RARE BREEDS TRUST OF AUSTRALIA
powered by TidyHQHorses: Caspian
Horses: Caspian
Country of Origin
Iran
Australian Status
International Status
Considered Critical globally by the Equus Survival Trust. “Current estimates put the global population of the Caspian around 900-1200 with the highest numbers now in North America, hovering around 450. Breeding activity and global markets are depressed, with likely no more than 500 horses actively breeding”.
Uses
Riding, child's mount, jumping, driving, pony trots, pony races.
Breed traits
A small Shetland sized horse of height: 10 hands to 12.2 hands high. The limbs, body and head should all be in proportion to each other. Foreshortened limbs or a head out of proportion are faults. The overall impression should be that of an elegant, small horse.
The breed’s features include a vaulted forehead (different from other breeds), slim body and legs, high croup, and dense coat. Caspians reach their adult height by 18 months of age. They are found in all colours except piebald or skewbald (pinto). Grey individuals will transition through many shades of roan before fading to near white at maturity. These highly alert and intelligent horses are excellent as children’s mounts and for beginners, and they excel as event horses with their elegance and outstanding jumping abilities. They also perform well as driving horses.
The breed is loyal, affectionate, alert, and loves the company of humans, with whom they can form close bonds. They are curious and are known to carefully investigate their surroundings. They are a tough breed that adapts well to different environments.
The breed has several distinctive features:
- Standing over a lot of ground as the first 6 lumbar vertebra are longer than in other breeds.
- The shoulders have a distinctive wither. This is also a feature of the Thoroughbred, the Arabian and several other breeds developed for riding.
- Long distance from stifle to hock, horses enabling good sprinting and jumping power.
- Long, thin, cannons, normally undesirable in other horse breeds, and which is said to have no adverse effect on their soundness.
- Neat hooves with little frog.
- Extra molar where the wolf teeth are in other horse breeds.
- Willing, hardy, with good natures.
A detailed breed description can be found on the Equus Survival Trust website - https://www.equus-survival-trust.org/documents/caspianbreeddescription.pdf
History
The Caspian is an ancient breed saved at the verge of extinction. The Caspian is thought to date back to 3000BC and is said to be the original wild breed that the Arabian pony and horse was bred from. Given the head structure and very light build, this appears highly probable. They are said to be the horses pulling the chariot of King Darius as well as being used for lion hunts some 2,500 years ago. The Caspian is featured in bas-relief carving and artifacts of Iran. They are now classed as a National Living Treasure of Iran.
The breed was re-discovered in 1965 in Iran by Louise Firouz having been thought to be extinct for over a thousand years. Louise dedicated the rest of her life, until her death in 2008, to saving the breed. The attempts by Louise Firouz to expand the small remnant population in Iran, were repressed by revolution and war. The removal of a small number to the UK, prompted by HRH Prince Philip and the achievements of a small nucleus of individual breeders in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Scandinavia have ensured their existence today.
An account of the saving and revival of the Caspian is set out on the International Caspian Society at https://caspianhorses.org/the-caspian-horse/
History in Australia
From page 9 of The Caspian Horse in Australia, by Jenne Timbs (https://app.box.com/s/l1apygiox1ulsmh5obk6f4izzmfxuetc) .
"The Caspian in Australia
In 1975, Margot Schabort convinced the Shah of Iran to allow her to export to Australia the stallion Ruba II, but sadly and despite paying a pricely sum, she never bred from him. In 1981, the Caspian Preservation Society of Western Australia was established by Betty Giles and her husband Tony of Heroden Stud, Western Australia.
The first Caspian breed classes were held in Perth at the Royal Showgound in 1982. The first two Heroden part-bred Caspians collected 44 rosettes at their first four shows as three-year-olds. The purebred stallions, Hopstone Kaftar and Hopstone Tochal, later became part of a celebrated Caspian demonstration team. Hopstone Kaftar won many driving classes and remained a much loved edition to the Gyles family for his entire life, only dying in 2005. Sadly, the Heroden Stud only ever bred one purebred foal. "
Tandara Stud was the second stud to be formed in Western Australia when Sue and Ray Eiffler saw the photograph of Hopstone Tochal that would begin their love affair with the breed. From 1981 until 1985, they acquired eight Caspians from the Marida (SA) and Cheleken (NZ) studs. Sadly, one of their first died from a snakebite within the first six weeks."
Ida Graham of South Australia formed The Australasian Caspian Society (Inc), with the first meeting taking place in 1976. That same year she, together with Marshall Steer, created the Marida Stud when they purchased from England the stallion Amu Daria and three mares: Susiana, Gulpar and Aloucheh. In 1983, they purchased Cheleken Avval Pesar from New Zealand. They also bred two fillies from Ruba II. After Ida’s death, the trust fund she set up for the ongoing promotion of the Caspians imported Cheleken Grischa. Other studs soon formed in South Australia using the Marida progeny.”
Breed Organisation
No active Australian breed associations. The Australasian Caspian Society appears to be no longer active. The International Registry has also vanished. Iran and the UK - https://www.caspianhorsesociety.org.uk/home -both have registries. The International Caspian Society has useful information. https://caspianhorses.org/
There is an active Australian public Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/651871664444540
Australian Population
2017: 110 (55 mares) - 2017
2022: Difficult to obtain numbers. Presume less than the 2017 numbers as there were no organisations in Australia at that time. Estimate: 90 total being 45 mares and 21 stallions as breeders. Three registerable foals were due in December 2022 to Jasenna stud,
2025: Mares 55; Stallions 16
Additional Notes
Jenne Timbs article on the Caspian provides comprehensive information on the Caspian. Download it at https://app.box.com/s/l1apygiox1ulsmh5obk6f4izzmfxuetc
Photo credits
Top photo: This delightful Caspian foal photo was taken by Jenne Timbs of Jasenna Caspian Stud in Queensland, for our 2017 RBTA photo competition. Bottom photo: Caspian colts by Andrew Timbs.
