The pinto is one of the rarest horse colors. It is famous for the fact that it has a rather extraordinary color (sometimes called "cow"), attracting many horse breeders, as well as ordinary people who can admire such an interesting animal for a long time. Horses of this breed have a very strange and rich history, however, more on that later. By the way, scientists have not been able to establish exactly when this type of horse appeared, and why their color is very different from all other relatives.
Skewbald horses are a unique species of animals. They look quite exotic, given their unusual color and general appearance. There are several types of skewbald horses. You will learn about all this from our article.
Description
A skewbald horse, first of all, you can recognize by its non-standard spotted coat color. The skin of such horses has partially white spots, which makes it resemble the color of cows. It looks unusual and attractive.
That is why skewbald horses have a special fame and recognition, unlike other horses, the color of which is often difficult for an unknowing man in the street to recognize.
There are 4 types of skewbald horses and, as a result, 4 different colors.
- Bay-piebald. This suit has many white spots on its skin; even often white spots can be seen on the mane and tail - large or small. However, the body of this animal can also have red and black spots (most often on the tail and mane).
- Crow piebald. Very beautiful color, which is characterized by the presence of large contrasting black spots. There are few white spots, but they are also present, and you can notice them on the horse's body. This combination truly makes this suit extraordinarily beautiful.
- Red piebald. For the most part, animals of this color have many red spots in color, it's not for nothing that the name itself sounds like red piebald. However, there are also white spots, but they are rather rare and indistinct.
- Gray piebald. Perhaps this is the rarest color of skewbald horses and is quite rare in nature. These animals are distinguished by a grayish-white skin. Their limbs are usually very light. Among this suit, completely snow-white horses with light spots of small sizes can also be found.
Note: Scientists have shown that piebald horses are partially albino due to their genes, which is why piebald horses most often have a blue iris. Although sometimes there is such a phenomenon as heterochromia, in which the eyes have a different iris in color.
Piebald horses are quite calm and famous for their submissive disposition.
Riding these horses does not present any special work or special skills, since they are extremely meek and meek.
Even non-professionals will be able to ride such horses.
History of appearance
For a long time to this day, the opinions of scientists differ about the true origin of piebald horses. No one has got to the bottom of the exact data: where did these horses come from, when did they live on Earth, and so on. However, with the help of archaeological excavations, scientists managed to find out that these suits were found in the vast steppes of Mongolia and China. Also, scientists have found that piebald horses have some gene abnormality, which is why they acquired an unusual and exotic color.
Genetic abnormalities are inherited and lead to this strange color of the skin, not typical of the horses we are used to seeing.
Several centuries ago, similar horses were treated with disdain in Europe. The hardest equestrian labor, which could lead to early death, fell on them, since piebald horses were not intended for hard labor due to their heredity.
In America, on the contrary, these horses were loved and even elevated to the symbol of the Wild West. The ancient Indians were convinced that such horses promised good luck and prosperity.
Skewbald horses were brought to North America by the conquistadors. There the horses ran wild and were not intended for breeding. They attracted the locals with their coloring, but no one tried to tame them.
Varieties
In the US, pinto horses are registered as pinto horses. Pinto, in turn, are divided into 2 types, which are different in color. These are the suits of tobiano and overo.
Now, briefly about each suit.
Tobiano
Such horses are notable for their dark color on the sides. The limbs of such horses, as a rule, have a snow-white shade. The tail, in turn, has 2 colors at once - black and white - which looks very interesting in general.
Tobiano has symmetrical spots on both sides. These spots are quite distinct and most often oval in shape.
By the way, a remarkable fact: sometimes piebald foals can be born to horses that are not piebald at all.
Overo
Overo skewbald horses are also subdivided into several types: frame overo, sabino overo, and overvoy splashed white.
- Frame over. It is not for nothing that the name of this suit contains the prefix "frame", which means "frame" in English. In such horses, the white spot is usually on the sides, without going over the back. The spot turns out, as if framed by another, darker color. Occasionally there is a white oversized frame, however, most often there is a white spot only in the neck and sides.
- Sabino Overo. The limbs of these horses are marked with a snow-white spot. Very often the spot can be located all over the leg, forming a kind of "stocking". Also, a white spot can stretch from the beginning of the limbs to the lower abdomen. Less often, snow-white spots are on the head. However, this also happens with Sabino Overo - it's worth knowing.
- Overo splashed white. A characteristic feature of these horses is the white color from the limbs to the head. The rest of the skin is darker in color. Overo Splashed White can be immediately recognized by the way a large white spot rises from the bottom up, as if the horse got into the white paint and was partially colored by it.
There is also another suit called tovero. Toveros combine the characteristics of the horses described above, and confusion often arises when registering these horses. Most often, horses of the tovero suit have a so-called hat - a kind of bangs on their heads.
Content
Skewbald horses are not picky in everyday life. In addition, their diet is similar to that of regular horses. Piebald horses need to be fed regularly, and always remember that they need vitamins, and add as much healthy food as possible to their diet so that their health is strong and the offspring are good. If there are enough vitamins in the diet of a pinto horse, its coat and mane will shine and shine.
Remember that there should be no drafts in the room where you plan to keep the horses, because piebald horses are thermophilic animals, and they really need warmth.
These horses need daily walks so that they do not get sick with cardiovascular diseases.
Bathe, clean and shoe your horses regularly. You should bathe once a week, but not less often. To do this, you need soap - you can replace it with a special shampoo - and a special brush (you can buy it at a pet store). After bathing, be sure to rinse the horse and wipe the skin with a dry cloth. During the molting period with bathing, you should not abuse it.
It is worth shoeing only those animals that participate in races or at exhibitions.
If your horse does not participate in such activities, then shoeing it is not necessary at all.
A shoe is needed in order to protect the hooves of animals from chips, damage and various diseases. Also remember to take your horse to the vet. It is advisable to do this at least twice a year as a prevention of any diseases or abnormalities.
Keeping and breeding skewbald horses requires a lot of effort, time and money. If you still decide to buy yourself such an extraordinary horse, be prepared for the fact that you will have to spend a lot. However, the effort and money will pay off if you plan on exhibiting your animal in a variety of themed exhibitions.
Nutrition
Skewbald horses can be fed with hay, as well as pasture, like all their relatives. The amount of food you eat depends on the age and weight of your horse. Essential vitamins can be found in herbs such as alfalfa and palm. You should also feed the horses with oats, barley, beets, grass hay.
The most favorite dessert for a pinto is fruits and vegetables. Horses should be fed several times a day. But overdoing it with food is not worth it, as this can lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Remember to give your horse fresh, clean water. The required water consumption is 35–48 liters. Change the water often as these horses can get sick from the dirty liquid.
Among other things, there are plants that are strictly forbidden to piebald horses. Such plants include euphorbia, lily of the valley, yew, toadflax, oleander, and elderberries. Never give any of the above products to an animal, otherwise it can be fatal later. These plants are poisonous to the horse.
With good nutrition, where the intake of all the necessary macro- and microelements is taken into account, as well as with proper care, a piebald horse can live a fairly long life - about 25-30 years. It is for domestic horses that such a lifespan is characteristic, but sports horses live up to 20 years, wild ones - 10-15 years.
Conclusion
Now you know that piebald is a kind of albinism. Due to a special gene, such horses have an unusual color and are divided into several types and colors. The submissive nature of these horses also attracts many horse breeders and ordinary people. Keeping spotted horses costs a lot, effort and time.
But there are undeniable advantages in breeding animals of this rare color: you can arrange races on piebald horses for amateurs and professionals, because, as mentioned above, piebald horses are distinguished by obedience and obedience.
Even children will be able to ride them without fear of falling off the animal. These horses are very friendly, obedient and docile. They will please with all their character and quiet demeanor. Of all the horses in existence, it is the piebald ones that are the most tame and kind.
The colors of the horses are in the next video.