Why are Somali horses so short

Boqorada

F*ck Your Feelings
They look like ponys. The men are always practically touching the ground when the try to ride them

Somali horse-
cf79437402cc852ef9029d16ca48837c.jpg



Ethiopian horse-
Horse-show-at-Jida-horse-market-in-Ethiopia_Q320.jpg



We need to get these ethipoian horses or Arabian ones to breed with ours because ours look ridiculous.
 
Diet. Somali horses survive only off pasture, whereas Arabian horses need to eat more such as grains. Plus our horses are adapted to our lands, the Nugaal Valley historically had the most horses.
 

Caaro

I do something called "what I want"
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Somali Ponies are from Somalia in East Africa. They are genetically horses but are considered Ponies because they are pony sized (only 13-13 1/2 hh). The severe climate and poor food sources, in Somalia, have contributed to their smaller size. They are bred by most tribes excluding the Esa and Géri. The Dolbanhanta tribe is the breeder of Somali ponies.

They have heavy heads, short, thick necks, with inharmonious conformations. They are able to carry light weight very well and for long distances. They have extremely hard hooves; some say harder than the Arabian horses. They can gallop and perform better without shoes because of the terrain and the nature of their feet. They can go three days or longer without water and eat only grass. They require virtually no care. They are extremely hardy and perfectly adapted to their hostile environment. They often are tick infested with the Kudkudaha tick which reaches a size of 1/2 inch in diameter.

Somali Ponies are used for riding as well as packing. They are bred for use in intertribal fighting. The mares are most prized for this purpose.


 
Somali Ponies are from Somalia in East Africa. They are genetically horses but are considered Ponies because they are pony sized (only 13-13 1/2 hh). The severe climate and poor food sources, in Somalia, have contributed to their smaller size. They are bred by most tribes excluding the Esa and Géri. The Dolbanhanta tribe is the breeder of Somali ponies.

They have heavy heads, short, thick necks, with inharmonious conformations. They are able to carry light weight very well and for long distances. They have extremely hard hooves; some say harder than the Arabian horses. They can gallop and perform better without shoes because of the terrain and the nature of their feet. They can go three days or longer without water and eat only grass. They require virtually no care. They are extremely hardy and perfectly adapted to their hostile environment. They often are tick infested with the Kudkudaha tick which reaches a size of 1/2 inch in diameter.

Somali Ponies are used for riding as well as packing. They are bred for use in intertribal fighting. The mares are most prized for this purpose.


Harold Swayne:
"Of the Somali tribes I have met on different expeditions, those having the most ponies are the Dhulbahante. In the Dolbahante country we saw enormous number, one man sometimes owning 150"

Drake-Brockman:
Previous to the expeditions against the Mullah, the tribes which were, in all probability, the best off in horses were the Dulbahanta. At all events, most of those in a position to speak are agreed that the Dulbahantas are the best horsemen among the Somalis.

Speke:
The other people I met here were some Dulbahantas arming for the fight. They said they were 4000 strong in cavalry, and were slaughtering sheep wholesale for provision on the road. Each man carried a junk of flesh, a skin of water, and a little hay, and was then ready for a long campaign, for they were not soft like the English (their general boast), who must have their daily food; they were hardy enough to work without eating ten days in succession, if the emergency required it.
One man with 150 horses mashallah :lawd:
 

Caaro

I do something called "what I want"
2021 GRANDMASTER
VIP
From the same source:

Abyssinian horses originated in Ethiopia and Eritrea, formerly known as Abyssinia. They are found today along the coastline of the Red Sea and in the Sudan. Abyssinian horses were first exported to England in 1861. The Abyssinian is on average about 13.3 hands high and has a wide variation in color and conformation. The Abyssinian’s coat is short and rough and special attention must be given to this breed to keep their coat clean and free of dirt. Because of their unique hair growth pattern, the Abyssinian can be difficult to brush. Their coat is also unique in that it has a rosette pattern. Many breeders in England have worked to improve this unusual pattern. They also have green eyes due to uncommon genes. Despite its smaller size the Abyssinian has been bred for strength, which makes it very valuable for its ability to live and work in mountainous areas.

 

Caaro

I do something called "what I want"
2021 GRANDMASTER
VIP
these sources tell us Somali horses and Ethiopian horses are roughly the same size. Somali horses being 13-13.5 hands on average and ethiopian horses being 13.3 hands on average.

“Hands” being 4 inches and is used to measure horses.

The arabian horses are 15 hands tall on average, so about 8-6 inches taller than Somali horses on average.

You’re right though, a taller horse is more aesthetically pleasing. But that doesn’t mean Somali horses are bad horses, I’m sure they’re pretty good. They have just evolved and adapted to their environment.

They have very high endurance and need very little maintenance which is useful for long travels in the desert. Similar to camels.
 

Caaro

I do something called "what I want"
2021 GRANDMASTER
VIP
here’s some more information on horse height measurements and what it means:


just a quick summary, horses are split into three sizes; miniature horses, pony horses, and horses.

Miniature horses are basically in the name, they’re tiny horses, any horses shorter than 9.2 hands are miniature.

Pony horses, are horses that range from 9.2 hands to 14.2 hands and are split up into small, medium, and large ponies. Somali horses being large ponies. So with a little bit of selective breeding we can easily push Somali horses into 14.2 hands tall if height matter that much.

then there are horses which are taller than 14.2 hands. This would be Arabian horses for example.

Mongol horses are 12-14 hands, same size as Somali horses, only difference is they’re more stocky. So again, Somali horses aren’t short really, it’s just that arabian horses are tall, which you are comparing them too.

The average horse height is 13.6 hands, which means Somali horses are average height, or JUST under with them being 13-13.5 hands tall.
 
Somali Ponies are from Somalia in East Africa. They are genetically horses but are considered Ponies because they are pony sized (only 13-13 1/2 hh). The severe climate and poor food sources, in Somalia, have contributed to their smaller size. They are bred by most tribes excluding the Esa and Géri. The Dolbanhanta tribe is the breeder of Somali ponies.

They have heavy heads, short, thick necks, with inharmonious conformations. They are able to carry light weight very well and for long distances. They have extremely hard hooves; some say harder than the Arabian horses. They can gallop and perform better without shoes because of the terrain and the nature of their feet. They can go three days or longer without water and eat only grass. They require virtually no care. They are extremely hardy and perfectly adapted to their hostile environment. They often are tick infested with the Kudkudaha tick which reaches a size of 1/2 inch in diameter.

Somali Ponies are used for riding as well as packing. They are bred for use in intertribal fighting. The mares are most prized for this purpose.


Ok but how do you explain somali horses being large 100 years ago like this elder riding a horse

1626643968192.png
 

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