Pinto mare. Characteristics of the Pinto breed. Such a different breed

The pinto horse is the pride of American breeders. Although, in fact, animals with such a coloration are not a separate breed, the owners of such horses treat them extremely reverently and with special care. And the reason here lies not only in the original appearance of the horse, but also in the historical attitude towards it.

Breeding history

To date, reliable facts about the origin of this breed line have not been found. In this regard, researchers put forward a number of theories in which they point to the probable homeland of such horses. Most opinions agree that pintos are natives of Spain. This is evidenced by the name of the breed. It comes from the word "pintado", which is translated into Russian as "painted".

But whether this variety really appeared on Spanish lands is a moot point. In some surviving monuments of ancient Egyptian culture, there is evidence of the use of horses in everyday life, which are extremely similar in description to the pinto. Such evidence dates back to the 4th millennium BC. e.

Separate images of the ancestors of the breed have also been found in the Middle East. They were immortalized by ancient people in rock paintings in caves.

The appearance of the breed in America

Most likely, scientists will not succeed in obtaining accurate information about the origin of these animals. But on the other hand, the further history of the breed, starting from the 16th century, is clearly spelled out in the sources and has survived to this day.

In the 15th century, spotted pinto horses were highly valued in Europe. They were the pride of the nobility, and were also included in the personal collections of emperors and kings. But with the advent of the Andalusian and Thoroughbred horse breeds, which were distinguished by outstanding speed qualities and endurance, the popularity of skewbald horses gradually declined.

Pet owners were looking for any way to get rid of pintos that had lost popularity. This opportunity was provided by the expedition of Hernando Cortes, who arrived in America in 1519. The conquistadors brought with them a large number of spotted horses, which were outlandish for the local population and attracted great interest.

The native population of America admired the agility, endurance and camouflage abilities (it was quite difficult to see them in the thickets) of such animals. They were extolled and carefully bred in the tribes. Based on the piebald horses brought by the conquistadors, even the local Appaloosa breed was bred.

Reference. Over time, many Americans began to consider piebald pintos as a true symbol of the Wild West. That is why even today an extremely reverent attitude towards these animals has been preserved.

External Features

Since the pinto is not a separate breed, but rather a certain type of animal color, it is quite difficult to choose specific appearance standards for them. There are several generally recognized types of such horses. Moreover, the entire livestock is divided in accordance with two main classifications.

The first suggests a difference in height. In this regard, three types of animal appearance are distinguished:

Miniature horses, whose height does not exceed 86 cm.
A category of ponies that includes pinto horses. At the withers, they reach only 142 cm.
Ordinary horses. This group includes all horses with a height of over 142 cm.

The second classification involves a division based on the breed and purpose of the horse. It includes the following types:

Horse. This category includes piebald representatives of Scottish ponies, American trotters, Hackney and some other breeds.
Walking. This type suggests a particularly beautiful exterior of animals. These include Morgan horses and purebred spotted Arabian horses.
Hunting. It includes purebred piebalds as well as Welsh ponies.
Characteristic. Many American breeders believe that this type best conveys the conformation features of true pintos. It is believed that their appearance is the same as that of the horses brought to America by Cortes.

Concerning common features, which allow you to attribute the horse to the pinto breed, then spotting is the main one among them. The body of such a horse suggests a black or piebald base color. But extensive white spots are scattered throughout the body, which create heterogeneity in color. It is worth noting that the difference in colors affects not only the coat, but also the skin of the animal. Under a layer of hairs of the main color, it has a gray color. Under white spots, the skin is colored pink.

In addition to the basic combinations of bay and white and black and white, pintos also often have colors that combine three colors at once.

Suits and subspecies of color

Despite the general piebaldness, a number of different colors stand out within the Pinto breed, suggesting their own characteristics. So all breed excuses are divided into two main types:

Tobiano. With this color, white spots are located throughout the body, often passing through the spine of the animal. In this case, only the head remains painted exclusively in the main color. The reason for the manifestation of this color is a gene, which is also called tobiano.
Overo. Spotting in this case is also caused by the gene of the same name. But unlike the previous suit, white spots can be located throughout the body and even on the head. The only exception is the spine, which they never cross.

The color with the predominant overo gene, in turn, suggests several more color subspecies. These include:

Frame overo. In animals with this color, white spots are horizontal stripes of different widths (sometimes they occupy the entire side of the animal). Such stripes run along the body, neck and head of the horse. A unique feature of this coloring is also the blue eyes of the animal.
Splashed white overo. In this case, the head of the animal is a solid white spot. The tail is also white. In addition, an extensive white spot covers most of the body. Sometimes the main color of such horses appears only on the ridge and ears.
Sabino overo. This coloring is considered the most original. With this coloring, the muzzle and Bottom part the legs of the horse are painted solid white, and small light spots are scattered all over the body. Often this coloration is accompanied by partial or complete deafness of the animal.

A frame overo gene can be inherited in a homozygous or heterozygous state. In the first case, the foals die within a few hours. Only babies with an inherited heterozygous state of the gene remain viable.

It is also worth noting that sometimes more bizarre colors appear in foals. So, a baby can inherit both the tobiano and overo genes from their parents. In this case, the born young animals are classified as a separate category of "tovero", the representatives of which carry the features of both colors.

arrangement of a warm, dry stable with individual stalls for each animal and soft bedding;
the presence of an extensive walking area on which the animal can run freely;
combining a walking area with a pasture where a horse can not only run, but also graze;
3-4 meals a day.

The process of caring for an animal also does not involve any particular difficulties. It includes the following points:

daily replacement of dirty bedding of the animal, as well as cleaning the feeder and drinker;
general cleaning of the stall and stable, which is carried out once a week;
daily cleaning of wool and hooves of the animal;
neat combing of the mane with a special comb;
carrying out, in parallel with combing out the wool, examining the body of the horse for injuries, wounds and signs of a developing disease;
occasional bathing of the horse.

Attention! It is mandatory to vaccinate animals against diseases characteristic of the region.

Also important point is an examination of the condition of the teeth and oral cavity of the horse, which is carried out every six months. When identifying problems with the teeth, a veterinarian specializing in this direction is called to the animal.

Value in the market

Until recently, pinto horses were valued quite low among breeders. The reason for this was their non-purebred pedigree. But today, thanks to the work of breeders, this problem has been eliminated, and therefore the breed, which is distinguished by its original elegant exterior, has gained well-deserved popularity. Many breeders from all over the world seek to buy such a horse for themselves.

This horse is quite expensive. But a specific amount is determined by a number of parameters, including:

the presence of sports achievements;
pedigree;
the degree of purity of the breed;
health status;
gender of the animal.

Such horses are popular today not only in equestrian sports. They are widely used in the film industry, attracted to work in agriculture, grown as ornamental, to participate in various exhibitions. Quite often, such horses can be found in equestrian tourism.

Pinto horses have a long and rather obscure history. Their origin is not known for sure. But despite this, they have become a real source of pride for the American people. The reason for this is the bright exotic exterior of animals, as well as a calm, meek disposition and outstanding working qualities.

The whole world knows the special, almost irrational love of Americans for colored horses. And although skewbald and spotted animals have been known since ancient times, only in the USA have they become an officially recognized part of the cultural heritage. Today we will focus on one of the most unusual American breeds - pinto horses.

Colored Americans

Strictly speaking, a pinto is not a breed, but just a designation for a specific color. No more and no less. However, if you tell an American about this, he will immediately be offended. And not because he does not understand the difference between a piebald Morgan and a piebald Arab. No, it's just that in the USA they are so reverent about the registration, conservation and breeding of spotted horses that all of them willy-nilly begin to be perceived as one breed - the pinto breed. What is it?
The name comes from the Spanish word Pintado, which means "painted". This is a heterogeneous group of riding horses, predominantly of Spanish origin, differing from the rest in the presence of piebaldness. I must say that disputes about the origin of pinto horses have been ongoing among scientists for a long time and have not subsided so far. Some researchers believe that the Middle East is the birthplace of these animals, because the images of spotted horses here date back to the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. Others insist that their roots should be sought in the Eurasian steppes, from where they allegedly penetrated into Europe in Roman times. Be that as it may, piebald horses appeared in the New World in the 16th century, and most of them were brought here by the Spaniards. In 1519, Hernando Cortes arrived in America, and with him, according to Diaz del Castillo, the first piebald animals.
Once on the North American continent, spotted horses immediately attracted the indigenous people for their unusual "camouflage" coloring and for a long time became a symbol of the Wild West. Especially the "painted" liked the Comanches - the most warlike horsemen of the prairies. If you look through nineteenth-century novels, you get the impression that Indians without a pinto or dappled horse were as rare as cowboys without a hat. Of course, the legendary Indian horses were of various stripes, but the colored ones undoubtedly attracted Special attention. Some of them fled to the prairie, passing on their patterns to the famous mustangs. Over time, the settlers began to appreciate the skewbald horses, and when the heroic times of the development of the western lands passed, these animals were recognized as an integral part of the cultural heritage of the young nation.

Such a different breed

The pinto breed unites all horses and ponies of pinto color in America, so there are no strict exterior restrictions in it. However, a certain classification still exists. In appearance, all pintos are divided into several types: 1) riding type (skewbald representatives of the American riding and Tennessee breeds, hackneys, Shetland ponies, etc.); 2) hunting type (spotted thoroughbred riding horses, Welsh ponies and other animals close to them in appearance); 3) walking type (Arabs and Morgans); 4) "breed type", that is, the type most characteristic of the pinto (this, of course, included one of the breeds most beloved by Americans - the quarterhorse). In addition, all pintos are divided into horses (142 cm at the withers and above), ponies (86-142 cm at the withers), miniature horses (below 86 cm at the withers) and miniature Bs (86-96 cm at the peg). Each type has its own standards for regular shows.
In the USA and Great Britain, piebald horses are divided into two types: with a black base - Piebald; with a basis for all other suits (bay, red, nightingale, palomino, etc.) - Skewbald. In our country, when describing skewbald horses, depending on the main suit, they use the terms: red-skewbald, bay-skewbald, crow-skewbald, etc. There are two main spotted patterns in skewbald horses. Firstly, tobiano (Tobiano, TO) is the most common type of spot location, due to the action of the gene of the same name. White spots in this case are scattered throughout the body and one of them will certainly cross the line of the spine. The legs usually have large white markings. The head is always painted in the main color, but white blazes are also not uncommon here. With the maximum manifestation of piebaldness, spots can occupy almost the entire surface, leaving only the head and belly dark. Under the main suit, the skin is usually gray, and under the white hair, it is pink.
The second gene that causes piebaldness is overo (Overo, OVov). Homozygous foals born with it have pink, depigmented skin, light eyes, and die within 48 hours. Heterozygous horses survive. Their body is covered with large white spots, which also capture the head and stomach, but do not cross the line of the spine. Between the pezina and the main dark suit there are transitional roan areas. In addition, small areas of the main color may appear against the background of white marks. Unlike Tobiano, on the head of such horses there are often large white marks (bald patches, blazes, etc.), but on the legs, the marks, on the contrary, are either small or occupy the entire area. The skin under the white hair is pink; many horses with the overo gene have multi-colored or "magpie eyes" (with blue corneas), especially if they are surrounded by a white spot. Contrary to popular belief, horses with the tobiano gene also have such eyes, but very rarely.
There are several types of drawings in horses with overo. First, frame overo - white spots on the sides and on the neck of the horse "framed" by the main suit. More rare is the type of splashed white. In this case, the head is covered by a large white “lantern”, the tail is partially or completely white, and a large white area extends from the belly to the sides, so much so that sometimes only the back and ears remain dark. And finally, sabino is a very beautiful, albeit common option: white marks on the head, sometimes completely covering it, marks on the legs, roans and white spots, as it were, “splattered” all over the body.
In principle, one animal can have both genes - both tobiano and overo - one of which is inherited from the father, and the other from the mother. Such a very rare variant of piebaldness is called tovero (Tovero) and can give the most incredible options for the spread of white spots throughout the body. Occasionally, Pintos, like Appaloosas, can have single-colored foals.
Crossing two horses with the overo gene is fraught with the death of offspring. The situation is especially dangerous when both parents have the frame overo type - every fourth foal that appears from such a crossing will die during the first hours of life. The same result will be when mating two horses with frame overo and tovero.

Piebald horses - handsome or outcasts?

Many breed standards rule out or until recently ruled out the possibility of spotting and "excessive" white markings in animals. Such horses were not registered and were withdrawn from breeding work. So, for example, skewbald horses were literally expelled from the Arabian and quarter-mile breeds. They received the right of official registration only after DNA analysis proved that the Arabian breed is indeed characterized by the sabino color, and the quarterhorse - sabino, overo and tobiano. But for thoroughbred riding horses, piebaldness is still considered unacceptable. All this led to the fact that the Americans, outraged by such an “injustice”, created an official shelter for all the “humiliated and insulted” - the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), The Pinto Horse Association of America, PtHA ) and several registration books for skewbald animals.
At the same time, do not confuse American painted (Paint Horse) and pinto, as is often done out of ignorance. The difference between the two may seem far-fetched, but in the US they are clearly separated. Pintos are piebald horses and ponies of any breed (except heavy trucks), but for registration as Paint horse horse must be only one of two breeds - Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred. In other words, every American painted horse is a pinto, but not every pinto is an American painted.
Today, thanks to the unusual coloring and fame of "Indian horses", the pinto is rapidly growing in popularity. They are happy to be filmed in films, perform on them in “country-style” competitions, and are used in private households and attractions for tourists. In America, there is a whole world of pinto: pinto horses, hinnies, mules, ponies and mini-horses - whoever the breeders don’t paint in the “national” pinto color! Pinto can be found on racetracks, in show jumping and dressage, in the circus and horse shows. Yes, for now, unlike, say, the Appaloosa, this is just a color breed, the official existence of which is supported only by the love of Americans for pinto horses. But who knows what the future holds for her...

Undoubtedly, each breed of horse is unique, has its own characteristics, character and other differences. What distinguishes the Pinto breed, and what is interesting about it, you will learn below.

What stand out?

Looking at photos of pinto horses, you don’t have to guess for a long time: animals have very specific colors. It is the unusual piebald color that is, so to speak, their calling card. Even the very name of the Pinto breed is translated from Spanish as “painted”.

How did pintos appear?

In addition to the fact that representatives of the Pinto horse breed are strikingly different from other horses in their appearance, they have more and quite interesting story. Their homeland is considered to be Spain (according to other sources - the Middle East). The first mention of animals dates back to the III - IV century BC. e. Images of the Pinto breed are found on art objects that were found during excavations in the territory of Ancient Egypt.

We can say with confidence that in the Middle Ages, horses were already widespread throughout Europe. Bright horses were kept even in the imperial stables.

However, over time, interest in them began to disappear. Thoroughbred Andalusians and other riding horses with an outstanding pedigree came into fashion.

Some time later, when the first settlements began to bring horses into the territory North America, the spotted relatives of the Pinto breed were still not popular, but for the local Indian tribes, the animals were of great interest. Either they didn’t care about colors, or vice versa, they liked that such a horse could easily disguise itself in the conditions of the forest and thickets. Thus, pinto horses again gained their distribution.

Pinto today

In America, breeding work is actively carried out with the participation of pinto horses. In principle, such horses have not been officially bred into a separate breed. Today, all piebald horses are entered on the register as pintos, regardless of origin, incl. and pony.

For them, the following classification is approved in appearance:

pedigree - this species is most characteristic of pinto horses, quarterhorses, for example;
riding - Tennessee, American riding breeds, hacknee, etc.;
pleasure - morgans, arabs;
hunting - Welsh ponies, thoroughbred piebald riding and others, similar in appearance.

They are also divided by height at the withers:

horses - 142 cm and more;
pony - from 86 to 142 cm;
miniature B - from 86 to 96 cm;
miniature horses - less than 86 cm.

Standard

An officially registered Pinto horse has white spots on the head or on the legs, or on both the head and legs, but not less than 10 square meters. cm total area. If it's a pony, then the spot area is 7.5 square meters. cm, and for miniature individuals - 5 square meters. cm.

habits

What cannot be said unambiguously is the nature of the Pinto breed, because the whole species unites a wide variety of horses, although aggressive and unfriendly specimens are rarely found among them. And if they were not flexible and energetic, the demand for them would hardly be so high.

Description

Pinto horses are stately representative horses. They have a powerful body with strong, well-defined muscles.

With regards to growth, the accepted standards have been described above: they can be from 142 cm and more, as well as less than 86 cm.

Color

What, in principle, unites all horses is spotting. There are not so many variations of the suit: black Tobiano, all other Overo.

In the former, white spots may spread throughout the body, but one will always go through the line of the spine. The concentration of spots is different, often only the head with the belly remains dark, and white blotches on the head are not excluded.

In Overo, the spots are white and large, extending over the belly and head of the animal, but not onto the spine. The markings on the legs either cover the entire area or are very small. The cornea of the eyes of such a horse is blue (in Tobiano it is much less common).

There are also subtypes. The first one is called Frame, i.e. clearly defined horizontal white stripes, spots are concentrated on the head, neck and sides, eyes are blue.

When the edges of the spots do not have a clear outline, but seem to be scattered over the body, this type is called Splashed. The head of such horses is usually white, the tail is either partially or also pure white. If not only the head but also the legs as well lower section the abdomen is white, the spotting is not expressive, then these are Sabino horses. Incredibly handsome guy.

Often, out of ignorance or inattention, the American Paint Horse is mistaken for a pinto, because in ordinary photos, pinto horses and painted Americans seem identical. At the same time, only thoroughbred horse breeds and quarter horses can be called the latter.

pinto care

Due to the fact that pintos are different breeds of horses, it is difficult to single out specific points for caring for them. Like all horses, they require careful attention to themselves, compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards in the stables. The premises are ventilated, if necessary, heated, do not allow dampness and the spread of mold.

The hooves, tail and mane must be constantly brushed, and the coat must also be kept clean. Accumulations of moisture are removed from the nostrils, which is controlled after walking.

By the way, walking is an obligatory component in caring for a pinto, because the muscles of the horse and its musculoskeletal system must constantly develop

Nutrition

Typically, pinto breeds are fed up to 4 times a day at the same time. They must be grazed in the meadows and additionally leave dry grass in the feeders. Cold water should not be given to the animal, it is warmed to an acceptable room temperature.

Experienced and caring breeders always give their pets vitamin and mineral supplements.

Pinto Facts

Varieties

In one individual, the Tobiano and Overo genes can be crossed, one from the father, the other from the mother. Such rare specimens are called Tovero. Their spotting can be the most incredible.

Extremely rare are the cases of the birth of a single-colored foal from parents of a pinto.

When a male and female have the same Frame Overo type, the offspring rarely survive postpartum. Attempts to cross Frame Overo with Tovero also fail.

Popularity

During the late Middle Ages, pintos were classified as second-class horses. Exactly, as in the twentieth century, the piebald color was excluded from selection for a long time. Now, unlike in the past, they are welcome at any shows, competitions, celebrations, circus performances, tourist fun. For them, special associations were created to protect the once unfairly offended spotted horses. The film industry loves to use such pets in filming, and photos with pinto horses often grace the most famous magazines.

By the number of livestock, they are undoubted leaders.

Price

Naturally, before the pinto horse breed gained public recognition, it did not cost a lot of money. Now, when the situation has changed radically, they are asking for at least 3 thousand euros for it. The amount will grow depending on the achievements of the animal, its age and well-being, related documents, etc.

Despite the fact that the pinto is more of a color breed than a purebred, love for it, demand and development of breeding work are striking in their scale.

The unusual and specific coloring of the individual plays a major role in the origin of the suit. The origin of the name was the Spanish word - Pintado, which means painted. The presence of piebald distinguishes the suit from other individuals. Riding horses are part of a heterogeneous group of Spanish origins. Scientists have long been investigating the origin of the animal. Some scientists claim that individuals come from the Middle East.

The evidence is the images of spotted individuals, which date back to the middle of the second millennium BC. According to others, the animals have roots from the Eurasian steppes. After the spotted animals came to the North American continent, the indigenous people turned their attention to unusual individuals and their "camouflage coloration". In the Wild West, horses have become a real symbol. The most warlike riders took a closer look at the painted pets, the Comanchans became very interested in the pinto.

The stud book contains two variants of horses: Overo and Tobiano. Overo is characterized by the presence of a recessive color gene responsible for the predominance of dark pigment. This type has a white muzzle and blue eyes.

Tobiano is characterized by the presence of a dominant color gene, where the predominance is taken by the white pigment. Many Spanish individuals are indispensable for spotting, so the origin of modern animals could have arisen from Spanish females.

Some features of the breed

American citizens are involved in two organizations: one breeds pintos, and the other breeds paint animals. Any spotted individual falls under registration in the organization dealing with pinto. In the association of paint horses, those individuals are registered whose pedigree cannot do without the English full-blooded and quarter. All horses with spots differ in height from 145-155 centimeters. Such animals are characterized by the presence of stateliness, power, strong muscles. Individuals have a beautiful head, and they are also rich in muscular croup. Basically, this animal is considered a good riding horse, and a good exterior.

Black and white spots in individuals appeared recently, in many animals they do not exist at all. Breeding work on such horses was not carried out, they did not undergo special registration. The Arabian and Quarter Mile drove out the skewbald horses. To obtain official registration, it was necessary to pass a DNA test and prove that arab breed contains the color sabino, and the quarterhorse has not only sabino, but also tobiano and overo.

Thoroughbred riding piebalds are never allowed. A special shelter for humiliated and offended animals was created by American citizens in 1984. The Americans felt that such an attitude was unfair to the suit. Only those individuals who passed by their coloring could pass the registration as a pinto.

Individual color

They had to have white spots on the limbs in a certain amount, the head also should not exceed 10 cm 2. Ponies are characterized by the presence of 7.5 cm 2, and for miniature horses, the volume of the head should not exceed 5 cm 2. To date, the Association has registered approximately 125000 individuals, 50 countries from all over the world took part in the recording.

Many residents do not distinguish between the American painted horse and the pinto, and confuse them with each other. Americans tend to distinguish between them. Pinto - all piebald individuals are considered, as well as ponies that are not related to heavy trucks. To register, their Paint Horse. The animal is taken from two colors, either a quarter horse or a thoroughbred horse. An American painted horse fits under the pinto.

Today, due to the unusual coloring, as well as the fame of Indian males and females, the suit is gaining great popularity. Animals are so interested that they allow them to be filmed, individuals are happy to take part in competitions where the country style is present. Tourists also use the suit in order to participate in the attraction. Americans are interested in breeding animals. In the country you can find a whole collection of individuals of this suit:

Horses.
Mules.
Pony.
Mini horses.

Photo of the breed

Breed care

This suit must be carefully looked after, especially at home. It is recommended to feed the individual at least 3-4 times a day. After grazing on the lawn in the stable, the animal must have a supply of grass, as well as hay. The food should contain vitamins and mineral supplements. Due to the delicate digestive system, breaking the diet is strictly prohibited. IN in large numbers food is also prohibited. Regular drinking regime should be controlled and in sufficient quantity. Water temperature must be at least room temperature.

In the warm season, the animal must be cleaned and washed. Cleaning with a paper clip is allowed only in cold weather. Careful care must be given to such parts of the body as the tail and mane.

In the stable where the individual lives, it should be clean and aired as often as possible. IN winter time heating must be provided for the room so that the animal does not get sick. Daily cleaning is recommended. The horse loves walks, without festivities, the musculoskeletal system stagnates.