♘امیرحسین♞
♘ مدیریت انجمن اسب ایران ♞
Ancient Origins
The Caspian is possibly the oldest domesticated horse in existence. It is the modern "reincarnation" of the ancient horse ancestor known as Horse Type 4, often referred to as the prototype Arab.
"Caspian ponies had highest genetic similarity with other Arab type breeds . . ."
'Genetic Variation and Genetic Conservation of a Rare Breed, The Caspian' E Gus Cothran, University of Kentucky (International Caspian Stud Book)
Archaeological evidence points to the existence of fine boned, small desert horses in the western Asian region up to 3,000 years ago. This small horse was considered extinct until an American resident of Iran, Louise Firouz, rediscovered this missing link in equine evolution, in 1965, in a remote region of Iran near the Caspian sea. The remnant twentieth century population of this distinctive and unique miniature horse inhabited the lower northern slopes of the Alborz mountains and the narrow coastal strip along the Caspian Sea, in a very limited region between Amol and Shahi.
Royal Horse Connections
Since the time of the ancient Persian Empire, the Caspian Horse has been associated with Royalty. Caspian type miniature horses are depicted on the Royal Seal of Darius (King of Persia 522 - 586 BC), drawing a chariot for lion hunting. These Caspian type small horses are also carved in the walls of Darius's royal residence at Persepolis, one of Iran's finest archaeological sites.
The Royal connections continued in the 20th century, with the Shah of Iran breeding Caspians near Tehran. The Shah presented a breeding pair of Caspian horses, to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1971, and these horses formed the beginnings of Caspian breeding in the UK.
Prince Philip's Caspians, Rostam and Korshid Kola*, produced a filly, Atesheh, while in quarantine in Hungary. Prince Philip also acquired the Caspian mare Momtaz-E-Mahal from Bermuda.
"The special relationship between man and horse goes back into the mists of ancient history, but we know that the people who lived in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea were among the earliest to domesticate the horse. It now seems certain that the small Caspian horses recorded in this Stud Book are the descendants of a breed whose characteristics were highly valued at the time of King Darius and recorded on many monuments of that time"
HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, Foreword, International Caspian Stud Book
Unique Attributes
The Caspian exhibits a number of anatomical characteristics unique to the breed:
* The skull has a vaulted appearance which is particularly noticeable in the young. Unlike other horses, where the inter-parietal stops before the poll, the inter-parietal bone of the Caspian continues between the parietals right to the back of the skull.
* The scapula is shaped like an isosceles triangle, and is narrower at the top and wider at the base than other breeds.
* The cannon bones are longer and slimmer to scale than in any other breed
* The first six thoracic vertebra are longer than usual. While the wither is higher than the croup, the back does not slope down, it is straight.
General Appearance
The Caspian has the appearance of an elegant horse in miniature, and averages 11 1/2 hands (46") in height. It has a fine silky coat, mane and tail, like a thoroughbred, but the mane and tail hair is usually abundant. In winter the Caspian grows a long thick coat similar to a mountain pony. The body is slim and narrow with a graceful neck, deep girth, prominent wither and sloping shoulder.
The head is short and refined, with a tapered muzzle and large nostrils. The tiny ears are noticeably "in-pricked" at the ends. The legs are very fine and the cannons are long but strong.
Temperament
A feature of the breed is its high intelligence, alertness, boldness and courage. Once a partnership has been developed they are very kind and willing. Most Caspians are real "characters". Even stallions can usually be ridden and handled by young children, and most Caspians make ideal leading rein ponies.
"They enjoy a markedly gentle disposition. . . Small children aged four to eight, have ridden together up to six stallions, both in the ring and on the desert, with no trouble controlling them. These ponies . . . are three, four and five year olds. They have the ability to go fast for hours, returning to the stable with only a mild sweat under the saddle."
'A Pony From Persia', Louise Firouz, Iran
Movement
A natural floating action at all gaits is characteristic of the Caspian movement. The long, low swinging trot and smooth rocking canter provide young riders with a "big horse" ride. The Caspian is naturally light, well balanced and agile.
". . . I am looking for a child's pony that is narrow enough for a child to sit on. I am not looking for a stuffy, over-shouldered pony. I am looking for a pony that keeps its feet reasonably near the floor. . . Conformation counts. . . I want temperament. . . I want to look at a child's pony in the ring that I would have put my own children on when they were that age, and I believe that this is what you've got."
Extracts of speech to British Caspian Society, Major Eric Worthington,
Member, National Council of British Show Pony Society, & international judge.
Performance
With the movement for dressage, a scopey jump, plus speed, agility and endurance, the Caspian is ideal as a performance horse for young riders. The Caspian is built for speed, it can keep up with an average horse at all gaits except the gallop. It is extremely fast in pony trotting races, and has a low rapid gallop. Its jumping ability is considered extraordinary. The Caspian also excels in harness.
"Despite its size, the Caspian can keep up with an average horse at all gaits other than the full gallop. It is a natural jumper of exceptional and extraordinary ability."
'The Ultimate Horse Book', Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Cross Breeding Potential
The Caspian genes for temperament, movement and athleticism are prepotent, and Caspian stallions are ideal for crossing with other breeds. Successful crosses include thoroughbreds and arabs, and also pony breeds such as Welsh, Riding Ponies and Dartmoors. Cross breeding has produced outstanding large performance ponies, galloways (14.2 - 15 hh) and small hack size (15hh +) performance horses.
". . . Cheleken Xerxes a 14.1hh chestnut gelding, half bred by Hopstone Atesh out of a thoroughbred mare . . . proved to be an outstandingly versatile and successful pony. . . His progeny all have the good temperament and incredibly scopey jump of the Caspian. Xerxes was an Open Show Hunter, qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show twice, an Open Eventer with many placings and a Grade C Show Jumper.
"Cheleken Flashback, a 5 year old 15.3hh quarter bred Caspian by Xerxes was placed last year in Novice Horse Trials and Dressage. He was placed many times in Show Hunter 'First Year Green Classes' and has been sold on to a young competition rider in Northland."
Mrs Helen Rattray, Cheleken Stud New Zealand, International Caspian Stud Book
"The Dartmoor cross that you mention is extremely successful. We have one in this country - Blue Cloud - a little mare which has been exceptionally successful at ride and drive competitions."
Brenda Dalton, Registrar, International Caspian Stud Book, UK
The Caspian is possibly the oldest domesticated horse in existence. It is the modern "reincarnation" of the ancient horse ancestor known as Horse Type 4, often referred to as the prototype Arab.
"Caspian ponies had highest genetic similarity with other Arab type breeds . . ."
'Genetic Variation and Genetic Conservation of a Rare Breed, The Caspian' E Gus Cothran, University of Kentucky (International Caspian Stud Book)
Archaeological evidence points to the existence of fine boned, small desert horses in the western Asian region up to 3,000 years ago. This small horse was considered extinct until an American resident of Iran, Louise Firouz, rediscovered this missing link in equine evolution, in 1965, in a remote region of Iran near the Caspian sea. The remnant twentieth century population of this distinctive and unique miniature horse inhabited the lower northern slopes of the Alborz mountains and the narrow coastal strip along the Caspian Sea, in a very limited region between Amol and Shahi.
Royal Horse Connections
Since the time of the ancient Persian Empire, the Caspian Horse has been associated with Royalty. Caspian type miniature horses are depicted on the Royal Seal of Darius (King of Persia 522 - 586 BC), drawing a chariot for lion hunting. These Caspian type small horses are also carved in the walls of Darius's royal residence at Persepolis, one of Iran's finest archaeological sites.
The Royal connections continued in the 20th century, with the Shah of Iran breeding Caspians near Tehran. The Shah presented a breeding pair of Caspian horses, to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1971, and these horses formed the beginnings of Caspian breeding in the UK.
Prince Philip's Caspians, Rostam and Korshid Kola*, produced a filly, Atesheh, while in quarantine in Hungary. Prince Philip also acquired the Caspian mare Momtaz-E-Mahal from Bermuda.
"The special relationship between man and horse goes back into the mists of ancient history, but we know that the people who lived in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea were among the earliest to domesticate the horse. It now seems certain that the small Caspian horses recorded in this Stud Book are the descendants of a breed whose characteristics were highly valued at the time of King Darius and recorded on many monuments of that time"
HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, Foreword, International Caspian Stud Book
Unique Attributes
The Caspian exhibits a number of anatomical characteristics unique to the breed:
* The skull has a vaulted appearance which is particularly noticeable in the young. Unlike other horses, where the inter-parietal stops before the poll, the inter-parietal bone of the Caspian continues between the parietals right to the back of the skull.
* The scapula is shaped like an isosceles triangle, and is narrower at the top and wider at the base than other breeds.
* The cannon bones are longer and slimmer to scale than in any other breed
* The first six thoracic vertebra are longer than usual. While the wither is higher than the croup, the back does not slope down, it is straight.
General Appearance
The Caspian has the appearance of an elegant horse in miniature, and averages 11 1/2 hands (46") in height. It has a fine silky coat, mane and tail, like a thoroughbred, but the mane and tail hair is usually abundant. In winter the Caspian grows a long thick coat similar to a mountain pony. The body is slim and narrow with a graceful neck, deep girth, prominent wither and sloping shoulder.
The head is short and refined, with a tapered muzzle and large nostrils. The tiny ears are noticeably "in-pricked" at the ends. The legs are very fine and the cannons are long but strong.
Temperament
A feature of the breed is its high intelligence, alertness, boldness and courage. Once a partnership has been developed they are very kind and willing. Most Caspians are real "characters". Even stallions can usually be ridden and handled by young children, and most Caspians make ideal leading rein ponies.
"They enjoy a markedly gentle disposition. . . Small children aged four to eight, have ridden together up to six stallions, both in the ring and on the desert, with no trouble controlling them. These ponies . . . are three, four and five year olds. They have the ability to go fast for hours, returning to the stable with only a mild sweat under the saddle."
'A Pony From Persia', Louise Firouz, Iran
Movement
A natural floating action at all gaits is characteristic of the Caspian movement. The long, low swinging trot and smooth rocking canter provide young riders with a "big horse" ride. The Caspian is naturally light, well balanced and agile.
". . . I am looking for a child's pony that is narrow enough for a child to sit on. I am not looking for a stuffy, over-shouldered pony. I am looking for a pony that keeps its feet reasonably near the floor. . . Conformation counts. . . I want temperament. . . I want to look at a child's pony in the ring that I would have put my own children on when they were that age, and I believe that this is what you've got."
Extracts of speech to British Caspian Society, Major Eric Worthington,
Member, National Council of British Show Pony Society, & international judge.
Performance
With the movement for dressage, a scopey jump, plus speed, agility and endurance, the Caspian is ideal as a performance horse for young riders. The Caspian is built for speed, it can keep up with an average horse at all gaits except the gallop. It is extremely fast in pony trotting races, and has a low rapid gallop. Its jumping ability is considered extraordinary. The Caspian also excels in harness.
"Despite its size, the Caspian can keep up with an average horse at all gaits other than the full gallop. It is a natural jumper of exceptional and extraordinary ability."
'The Ultimate Horse Book', Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Cross Breeding Potential
The Caspian genes for temperament, movement and athleticism are prepotent, and Caspian stallions are ideal for crossing with other breeds. Successful crosses include thoroughbreds and arabs, and also pony breeds such as Welsh, Riding Ponies and Dartmoors. Cross breeding has produced outstanding large performance ponies, galloways (14.2 - 15 hh) and small hack size (15hh +) performance horses.
". . . Cheleken Xerxes a 14.1hh chestnut gelding, half bred by Hopstone Atesh out of a thoroughbred mare . . . proved to be an outstandingly versatile and successful pony. . . His progeny all have the good temperament and incredibly scopey jump of the Caspian. Xerxes was an Open Show Hunter, qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show twice, an Open Eventer with many placings and a Grade C Show Jumper.
"Cheleken Flashback, a 5 year old 15.3hh quarter bred Caspian by Xerxes was placed last year in Novice Horse Trials and Dressage. He was placed many times in Show Hunter 'First Year Green Classes' and has been sold on to a young competition rider in Northland."
Mrs Helen Rattray, Cheleken Stud New Zealand, International Caspian Stud Book
"The Dartmoor cross that you mention is extremely successful. We have one in this country - Blue Cloud - a little mare which has been exceptionally successful at ride and drive competitions."
Brenda Dalton, Registrar, International Caspian Stud Book, UK
