Horse and Pony Breeds; The Shagya Arab

Dear Readers,

Here is the third part of my geography project, horse and pony breeds of the world.

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The Shagya Arab is much the same as the Arab, they would be the next eldest kind of Arab too. The reason I chose them was because the reason they look slightly different from the Arab of the Arabian Peninsula. They do because of the climate they live in, in Hungary.

Colour: Mostly grey(s) but can be other solid colours.

Features: bigger than the Arab with more substance and bone, pronounced withers, more sloping shoulder and correct hind legs.

Found in north west Hungary in Bábolna, where for 1000years has been producing strong animals. Its climate and quality vegetation ensure this. Hungary has a temperate continental climate with Mediterranean and Atlantic influences. May, June and November are the rainiest months and July is the hottest month (average temperature 23.2° C) and January the coldest (-1.3° C). The average annual temperature is 11° C. This climate provides lush vegetation which encourages growth, also the colder climate (compared to the Arabian peninsula) explains the increase in their body muscle, and bone density.

A stud in Bábolna founded in 1789 is where all the purebreds are kept to ensure the quality of the breed. They are also breed all around the world. The FEI World Champion 2009 was a pure breed Shagya Arab, so this shows they are excellent showjumping and event horses. They are very popular breed of horse in the showjumping world especially in the U.S.A.

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Thank you,
Roisin.P.

Horse and Pony Breeds; The Anglo Arab

Dear Readers,
Here is the second part to my geography project. The first was the Arab now here is the Anglo-Arab of England and France.

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Height: 16-16.3hh`

Colour: Bay, Black, Grey, Brown
Use: Riding, Racing, Competition
Features: A tough athletic horse with an outline that tends toward the Thoroughbred; straight head profile (than concave), well sloped shoulders, prominent withers. Frame is more solid than a Thoroughbred and the croup is longer. has great jumping ability and well suited to dressage.

The Anglo-Arab is usually a cross of a Arab stallion and TB mare. British stud books require 12.5% Arab blood, but the French requires 25%.

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Ideally the Anglo-Arab would have the Arab qualities and soundness, endurance and stamia along with the size and some speed of the TB, though without the excitable manner. The athletic body and height of a TB gives them their speed, this is what you look for in an Anglo-Arab.

TBs have Arab connections. They were brought over to emprove the pureness of the TB bloodlines and to refine the breed. This made them less prone to disease, mature quicker and increse stamina. Over this process became the Anglo-Arab.

This shows how far the Arab has travelled around the world emproving breeds. The stamina and not being prone to disease are the most saught after traits in Europe because the climate in countries like Britian doesn't encourage good stamina because it's so mild. Also the fact that Europe has very little poisonous plants, animals and dieseases horse breeds arent exposed to them so they can't fight them off like the Arab can, also the pureness of the Arab can limit the amount of genetic disorders and diseases passed on in a breed.

Thanking you,
Roisin.P.

Horse and Pony Breeds; The Arab.

Dear Readers,

Here is the first of five points in my geography project about Horse and Pony Breeds. This is about the Arabian Horse.

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The Arab is known as one of the purest and one of the oldest breeds, 4500years, in the world today. They come from the Arabian Penisula in the Middle east. The geography and climate of this area has ensured their purity.

They have distinctive features; sliky coat, tail carried high and arched in movement, compact body with a short concave back, long level croup, long slender legs with short canons; a dished head that tapers to the muzzle, large flared nostrils, and large intelligant eyes.

There features and skills are all adaptions to the hot desert climate of the Middle East. They do not need a thick coat, therefore they have a light one all year round. The compact body and level croup giving them driving power and stamina, and the long legs mean they can cover more distance in one stride. The short canons mean the Arab can power it's way better over the desert sand, using less energy. The large nostrils help them circulate more oxygen around the body, again improving stamina and performance. The fact that Arabs are used to cover a lot of ground and in a hot climate means it has adapted itself to do so. They were used on the silk road and for long distance racing because they have the adapted features.

They are used for riding, competition, transport and the improve and refrine other breeds. Many of today's horse breeds contain Arab blood like the Thoroughbred, Akele Tehe or the Lipizzaner. The Arab is said to come from the founding Stallion Hoshaba and the founging Mare Baz, both captured at Yemen by Bax.

By 700AD Islamic armies occupied Persia, Turkey, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Spain, Northern Egypt and North Africa. This spread of Islam meant the spread and increased popularity of the breed, even Napolean's horse waas a grey Arab, Marengo. All the best Stallions and Mares were  brought to Damascus in Syria, the capital of Islam, for selective breeding.

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Other variations of the breed began to appear; Egyptian Arab, Polish Arab, Shagya Arab and the Anglo-Arab.

The Arab still remains to be a big part of the breeding world of horses and is one of my favorite breeds.

Hope you learned something!,
Roisin.P.

New Geography Project.

Dear Readers,
We have to do a Geography project using Google Maps and Blogger. I have chosen the subject Horse and Pony Breeds. I like horses and I think it is interesting how some of them have adapted to their surrounding climate and geographical area, how far across the world they have travelled or how important they can be to a local economy. Here's my map:

The breeds I chose are:

The Arab (Arabian Penisula), the Shagya Arab (Hungrary), the Anglo-Arab (Britian and France), the Shetland Pony (Shetland and Orkney Isles, Scotland), and the Baskir Pony (Ural Mountains, near Kazakhstan).

Terminoloy for those non horsey people:

hh - "hands high", how horses and ponies are measured. 1hand = 4inchs

Features - 'looks' that are specific to a breed

Pack - a horse/pony used to carry things like seaweed turf bricks or coal in baskets or bags across their back.

Harness - used to pull farm machinery like a plough.

Ride/Saddle - competition or leisure ride horses/ponies.

Transport - either used in the saddle, pull a sledge or coach.

Stallion - male horse/pony
Mare - female horse/pony

Stud book - a book where breeding Stallions and Mares are signed becuase they have the specific features to a breed, ensuring quality of breeds.

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Hope you enjoy my project,

Roisin.P.

Easter Hols Are Over! :(

Dear Readers,
This Tuesday we returned back to school for our last 4 weeks of school and of TY! I can't believe it's nearly over, and don't I know it! We have an graduation night to prepare and several end of year projects and of course and good few summer test (just to prove we actually did class work!...joke!).

I'm really excited for summer though and I've lots planned. I still have my Geography, History and Science projects to finish and we have to put together a whole ceremony for grad night! I'm in charge of sound on the night, aswell as doing the MiniCompany and English stands!

The other class are organising hoodies for us and they are putting together a video for incoming TY's, so they have an idea what to expect from TY, though I think that was half the fun!Looking back on all my blogs and work I can see how much we have done and achived this year! We did so much more than I expected and we did it all well. I'm still having so much fun and I know it won't stop till the very last minuet.

It will be sad to leave TY, I will definetly shed a tear or two. I'm so greatly for all that I've experianced and learned, for my new friends and the chance to grow closer with old friends to.

I want to know what your favorite moment or trip in TY? I have to say going to Cork or the drumming workshop!

Let me know,
Roisin.P.