A Look Back at the History of Horse Racing

No matter which major city from around the world it is that you will visit, you are bound to witness a horse racing event - Australia, Mauritius, New Zealand, USA, UK, Europe, the Middle Eastern countries, and a few Asian countries. This equestrian sport has been around for centuries, but how exactly did it start out? Before delving deeper into that, let us first check on the most popular forms of horse racing. One of the most typical sights that you will see in affluent communities is Thoroughbred racing. In Australia, Standardbred horses racing is more popular - just like in New Zealand. Quarter horse racing; and purebred Arabian horses racing or endurance racing are other forms of the sport.

Important Breakthroughs in the History of Horse Racing
After learning about some of the basic facts about horse racing, let us now check on its history as a sport. Take a look at the following important specific dates, periods and breakthroughs in horse racing:

- 4500 BCE As mentioned earlier, horse racing as a sport has existed for centuries now. It actually started during this period when horses first became domesticated animals. Back then, it was Central Asian tribesmen who trained the animals - and this was the signal for horse racing to become a sport of the privileged and leisured.

- 680 BCE According to the roster of ancient Olympics during this period, two-horse and four-horse racing was added to the gaming events.

- 753 BCE One of the best ways to trace back the history of a centuries-old sport like horse racing is to consult the ancient books - and it was in the story of Romulus' founding of Rome during this period that the mythical city-founded organized a series of horse racing events. The goal was to distract Sabine men abducted the women.

- 12th Century This is the time that the horse racing that we know of today came to be. During the 12th century, a wave of battle-weary English men returned from the Crusades with Arabian horses. The endurance of these animals over the English ones is incomparable - so they were used in horse racing.

- 1702-1714 Under the rule of Queen Anne, the first modern races where spectators bid on their bets started. It was in 1759 that the Jockey Club was formed.

- 1894 Just like the English' British Jockey Club, the American Jockey Club was established in this year to set up rules for breeding racing horses.

- 1930s-1970s In the United States, the sport of horse racing has had its ups and downs - but it was during these decades when the popularity of champion horses like Seabiscuit revived the life of the sport.

Today, horse racing has become almost a national tradition - especially in the state of Louisiana. Whether you're a true-blue horse racing fan, if you're in it to win money or if you're simply interested with the different facets of the sport, nothing beats the feeling of knowing that you know exactly how the sport came about so that you would appreciate its origins even more.

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Magnificent Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup, a premier level horse race first conducted in 1996, is held annually at Dubai's Nad Al Sheba race venue. It holds the distinction of being the world's richest horse race, with a purse of $10 million. The race was the brainchild of the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai World Cup is run in March over a distance of 2,000m, and the thoroughbred contestants run on a synthetic surface.

The creation of the Dubai World Cup is a dream that has been realized for the Ruler of Dubai, who is well known for his love of horses and horse racing. Over the past two decades Arab horse breeders and trainers have strived to make their mark on the world horse racing arena, winning championships in Great Britain, the United States, Japan and France among other venues. The Arab enthusiasts also brought competitive racing back to the Arabian peninsula, the origin of the Arabian, the ancestor of modern thoroughbred race horses. The first thoroughbred race in Dubai was held in 1981. In 1992 the now famous Godolphin racing stable was launched.

However it was the introduction of the Dubai World Cup that really put the UAE on the horse racing map of the world, as it has been acclaimed as one of the most demanding and exciting races in the world. The World Cup draws the attention of millions of horse racing fans around the world, and is televised in many countries.

The historic inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996 set an exalted standard with the participation of the world's leading thoroughbreds including a seven race winner from Britain, a 12-time victor from Australia, Japan's 'dirt horse' champion and North American champion Cigar. Cigar emerged triumphant after a heroic and thrilling contest.

Reflecting traditional Arab hospitality and the customary warmth of the United Arab Emirates, contestants are flown in from all over the globe, and horsemen receive liberal travel subsidies for their contribution to racing in the UAE.

For the selective traveller seeking a hotel in Dubai, there is no better choice than the Raffles Dubai. This luxury hotel Dubai offers lavish accommodation, all amenities and attentive service assuring a memorable stay.

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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Enjoying Equestrian Events with the Lusitano Horse

The world of horse lovers won't be complete without the best known Portuguese thoroughbred, the Lusitano Horse. It is among the favorites of equestrian sportsmen and has ancient roots that share the same Iberian origins of the Spanish Andalusian horse.

Brief History
The breed got christened by Roman conquerors of the Iberian countries after the ancient name of Portugal which at that time was called Lusitania. Cave paintings at Escoural in Alentejo, Portugal) dating back 17.000 B.C show a primitive ancestral breed with similar features found at La Pileta cave paintings in Malaga, Spain dating even earlier in 20.000 B.C.

It is said that the ancient Greek legends refer to horses roaming the Lusitania banks of the Tagus River has been fathered by the wind - an allegorical allusion the speed and agility of the Iberian horse.

Subsequent Carthaginians and Romans conquests of the Iberian Peninsula caused the Iberian native horse to breed with the horse stock of the conquerors. The breeding continued with the horses brought by Germanic Visigoths and then the Arabian horses bought by the conquering Arab Moors. It is plain that centuries of interbreeding with foreign has result in what is now the Lusitano breed.

The Lusitano horse breed eventually flourished as military horses and later figured in bull fighting events on horseback. It was not until the 18th century when new stallions raised at the Alter Real Stud Farm and used in the Picaria Real Equestrian School became famous and caught the fancy of horse lovers around the world since then.

Characteristics
The Lusitano horse is known for its temperamental urges prompting it to lunge forward at anything it perceives to be threat. But it also exudes a calm disposition under saddled control and is reputed to be level-headed enough to bond affectionately with its master.

They exhibit great balance and an aristocratic gait that makes them popular in equestrian events. The Lusitano has thick tail and main with a profile that traces a convex Romanesque nose with long muscular legs and a firm graceful body.

It generally stands 15 to 16 hands with powerful hindquarters. Most breeds come in different colors but turn gray as they age. Buckskin, Cremello and Palomino are rare and consequently most sought.

Worldwide Interest
Portugal has exported the breed to many countries that have shown interest in propagating the Lusitano breed for sports and leisure. Many can be found in Mexico, France and Brazil. But the US and other European and Asian countries also have a community of Lusitanos raised for equestrian events. You can see them in the Philippines, Thailand and the warmer Latin American and African countries.

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For more information regarding Lusitano Horse, visit Portugal Blog.com

The Colorado Ranger Is The Original Rocky Mountain High Horse

The Colorado Ranger Horse was named for its Colorado High Plains origin. Verbal references to those "range bred" horses eventually led to their being more commonly known as Rangerbreds or Rangerbred Horses. But despite its appearance, the Rangerbred is not a type of Appaloosa even though many Rangerbreds are double-registered with the Appaloosa Horse Clubs of both the United States and Canada. It has its own unique heritage.

Colorado Ranger Horses were bred for being cow savvy, and can anticipate the movements of cattle, and for their performance capabilities. They excel in ranch work with great stamina and do well in endurance competitions.

Colorado Ranger Horses are refined horses due to their Arabian/Barb ancestry and are compact animals, with powerful hindquarters. Like most popular breeds, Rangerbred sizes range from 14.2 to 16+ hands with the average height at 15.2 hands, and they have good dispositions.

Although the breed as we know it today is considered to have originated in America, its roots can be traced back to Constantinople, Turkey.

During 1878, General Ulysses S. Grant visited Sultan Abdul Hamid of Turkey as part of a world tour. The Sultan, in showing his regard for the General, gave him the gift of two desert stallions; a blue-gray Barb named Linden Tree and a gray Siglavy-Gidran Arab named Leopard. These horses are listed in the studbooks of both the Jockey Club and the Arabian Horse Club and their influence has touched almost every breed of horse in the United States.

These two horses went to Virginia at first, where they were used as foundation sires in a new breed of light-harness horse called the Americo Arab. But when the automobile was invented, along with other difficulties, the breeding project was discontinued in 1906 and his herd was disbanded.

So, Leopard and Linden Tree spent a season in Nebraska and sired a few foals, some spotted or colored, from the native mares of the General Colby Ranch. A.C. Whipple, of Kit Carson County in Colorado, obtained a herd of broodmares from the Colby Ranch who were all sired by either Linden Tree or Leopard. In addition, a black-eared white stallion named Tony was used as the herd stallion, because he was double bred to Leopard and was part of the family's extensive line-breeding program using Tony and his sons.

In the early 20th Century, Mike Ruby, of the Lazy J Bar Ranch, bought one of Tony's sons, a stallion named Patches and Max, son of Waldron Leopard. He used these stallions as the foundation sires of the new breed, in which unusual coloring was seen more and more frequently in his herd of more than 300 mares.

So, in essence, the Colorado Ranger was developed by Mike Ruby, who kept meticulous records on every foal that he bred. These records included foaling dates, coat patterns and complete pedigrees and are still in existence today with all horses still being recorded by hand in these ledgers, as well as by more modern methods in the Colorado Ranger breed registry.

After two leopard-patterned stallions were displayed at the Denver Stock Show, they created such a sensation that Mike Ruby was urged by the faculty of what is now Colorado State University to name this new breed of horse. And so the Colorado Ranger Horse was officially named in 1934 to reflect that they originated in Colorado and were bred and raised under range conditions.

And with the naming of the breed came the breed registry. The Colorado Ranger Horse Association (CRHA) is an older registry than the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC). In fact, it is the oldest of the western horse breed registries still in existence in the United States. It was founded in 1935 by Mike Ruby, who was its first president until his death in 1942. Its corporate charter was granted in 1938. Ironically, its home office is currently in Pennsylvania.

In the beginning, registration was limited only to the first 50 CRHA members, so a lot of true Rangerbreds were not allowed to be registered with CRHA. However, those horses with the appropriate color patterns were gladly accepted by the Appaloosa Horse Club which was another breed registry that was founded several months later. In 1964, the CRHA lifted the fifty member limit and registration was opened to all horses meeting the pedigree requirements, regardless of the owner's membership status. This enabled the CRHA to register many of the Appaloosas that had Rangerbred heritage that were "lost" to the organization for so many years.

About 90% of all registered Rangerbreds are also registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club, but not all Appaloosas are eligible for registration with the CRHA, unless they have the required pedigree that shows a direct descent from one of the two foundation stallions, Max #2 and/or Patches #1 in an unbroken line. Patches #1 was purchased from the Whipple Ranch and traces to both Leopard and Linden Tree. Max #2 came from the Governor Oliver Shoup ranch at Colorado Springs and is descended from Waldron Leopard.
While many Colorado ranger horses display the same color patterns as the appaloosa, the CRHA is a bloodline registry, not a color registry. In fact, color and markings are not considered in eligibility for registration, only ancestry is. The breed's founder wisely decided that a horse's ability has nothing to do with color of his coat.  

As with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), the CRHA recognizes the same approved outcrosses as the ApHC. The following breeds are considered as acceptable outcrosses for the Rangerbred and may be used in a CRHA Breeding Program: The American Jockey Club (TB), The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)., ApHC of USA, Canada & Foreign, The Arabian Horse Club (AHC), ARA-APP, and the International Colored Appaloosa Association (ICAA) (with certain reservations). The outcrossed mare must be registered with one of the above registries. Paints & pintos are not among these approved outcrosses.

Research indicates that one out of every eight Appaloosas is of Rangerbred heritage and also eligible for CRHA registration.

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Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Colorado Ranger Horses for sale listed in Colorado, Texas, etc.

The Walkaloosa Horse - A Splash Of Color And A Rainbow Of Gaits

Walkaloosa horses are gaited horses with the same exotic coloring of the Appaloosa, but contrary to what the breed's name implies, a Walkaloosa does not have to have Walking Horse ancestry. Any combination of naturally gaited horse with Appaloosa coloring qualifies as a Walkaloosa and the many accepted gaits include the Fox Trot, the Running Walk, the Rack, and the Stepping Pace or basically any smooth saddle gait somewhere between a trot and a pace. Even Gene Autry owned a gaited Appaloosa and he delighted in showing off El Morroco's smooth gait by putting a glass of water on his saddle horn and riding swiftly without spilling a drop.

Even though the Walkaloosa breed registry itself is fairly new, the breed itself has been around for centuries. Appaloosa breeders claim to have the oldest recognizable breed known; a claim that can backed up by the drawings of spotted horses in the prehistoric ice caves of France. The Paso Fino breeders claim that their breed is the oldest breed in the Western Hemisphere since their ancestors came to the New World with Columbus on his second voyage from Spain and some of the Conquistador's Paso Fino horses also carried the spotted coat patterns of what is known as the Appaloosa today. These spotted horses made their way via various means throughout the Americas and the Nez Pierce Indians eventually claimed them as their own when they turned up in the north. They were one of the only tribes to practice selective breeding. They were very proud of their spotted horses and extremely pleased with the smooth, rolling gait called the Indian Shuffle, because they could move their belongings quickly without jarring of either the rider, or their belongings. In an age when the average horse could be bought for as little as $2, cowboys were willing to pay up to $50.00 or more for a good Appaloosa Shuffler. Not only was it a mark of prestige, but the comfortable gait was as easy on the cowboy and his belongings as it had been for the Spaniards and the Indians before him.

But as wonderful as the Shuffling horses were, early breeders did not try to keep the Shufflers in their Appaloosa herds and with the large percentage of non-gaited Quarter Horse, Arabian, and Thoroughbred in today's Appaloosas, many breeders had never even heard of a Shuffler. With so much Quarter Horse influence in the breed now, the current emphasis on stock horse performance has all but erased the gait that had been so carefully bred into the horses centuries ago. In fact, breeders shy way from including the naturally gaited horses in their breeding programs because any intermediate gait, other than a trot, is cause for disqualification in the Appaloosa show ring, yet that gait is exactly what the Walkaloosa show ring is looking for to put back into their horses.

The Appaloosa horse had already been a distinct breed for over a hundred years by the time the Appaloosa Horse Club (AHC) was formed in 1938. At that time, no distinction was made between the many gaited and non-gaited Appaloosas, so they were all registered as Appaloosas. But now the AHC will no longer register any Appaloosa colored foal that has a parent from a gaited breed. However, gaited Appaloosas can still be registered as Appaloosas if they qualify under normal AHC rules (ApHC, AQHA, AHR, JC parentage only) but that gene pool is so small that these horses are extremely rare. A related breed is the Tiger Horse, a gaited Appaloosa with no added gaited breeds, but rather an attempt to find and register the original gaited Appaloosas to preserve them before they are lost completely.

The earliest recorded registration of a Walkaloosa was from 1965, but there is no other information available regarding that comment, or just when the Walkaloosa name was chosen, since the Walkaloosa Horse Association (WHA) wasn't formed until 1983. The WHA maintains the records of horses that have both Appaloosa coloring or heritage and the smooth saddle gait. In order to qualify as a Walkaloosa, a horse must meet one of three criteria: it must have both registered Walkaloosa parents; or show Appaloosa coloring and demonstrate an intermediate gait, other than a trot; or have both verifiable Appaloosa and gaited horse blood.
Because the registry is currently open to so many different breeds of gaited horses, the Walkaloosa comes in many body types, but it is the combination of the coloring and the smooth, natural gait that makes them unique. Horses of Walkaloosa breeding that do not display either color or gait at registration time are registered with a Breeding Stock number since gait often develops as the horse matures and may be passed along to offspring even if not seen in the parent. As for color, it is know that Appaloosa color just does its own thing, and if the horse does develop a gait and/or color, it will be acknowledged on the papers. The complete pedigree is not necessary to register a horse, but it looks better on the certificate.

But even with so many conformation types possible, there is a breed standard that is designed to promote the ideal look for the breed, with the goal being to create a horse that combines beauty with functionality and a docile temperament along with smooth and brilliant gaits. Walkaloosa horses are to be bred for balance of movement and harmony of form with the ideal Walkaloosa traveling in a smooth solid gait with animation, rhythm, and style. They should have radiant coloring, intelligent minds, good conformation and the genetic ability to transmit all these traits to their offspring. Breeders of Walkaloosa horses should keep a special adherence to a breed standard that ensures soundness and versatility, with conformation adhering to standards that promote a sound, hardy horse with longevity.

The Walkaloosa ranges between 13 and 17 hands with 14.2 to 15.3 hands being average and they can weigh from, 600 to 1,300 pounds, additionally, the Walkaloosa horse should be able to perform three gaits: walk, their special gait and the canter, all with equal ease. The overall physical impression of the breed should have stallions displaying masculinity and mares displaying femininity. The thickness and type of muscling pattern will vary between the gait types, but the muscling should be ideal for the specific gait that the individual horse is best suited for.

The Walkaloosa is meant to be an outstanding pleasure and trail mount, but also a working cattle or show horse and therefore they should show a kind disposition with a willingness to work and learn.

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Crystal is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, classifieds of Walkaloosa Horses for sale and quality horse trailers such as Kingston, Custom-fab, etc.

A Little about the American Quarter Horse

It is thought, by some, that the foundation American Quarter Horse stock has at its roots Arabian, Turk, and Barb breeds. Others believe that the breed began with the acquisition of Chickasaw horses which were likely of Spanish extraction. Their history seems to begin around 1690, when horses exported from England were bred with native horses in America. The result of this cross was a small, stocky horse which was extremely fast in the quarter-mile sprint which the colonists loved to participate in during their off-time. Even when pitted against Thoroughbreds, this little horse came in first more often than not. Thus, the horse became known as the Quarter Horse.

In the 1800s, when the pioneers began to move west, they wanted a horse that could endure the rigors and was always willing to work. Their horse of choice was the Quarter Horse. They quickly found that the breed was excellent to use when working with cattle. Cattlemen soon preferred this animal because it seemed to know ahead of time what the cattle would do, and naturally moved to direct the herd where the cowboys wanted them to go. Even after the automobile was invented, Quarter Horses were still used almost exclusively on many ranches.

In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) was formed. From that year until the present, Quarter Horse breeders have worked diligently to perfect the bloodlines. The Association has set forth strict guidelines with regard to registration of American Quarter Horses. AQHs are allowed to have limited white markings on their faces, and below their knees. If there are white patches or spots anywhere else on the horse, it is considered to not be a true Quarter Horse.

The AQHA recognizes 13 colors as acceptable for the breed. The most dominant color is sorrel, which is a reddish-brown. The other colors are bay, black, brown, buckskin, dun, gray, grullo, palomino, red roan, and blue roan. What is called a gray is what most of us perceive as white. But, there are no "white" Quarter Horses.

There are two main body types which are acceptable for registration as Quarter Horses. The "stock" type, which is shorter, more compact, stockier, and well-muscled, yet agile. The "running" type is lighter and is bred and trained for sprinting.

Because this breed is very versatile, bloodlines are built with specific tasks in mind when producing the offspring. For AQH's shown "at halter", the line is bred to have a heavier body appearance, because these horses are incredibly muscled. For horses used as "reiners" and "cutters", the build is usually smaller and the horses possess cat-like, quicker movement and powerful hindquarters. Those bred for Western pleasure riding have a level "topline" and smoother gaits. Those which will be used for racing have longer legs and a leaner body build and those bred as show hunters have a similar build to the runners, but their bloodlines will include traits which are suited to horses used for hunting purposes. The whole Quarter Horse breed possesses speed, stamina, power, and an inherent willingness to please.

This horse is usually 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, or 142.24 to 162.56 centimeters) at the shoulder. The weight can vary drastically, depending on the purpose for which the horse was bred.

The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the United States. And there are approximately 3.7 million registered American Quarter Horses worldwide, making it one of the most populous breeds in modern history.

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Arabian Horse History

Arabs (Arabian horses) can be traced back 2000 years to the Arabian Peninsula.

Strength, beauty and endurance are typical traits of this breed of horse. Horse experts have researched Arabian horse origins and concluded that they are one of the most ancient breeds to exist.

The Bedouins were a nomadic people who are given credit for first taming the Arabian horse. Bedouin people took the ancestry of these breeds very seriously and could back date the lineages of the horses they owned. During these times they needed a rapid, strong and reliable horse. It was vitally important that it was able to survive within a desert setting. Regional battles were going on between the Bedouin tribes, so horses were used to take them to war.

Some of the most impressive horses ever were bred by the Bedouins. Many people would trade horses with them, and they would get together and share the lineages of the horses which were traded. Arabian horses come in a variety of different variations or strains. These Arabs have shared ancestory as well as a likeness in their appearance. Including; Kuhaylan, Dahman and Hadban.

Arabian horses are said to be one of, if not the most recognised breeds in the world. Large expressive eyes and a comparatively small muzzle can be found on a wedge shaped head. Possibly the most prized Arabs are the ones with concave noses. An Arab neckline should be arched, and they have toned muscular legs. Their coat should be shiny, and can be likened to silk. As they do not have a good bascule Arabian breeds are not frequent competitors at show jumping meets.

Generally, the coat of an Arab horse is grey or brown although some may have black coats. It is thought Arabs with dark black coats would absorb the desert heat so were considered a rarity. Such is the purity of the Arabian horse gene, it is frequently used in accentuating the features of other breeds. Arabian horses are very well mannered, an attribute breeders find very attractive.

Professional horse competitions have used Arabian horses for a great deal of time, and there are even competitions each year between Arabian horses and there owners.

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