Sable Island Pony

The first horses on Sable Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada were brought to the island during the late 1700s. Many people believe that they arrived on the island from off of the many shipwrecks, however, this romantic notion is false - they were in fact intentionally left on Sable to graze and multiply, and were most likely stolen from the Acadians during their expulsion from Nova Scotia. Although often referred to as ponies due to their small size, they have a horse phenotype.

History

One of the first horses on the island for which there was a record of importation was the stallion, Jolly, who was taken there in 1801.cite book
last = Hendricks
first = Bonnie L
authorlink =
coauthors = Anthony A. Dent
title = International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds
publisher = University of OklahomaPress
date = 2007
location =
pages = 486
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 080613884X] The ancestry of the horses is unknown, but they owe some debt to the Spanish horse.

Breed Characteristics

The horses that remain on Sable Island are feral, but in the past, those exported to the mainland were tamed to ride, and said to be excellent, tough and enduring, and able to travel with ease on any terrain. Present day horses are all very hardy and thrive in an inhospitable environment. The herds are not managed, nor subject to human interference and so exhibit a range of characteristics. In general, they have nice heads with a straight or convex profile and are short, stocky and muscular in frame. Their coats are mostly dark colours, but some do exhibit white markings; there are no grays.

ee also

* List of horse breeds

References

External links

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9801E0DD1F39E433A2575AC2A9619C94649ED7CF Wild Ponies of Sable Island] - archived 1895 article from the The Halifax (N.S.) Herald.
* [http://www.greenhorsesociety.com/Horses/Horses.htm Green Horse Society - Sable Island Horses]