Pindos Pony

GREECE has little suitable natural environment suitable for horse-breeding. In Ancient Greece there were several breeds of horse, but the poor soil, sparse vegetation, and the harsh climatic conditions meant that the animals were usually rather small. In the time of the Greek historian Xenophon (430-355 BC), the Greeks had to rely on horses brought in from neighboring areas, which they could use to improve their native breeds. They refined the quality of the indigenous )ones by introducing eastern-type horses from Ferghana, and increased he size by using Scythian stock.

THE PINDOS
The traditional horse-breeding areas of Ancient Greece were the lower lands of thessaly and Epirus. For centuries this has been the habitat of the Pindos (also known as the Thessalonian). There seems to be little doubt that this breed is directly descended from the old Thessalonian, which the Greek poet Oppian (c. AD 211) recognized as the horse "most noted for beauty, courage and endurance", although it is also likely to have been influenced by its absorption of the ancient Peloponnese, Arcadian, Epidaurian, and other long-forgotten strains.

Today, the sure-footed Pindos is used as a pack pony in the mountains, in light work on the small farmsteads, and in forestry, and it can also be a useful riding and driving pony. Pindos mares are often used for breeding mules.

The Pindos pony stands at about 1.32 in (13 hh). It is a tough, enduring sort, capable of surviving on minimal food supplies. The tail is set high, which indicates the presence of Horse Type 4 in its background, but the quarters are often poor, with little second thigh. The feet are usually narrow and boxy, a characteristic condition in horses from dry, hot countries, but they are very hard and rarely need to be shod. The Pindos is noted for its stamina, but the breed has a reputation for being stubborn.

The Peneia, from the province of Eleia in the Peloponnese, has a connection with the more numerous Pindos. It fulfils the same functions, and is also tough and economical to keep. The breed height varies greatly: the smallest animals can be as little as 1.02 m (10 hh), while the largest, perhaps as a result of selective breeding and better care, can stand at up to 1.42 m (14 hh)

THE SKYRIAN HORSE
The island of Skyros has supported ponies since ancient times, but there is no evidence to show how they got there. At one time the ponies lived wild in the mountains, and were brought in to help with the corn threshing. The modern pony, which Skyrian breeders insist must be called the Skyrian Horse, is still a utility animal, but is also used in other ways, which include being ridden.

The Skyrian's proportions are horse like, and the breed resembles the horses depicted in the statuary and friezes of Ancient Greece. Therefore, there may be a connection with the old Thessalonian horse. That assumption suggests an origin with Horse Type 4, while the coat and general appearance show a strong link with the earlier Tarpan The Skyrian breed is reputed to be good-tempered and to jump well. Its other assets include stamina and weight-carrying ability. However, it has straight shoulders and mean quarters, and is usually cow-hocked. The coat often has an eel stripe and zebra bars on the legs, indicating "primitive" ancestry, and the feet are black, as required by the breed preservation society. The usual height is 1.12 m (11 hh), but careful breeding can produce ponies of 1.22 m (12 hh) and over.