The American breed, the criterion for which the piebald suit also serves, is the Pinto breed. The name of the breed comes from the Spanish word "Pintado", which means "colored". It is a heterogeneous group of riding horses of Spanish origin in America. The American Pinto Horse Association was founded in 1941 for the purpose of registration.

The association registers horses by color, so pintos can be of any breed, from purebred horses to miniature ponies. Horses do not have an established type as the main thing is the color, not the exterior. This is their main difference from paints, for which the origin is important. However, the appaloosa or draft horse cannot be classified as pinto.

There are four recognized types of horses in the breed: riding, shepherd, hunting and racing. Pintos up to 140 cm high at the withers are registered as ponies, and taller ones (from 140 to 160 cm) as horses.

Crow-piebald is considered the most preferred suit, but pezhins of white and any other colors are more common. When registering, just like with paints, the types of tobiano and overro are used. Sometimes the term "morocco" is used when the horse has a black head and neck and a white body and legs.

Description

The Pinto is generally a friendly and diligent riding horse. Her gaits are energetic, but not always smooth.

What's especially appealing about skewbald horses is that the genetic laws of color inheritance are still not understood. Just as not every shell contains a pearl, not every combination of two piebald horses produces a piebald offspring. This makes every piebald foal very valuable.

The Pinto is a heterogeneous group of riding horses of Spanish descent in America, the common feature of which is piebald. Includes horses closely related to the Quarter, Morgan, and American Riding. In America, these horses are called pinto or paint. This type of color is very common since ancient times.

Drawings of spotted horses can be seen even in ancient cave paintings. It is believed that this color of horses comes from Europe or Russia, today spotted horses are often found in America, which is considered their homeland.

The Pinto has traditionally been regarded as the horse of the American Indians. The breed has been approved as a war horse due to its coloration (natural camouflage). The Indians greatly appreciated horses of this color.

The pinto does not have an official standard, the color is very varied. Pinto also comes in different heights.

Origin

The name of the breed comes from the Spanish word "Pintado", which means "colored".

There are two color variations available for studbook registration: "Overo" and "Tobiano". Overo is a type created by a recessive color gene in which a dark color predominates. Horses of this type often have a white muzzle and blue eyes. Tobiano is a type created by a dominant color gene in which white predominates.

Many Spanish horses have a spotted color, so it is believed that modern spotted horses may have originated from Spanish horses. In addition, some Spanish traits are inherent in spotted horses.

There are two organizations in America: the American Pinto Horse Association and the American Paint Horse Association. The American Pinto Horse Association registers any spotted horse, and classifies them into different types, for example, hunting horses, horse for hippotherapy, etc. The Paint Horse Association only registers spotted horses that have an English Thoroughbred, Quarter or Paint pedigree. Any horse paint can be registered as a pinto, but not every pinto can be registered as a paint.

The height of spotted horses is from 145 to 155 cm. Often, according to their constitution, these horses are stately, powerful, muscular, with a beautiful head and muscular croup. In general they have good conformation and are very good riding horses.

The Pinto horse is the pride of American breeders. Although, in fact, animals with such a color 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 historically established attitude towards it.

Breeding history

To date, no reliable facts about the origin of this breed line have been found. In this regard, researchers put forward a number of theories in which they indicate the probable homeland of such horses. Most of the opinions agree that the Pintos are natives of Spain. This is evidenced by the name of the breed. It comes from the word "pintado", which translates into Russian as "painted".

But whether this species actually appeared in 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 very similar in description to the pinto. Such evidence is dated back to the 4th millennium BC. NS.

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

The emergence of the breed in America

Most likely, scientists will not be able to obtain accurate information about the origin of these animals. But further history the breed since the 16th century is clearly spelled out in the sources and has survived to our time.

In the 15th century, pinto spotted horses were highly prized throughout Europe. They were the pride of the nobility, and were also part of 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 piebald horses gradually declined.

Pet owners were looking for any way to get rid of the outdated pinto. This opportunity was provided by the expedition of Hernando Cortez, who arrived in America in 1519. The conquistadors brought with them a large herd of spotted horses, which were outlandish for the local population and attracted great interest.

The indigenous population of America admired the agility, endurance and camouflage abilities (they were rather difficult to see in the thickets) of such animals. They were exalted and carefully bred among the tribes. On the basis of the skewbald horses introduced by the conquistadors, a local breed of Appaloosa was even bred.

Reference. Over time, piebald pintoes have become a true symbol of the Wild West in many Americans. That is why today an extremely reverent attitude has been preserved towards these animals.

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 standards of appearance for them. There are several recognized types of such horses. Moreover, all livestock is divided in accordance with two main classifications.

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

1. Miniature horses, whose height does not exceed 86 cm.
2. The pony category, which includes pinto horses. At the withers, they reach only 142 cm.
3. Ordinary horses. This group includes all horses with a height of over 142 cm.

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

1. Horse. This category includes skewbald Scottish ponies, American trotters, Hackne and some other breeds.
2. Walking. This type assumes a particularly beautiful exterior of the animals. These include the Morgan horses and the purebred Arabian horses with spotted coloration.
3. Hunting. It includes purebred piebald ponies as well as Welsh ponies.
4. Characteristic. Many American breeders believe that this type best conveys the conformation characteristics of true pintos. It is believed that their appearance is the same as that of the horses brought to America by Cortez.

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

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

Suits and subspecies of color

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

1. Tobiano. With this color, white spots are located throughout the body, often passing through the animal's spine. 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.
2. 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 all over the body and even on the head. The only exception is the spine, which they never cross.

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

1. Overo frame. 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.
2. Splashed white overo. In this case, the head of the animal is a solid white spot. The tail is also white. In addition, a large white spot covers most of the body. Sometimes the main color of such horses appears only on the ridge and ears.
3. Sabino Overo. This color is considered the most original. With this color, the face and lower legs of the horse are painted in solid white, and small light specks are scattered throughout the body. Often this color is accompanied by partial or complete deafness of the animal.

In a frame override, a frame 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 gene state remain viable.

It is also worth noting that sometimes more bizarre colors appear in foals. So, the baby can inherit from the parents both the Tobiano and Overo gene. In this case, the young born are ranked as a separate category of "tovero", the representatives of which carry the characteristics 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 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 the dirty litter of the animal, as well as cleaning the feeder and drinker;
• general cleaning of the stables and stables, which is carried out once a week;
• daily cleaning of the animal's fur and hooves;
• neat combing of the mane with a special comb;
• conducting, in parallel with combing the fur, examining the horse's body for damage, wounds and signs of a developing disease;
• periodic bathing of the horse.

Attention! V mandatory vaccinate animals against diseases typical for 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. If problems with teeth are identified, a veterinarian specializing in this direction is called to the animal.

Market value

Until recently, pinto horses were considered rather low among breeders. The reason for this was their unclean bloodline. 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 strive to acquire such a horse.

Such a horse is quite expensive. But the 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;
• the sex 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 decorative, to participate in various exhibitions. Quite often, such horses can be found in equestrian tourism.

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

12.07.2016

Height - Pinto horses are divided into two subspecies according to size: true pinto height up to the withers above 140 cm, pinto ponies with growth to the withers from 86 cm to 140 cm, and mini horses with a height less than those indicated earlier.

Color - Pinto horses do not offer a variety of colors. They stand out in one breed exclusively because of the same type of color - their spotting. According to their classification, pinto suits are black (Tobiano) and other possible colors (Overo). To get a black colt, one of its parents must be of the same color. Other colors of Pinto horses are subdivided into color subtypes:

• Frame - a structural type of suit, namely, horizontal stripes of white in their clear boundaries, the spotting is concentrated on the neck, head and on the sides of a blue-eyed individual;
• Splashed - a splashed type of color, when spots with not delineated edges are sprayed all over the body of an individual, and the head itself is mainly covered with white fur;
• Sabino - sabino, in an individual, a slight spotting is noticeable on the body, when the head, lower abdomen and limbs are completely covered with white fur.

Exterior - this horse breed includes all horses and ponies that are distinguished by a spotted color. There are no clear requirements for the exterior of horses of this breed, so any other groups of breeds can be included in this composition: walking and riding horses, characteristic and hunting horses. Due to the fact that other representatives of horses can join the breed only due to the spotting of the color, the Pinto breed is not recognized until today at the world level.

Description of the breed

The origin of the color of the Pinto breed is distinguished by a specific and unusual color of horses, and the name of the breed comes from the Spanish term pintado, which exactly means the word "painted". It is the piebaldness that distinguishes these animals from other representatives of the breeds. In general, riding horses belong to a group of heterogeneous composition, implying an exclusively Spanish origin. Despite this, historians and scientists have long been tirelessly trying to clarify the true origin of piebald horses. And many of them are adherents of the version that the Pinto breed originated from the countries of the Middle East.

Today the Pinto studbook has two recorded versions of such horses - Overo black, Tobiano all other colors. Overo are horses with a chic piebald suit, which they receive from one of the parents of the same color. Tobiano are blue-eyed horses with a predominantly white color, especially on the muzzle.

Today, pinto horses are bred by an American special organization that enters into the register of pinto horses any individuals with piebald. There is another related organization that keeps records of paint horses, here only individuals are assumed that have an English thoroughbred horse breed or quarter in their pedigree. All of them have a height from 144 cm to 155 cm up to the level of the withers. Outwardly, they are characterized by stature and presentability, strong muscles and a powerful physique, a beautiful head and a pronounced muscular croup.

To be included in the Pinto breed register, a horse must meet such indicators - at least 10 cm2 the head of a true horse and 7.5 cm2 for a pony, at least 5 cm2 miniature individuals. At the current time, 125,000 individuals have been recorded in the pinto livestock register. The following individuals fall into the pinto suit: mules, ponies, mules and miniature horses.

History of appearance

The very first mentions of horses with a spotted color were recorded as early as 3-4 millennia BC. As historians say, such animals were depicted in the works of art of Ancient Egypt. In addition, archaeologists have repeatedly carried out excavations, as a result of which the remains of spotted horses were found as early as 3-5 millennia BC.

But the largest and most significant distribution of skewbald horses was obtained in the late Middle Ages, in Europe. These bright, presentable horses were loved and bred in the courtyards of the emperors, but after a while the values ​​changed. Thoroughbred riding horses, such as the Andalusians and, a little later, English Thoroughbreds, became popular. Thus, for some time, indicators of pedigree and selection began to be appreciated, and the color and color faded into the background in importance.

Over time, spotted individuals were less and less common among riding horses, due to this, the demand for monophonic horses grew. And surprisingly mastering North America coincided with the abandonment of spotted horses, due to this it was these refusenik horses that became the basis for the formation of the modern Pinto breed.

The Indians living in North America did not really go into the details of the pedigrees and bloodlines of horses, they paid much more attention to the external data of the individuals. And only through their efforts did the breed spread its type, even at the time of the importation of other horses and selection work.

Today, American horse breeding is conducting breeding work, due to this they have identified a subtype of pinto. Thoroughbred representatives of piebald horses are included in the breed book. All other representatives of the Pinto breed can be horses of any origin, differing only in spotting. From this group of horses, horses of the breed separated much earlier.

Lifestyle in nature

Character and disposition

Of course, it is difficult to accurately describe the habits and nature of the Pinto horses, since its group consists of horses different types and origin. But in general, individuals from the natural group of pinto are distinguished by friendliness towards their herd compatriots and towards people, riding horses are diligent and diligent. The horse's energy and obedience make it in demand in modern society.

Keeping at home requires careful maintenance. In the warm season, the horse must be cleaned and washed. In cold seasons, you can clean the horses with a paper clip. The tail and mane of the individual, hooves and nostrils require regular cleaning. After walking, the nostrils need to be flushed and moisture buildup removed. The stable should be ventilated as often as possible, it should be dry and clean. In winter, the room must be heated.

Feeding

They feed such a horse, as a rule, at least 3-4 times a day. In addition to the main grazing in meadows and fields, it is better to stock up on hay and grass in the stable. It is imperative to ensure that the animal receives vitamins and important trace elements, as well as mineral supplements with food. Horses of this type have a delicate and fragile digestive system, so feeding should take place at the same time according to a strict schedule. The amount of feed at one time should not exceed the norm, and a strict drinking regime must also be observed. Water should be given at room temperature.

1. The smallest horse in the world was the Pinto. He weighed only 2.7 kg at birth, and his height did not exceed 36 cm. Today, Einstein weighs only 28 kg.
2. If in the late Middle Ages the pinto was considered second-class horses without blood and pedigree, today it is these horses that decorate national holidays and competitions.
3. The origin of the pinto is attributed to r Spanish horses, among which skewbald individuals were most often found.
4. The Pinto breed is considered the largest in terms of livestock.

How much is such a horse

If earlier horses of the Pinto breed were considered second-class, since they did not have a clear pedigree and purity of blood, today these animals are in great demand due to their unique exterior, namely piebald suit. In general, the cost of one horse from this series will range from 3 to 10 thousand euros, in rubles, prices range from 80,000 to 200,000 rubles.

The following factors affect the cost of one individual:

• health status;
• age and gender;
• availability of awards and special talents;
• attitude to a particular pedigree;
• remoteness of the supplier from the buyer;
• the popularity and prestige of the stud farm;
• availability of documents and certificates from a veterinarian and more.

Pinto phenomenon

Today, pinto horses are in great demand all over the world. Even at the beginning of their history, these unique variegated horses were not recognized in society and were classified as second-class representatives of horses. Earlier, the price included purebred riding horses, today "Indian horses" due to coloring are the largest breed in terms of livestock and popularity.

The use of horses has no boundaries, they participate in competitions and performances, they are used in tourism. Many famous films involve shooting with piebald horses. And in the States, the pinto breed is generally popularized to the whole world of pinto: mules and ponies, horses, etc. And regardless of the fact that the breed has not received official recognition, it is supported by an exceptional love for its color and spotting.