Horses are one of the animals that have not only been part of human life for thousands of years but are also well loved and adored by many. Despite the fact that we no longer need to keep horses to do jobs like ploughing the fields, riding off to war or to tow a barge along a canal, horses are still bred and loved by many horse lovers and native UK horse breeds can still be found across the country.
From books to art like these bronze horse sculptures https://www.gillparker.com/bronze-horse-sculptures-limited-edition-to-buy you can see all around you how well loved horses are – here are some of the UKs native breeds that you can still see today…
Highland Pony – One of the largest of the native horse breeds, the Highland pony ordinates, as the name suggests, from the highlands of Scotland. These ponies are hardy and used to the extreme weather in the Highlands, and they are loved by the Royal Family who kept them at Balmoral, although since the death of the Queen they are moving to England. It is also an excellent pony for riding and is popular with families, as well as for working and getting around the Scottish hills.
New Forest Pony – Originating in Southern England, the New Forest pony can still be seen today roaming the New Forest in Hampshire. Ponies have been kept in this area since records began back in the 11th Century, and like the Highland Ponies these are popular with riders and especially well suited to children who are learning to ride.
The Shire Horse – One of the most recognisable horses in the UK is the enormous shire horse. Despite its large size, these are gentle giants with even temperaments. They were bred for their extraordinary strength, which enabled them to pull farming machinery as well as helping to move goods around the country.
Shire horses are still used in a work capacity, in some areas where land is hard to access with a vehicle for example they can be used to assist with logging.
English Thoroughbred – The typical racehorse is an English thoroughbred, and these are the athletes of the horse world. As well as being racing horses, they are also used in horse events and polo, and the breed can be traced back to the 1700s.
