Sorraia

As Sorraia refers to a breed of horse from Portugal, which is supposed to be descendants of a small population of wild horses, which was only discovered in 1920, emerged. These are also the ancestors of the American Sulphur, have been, which were taken by Christopher Columbus on the ships to America and released before returning to Europe in America.

Is sometimes said that the Sorraia it were an Iberian wild horse, although it is not genetically different from other Iberian horses house and there is no further evidence.

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

Exterior

Sorraias are small or medium-sized horses. They have a narrow Roman nose, a slender neck, which is strong in well-fed stallions and reminiscent of Andalusian and Lusitano horses. Her body is slender, with a narrow chest, good withers, sometimes tendency to roach back, good Gurttiefe, roof-shaped croup, flat muscled, relatively long legs with long tubes and mid-sized hooves. The slim physique resembles that of thoroughbreds.

Sorraias are almost always fawn, either graufalb or gelbfalb ( braunfalb ), and have a dark foot and part of the face. Rarely occur dark brown; they are, as well as those excluded with distinct white markings, from breeding, since foreign influence blood (possibly from Garrano or Asturcon ) suspected. Mane and tail are typically two colors, the dark center strip, the extension of Aalst Rich's is flanked by bright, often almost white hair on both sides. Like all real Fallows they have a dorsal stripe. Many have zebra stripes on the legs, not infrequently, shoulder and neck stripes. Foals often clearly visible zebra stripes on the abdomen. Allegedly Zebrierung also occurred in adult horses at the time of discovery of the Sorraiapferds more apparent than with the present Sorraias but the occupying photos are known.

History

The Portuguese zoologist Dr. Ruy d' Andrade and hippologist founded the breeding of this breed, having accounted for a herd of wild horses appear near the River Sorraia. Ruy d' Andrade kept these horses for ancestors of the Andalusian and Lusitano, as could be shown by some genetic studies, has been refuted by others, however. He began in 1937 a captive breeding program, with a volume of 3 stallions and mares 7, including 1 pregnant by an unknown stallion. 1948 was added as the last foreign blood a gray, heavily zebrierter, imported from Argentina Criollo. 1976, 3 mares ( one of them pregnant by a Sorraiahengst ) and 3 stallions imported to Germany. 2004 stud book with 564 listed individuals has been published, which can be completely attributed to the founder horses

Today's Sorraias live mostly in Robust attitude. The survival of the breed is considered endangered by the small number, the scattered holdings, the close relationship and resulting shortages of vitality, and the made ​​recently exports of breeding stock to America for further breeding of Spanish Mustangs. The Portuguese Horse Breeders' Association is responsible for the Sorraias as a horse race and not in the sense of its discoverer and Ruy d' Andrade Sustainer. There is currently only one project in which Sorraias in a wild reserve and left to their own life, the Vale de Zebro Refuge in Portugal, which is in private hands. The so-called Portuguese reserve for the preservation of the Sorraia horse consists of only a small number of animals in normal and for Portuguese ratios close grazing. Most Sorraias are owned by the d' Andrade family and live partly semi-wild.

Sorraia breed in Germany

In Germany there is a significant for the survival of the species inventory of about 60 animals, mainly from the breeding of the deceased in 2001 Munich hippologists and veterinarian Michael Shepherd, who described it in his books since 1975, and to this day by his widow, also a veterinarian, will be continued.

In the current zoological doctrine in Germany is at Sorraiapferden not wild horses, but to restore a feral horses. This is the reason that Sorraiapferde in Germany are held only in Springe Bison Paddock, and otherwise not in zoos and game reserves. Gerhard Freutel wrote in May 2012: " In Wisentgehege Jump has been around since 1979, a herd of up to 15 animals. The first horses were then bought in Portugal and funded by the Friends. The herd has performed well despite difficult conditions in the breed. The formal collaboration with the stud book, which is out in Lisbon, is very difficult and the main reason is why currently dispensed in the bison enclosure to breed. Until our temporary stop breeding in 2009 23 foals were born in Springe. "

From the perspective of the bison enclosure Jump is the survival of the Sorraia, of which only 150 animals live around the world, backed unsustainable. First, the Sorraia ill frequently on summer eczema because they are allergic because of their genes on blackflies. Therefore, only one location is favorable for the Sorraia, do not occur at the blackflies. Second, there are no respected authority that enforces the conservation breeding of the Sorraia as wild horses and coordinated. This would be the task of zoological gardens, but do not perform maintenance breeding of the Sorraia as a race. Third, there is for the preservation of growers as Wisentgehege Do not skip the opportunity to give the Sorraia from their breeding at zoos, in turn, are also involved in the conservation breeding of the Sorraia as feral horses. Therefore, the bison enclosure has only the possibility Sorraias deliver to private conversations, which do not perform maintenance breeding. (As of March 2013)