She Rides Wild Horses Quiz | Horses

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The coat has different sizes of freckles scattered over its entire body

Answer: Jaheulma (speckled)

Evidence has been found that the Jeju horse has been in existence since the Bronze and Iron Ages. Apart from a cross breeding programme with Mongolian horses in the 1200s, its virtual isolation has meant the creation of a unique breed of horse.

It is estimated that there are over 50 colour variations of the horse but these have been largely diverted into 12 categories for traditional classification.

Horses that have the same coat may be given different names and this will be dependent upon their shapes or the make-up of certain parts of their body (for example, a Myeonjogi has hairless ankles) or, predominantly, how the colour white appears on its body (a Mokhani has white spots around its neck).

A study of the breed's coat colours was conducted in the 1960s and it was determined that (approximately) 43% were bay, 30% chestnut, 13% grey, 7% black and the remainder were in much smaller percentages. What showed up in a 2018 study was that the population of the grey colour had grown to 68%, showing a distinct bias to one colour and a reduction in the diversity. It was recommended that specific breeding plans be installed to preserve this diversity and for further studies to be conducted into genes controlling colour.

2. The whole coat is of a light brown colour

Answer: Jeokdama (chestnut)

Jeju horses are small to medium in size. In comparison to their height, their torsos and block shaped bodies are considered to be long. They also have large heads, which bear an unusually long forelock, and very thick necks. They have been gifted with large reserves of stamina and this made them ideal for use as draft horses on the island.

3. There is a black line that stretches from the mane to the strunt (tail stump) on a coat that is light brown in colour

Answer: Gorama (fallow)

Jeju horses are not renowned for their speed, and you certainly would not be matching them against thoroughbreds in a sprint race. However, they are powerful beasts and are well known for their endurance and it is for this quality that they are slowly being drawn into racing circles.

They are also smaller than thoroughbreds - about 120 centimetres (47 inches) in height compared to the 160 centimetres (63 inches) of the thoroughbred.

4. This coat colour is bay, chestnut, or black but is strongly intermingled with white hair

Answer: Chongma (grey)

The gestation period of the Jeju horse is 340 days (a little over 48 weeks). It is possible that they would be in heat again 20 to 22 days after delivery. A stallion will be ready for breeding by the time it turns three or four years of age, mares will be ready at three years of age. Their best breeding season is the spring.

5. The colors around its eyes, lower abdomen, and legs are lighter or whiter than that of the entire coat

Answer: Geoheulma (spotted)

In 1986 the Republic of Korea designated the Jeju horse as a natural monument (#347). This was done as a means to preserve the horse which had become an endangered species. Under this programme 64 of the creatures, 55 mares and 9 stallions, were preserved.

The programme has been a success and numbers of the Jeju horse are starting to rebound to healthier numbers. Usually, under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, it is considered a crime to raise an animal, considered a natural monument, at home.

However, the Jeju horse is one of those rare exceptions, provided that the horse is being managed as part of a supervised breeding and restoration programme.

6. The colour of the coat is entirely black

Answer: Garama (black)

Following the Mongol invasions of Korea during the thirteenth century a cavalry was established by the Mongols on Jeju Island. They would occupy the island for approximately one hundred years. In 1276 they bought 160 horses with the aim of cross breeding them with the local (native) horses. An analysis of the genomes of these horses was conducted and compared with those found in fossilized footprints of the breed's predecessors.

This has shown a uniqueness in the island's current breed and that the cross breeding programmes conducted by the Mongols introduced a healthier vigour to the beasts.

7. The coat will be chestnut or brown but the mane and the lower legs are black

Answer: Yuma (bay)

The Mongols prized the Jeju horse for its toughness, intelligence and endurance and, during the period between 1271 and 1368 they removed in excess of 30,000 horses from the island. These were, in the main, stallions. They were neutered to make them milder in temperament and make them easier to ride. The mares were retained on the island to continue in the breeding programme.

8. The basic coat colour is bay or black with white patches

Answer: Wallama (pinto)

During the early part of the Joseon period in Korea, founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392, the Jeju horse could almost have been seen as a form of currency. They were highly prized by the King, they were often used as bribes toward government officials and were said to be as valuable as three slaves.

The horses were in such high demand during these times that the tough part for the breeders was preventing government officials from simply arriving at their farms and taking them.

9. Similar to one above, a mixture of bay, chestnut, and black with less white hair

Answer: Buruma (roan)

The other horse with the similar colouring is the Chongma (grey).

In the early 1900s, Japanese soldiers introduced thoroughbred horses to Jeju Island. With them they also brought horse-shoes, however, they found that they didn't need to use these on the local native horses. Over time, the hooves of the Jeju horses had evolved to be tough enough to allow them to walk across an island that was built of volcanic rock.

10. A cream coloured coat

Answer: Gonggolma (sorrel)

The biggest owner of Jeju horses during the early part of the Joseon Kingdom in Korea was Kim Man-il. He kept himself in the good books with the King with regular donations of stock. Despite this though he still had chunks of his stock commandeered by corrupt officials and taken to the mainland. To ensure that he didn't lose his livelihood, Kim Man-il's solution was to either blind one of the eyes of his horses or cut off an ear.

Whilst this sounds barbaric, it ensured that he maintained a supply of horses as breeding stock.

Source: Author pollucci19

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
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She Rides Wild Horses Trivia Quiz

The South Korean Jeju horse is still a primitive creature & its diversified genome allows for wide colour variations. These coat colours form a standard to distinguish their type. Match the colour with its description & read the details to learn more.

Questions		Choices
1. The coat has different sizes of freckles scattered over its entire body		Jaheulma (speckled)
2. The whole coat is of a light brown colour		Wallama (pinto)
3. There is a black line that stretches from the mane to the strunt (tail stump) on a coat that is light brown in colour		Garama (black)
4. This coat colour is bay, chestnut, or black but is strongly intermingled with white hair		Geoheulma (spotted)
5. The colors around its eyes, lower abdomen, and legs are lighter or whiter than that of the entire coat		Yuma (bay)
6. The colour of the coat is entirely black		Chongma (grey)
7. The coat will be chestnut or brown but the mane and the lower legs are black		Jeokdama (chestnut)
8. The basic coat colour is bay or black with white patches		Gonggolma (sorrel)
9. Similar to one above, a mixture of bay, chestnut, and black with less white hair		Buruma (roan)
10. A cream coloured coat		Gorama (fallow)