British Spotted Pony
British breed of pony
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The British Spotted Pony is a British breed of pony characterised by a spotted coat.[4]: 447 [5]: 46 The height at the withers does not exceed 147 cm.
- not over 147 cm[4]: 447
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Standard | British Spotted Pony Society |
| Traits | |
| Height |
|
History
The presence of spotted horses in parts of Europe from Iberia to Turkey is documented in manuscripts and tapestries as far back as the Middle Ages.[6]: 57 Among the many European breeds that can have a spotted coat is a strain of the Welsh Pony.[6]: 57 A document from 1298 mentions that Edward I of England had a spotted Welsh horse;[7]: 63 a spotted Welsh Cob stallion was foaled in 1916.[7]: 149
The British Spotted Pony descends from indigenous Celtic ponies, particularly from south-west England and from Wales.[4]: 447 A breed society, the British Spotted Horse and Pony Society, was formed in 1946. In 1976 the British Spotted Horse – though unconnected to the Appaloosa breed of the United States – was renamed to British Appaloosa, and the breed society split. The British Spotted Pony Society was formed in that year.[5]: 46
It may be a rare breed: one source gives a total number of 800 for it.[5]: 46 It is reported to DAD-IS, but no population data has ever been entered;[2] it is not on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.[3]
Characteristics
The pony carries the genes for the spotted colouring, which may produce coats of varying patterns; other characteristics associated with the pattern, such as mottled pink skin on the muzzle and at the natural openings, white sclera of the eyes, and striped hooves, are also seen.[8] Solid-coloured animals with demonstrable Spotted Pony ancestry are registered in a separate section of the stud-book; ponies with piebald or skewbald coat patterns are disqualified from registration.[8]
It is robust and hardy, with typical pony conformation. The eyes are large, the ears small, and the mane and tail usually abundant.[5]: 46 The height at the withers may not exceed 147 cm (14.2 h).[4]: 447