8 Stunning Horses We Can't Stop Looking At

There are 217 different horse breeds in the world. This implies that they are destined to be diverse, and some are even born with distinct color variations that draw our attention to them. Sometimes the colors of their fur are so out of this world that we can't believe they exist. Dardarkom's animal enthusiasts searched for and discovered 8 of the most unusual and amazing horse breeds that indicate nature is the most creative artist.

#1. The Ardennais Horses Are As Strong As They Look.

Source: Pinterest

The Ardennais or Ardennes is one of the oldest breeds of draft horse, and originates from the Ardennesarea in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. They are heavy-boned with thick legs and are used for draft work.

Their history reaches back to Ancient Rome, and throughout the years blood from several other breeds has been added to the Ardennes, although only the Belgian breed had any significant impact. The first Ardennes were imported to the United States in the early 20th century, and the first breed registry was established in Europe in 1929. The horses have been used throughout history as war horses, both as cavalry mounts and to draw artillery, and are used today mainly for heavy draft and farm work, meat production and competitive driving events. They have also been used to influence or create several other horse breeds throughout Europe and Asia.

#2. The Black Forest Horse.

Source: Horse Breeds Pictures

As the name suggests, the Black Forest Horse developed in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg region as far back as 600 years ago. Horse breeding in the area has been documented since the early 15th century, and a heavy horse called the Wälderpferd (‘forest horse’) was used at that time for forestry and farm work. It’s likely that the Black Forest Horse developed from this breed. Black Forest Horses were indispensable to countless generations of farmers, their hardiness and strong constitution standing them in good stead to thrive in the challenging winters.

The breed’s first studbook was established in 1896, and for a time, these horses thrived throughout Germany. They survived both World Wars relatively unscathed, with over 1,200 broodmares still registered at the end. It wasn’t until agriculture and forestry became widely mechanised that Black Forest Horses began to seriously decline in numbers. By 1981, only 160 broodmares were registered. To maintain interest in these sturdy, mid-sized horses, breeders adjusted their aim to producing ‘a gentle minded, versatile family horse’. The German government assisted breeders to keep the Black Forest Horse alive, and they became popular and versatile pleasure horses for both riding and driving.

#3. The Akhal-Teke, One Of The Oldest Existing Horse Breeds.

Source: Genk

The Akhal-Teke horse is considered the most beautiful equine breed in existence. This is due to their spectacular coat and slender morphology. It is also suitable for a wide variety of equestrian disciplines, excelling especially in endurance races and full riding competitions.

But that’s not all, these horses were the breed of choice for soldiers and kings from Kazakhstan to China. It is even known that Alexander the Great rode a predecessor of the Akhal-Teke in his battles.

Related: Unphotogenic Animals Are So Horrible That Hard To Believe It's Real

#4. The Unusual Coat Of The Knabstrupper Horse.

Source: Horse Canada

The Knabstrupper is believed to trace back to the prehistoric spotted horses that were native to what is now Spain. Cave paintings of horses with spots akin to the leopard patterning seen in many Knabstruppers have been discovered in these regions. However, the modern breed was established in Denmark in 1812 in when a chestnut mare with leopard complex blanket markings was bred to a solid-coloured Frederiksborg stallion, producing a colt with dramatic spotting. The mare was known as Flaebehoppen and she was owned by Major Villars Lunn, who kept her at an estate called Knabstrupgaard. The offspring of the mare and her son were all loudly coloured, and became known as Knabstruppers. For a few decades, they were among the most highly sought-after horses in Europe, but by the 1870s, the limited gene pool had resulted in problems related to inbreeding. Then, in 1891, a fire killed 22 of the best Knabstruppers.

#5. This Beauty Is Affected By The Dun Gene That Lightens Most Of The Body While Leaving The Mane, Tail, And Legs Dark.

Source: Wikipedia

The dun gene is a dilution gene that affects both red and black pigments in the coat color of a horse. The dun gene lightens most of the body while leaving the mane, tail, legs, and primitive markings the shade of the undiluted base coat color. A dun horse always has a dark dorsal stripe down the middle of its back, usually has a darker face and legs, and may have transverse striping across the shoulders or horizontal striping on the back of the forelegs. Body color depends on the underlying coat color genetics. A classic "bay dun" is a gray-gold or tan, characterized by a body color ranging from sandy yellow to reddish brown. Duns with a chestnut base may appear a light tan shade, and those with black base coloration are a smoky gray. Manes, tails, primitive markings, and other dark areas are usually the shade of the undiluted base coat color. The dun gene may interact with all other coat color alleles.

#6. Aren’t You Jealous Of This Gypsy Horse’s Shiny Hair?

Source: Canadian Horse Journal

The Gypsy Vanner Horse is a beautiful breed envisioned by the Gypsies of Great Britain. This horse was selectively bred for over half a century from a vision to create the perfect horse to pull the Gypsy caravan. In 1996 the first Gypsy Vanner Horses came to North America and the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society was established as a registry for the breed. At that time the breed did not have a name, and the name Gypsy Vanner Horse was chosen.

They Gypsy Vanner is often referred to as a “people-sized” draft horse. The genetic origins of the breed include the Shire, the Clydesdale, and the native British ponies such as the Dales. The Gypsy Vanner is not a color breed. It is a body type with heavy bone and broad body like a draft, but with the majority of the breed standing 14-15 hands at the withers. The Gypsy Vanner comes in any color, solid, tobiano and splash. The first characteristic often noticed is the abundance of feather flowing from behind the knees and hocks, as well as the long free flowing mane and tail. In addition to amazing looks the Gypsy Vanner posses a temperament that is friendly and engaging.

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#7. Even The Dalmatians Are Jealous Of This Appaloosa Pony’s Dots.

Source: Wikipedia

The Appaloosa is an American horse breed best known for its colorful spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting patterns overlaid on top of one of several recognized base coat colors. The color pattern of the Appaloosa is of interest to those who study equine coat color genetics, as it and several other physical characteristics are linked to the leopard complexmutation. Appaloosas are prone to develop equine recurrent uveitis and congenital stationary night blindness; the latter has been linked to the leopard complex.

#8. Frederik The Great, A Majestic Friesian Horse.

Source: Youtube

The Friesian horse is a large and muscular horse, however its powerful appearance belies an agile equine with a docile and gentle temperament. Originating from Friesland in the Netherlands, the Friesian is also known as a ‘Frizian’, and despite an historic risk of extinction, the breed remains popular in its home country for both leisure and competition riding. 

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