Ariegeois pony

Infobox Horse
name= Ariegeois


image_caption= Ariegeois Pony
features =
altname= Merens
nickname=
country= France (Ariège)
group1=
std1=

The Ariegeois pony, also known as the Merens, is a breed of mountain pony that is noted for being cold hardy and sturdy. It is native to the Pyrenees and Ariegeois mountains of Spain and southern France, where the Ariège River flows. Thought to have originated in prehistoric times, the domesticated pony was used for work in mines and for hauling timber.

Characteristics

This pony is very similar to the English Dales Pony. It is always black. White markings are rare, although there is occasionally white flecking on the flanks. During the winter the breed develops a distinctive reddish cast to their coatcite web
title = Ariegeois Horse
url = http://www.horsedirectory.com.au/horseresources/horsesofworld/Ariegeois.html
work = Horse Directory of Australia
accessmonthday=December 15 | accessyear=2007] . The Ariegeois stands at 13-14.1 hands high, and weighs 770-1,100 lbs. The breed has a head that is small and refined, a neck that is strong and short, a long back, a solid shoulder, and well-rounded hindquarterscite web
title = Merens
url = http://cowboyfrank.net/fortvalley/breeds/Merens.htm
work = Horse Breeds
accessmonthday=December 15 | accessyear=2007] .

History

The origins of the Ariegeois are thought to be remote, and almost certainly influenced by Arabian bloodlines. The breed is native to the Ariege Pyrenees, and the Merens name comes from a village high in the mountains near Andorra. Cave paintings at Niaux are strikingly similar to the Ariegeois. The breed was long used by both farmers and soldiers throughout the Middle Ages and later with Napolean during his Russian campaign.cite web
title = Merens Pony
url = http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/
work = Oklahoma State University
accessmonthday=December 15 | accessyear=2007] . Selection for the current breed began in 1908.

In the past Ariegeois were used to haul timber and minerals in southwest France, and today they are used for trekking in mountainous areas.cite book
last = Bongianni
first = Maurizio
title = Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies
publisher = Simon & Schuster, Inc.
date = 1988
pages = p. 150
isbn = 0671660683] . They are also popular with native Ariegeois farmers for their hardiness and disease resistance.

ee also

*Pony
*List of horse breeds

References

External links

* [http://www.horsedirectory.com.au/horseresources/horsesofworld/Ariegeois.html Ariegeois Horse]
* [http://cowboyfrank.net/fortvalley/breeds/Merens.htm Merens]
* [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/ Merens Pony]