Estonian horse
Encyclopedia
Estonian horse also known as the Estonian native, the Estonian Klepper, or natively the Eesti hobune, is a relatively small horse breed
originating in Estonia
. It originated over than 2800 years ago. The Estonian horse has influenced several Baltic
horse breeds, including the Tori horse
. The breed is strong and is resistant against sickness. The breed is nowadays most common in Estonia.
. It is strong, yet not heavily built. The most common colourations are black
, bay, chestnut
, and grey
.The breed is a tireless and powerful puller, and is well suited to agricultural work with its easy temperament. This has contributed for the breed's use as a children's riding horse, a major reason for why the breed was able to survive.
Most breeders let their herds live under natural pasture conditions except during wintertime, and the breed lives well
on forage
alone. This has made the breed healthy and durable with hard feet. Their appearance is not exceptional. The head is small with straight profile and primitive facial features. The breed is willing and easy to handle, inexpensive to keep, and often long-lived. The breed is nowadays used for also tourist rides. Also Finland has a breed association for the Estonian Horse.
that lived in the Northern Europe more than 5,000 years ago, and is considered the progenitor of other breeds such as the North Swedish Horse
and the Dole Gudbrandsdal
. The Estonian Horse has retained its qualities and looks due to little influence by other horse breeds. However, it is believed that the breed became mixed with the now extinct Öland Horse, as large numbers of Öland Horses were exported to Estonia at one point. Tests authorised by associations dedicated to the Öland Horse have revealed that these two breeds have a genetically similar background. During the 11th century, a traveler known as Adam of Bremen considered the Estonians to be rich with gold and good horses.
The breed became popular throughout the Baltic countries for its strength and suitability for farnwork. Horses of the breed were sold to Russia
as early as in the 14th and 15th centuries. they were also imported to Sweden for the needs of the military. Development of agriculture resulted in good working horses becoming even more desirable, and many Estonian Horses were crossbred with heavier draught horses to create stronger animals.
The first documents concerning attempts to improve the Estonian Horse are from the founding of the Tori stud in 1856. The breed was then crossbred with lighter working horse and riding horse breeds. The best offspring resulting from these attempts became the foundation of the Tori horse
. One of the most successful sires, Vansikasa, was foaled at the stud. He became wellknown for his exceptional strength, pulling skill and indomitability, and one of his daughters was the founding mare of the Tori Horse. Even the Vyatka horse was influenced by the Estonian Horse.
After the First World War a breeding program was created to help preserve the breed whose numbers had fallen quite a lot during the war. "Estonian Native Horse Breeders Society" and an Estonian Horse studbook
were founded in 1921. By 1937, only 13 stallions had been used, and the Estonian horse was becoming inbred due to the scarcity of strains. This led to horses reaching maturity later, and slowed down the development of the breed. With the mechanisation of transport and agriculture, horses became obsolete and the breed nearly died out, excluding the islands of Saaremaa
and Hiiumaa
. With a few animals left on the mainland, the breed was eventually revived with the help of a new breeding program, and the breed's population has now reached circa 1000 animals in Estonia. The breed has recently been crossbred with Finnhorse
s to enhance its size, but it should be noted that both of these breeds are descended from the Forest Horse.
In 1992 the association started anew after having been down for the 1980s. In 2000, an association was founded to preserve the breed. In 2005, 25 animals of the breed were imported to Sweden to recreate the genetically closely related, extinct Öland Horse
. The new Öland horse is not called that, however, but the "Estonian Bush Pony".
Horse breed
Horse breed is a broad term with no clear consensus as to definition, but most commonly refers to selectively bred populations of domesticated horses, often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry. However, the term is sometimes used in a very broad sense to define landrace animals, or...
originating in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It originated over than 2800 years ago. The Estonian horse has influenced several Baltic
Baltic region
The terms Baltic region, Baltic Rim countries, and Baltic Rim refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.- Etymology :...
horse breeds, including the Tori horse
Tori (horse)
-Characteristics:The Tori comes mainly in the colors black, bay, palomino, chestnut and liver chestnut. Today's Tori is a harness horse that has a clean and solid build...
. The breed is strong and is resistant against sickness. The breed is nowadays most common in Estonia.
Characteristics
The Estonian horse is rather small, measuring at the withersWithers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
. It is strong, yet not heavily built. The most common colourations are black
Black (horse)
Black is a hair coat color of horses in which the entire hair coat is black. Black is a relatively uncommon coat color, and novices frequently mistake dark chestnuts or bays for black. However, some breeds of horses, such as the Friesian horse, Murgese and Ariegeois are almost exclusively black...
, bay, chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
, and grey
Gray (horse)
Gray or grey is a coat color of horses characterized by progressive silvering of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike many depigmentation genes, gray does not affect skin or eye color Their adult hair coat is white, dappled, or white intermingled...
.The breed is a tireless and powerful puller, and is well suited to agricultural work with its easy temperament. This has contributed for the breed's use as a children's riding horse, a major reason for why the breed was able to survive.
Most breeders let their herds live under natural pasture conditions except during wintertime, and the breed lives well
Easy keeper
An easy keeper, easy doer or good doer is a livestock animal that can live on relatively little food. The opposite of an easy keeper is a hard keeper , an animal that is prone to be too thin and has difficulty maintaining adequate weight.Easy keepers tend to be found most often in breeds...
on forage
Forage
Forage is plant material eaten by grazing livestock.Historically the term forage has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used more loosely to include similar plants cut for fodder and carried to the animals, especially...
alone. This has made the breed healthy and durable with hard feet. Their appearance is not exceptional. The head is small with straight profile and primitive facial features. The breed is willing and easy to handle, inexpensive to keep, and often long-lived. The breed is nowadays used for also tourist rides. Also Finland has a breed association for the Estonian Horse.
History
The Estonian Horse is descended from the primitive forest horseForest Horse
Forest horse may refer to:* The Black Forest horse, or Schwarzwälder Kaltblut* New Forest Pony* The "Forest Horse", a hypothetical ancestral horse prototype proposed in the 20th century; see History of horse domestication theories...
that lived in the Northern Europe more than 5,000 years ago, and is considered the progenitor of other breeds such as the North Swedish Horse
North Swedish Horse
The North Swedish Horse is a small heavy horse originating in Sweden. According to different sources, it is considered a light draft horse or a "universal type horse". The breed also has lighter lines, bred for harness racing. The North Swedish Horse is active and tough, and resembles closely its...
and the Dole Gudbrandsdal
Dole Gudbrandsdal
The Dole Gudbrandsdal, Dølahest or Dole is a draft- and harness-type horse from Norway. The Dole Trotter is alternately considered a subtype of the Dole Gudbrandsdal and a separate breed; it is also considered a part of the Coldblood trotter type...
. The Estonian Horse has retained its qualities and looks due to little influence by other horse breeds. However, it is believed that the breed became mixed with the now extinct Öland Horse, as large numbers of Öland Horses were exported to Estonia at one point. Tests authorised by associations dedicated to the Öland Horse have revealed that these two breeds have a genetically similar background. During the 11th century, a traveler known as Adam of Bremen considered the Estonians to be rich with gold and good horses.
The breed became popular throughout the Baltic countries for its strength and suitability for farnwork. Horses of the breed were sold to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as early as in the 14th and 15th centuries. they were also imported to Sweden for the needs of the military. Development of agriculture resulted in good working horses becoming even more desirable, and many Estonian Horses were crossbred with heavier draught horses to create stronger animals.
The first documents concerning attempts to improve the Estonian Horse are from the founding of the Tori stud in 1856. The breed was then crossbred with lighter working horse and riding horse breeds. The best offspring resulting from these attempts became the foundation of the Tori horse
Tori (horse)
-Characteristics:The Tori comes mainly in the colors black, bay, palomino, chestnut and liver chestnut. Today's Tori is a harness horse that has a clean and solid build...
. One of the most successful sires, Vansikasa, was foaled at the stud. He became wellknown for his exceptional strength, pulling skill and indomitability, and one of his daughters was the founding mare of the Tori Horse. Even the Vyatka horse was influenced by the Estonian Horse.
After the First World War a breeding program was created to help preserve the breed whose numbers had fallen quite a lot during the war. "Estonian Native Horse Breeders Society" and an Estonian Horse studbook
Breed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
were founded in 1921. By 1937, only 13 stallions had been used, and the Estonian horse was becoming inbred due to the scarcity of strains. This led to horses reaching maturity later, and slowed down the development of the breed. With the mechanisation of transport and agriculture, horses became obsolete and the breed nearly died out, excluding the islands of Saaremaa
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
and Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa is the second largest island belonging to Estonia. It is located in the Baltic Sea, north of the island of Saaremaa, a part of the West Estonian archipelago. Its largest town is Kärdla.-Name:...
. With a few animals left on the mainland, the breed was eventually revived with the help of a new breeding program, and the breed's population has now reached circa 1000 animals in Estonia. The breed has recently been crossbred with Finnhorse
Finnhorse
The Finnhorse or Finnish Horse is a horse breed with both riding horse and draught horse influences and characteristics, and is the only breed developed fully in Finland...
s to enhance its size, but it should be noted that both of these breeds are descended from the Forest Horse.
In 1992 the association started anew after having been down for the 1980s. In 2000, an association was founded to preserve the breed. In 2005, 25 animals of the breed were imported to Sweden to recreate the genetically closely related, extinct Öland Horse
Gotland Pony
-External links:**...
. The new Öland horse is not called that, however, but the "Estonian Bush Pony".
See also
- Tori (horse)Tori (horse)-Characteristics:The Tori comes mainly in the colors black, bay, palomino, chestnut and liver chestnut. Today's Tori is a harness horse that has a clean and solid build...
- FinnhorseFinnhorseThe Finnhorse or Finnish Horse is a horse breed with both riding horse and draught horse influences and characteristics, and is the only breed developed fully in Finland...
- North Swedish HorseNorth Swedish HorseThe North Swedish Horse is a small heavy horse originating in Sweden. According to different sources, it is considered a light draft horse or a "universal type horse". The breed also has lighter lines, bred for harness racing. The North Swedish Horse is active and tough, and resembles closely its...
- Estonian DraftEstonian DraftThe Estonian Draft or Eston-Arden is a breed of draft horse developed in Estonia. They were developed from a cross of Estonian Native horses and Swedish Ardennes and officially recognized by the Estonian government in 1953...