A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Equus ferus caballus
The Garrano, sometimes called the Minho, an ancient breed, descended from the same stock as the famous Sorraia. The Sorraia lives mainly between the two rivers Sor and Raia, while the Garrano lives in North-Portugal, so they developed differently according to their habitats. The Garrano mainly lives in the fertile regions of Minho and Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, and has probably had more outside blood influence it than the Sorraia. Genetically related to other Atlantic horse breeds, it is generally believed that the Garrano is one of the ancestors to the Galician Pony and the Andalusian. Recently, the breed has had infusions of Arabian blood, implemented by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture. This has refined the breed, but the ponies have also begun to lose some of their primitive features. The ponies are used for riding and light farm work. The military used them for pack purposes, and they are also good in harness
The Garrano is an ancient breed of horse from Galicia and northern Portugal, mainly used as a pack horse, for riding, and for light farm work
The ponies are strong and hardy, and very sure-footed with the ability to travel over steep and difficult terrain. For their size they have great speed and are used in trotting races. The pony now has some Arab-type traits, especially in the head which is fine, with a concave profile, although it can be heavy. They have a long neck set on a straight shoulder. The body is short and compact, the hindquarters muscular, and the tail low-set. They have a deep and wide chest, hard hooves, and broad joints. The pony is usually bay, chestnut or brown in colour and stands between 10 and 14 hh. These ones are working horses,that pass most of the time freely in the mountain and the owners came in the end of the summer to cache them for the winter spotted in PNPGerês,in Malhadoura montain
8 Comments
Thanks so much! :)
Emma is here as you can see :) and she is happy with your return to :)
Hi,Hi !!
Hi pyoung!!!! Welcome back!!!! :))
Is Emma still on here?
Thank you for asking. I am in graduate school for information technology and this 2nd year is very hard work. I hope to have time off at Christmas. I will be graduating in June 2013. I love horses. this is such an excellent photo.It is one of the best photos I have seen.
Thanks P.Young,nice to see you,every thing fine with you?
These horses are awesome and onlky exists here in Gerês park,there are some that leved now in a wild form(since a few decades) i know some of the places they go but is a little far but is our next spotting voyage to go to the place,lets see if we have the luck of spotting the wild group :)
Great photo!