elburz Mountains]] in [[Amol]].{{r|tlc|times}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Louise Firouz |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=31 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115110741/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2055746/Louise-Firouz.html |archive-date=2022-11-15 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2055746/Louise-Firouz.html}}</ref> In 2011, the remains of a small horse dating back to 3400 B.C.E. were found at [[Gohar Tappeh]], Iran, giving rise to claims that today's Caspian originates from the oldest known breed of the domestic horse.{{cn|date=September 2022}} It is also one of the rarest horse breeds and its population status is critically endangered.<ref name=tlc>{{Cite web |last=Perkins |first=Laura |title=Conservation Priority List |url=https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/conservation-priority-list/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=The Livestock Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref>
The Caspian is actually a miniture horse, and not a pony, despite reaching a maximum of 12 hh. It is thought to be one of the oldest horse or pony breeds in the world today, dating back from the now extict miniature horses of Mesopotamia, who lived in the region from 3,000 BCE until the 7th century. The ponies now inhabit an area between the Caspian Sea and the Elburz Mountains.


== History ==
Today, efforts are being made to help re-establish the breed. A breeding program was set up by the Shah of Iran, who established the Royal Horse Society and the Norouzabad Stud. During the Iranian Revolution, the ponies were again used as pack horses and for food, further depleting their numbers. Prince Phillip suggested that some of the ponies be shipped to England, to start a population, and in 1976, the Caspian Stud in England was formed, saving much of the foundation stock. Following the revolution, the ban on horse ownership was lifted and Firouz managed to find 15 horses that could be used for breeding (after performing DNA testing to assure they were the Caspian breed). These horses began the Persicus stud, and in 1993, seven of the horses were exported for breeding in England, with the help of the Russian Horse Society. The combined efforts of breeders across the world have established the breed in several European countries, as well as [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and the [[United States]].


The Caspian is said to originate from the mountainous regions of northern Iran, which explains how the breed is tough, athletic, and nimble.<ref name=":1" /> Indeed, the oldest known specimen of a Caspian-like horse was found in 2011, in a cemetery dating back to 3400 B.C.E., in the archaeological dig at Gohar Tappeh in the province of [[Mazandaran]] in northern [[Iran]], between the cities of [[Neka]] and [[Behshahr]]. Small horses were depicted in ancient art where they appeared in scenes pulling chariots.{{r|haas|p=148}}
⚫
==Genetics and Phenotype==
There are no records of breeding, however the ponies, when bred, are true to type and are therefore an established breed. Several studies are currently being performed to determine whether the pony is the ancestor of the modern hotblooded breeds, including the Arabian. A study found that there are several anomalies with the Caspian compared to other breeds, including:
* The skull differes, with pronounced elevation of the interparietal bones and no parietal crest
* The scapula is wider then normally found in equines
* The metacarpal and metatarsal bones are much longer and slimmer in relation to size
* The hooves are narrow and oval-shaped, and the frog is less pronounced than other equines
* The first six vertebrae are longer than usual


The Persian Empire required land transport on a huge scale. They were the first people to breed horses especially for strength and speed. That these horses were very small by modern standards is shown by a miniature golden chariot, a toy or perhaps a votive offering, found in the so-called Oxus Treasure,<ref name=museum>Both c. 500 BC, British Museum, London</ref> discovered in the extreme east of the empire but apparently made in central Persia. The vehicle was obviously built for speed. Its wheels are taller than the horses, which are themselves of lesser height than the two passengers – and not because of the status of the passengers. Neil MacGregor likens this vehicle to a Ferrari or Porsche amongst cars – fast and luxurious.<ref>Neil MacGregor A History of the World in a Hundred Objects: Ch. 26, Oxus Chariot Model.;pp 165-`170 (2010)</ref> [[Darius I|King Darius (the Great)]] trusted his life to the little horses during lion hunts, and honored them on his famous Trilingual Seal.<ref name=museum />
A 1979 study by H Hatami-Monazah and RV Pandit found that some Caspians had 65 chromosomes, and others 64 chromosomes (as a domesticate horse would). The morphology of the chromosomes suggested a cross between [[Horse|E. Caballus]] and [[Przewalski's Horse|E. przewalskii]][http://www.reproduction-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/57/2/331].


As seen on the bas comfortes on the great staircase at Persepolis, the Persian Shah demanded tributes of only first class animals.<ref>The Horses of Persepolis, Royal Horse Society, Iran, & Firouz L, Light Horse, Vol.20, No.22, Aug. 1969</ref>
==Uses of the Caspian Pony==
The horses are used in the towns of Amol, Babol and Shahi, as cart ponies, and outcrossed with other breeds such as the [[Mongolian Pony]] or [[Tarpan]] to increase their size to make them suitable riding ponies. They are known for their speed and ability to carry very heavy loads, and are not used for draft work.


⚫
== Characteristics ==
The Caspian also makes for an excellent children's mount. They have fantastic temperaments, so that stallions are even handled by children, and several stallions can be turned out together. They have excellent movement, with an exceptionally long stride that allows them to keep up with a horse, making thm good show animals. There have also been several outcrosses with [[Thoroughbreds]], producing very fancy show ponies. Additionally, the Caspian has exceptional jumping ability.
[[File:BGD Ranch's Caspians.jpg|thumb|right|A bay Caspian [[bucking]].]]
The Caspian generally stands about {{cvt|120|cm|hands|abbr=on|lk=out}} at the [[withers]]. It has concave profile and a vaulted forehead; the back is straight and short, the [[croup (horse)|croup]] level and the tail is set on high.{{r|haas|p=148}}


The Caspian Horse is extremely hardy, with strong hooves that rarely need shoeing unless they are consistently worked on very hard or stony ground. Their base coat colors are [[Bay (horse)|bay]], [[Chestnut (coat)|chestnut]], and [[Black (horse)|black]] and other color modifiers include [[Grey (horse)|grey]] and [[dun gene|dun]]. White markings may appear on the head and legs, but minimal white or no white markings are usually favored. Some lack [[chestnut (horse anatomy)|chestnuts]] or [[Ergot (horse anatomy)|ergots]].<ref>Firouz, Louise. Light Horse. April 1966.</ref>
⚫
==Breed Characteristics==

The Caspian Pony is extremely hardy, with very dense bone and hard feet that do not need shoeing. Additionally, the pony is of great quality, similar in build to the [[Arabian (horse)|Arabian]]. The head should be short and fine with large eyes and a tapering muzzle. The nostrils are large and low-set, and the ears should be very small (no larger than 4.5 inches long). The shoulder is sloping, allowing the pony to take exceptionally long strides, so that it can easily keep up with a horse at the walk, trot, and canter despite its small height. Although the ponies range from 10.2-12 hh, and average at 11 hh, it is possible that the small stature is partly related to the stunting effects of nutritional deficiencies. The body of the Caspian is narrow, with a high-set tail and strong hindquarters. Although the limbs are fine, they have dense bone, the pasterns are fine and sloping, and and the hooves are oval and very strong. There is little feathering on the fetlock, although the pony has a dense mane and tail. Caspians are usually bay or brown, but may also be gray or chestnut, and may occassionally have white markings on the head and legs. Interestingly, some ponies lack [[chestnut (horse)|chestnuts]] or ergots.
⚫
===Genetics and phenotype===
There are experts who classify the Caspian horse as one that does not directly fall into the four ancestral types, namely the Northern European, Northern Steppe, Southern Steppe, and the Iberian/Mediterranean, making it unique and an important link to ancient horses.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The Horse in the Ancient World: From Bucephalus to the Hippodrome|last=Willekes|first=Carolyn|publisher=I.B. Tauris|year=2016|isbn=9781784533663|location=New York}}</ref> It is this reason the Caspian is considered to be one of the rarest breeds of horses, along with the [[Akhal-Teke|Akhal Teke]].<ref name=":1" />

Research has shown that Caspian and Turkoman horses occupy positions in phylogenetic analysis that has given rise to a hypothesis that they carry genetics that are ancestral to all other [[oriental horse|oriental type breeds]] studied to date.<ref>E. Gus Cothran, Ph.D., Animal Genetics, Texas A & M University. (Initial studies took place at Kentucky University, 1990).</ref>


== References ==
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=haas>Jessie Haas (2017). [https://books.google.com/books?id=MK14EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT148 ''The Horse-Lover's Encyclopedia''], second edition (e-book). North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. {{isbn|9781612126791}}.</ref>

<ref name=times>[s.n.] (7 July 2008). [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/louise-firouz-horse-breeder-who-discovered-the-caspian-horse-n8h9h22vl2b Obituary: Louise Firouz: Horse breeder who discovered the Caspian Horse]. London: ''The Times''.</ref>



}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* Osteological and Historical Implications of the Caspian Miniature Horse to Early Horse Domestication in Iran, Firouz, Louise, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Imperial Horse Society of Iran
* The Caspian Miniature Horse Of Iran, Firouz, Louise, Field Research Studies, Florida 1972
* The Caspian Horse, (Dalton, Brenda), Allen Guides to Horse and Pony Breeds, (2000), {{ISBN|0-85131-797-9}}.
* The Caspian Horse, Dalton, Brenda, {{ISBN|978-0-9549362-2-8}} Reprinted in paperback 2009 – Plausible Publishing
* Horses, their role in the History of Man, E. Hartley Edwards, Willow Books, 1987
* The Ark, Alderson, Lawrence, Rare Breeds Survival Trust
* Riding Through Revolution, Louise Firouz with Brenda Dalton, Advanced Global Publishing, 2013. {{ISBN|978-0-9549362-2-8}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Caspian Pony}}
*[https://caspian.horse Caspian Horse Breeders Association]
*[https://caspian.pedigreeonline.com/directory Caspian Pedigree Online Studbook] by Caspian Horse Breeders Association
*[http://www.caspianhorsesociety.org.uk/ Caspian Horse Society]
*[http://www.caspianhorse.org Caspian Conservation Society]
*[http://www.caspian.org/ Caspian Horse Society of the Americas]
*[http://www.caspianhorses.org International Caspian Society]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170702092844/http://endangeredequines.com/caspian.html Caspian Registry Services]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928100126/http://www.reproduction-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/57/2/331 A cytogenetic study of the Caspian pony] H Hatami-Monazah and RV Pandit
*[http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/horsesinhistory/caspian.shtml Tiny Caspian horse breed back from the brink] Horsetalk, 19 July 2007
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/world/middleeast/02firouz.html?_r=1 Louise Firouz obituary]


[[Category:Horse breeds]]
[[Category:Horse breeds]]
[[Category:Conservation Priority Breeds of the Livestock Conservancy]]
[[Category:Horse breeds originating in Iran]]
[[Category:Amol County]]

Latest revision as of 06:28, 18 December 2023

Caspian
Country of originIran and surrounding regions
Traits
Distinguishing featuresSmall horse breed founded in 1965 from stock believed to be of ancient origins; now bred in several other countries
Breed standards

The Caspian is an Iranian breed of pony or small horse of Oriental type.

The breed was created in 1965 by Louise Firouz, an American living in Iran, from a base stock of a small number of small horses found in the Elburz Mountains in Amol.[1][2][3] In 2011, the remains of a small horse dating back to 3400 B.C.E. were found at Gohar Tappeh, Iran, giving rise to claims that today's Caspian originates from the oldest known breed of the domestic horse.[citation needed] It is also one of the rarest horse breeds and its population status is critically endangered.[1]

History

[edit]

The Caspian is said to originate from the mountainous regions of northern Iran, which explains how the breed is tough, athletic, and nimble.[4] Indeed, the oldest known specimen of a Caspian-like horse was found in 2011, in a cemetery dating back to 3400 B.C.E., in the archaeological dig at Gohar Tappeh in the province of Mazandaran in northern Iran, between the cities of Neka and Behshahr. Small horses were depicted in ancient art where they appeared in scenes pulling chariots.[5]: 148 

The Persian Empire required land transport on a huge scale. They were the first people to breed horses especially for strength and speed. That these horses were very small by modern standards is shown by a miniature golden chariot, a toy or perhaps a votive offering, found in the so-called Oxus Treasure,[6] discovered in the extreme east of the empire but apparently made in central Persia. The vehicle was obviously built for speed. Its wheels are taller than the horses, which are themselves of lesser height than the two passengers – and not because of the status of the passengers. Neil MacGregor likens this vehicle to a Ferrari or Porsche amongst cars – fast and luxurious.[7] King Darius (the Great) trusted his life to the little horses during lion hunts, and honored them on his famous Trilingual Seal.[6]

As seen on the bas comfortes on the great staircase at Persepolis, the Persian Shah demanded tributes of only first class animals.[8]

Characteristics

[edit]
A bay Caspian bucking.

The Caspian generally stands about 120 cm (11.3 h) at the withers. It has concave profile and a vaulted forehead; the back is straight and short, the croup level and the tail is set on high.[5]: 148 

The Caspian Horse is extremely hardy, with strong hooves that rarely need shoeing unless they are consistently worked on very hard or stony ground. Their base coat colors are bay, chestnut, and black and other color modifiers include grey and dun. White markings may appear on the head and legs, but minimal white or no white markings are usually favored. Some lack chestnuts or ergots.[9]

Genetics and phenotype

[edit]

There are experts who classify the Caspian horse as one that does not directly fall into the four ancestral types, namely the Northern European, Northern Steppe, Southern Steppe, and the Iberian/Mediterranean, making it unique and an important link to ancient horses.[4] It is this reason the Caspian is considered to be one of the rarest breeds of horses, along with the Akhal Teke.[4]

Research has shown that Caspian and Turkoman horses occupy positions in phylogenetic analysis that has given rise to a hypothesis that they carry genetics that are ancestral to all other oriental type breeds studied to date.[10]


References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Perkins, Laura. "Conservation Priority List". The Livestock Conservancy. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ [s.n.] (7 July 2008). Obituary: Louise Firouz: Horse breeder who discovered the Caspian Horse. London: The Times.
  3. ^ "Louise Firouz". The Daily Telegraph. 31 May 2008. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Willekes, Carolyn (2016). The Horse in the Ancient World: From Bucephalus to the Hippodrome. New York: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 9781784533663.
  5. ^ a b Jessie Haas (2017). The Horse-Lover's Encyclopedia, second edition (e-book). North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781612126791.
  6. ^ a b Both c. 500 BC, British Museum, London
  7. ^ Neil MacGregor A History of the World in a Hundred Objects: Ch. 26, Oxus Chariot Model.;pp 165-`170 (2010)
  8. ^ The Horses of Persepolis, Royal Horse Society, Iran, & Firouz L, Light Horse, Vol.20, No.22, Aug. 1969
  9. ^ Firouz, Louise. Light Horse. April 1966.
  10. ^ E. Gus Cothran, Ph.D., Animal Genetics, Texas A & M University. (Initial studies took place at Kentucky University, 1990).

Further reading

[edit]
  • Osteological and Historical Implications of the Caspian Miniature Horse to Early Horse Domestication in Iran, Firouz, Louise, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Imperial Horse Society of Iran
  • The Caspian Miniature Horse Of Iran, Firouz, Louise, Field Research Studies, Florida 1972
  • The Caspian Horse, (Dalton, Brenda), Allen Guides to Horse and Pony Breeds, (2000), ISBN 0-85131-797-9.
  • The Caspian Horse, Dalton, Brenda, ISBN 978-0-9549362-2-8 Reprinted in paperback 2009 – Plausible Publishing
  • Horses, their role in the History of Man, E. Hartley Edwards, Willow Books, 1987
  • The Ark, Alderson, Lawrence, Rare Breeds Survival Trust
  • Riding Through Revolution, Louise Firouz with Brenda Dalton, Advanced Global Publishing, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9549362-2-8.
[edit]
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