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Horse and pony breeds: origin, height and how to recognise them

A breed groups together horses or ponies that look alike in size, outline and ability, and pass their features on to their offspring. Each breed keeps a register of its births, the stud book. Here are the breeds you meet most often in French riding clubs, ponies and horses, and what makes each recognisable at a glance.

On the syllabusGalop 2Galop 3

Pony or horse: the height at the withers decides

The height at the withers decides: in competition, the FFE calls a pony any equine measuring no more than 1.48 m (14.2 hands) unshod, or 1.49 m shod. Anything taller is a horse. But height is not everything: some small breeds, such as the Camargue, are horse breeds by their build and their history.

Shetland, French Riding Pony and Selle Français, to the same scale — Three equines in profile in front of a measuring stick: a small, stocky Shetland with a thick mane, a fine, sporty French Riding Pony, and a tall, athletic Selle Français.
Three equines in profile in front of a measuring stick: a small, stocky Shetland with a thick mane, a fine, sporty French Riding Pony, and a tall, athletic Selle Français.

Pony breeds

Ponies and horses to the same scale — Profile silhouettes lined up against a measuring stick: a Shetland, a Welsh, a Connemara and a French Riding Pony, then a Camargue, an Arab, a French Trotter, a Thoroughbred and a Selle Français, with a horizontal line at 1.48 m.
Profile silhouettes lined up against a measuring stick: a Shetland, a Welsh, a Connemara and a French Riding Pony, then a Camargue, an Arab, a French Trotter, a Thoroughbred and a Selle Français, with a horizontal line at 1.48 m.
BreedOrigin and heightUseHow to recognise it
ShetlandThe Shetland Isles, north of Scotland; 1.07 m at most.Young children’s first rides, driving.Very small and stocky, short legs, a very thick mane and tail, a heavy winter coat.
WelshWales; four sections, from the Welsh Mountain Pony (1.22 m at most) to the Welsh Cob.Children, competition, driving.A small head, often with a slightly dished profile, large eyes, lively paces.
ConnemaraThe west of Ireland; from 1.28 m to 1.48 m.Show jumping, eventing, pleasure riding.A sturdy pony and a good jumper, very often grey.
French Riding PonyFrance; up to 1.48 m.Pony competition: jumping, dressage, eventing.A sport horse in miniature: elegant, with big paces, in every colour.
Four pony breeds

A word from the instructor

Nobody has told the Shetland it is small. Give it the same respect as a big horse — and mind your pockets: it knows exactly where the treats are.

Horse breeds

BreedOrigin and heightUseHow to recognise it
Selle FrançaisFrance, especially Normandy; about 1.60 m to 1.75 m.Show jumping above all, eventing, dressage.Tall, powerful and well proportioned; often bay or chestnut, with white on the face or legs.
ThoroughbredEngland; about 1.55 m to 1.70 m.Racing; it has improved many sport horse breeds.Fine and rangy, thin skin, a deep chest, long strides.
ArabThe Arabian Peninsula; about 1.45 m to 1.55 m.Endurance, pleasure riding, racing.A short head with a dished profile, large nostrils, a tail carried high.
French TrotterFrance, especially Normandy; about 1.55 m to 1.65 m.Trotting races, in harness or ridden; often retrained as a pleasure horse.A straight profile, a solid dark coat, a very long, ground-covering trot.
CamargueThe Rhône delta; from 1.35 m to 1.50 m.Working cattle with the gardians; trekking.Always grey, so light that it looks white; its foals are born dark. Very hardy and sure-footed.
Five horse breeds

Did you know?

The Selle Français is the French sport horse par excellence, famous the world over for show jumping; its home is Normandy, like the French Trotter’s.

Recognising the breeds at your club

  1. Make a listAsk your instructor the breed of each riding-school horse and pony; many clubs put it on the stable door.
  2. Look closelyThe size, the build, the shape of the head, the length of the mane and tail, the usual colours.
  3. Remember two signsFor each breed, two details that let you recognise it at a glance: the Connemara’s grey, the Arab’s dished profile, the Shetland’s mane.
  4. CheckGo round the stables: guess each horse’s breed, then check the name plate on its door.

Tip

Does your club have other breeds — Haflinger, New Forest, Lusitano, Norman Cob…? Use the same method: origin, height, use, two distinguishing signs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a pony and a horse?
The height at the withers: a pony stands no more than 1.48 m unshod; above that, it is a horse. Some small breeds, such as the Camargue, remain horse breeds by their build and history.
What is the smallest pony breed?
The Shetland, 1.07 m at the withers at most: stocky, short-legged, with a very thick mane and tail, and very strong for its size.
What is the French sport horse?
The Selle Français, from Normandy: tall, powerful and well proportioned, famous the world over for show jumping.
How do you recognise an Arab horse?
By its short head with a dished profile, its large nostrils and its high-carried tail; it stands about 1.45 m to 1.55 m and excels at endurance.
Why are Camargue horses white?
They are actually grey, so light that they look white: their foals are born dark and whiten with age.

From the course