| ALARGA* | | | | difficulty. As the weather turns warm, in June, herds |
| Originating in Brazil in the state of Minas Gerais, the | | | | are led to summer pastures to enjoy freedom for |
| Mangalara breed has a fast gait and a smooth ride. | | | | months at a time in the mountains. It is said that this |
| The breed's society was formed in 1934 and varieties | | | | time in the mountains with other Merens ponies is what |
| include teh Mineiro or Marchador, and the Paulisto. The | | | | gives the breed their outstanding mental balance. |
| Paulisto is a more modern version of the Mangalarga, | | | | Merens Ponies are all very similar in appearance, black |
| and is lighter in weight, and has longer legs. | | | | in color, and only a few have white markings. They are |
| The Mangalarga breed has a unique walk that involves | | | | strong enough to carry an adult rider and gentle |
| three of the hooves touching the ground at the same | | | | enough to work with children. They are often exported |
| time! Another common characteristic known to the | | | | to Germany, Italy, Tunisia and the Netherlands. |
| breed is their attentive attitudes and alertness. | | | | Sometimes, the breed is bred in other regions |
| Extremely intelligent, the Mangalarga is an easy horse | | | | throughout France, but authentic Merens Ponies are |
| to train and is offers submission to commands. | | | | those that have run free in the Pyrenees. The breed is |
| Although the Mangalarga horse is light weight, it is | | | | quite rare. |
| strong and has a well muscled body. The head is | | | | *MESSARA* |
| somewhat triangular, and they have well formed | | | | Off the coast of Greece, in the beautiful island of |
| tendonds. The breed is sturdy and adaptable to any | | | | Crete is a breed of horse known as the Messara. |
| climate or terain. They travel great distances without | | | | They are used for light riding, as a draft horse, and are |
| fatigue and they are not demanding feeders. | | | | almost extinct. |
| *MARWARI* | | | | *MINIATURE* |
| The Marwari can travel for extremely long distances, | | | | The American Miniature horses are given that |
| is extremely brave and loyal in battle fields. Marwari | | | | classification when they are a maximum of 34 inches |
| Horses are spoken highly of in bardic literature. | | | | in height when they reach maturity. The tiny horses are |
| Marwari have been used for polo ponies and pig | | | | actually replicas of larger breeds, and bear striking |
| sticking. | | | | resemblence to Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Draft |
| The origin of the Marwari is hard to trace, but it is | | | | Horses or Arabs. The small horses are not mutations |
| believed that they have conections with Arabians, and | | | | or genetic problems; instead they were created by |
| the turkmenian breed. They are able to survive in | | | | "breeding down", and continuously working to create |
| difficult terrain and intense temperatures. They have | | | | smaller horses through the breeding process. |
| refined heads with a medium muzzle and a long face. | | | | Miniature horses are wonderful companions, highly |
| They also have long, musclar shoulders that slopes | | | | intelligent and curious animals. They are the perfect |
| right into the withers that stand at medium height. | | | | solution to people who want to own horses but don't |
| There is a wide variety of colors found in Marwari | | | | have the space or time to handle 1,000 pound horses. |
| horses, but the most prevalent tend to be dark brown, | | | | Even people who have never had a full sized horse |
| chestnut, bay, gray, pie bald and skewbald. | | | | can experience horse ownership with Miniature's. The |
| *MERENS PONY* | | | | horses are often put into therapeutic programs to |
| Named after a village close to Andorra, Merens Ponies | | | | assist disabled children and adults, and the elderly. |
| are gentle, economical and hardy horses. Their history | | | | You care for a Miniature horse in the same manner |
| is rich, and includes being faithful companions to the | | | | that you care for larger horses, only they require much |
| mountain farmers, "Montagnol", and to soldiers in the | | | | less feed, lower deworming doses and medication. |
| Middle Ages as well as during the Russian campaign | | | | Grain is actually measured by the cup, in a similar way |
| with Napoleon. | | | | that you would measure out a dog's food for the day. |
| Currently, Merens ponies are used for farming, helping | | | | Miniature horses prefer to be outdoors, and you can |
| to plow and haul fields. They have sure footing that | | | | have several on less than an acre of land. They need |
| enables them to work well on steep hillsides. They are | | | | only a small indoor area, with a stall of about 6 feet by |
| at ease in a harness and with riders, and have a gentle | | | | 8 feet. Because of their size, transporting the Miniature |
| disposition that makes the Merens Ponies great | | | | horses is also very easy. You can use custom-made |
| children's horses. The ponies are willing to work, but | | | | trailers, a station wagon, van or pickup truck with an |
| are quite strong in character so the trainers and | | | | enclosed bed! Some Miniature horse owners have |
| owners must be firm with them. | | | | even been placed in the cargo bay of an Airplane as |
| The ponies are typically raised outside all year round, | | | | additional baggage. |
| and foals are born during the spring snows without | | | | |