British Native Horses in Short Supply Quiz

Answer: Hackney

The Hackney pony and horse are registered as separate breeds, the pony standing between 12 and 14 hands high (hh), and the horse from 14.2 to 16.2hh. Both have a distinctive high knee action in trot and a Hackney in full flow is a memorable sight. Surprisingly few have been registered with their breed societies in recent years but hopefully they will be with us for many years to come.

Answer: Cleveland Bay

The Cleveland Bay breed can trace its roots back to the 17th century when it was a general purpose ride and drive animal on many farms. It stands up to 16.2hh and is always bay in colour with only a small white star permissible.

Answer: Suffolk Punch

The Suffolk Punch is the only clean-legged (i.e. no feathers around its hooves) of the heavy breeds and has been used on the holding East Anglian soil since the second half of the 18th century. It was originally smaller than the other three breeds but today stands some 16 to 16.2hh.

They are the "hottest" of the four breeds in temperament. They are always chestnut - ranging from dark liver to a pale chestnut - and the only white permitted is a small star. This breed is seeing a steady increase in numbers - back in the mid '60s only a handful of foals was being registered each year.

Answer: Dales

The Dales pony was originally bred to work on farms and to carry lead from the mines. Today it makes an excellent riding or driving pony. Usually black in colour, it can also be found in grey, brown and bay and stands up to 14.2hh.

Answer: Exmoor

The Exmoor pony is easily identified by its "mealy" muzzle - it looks as though it has had its pale coloured nose in its feed bowl. These pale markings can also appear around the eyes and on the flanks. Tough moorland ponies that stand up to 12.2hh but can carry any member of the family.

Answer: Dartmoor

The British army used large areas of Dartmoor for training purposes during World War II which caused immense damage to the ponies' habitat. Since losing their working role on farms, where modernisation has resulted in machinery doing most of the work these ponies might once have carried out, they have found a new niche as a riding pony for smaller children. Standing up to 12.2hh they are now one of the more popular riding and driving ponies.

Answer: Clydesdale

The Clydesdale is a gentle giant of a breed, usually standing some 16.2hh and seen in bay and brown and occasionally black. All the colours usually also include heavy white markings on the face and legs, the latter markings extending up to stocking length. For a large horse it has a very elegant action and can be seen demonstrating this to good effect in the heavy horse driving classes.

If you want to see an amazing team, look up the Budweiser Clydesdales in the States - very impressive.

Answer: Fell

Slightly smaller than their neighbours on the east of the Pennines, the Fell measures up to 14hh and is predominantly black, but can also be found in bay, brown and grey. For many years it was used as a pack pony in Westmorland and Cumberland. Today it is an excellent utility breed, equally at home being ridden or driven.

Answer: Shire

These horses were until quite recently still to be seen making brewers' deliveries in and around the City of London. Today there are only three or four regional breweries still making horse drawn deliveries. These giants, often standing well over 17.2hh, have found a niche as show teams representing the various large breweries, competing in team and in-hand events at shows nationwide.

Answer: Highland

One of the bigger pony breeds, standing up to 14.2hh in height, this breed was used as a pack horse for hunting parties as well as a riding pony. One example that might be familiar to the non-horsey population is the grey pony that Dame Judi Dench rode in the film "Mrs Brown".

The breed is often seen in the more "primitive" colours - dun as well as grey, brown, chestnut and bay - and may also have dorsal and leg striping.