The Caspian Horse - Noah's Little Pony

The Caspian only stands 10-13 hands tall, yet is considered a horse, not a pony. The Caspian is considered a horse because it carries a perfect gait and perfection in all proportions. The Caspian Horse has many of the same features of the Arabian, silky tails and long flowing manes, the same protruding eyes and delicate head. If you can picture the graceful beauty of an Arabian, only smaller, you will picture in your mind the Caspian Horse.

The Caspian Horse is believed to be a 5,000-year-old breed of horse. Believed to be extinct, the Caspian Horse was re-discovered in 1965 by an American, Louise Firouz, in Iran. The Kristull Ranch website shares with you, a great deal of the history of this great rediscovery. Discovered near the Caspian Sea, this is where they got their name. After a great struggle with Iranian authorities, which included incarceration, Louise was able to preserve the Caspian Horse. There are very few Caspian Horses in existence and it is very difficult to get these beautiful horses out of Iran.

Through the years, attempts have been made to export Caspian Horses to the United States to support the growth of the Caspian Horse population. There are currently over 400 Caspian Horses in the United States at this time.

Caspian Horses have very silky, fine hair and are typically gray, bay or chestnut colors. You will on occasion, see buckskin or black Caspian horses. As the gray horses age, you will witness changes in the coat color, dappling and often turning white as they age. Their coats get very thick in the winter, making them adaptable to many different climates.

The following, quoted, information is from the folks at www.caspianhorse.com :

"The following are some interesting physical differences between the Caspian and other breeds:

1. The Caspian skull shows a pronounced elevation of the interparietal bones and the Caspian possesses no parietal crest.
2. The scapula is wider than in other breeds.
3. The metacarpal and metatarsal bones are much longer and slimmer in comparison with the height of the horse.
4. The first six vertebrae are longer than usual.
5. The hoof is narrow and oval-shaped, rarely needing to be shod.
6. The frog is less pronounced. "

-end of quote

The Caspian Horse is both beautiful and graceful. A very intelligent horse, it makes friends with people very quickly. They are very affectionate and love attention as well.

If you are interested in owning one of these magnificent horses or are just interested in learning more, I would suggest a visit to the Kristull Ranch website. The owners of Kristull Ranch, Chuck and Francie Stull, have made Caspian Horses their life. They raise, train and sell Caspian Horses and can answer any question you may have. Their contact information, as listed on their website is:

Francie@Borzoi.com

Francie@Kristull.comOr by phone in Bowling Green, Kentucky 1-800-658-6699