INTRODUCING THE CASPIAN... THE ROYAL PONY FROM PERSIA

Native to Iran, the Caspian Pony is considered one of the most ancient domestic breeds of horse in existence. The Caspian is pony size (10hh to 13hh), however extensive DNA research has been conducted proving that the Caspian is genetically a horse rather than a pony. Because of this research, the Caspian is usually referred to as a horse rather than as a pony, by the breed societies around the world. The Caspian Horse is likely to be one of the primary genetic foundations for modern equine breeds.

It is generally accepted that just prior to the domestication of the horse, four equine sub-species were in existence. There were two pony types and two horse types. The last of these, Horse Type 4, was the smallest of all, but was proportionally a horse. It was the most refined of the four. Its present day equivalent is the Caspian Horse.

Though nearly extinct during the middle of this century, the Caspian was saved through the efforts of Louise Firouz, an American living in Iran. Her work to conserve the Caspian in Iran and to establish herds in England was essential to the Caspian's global survival.

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has classified the Caspian Horse status as "critical". The Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the United Kingdom has listed the Caspian Horse on its Endangered Species List.

Caspian Horses were recorded in history around 550 B.C. on the seal of King Darius. The most famous artifacts are the stone frieze on the staircase of the Palace of Persepolis, the tri-lingual seal of King Darius the Great, and the Gold Oxus Treasure of Darabgird, all depicting small refined horses pulling chariots dating back to the fifth and sixth century B.C. To prove their fitness to rule, Persian Kings would kill lions, which were captured and released into amphitheaters. At these events, the small and agile Caspian would have been the premier choice to pull the chariots. After the Moslem conquest of Persia in 627 A.D., Caspian Horses disappeared from history for over 1,300 years.

      

REDISCOVERY IN IRAN

Thought to be extinct, the Caspian was rediscovered in 1965. Louise Firouz encountered a herd of approximately 30 horses sequestered in a remote area along the Caspian coast of northern Iran. On her first expedition three horses were rescued. Between 1965 and 1968, Louise Firouz determined that there were approximately 50 small horses with definite Caspian characteristics along the entire southern coast of the Caspian Sea. She collected another seven mares and six stallions to form the Foundation Stock and began the an organized breeding program. After extensive blood, bone, and DNA tests, genetic specialists concluded that Louise Firouz's discovery was indeed the same horse species depicted in ancient Persian artwork.

In 1970, Prince Reza Pahlavi formed the Royal Horse Society of Iran, to preserve Iran's native breeds. The Royal Horse Society allowed the Caspian Horses to remain with Louise Firouz until 1974, at which time they took over management of the herd of Foundation Stock.

Political unrest in Iran prompted Louise Firouz to begin searching for any horses of Caspian type that may have survived the effects of famine and war. In 1975, she started another herd of 20 mares and 3 stallions.

On January 1, 1977, all Caspian Horses were seized by the Imperial Government of Iran and the Royal Horse Society declared a ban on exports of the Caspian Horse.

During the Iran/Iraq war (1980-1988), the Iranian Royal Horse Society dispersed of all their Caspian Horses, selling them for meat and using them to run across mine fields to clear paths for the soldiers. After the war, Louise Firouz began yet another breeding center. In 1992 there were only 38 registered Caspian Horses in Iran. In 1993, an emergency evacuation was arranged to bring seven of these horses to England. The horses traveled through the Azeri-Armenian war zone, survived a trek through Russia, and quarantine in Belarus, before arriving in England eight months later. These proud and brave little horses may be the last Caspian Horses to leave Iran. United States law prevents importation of Iranian born animals.


SURVIVAL SECURE WITH EXPORTS TO ENGLAND

In 1971, on a visit to Iran, H.R.H. Prince Philip became intrigued with Caspian Horses after Louise Firouz told him the story of their discovery and her attempt to re-establish the breed. During the course of the conversation, it occurred to Prince Philip that all Louise Firouz's work would be at risk if any disease or other misfortune were to hit her small stud. He offered to look after any Caspian's she might care to send to England. To establish the breed outside of Iran, Louise Firouz presented a pair of Caspian's to H.R.H. Prince Philip, the foundation mare, "Khorshid Kola*", and the stallion, "Rostam".

Due to quarantine laws, it took two years for the horses to reach England from Iran, during which time the filly, "Atesheh", was born. Two mares and a stallion were exported to Bermuda. Between 1971 and 1976, nine stallions and seventeen mares were brought to England and the horses in Bermuda were reunited with those already in England. Some of this stock was subsequently exported to Australia and New Zealand.

As events in Iran unfolded over the next thirty years, this worldwide movement of breeding stock proved to be instrumental in saving the Caspian Horse from extinction. The descendants of those original Iranian exports now form the greater part of the breed as recorded by the International Caspian Society Registry.


THE CASPIAN DOWN UNDER

In 1975, three mares were exported from England to Australia. The Caspian stallion "Ruba II" was also sold to a breeder in Australia in 1975. "Ruba II" won the Supreme Pony Stallion Champion at the Third Salon du Cheval in Paris in 1974. Additional Caspian's were exported to Australia in 1978.

There is only one Caspian Horse breeder in New Zealand, the Cheleken Stud. Cheleken imported the stallion "Hopstone Atesh" in 1977. This outstanding stallion is out of the foundation mare "Khorshid Kola*" owned by H.R.H. Prince Philip. In 1984 the New Zealand Horse Breeding Association approved "Hopstone Atesh" to stand at stud as a Riding Pony Stallion. Cheleken Stud is very well known in New Zealand for producing top competition ponies, all of which are either pure or part-bred Caspian Horses.

"Hopstone Atesh" has sired numerous hunter/jumper pony champions and was awarded the New Zealand Pony Society Progeny Award in 1997 and 1998.


THE CASPIAN IN AMERICA

The first Caspian Horse imported to the United States was Jehan*, a stallion brought to Virginia in 1966; he died in 1993 without having sired any purebred offspring. A second stallion, Mehregan, was imported in 1973; he also died without siring any purebred offspring. In May of 1994, two stallions and five mares were imported into the United States from England, and since then, the U.S. population has grown dramatically.

There are approximately 500 Caspian Horses in the world, with approximately 200 in the United States. American breeders have imported stock from England, Australia, New Zealand, and Belgium, representing most bloodlines available outside of Iran. The United States embargo of Iran makes it impossible for Americans to import horses directly from that country. The enthusiasm of American breeders has been remarkable, with nearly every filly or mare available for sale worldwide finding a new home in the United States.

THE FUTURE

The status of the Caspian Horse is now very secure because of the responsible breeding practices of early breeders. It is still important that breeders continue to manage this genetic treasure with care. There is now sufficient breeding stock and the first U.S. foal crops are now three and four years old, and ready for training. Caspian Horses will soon be making their presence known in the show ring.

BREED DESCRIPTION

Although standing between 10hh to 13 hh, the Caspian is considered a horse. The overall impression is a proportionate well-bred small horse. The Caspian has natural and floating action - like that of horses rather than the choppy gaits often associated with ponies. The walk and trot are long striding, the canter is smooth, and the gallop is very rapid. The Caspian is able to keep up with an average size horse at all gaits, other than the full gallop. Its appearance is distinctive, for though small in size, it has horse proportions. The body is slim and close coupled with a deep girth; the legs are deceptively slim with dense, strong bone and little or no feathering at the fetlock; the back is straight; the tail is usually carried high; ears are very small and often curve inward; the eyes are almond shaped and often very prominent. The coat, mane, and tail, are fine and silky, never coarse. Principal colors are bay, gray, and chestnut, with occasional blacks and creams. White markings may occur on the face and lower legs.

Research indicates that the Caspian is the far-off ancestor (by possibly 3,000 years) of the Arabian Horse, and would therefore be the forerunner to the hot-blooded horses of today. It has physical characteristics different to other equines. There is an extra molar in the upper jaw, a pronounced difference in the shape of the scapula, and a different formation of the parietal bones in the head. The hoof is narrow and oval and rarely needs shoeing. The frog is less pronounced in the Caspian than in other horse breeds.