ribbons
Well-Known Member
Tonight (weds 21st) BBC 4 at 9pm.
The search for the pure Appaloosa.
Might be interesting.
The search for the pure Appaloosa.
Might be interesting.
To be pedantic, all horses have sclera, it's whether or not the 'white' of the eye is pigmented that is the issue. However, I don't think that the white sclera issue is that important really. Both of my purebred arabians have white sclera (the grey has completely black skin, so has no 'pinto/coloured' gene) and I believe that Peter Upton discusses sclera colour and the ancient strains of arabian horse in one of his books, but I haven't read it myself.Sclera was also mentioned as an Appaloosa trait. Many coloured horses also have sclera. So are coloured horses the ancestors of appaloosas, or vice versa.
To be pedantic, all horses have sclera, it's whether or not the 'white' of the eye is pigmented that is the issue. However, I don't think that the white sclera issue is that important really. Both of my purebred arabians have white sclera (the grey has completely black skin, so has no 'pinto/coloured' gene) and I believe that Peter Upton discusses sclera colour and the ancient strains of arabian horse in one of his books, but I haven't read it myself.
I think it would be very intetesting to DNA test other Asian breeds and the Icelandic ponies to see how closely related they are. Maybe appies have more than one origin?The official history of the horse for example States that they originated and evolved in north america and spread into Asia via the land bridge where humans tamed them and then followed them back to america to become the first natives, before the land bridge disappeared. The horse then became suddenly became extint in america until the Spanish arrived. Problem with this story is that there are contemporary accounts by explorers and settlers that say there were thousands of horses in north america when they arrived. As the lady on the TV programme pointed out, that just doesn't happen over night so either they didn't really become extinct or there was a second crossing some how. Hell we know the vikings made it to north america and canada, and they used to bring ponies with them on their little ships, who's to say they didn't bring the original appies with them!
https://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/indian-horses-before-columbus/
Food for thought. Who to believe?
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