Skyros-Pony

The Skyros Pony is an ancient autochthonous horse breed from the island of Skyros. It is Greece's smallest pony and is called by the locals Hipparion, horse '.

Background information on the evaluation and breeding horses can be found at: exterior, interior and horse breeding.

Exterior

The Skyros Pony is a small, petite pony. The Height is given as 90 to 110 cm, about an average size of 104 cm to add 100 to 115 cm. The head is relatively large, the shoulders short and steep. The back is long with a low withers, and the tail-base is low on the short, chipped croup. The legs are often found defective, the front legs toes far, the hind legs with kuhhessiger or säbelbeiniger position. The dark hooves are small and very hard. The most common colors are brown, dun and gray, rarely are represented centimes.

Interior

Through the centuries of isolation on the island of Skyros ponies are very adaptable and frugal. They are content with very little food and achieve a high age. The semi- wild ponies live in the mountains and will only be captured if they are needed. They are easy to tame and enjoyable by their character and perennial, and avid nature to deal with. In the past, the Skyros Pony was mainly used as a beast of burden for carrying loads and during threshing. Today few ponies only be captured by a few farmers, mainly because they serve only as children riding horses in tourism. Ponies are also captured for training as a racehorse yet. At the annual race in August, which have a great tradition, young people need to keep as long as possible without saddle on horse back. Previously, an assessment of the ponies and burning were carried out in the context of the race. If they are no longer needed, the ponies are released.

History

Before the conquest by the Venetians in 1207 there should have been on the island of Skyros no horses. In the 12-13. Century should have this then brought horses to the island. According to other sources are said to have brought to the 8th century BC colonists from Athens to Skyros horses in the 5th. Due to the harsh conditions on the barren island of the horses to its present stunted little pony size. A systematic breeding never took place. Even the finishing with oriental blood during the Turkish rule, which took place at the races on the other Greek islands, was not consummated on Skyros. Again and again it came through the climatic conditions in a significant reduction of the stock. In the winter of 1928/29, the number of ponies reduced from 500 to 100

Despite the hard work among the peasants this was through the lining and the water that they received during the period of work in the summer, an essential support for the survival of the ponies. It has also been occasionally fed in winter on the mountain. After the late 1960s, threshing machines were introduced on Skyros, fell off not only the work but also this help for the ponies.

Since 1975, there is a ban on exports of mares and foals, with which the government is trying to ensure the preservation of the breed. Today, around 133 ponies live on the island.

Outside of Skyros than breeding group of some 40 animals at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. There, the genotype and the degree of inbreeding is explored. In addition, about 20 animals are kept on the island of Corfu on Silva project to preserve the breed. Here riding lessons and special therapeutic riding is offered.