Garron
Encyclopedia
A garron or garran is a type of horse
. The term occurs in Scotland
and in Ireland
, and generally refers to an undersized and much-despised beast.
In Scotland a Garron is one of the types of Highland pony
. It is the larger, heavier type bred on the mainland. The isles' type of Highland pony is generally smaller and lightly finer, but still within the bred standard. There is less difference today than there once was between these two types.
The phrase Garron was also use to describe a highland cross of a Clydesdale horse used in farming, especially in the highlands and isles where a full size Clydesdale would not have been as economical.
Also, see garrano
, an ancient Portuguese
breed of pony.
In "MacBeth The King" by Nigel Tranter, a garron is one of the larger war horses used by knights wearing heavy armor, as opposed to a "birlinn" -- a smaller, finer boned, faster horse, usually of Arabian descent. The word garron is also mentioned a number of times in George R.R. Martin's novels in A Song of Ice and Fire
, the fantasy series which began with A Game of Thrones
. There the context implied that it was a small, hardy breed of pony suitable for use in cold, mountainous areas, generally to the North near The Wall.
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
. The term occurs in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and generally refers to an undersized and much-despised beast.
In Scotland a Garron is one of the types of Highland pony
Highland Pony
The Highland Pony is a native Scottish pony, and is one of the largest of the mountain and moorland pony breeds of the British Isles. Its pedigree dates back to the 1880s...
. It is the larger, heavier type bred on the mainland. The isles' type of Highland pony is generally smaller and lightly finer, but still within the bred standard. There is less difference today than there once was between these two types.
The phrase Garron was also use to describe a highland cross of a Clydesdale horse used in farming, especially in the highlands and isles where a full size Clydesdale would not have been as economical.
Also, see garrano
Garrano
The Garrano is an ancient breed of horse from Galicia and northern Portugal, mainly used as a pack horse, for riding, and for light farm work.-Breed history:...
, an ancient Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
breed of pony.
In "MacBeth The King" by Nigel Tranter, a garron is one of the larger war horses used by knights wearing heavy armor, as opposed to a "birlinn" -- a smaller, finer boned, faster horse, usually of Arabian descent. The word garron is also mentioned a number of times in George R.R. Martin's novels in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began writing the series in 1991 and the first volume was published in 1996. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series now consists of five published volumes; a further two...
, the fantasy series which began with A Game of Thrones
A Game of Thrones
A Game of Thrones is the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on 6 August 1996. The novel won the 1997 Locus Award, and was nominated for both the 1998 Nebula Award and the 1997 World Fantasy Award...
. There the context implied that it was a small, hardy breed of pony suitable for use in cold, mountainous areas, generally to the North near The Wall.