The National Horse of Mexico - El Caballo Azteca

A new breed of horse, known as the Azteca, is in demand in Mexico. It is the first breed to be developed in Mexico and was designed from the beginning to suit all that is required of a Mexican horse. The majority of horses in Mexico are descendants of Spanish horses, and the since the Spanish horse has always been preferred in Mexico, the Andalusian was the foundation for the new breed.

Several horsemen living in Mexico in the late 1960's decided to re-create a horse that no longer existed. It was to be reminiscent of the horses originally brought to the New World by the Spanish Conquistadors; symbolic of Mexico; and, it was to have cow sense for working the cattle ranches of the charro (cowboy); and it was to be an accomplished performer in typical Mexican events such as fiestas, parades, and as a mount for the Rejonero in the bullfighting ring.

After several years of experimentation and research, a new breed of horse was created in Mexico in 1972 called the Azteca from Andalusians crossed with Quarter Horses and Criollo mares.

The worldwide Registry for Azteca horses is maintained by Asociacion Mexicana de Criadores de Caballos de Raza Azteca (AMCCRA or The Azteca Horse Association of Mexico). This is the only organization approved by the developers of the breed and by the Government of Mexico to register Azteca horses and to legally use the name "Azteca". There are about 2000 Azteca horses currently living in North and South America, and Spain which have been approved by the International Azteca Horse Association. The AMCCRA and the Government of Mexico are continuing these efforts to refine the Azteca and to define the main contributions of each of the three founding breeds to the phenotype. It has acquired so much recognition that it has earned the title of the National Horse of Mexico.

The Mexican version is the original, but there is an American type that deviates from the Mexican in several ways, some of them subtle, some of them major. The main difference is that in the American Azteca, both Quarter Horse and Paint horses that can prove no more then 1/4 TB can be used for breeding the American Azteca. All American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and American Paint Horse Association (APHA) markings and colors are acceptable. The Mexican variety does not allow Paint, Appaloosa or albino. Additionally, the American Azteca allows only Andalusian and Quarter Horse crosses, while the original Mexican variety allows Criollo.

The American Azteca Horse responds well to the different disciplines that require suspended and elevated gaits and to those that require a skillful working cow horse or western horse. The horse inherits its beauty, temperament, spirit and agility from their Andalusian genes. The Andalusian side also allows them to be incredibly athletic and smooth to ride with a naturally collected movement. The Azteca gets its strength and speed from the Quarter Horse side and has an outstanding ability to learn; is extremely easy to train; and once it learns something, it never forgets.

The American Azteca ranges from 14.2 to 16.0 hands but the original Mexican Azteca should be 14.1 to 15.2 hands (mares) and 14.2 to 15.3 hands (stallions). This height was established in consideration of the Aztec’s intended use in Charier. The head is medium sized with a straight, slightly convex or slightly concave profile with a broad forehead, expressive eyes and medium-sized ears. The neck is well muscled and slightly arched with a medium crest. A long flowing mane and a well set medium to low tail are often seen. The coat is silky and only solid colors are permissible by the Mexican registry.

It is important to note that two Azteca associations in the United States allow Paints into their registries, but the Mexican registry does not. These U.S. associations are not affiliated with Mexico's Azteca breed association and have chosen to establish their own standards and breed development guidelines.

Azteca Horse Registry of America (AHRA) has registered over 450 American Azteca Horses since 1989. They feel that crossing the American Quarter Horse and the American Paint Horse back into its original Spanish gene pool by breeding it to the American Andalusian/Iberian/PRE/PSL correctly depicts the beginning of the Quarter Horse breed in early Southwest America.

The American Azteca Horse International Association (AAHIA) was formed in 2000 for registering and promoting American Azteca horses. The AAHIA takes into consideration the needs and marketing demands of American tastes, rather than the Mexican needs, or their market. The AAHIA feels that for the Azteca to be successful in the United States, the American people want a different type of horse than the type that is desired in Mexico. The American Azteca Horses will be modeled closely after the original Mexican standards, but with a little more diversity to fit the American market. So, since a horse cannot legally be called an Azteca unless it is inspected and approved by the Mexican association, they are calling their breed the American Azteca Horse, so as not to imply that these horses are Mexican bred or registered.

The American Azteca is a combination of 2 registered breeds: Andalusian (all lines of Spanish, Lusitano, and Spanish/Lusitano) and registered Quarter Horse or Paint. They do not recognize any other breeds. As of January 1, 2004, all American Azteca Horses being registered must have DNA analysis performed to confirm the parentage of both sides.

If a horse is also registered with the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (ALHA), the AAHIA will not accept the AQHA or APHA pedigree that is on the horse's IALHA papers. However, they do accept the Andalusian side of the pedigree. For the AQHA or APHA side of the pedigree, they need either a copy of the original AQHA or APHA registration papers; or a copy of the pedigree officially prepared by the AQHA or APHA only. A minimum of 4 generations is also required. Additionally, you cannot register a horse with the AAHIA unless you are a full member of the AAHIA at the time of the registration.

Because of the Quarter Horse background a genetic condition known as Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) is possible, therefore any horse found to have the bloodlines of a horse called "Impressive #0767246" in their heritage, must have their horse tested for HYPP. Only horses with the result of N/N will be accepted for registration. HYPP is inherited as a dominant trait and is characterized by intermittent episodes of uncontrolled muscle tremors (shaking, trembling or twitching) or profound muscle weakness, and in severe cases, may lead to collapse and/or death.

With all these things going for it, the Azteca breed, whether Mexican or American, has a valuable place in the equine world.


About Crystal Eikanger
Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.

These Boots are Made for Walking in a Winter Wonderland and not Slip-Sliding Away!

Now there's an interesting musical medley for you! I'm attempting to hum it right now...

I have just run across an absolutely delightful video on YouTube that I wanted to share with you all. Not only is the kid in it absolutely adorable, but the video itself is quite funny, too! And the music chosen only adds to the giggle. Go take a peek at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-sw49J_mM0 . I'll wait while you go smile.

Back already? Great! As many of you know, I live in Central Texas, and contrary to non-Texan beliefs, it gets colder than Sweden here in the winter, much to the surprise of my international friends who think of cactus when they think of Texas. The reason it gets so cold here, as the story goes, is because there is only a single barb-wire fence between here and the Arctic Circle and two strands of that are down. Been down for decades, actually, as no one seems to be able to find that section of the fence to mend it. Hey, Texas is a BIG place!

We don't get much snow except for a few hours worth and it's gone before you can charge up the camera to take pictures to prove it, but we do get ice storms that can last a day or more. So, when my friend in the balmy south of France showed me this video, (they actually have a mountain there that gets snow), I knew I had to have these "Spare Spike" ice walking overshoes just to get through the parking lot at work, especially since I work the late shift and it's too dark to see my feet on icy nights. They should arrive any day now, but I suspect the ice storm cometh first, at least according to the latest forecast for this week.

Hmmm, I wonder if they could make these for tires? Just stretch 'em over your wheels in a pinch. Great for those times when chains are overkill. Maybe I should tell the company about my idea? Think they'll give me a patent? Royalties? How about for those old-fashioned roller skate wheels?

Anyway, they put their website link on YouTube and I feel it is worth mentioning here, too, if only for the safety factor for those of you who live in ice-prone areas or who may be handicapped.
http://www.winterwalking.com/products/spare-spiketm
is where I ordered my Spare Spike overshoes from and they've got all kinds of ice cleat shoes for walking in the mountains in the south of France, as well as here in flat prairie Texas. OK, you're right, I lied...I'm actually where the Hill Country begins here but it's still pretty doggone flat.

So, the next time you find yourself landing flat on your trailer hitch in the snow, remember you could have stayed upright and unbruised if you'd only paid attention to my blog for a change.

Have fun!
Crystal
:)

About Crystal Eikanger

Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on http://www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites.

The Missing Third Arabian - The Shagya-Arabian Horse

[Official Corrected Version] The World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO) recognizes three separate breeds of the Arabian Horse. In North America, most Arabian aficionados are acquainted with the purebred Arabian and the Half-Arabian breeds. But a large majority of people world-wide are unfamiliar with the third and rarest Arabian Horse that is known as the Shagya-Arabian.

Its origins derive from purebred desert Arabians that were developed more than 200 years ago from selective breeding and performance testing when the Austro-Hungarian monarchy needed a superior cavalry mount back in 1789. The ideal horse had to be pre-potent for its type so that it could be used to improve other native breeds. As a result of an edict from the Emperor, the Babolna stud farm was founded 36 miles west of Budapest.
The conditions for creating a superior breed were perfect at the time, since the stud was managed by Hungary's talented native horsemen, the Magyars, who had highly developed skills as horse breeders.

By crossing quality cavalry mares of oriental type with imported purebred Arabian Horses from Syria, in particular, with a purebred Arabian stallion named Shagya, a new warhorse was created. The breed was originally known as the Araberrasse (Arab breed) or Arab Fajta Horse. The Magyars kept meticulous records of the breeding program in their studbooks and English Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arabian and Lipizzaner blood was carefully added. The breed was consolidated many generations ago so that it breeds consistently true to type. Shagya turned out to be such an influential stallion that eventually the breed was renamed to Shagya-Araber which was authorized by WAHO at the 1978 convention at Hamburg. It is now known in the United States as the Shagya-Arabian.

Historically, the Shagya-Arabian was bred in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, specifically in the main military stud farms of Bàbolna, Radautz and Piber in Hungary. Later on, stud farms in Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria also bred Shagya-Arabians. The Shagya-Arabians not only served as cavalry horses, they were also used as parade horses for European royalty. Every royal guard or officer regarded it a privilege to be able to ride a Shagya. The Imperial guards of the Habsburgs in Vienna were always mounted on elegant Shagya-Arabians, and the Royal Guard of Budapest rode the Shagya-Arabian.

The breed was nearly wiped out during WWII, along with the Lipizzaner, but one can still admire many statues in Hungary commemorating the heroic deeds of these horses and their riders. Currently, all Shagya-Arabian breeding world-wide is overseen by the Internationale Shagya-Araber Gesellschaft e.v. ( ISG) and horse must be approved before being used as breeding stock. In 2000, the total number of Shagya mares was estimated at approximately 1,500 horses world-wide.

In the United States, the Shagya-Arabian faced a dramatic re-birth by Adele Furby in Montana. In 1984, Ms. Furby rescued a Shagya-Arabian stallion named Bravo from the estate of a Hungarian Countess who had stipulated in her will that 22 of her favorite horses were to be destroyed upon her death so as to not fall into the wrong hands, and Bravo was on that list. His maternal grand sire, GAZAL II, was considered the "Shagya Stallion of the Century" in Europe and his son, GAZAL VII, was pictured on the cover of a studbook. After correspondence with ISG and some pedigree research, the ISG named Bravo as the foundation stallion for the United States Shagya-Arabian breeding program and in 1986, Ms. Furby started the North American Shagya Society (NASS) to help recover the rare Shagya-Arabian breed from near extinction. NASS is recognized by the ISG as the only North American registry for Shagya-Arabians. Its registry is referred to as the Shagya-Arabian Registry of North America (SHARONA) and purebred Shagya-Arabians registered with SHARONA are eligible to be branded with a patented brand showing the letters SH inside a circular 6-pointed sun.

After a visit to Europe, three Shagya-Arabian mares, *Biala, *Arriva, and *Aminah, and two young stallions, *Oman and *Shandor, were purchased by Adele Furby for import to America in 1987 and those horses, along with 9 purebred Arabian mares (TPR Shatana ox, Nepenthe Valkyrie ox, Dollys Echo ox, Magic Shadow ox, Bint Neferet ox, Ravenwood Cresent ox, May Folly ox, WC Rachelle ox, and WC Faline ox) that she had selected in America became the foundation for the purebred Shagya-Arabian breeding program in the United States on the largest and oldest Shagya-Arabian breeding farm in America.

However, the Shagya-Arabian has been rather slow to establish itself in the U.S. Following several new imports since 2001, the breed is finally producing more quality horses and the Shagya-Arabian is rapidly finding new interest and new breeders. What started out as only a handful is now an amazing number of Shagya-Arabians that are doing well in the sport horse world. In 2002, three Shagya-Arabian stallions were imported from Europe as valuable new genetic material for the American Sport Horse breeder who would prefer not to use the purebred Arabian for crossbreeding. The Shagya breed is still very rare and fewer than 250 horses exist in the U.S. as of 2008 with only 25 of these being approved stallions.

Those people familiar with Arabian horses who see the Shagya-Arabian for the first time are often not prepared to see a large, very robust, oriental-based horse with swinging gaits and a quiet, calm nature. Shagya-Arabians are taller, have a larger rectangular frame, are stronger and possess better riding horse qualities than purebred Arabians. The Shagya-Arabians combine the advantages of the Bedouin Arabian; elegance, hardiness, endurance, and inborn friendliness toward humans, with the requirements of the modern riding horse; sufficient height, excellent movement and enormous jumping ability.

Shagya-Arabians stand 14.3 to 16.1 hands high but are most commonly found in the 15-16 hand range. They have a very harmonious appearance with a wide forehead and concave profile that often gives the head a very oriental look. The small, pointy ears are situated high on top of the head and the eyes are very expressive. The gracefully arched neck is often long with a slight poll. The withers are prominent and reach far into the back. The shoulders are large and sloping and the haunches are short and strong. The croup is melon-shaped, slightly sloping and long, with a high tail attachment. The hooves are small, well-formed and hard. The mane & tail is abundant and silky fine as is the rest of the body hair. They are predominantly gray in color, but can be bay, chestnut or black, although black Shagya-Arabians are rather rare.

Shagya-Arabians are known for having light, basic gaits and a good jumping disposition and have also proven themselves to be successful in open competitions against warmbloods in dressage, jumping, and 3-day eventing.

Shagya-Arabians are now being used to refine other warmbloods. Following the European method of Warmblood Sport Horse breeding, quality Trakehner, Dutch Warmblood, Thoroughbred, and Arabian mares that have been approved by the American Trakehner Association (ATA), the American Shagya Arabian Verband Inc. (ASAV), the North American Shagya Society (NASS), and the International Sport Horse Registry (ISR) are being bred to purebred Shagya-Arabian stallions. When the Shagya is used, the very first generation shows refinement without the loss of size or bone and the Shagya adds many of the good characteristics from the Arabian. The offspring from these crosses are accepted by most of the Verbands and the genes will modernize the sport horse that is sought after today, but NONE of these crosses may ever be used for purebred Shagya-Arabian breeding.

The Shagya-Arabian stud books have been closed for over 200 years and only purebred Arabian blood has been added. Currently, purebred Shagya-Arabians can have up to 9 purebred Arabian ancestors out of the 16 ancestors listed in the 4th generation. Before 1985, the ISG accepted Shagya-Arabians with up to 12 Arabian ancestors, but now those are registered in the Appendix book as part Shagya-Arabians. Today, some Shagya-Arabians have four or five generations of straight Shagya breeding before you will find a purebred Arabian in the pedigree.


Author's Note: The * before a horse's name means that animal was imported.


About Crystal Eikanger
Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.