The Tiger Horse is an ancient breed, perhaps once used to hunt
Siberian tigers. It originated on the Steppes of Asia near the Don region of Russia.
Originally a small horse, today it averages 15 hands. In the United States today efforts
are underway to bring the Tiger horse back by using contemporary "gaited" or
"saddling" breeds and crossing them with certain types of similar or gaited
Appaloosas; for the Tiger horse was not only exotically colored, it exhibited four gaits.
It is difficult to trace the roots of the Tiger Horse. However, in Chinese
cave paintings, the ancients who were fierce horsemen,
are shown mounted and galloping above the mountain peaks, drawing their bows at fleeing
tigers. These ancient paintings, also, confirm that many of these horses were indeed once
spotted and existed in much larger numbers than today. Large herds of domestic horses are
still farmed in these regions and are used for milk and meat as in the ancient past.
Sadly, very few spotted horses are apparent there today. One must travel to the Altaic
region near the Steppe, to find a sizeable herd of what might be cousins to the original
Tiger horse. The Altai is a small, strong, pony sized horse with leopard spots. Altai
horses are reported to be four-gaited and disease resistant.
During the 1980's, an exciting art find was made in an ancient South Korean burial
mound. The mound contained the skeleton of a horse together with that of a long dead King
or "Shaman." Among the treasures the mound tomb rendered, were a gold crown
adorned with tiny gold leaves and a beautiful carving of a white horse. The painting of
this "spirit horse" was done on the bark of white birch, a tree of the Steppes
and is said to be 1,500 years old.
In Kazakhstan, "spotted pony-type horses are sturdy, wiry, well-built and highly
spirited." "Spotted horses in the Don regions are said to be fleet of foot with
hanging manes, long forelocks and full tails." "The spotted, long-backed type
from Kvazakhstan is also said to be a naturally "pacing horse." (see book
"The Ghost Wind Stallions" by Don LaLonde in which many authentic photos of
leopard spotted Siberian and Russian
horses are on display.)
Tiger Horse spots are identified as the "Lp gene" or leopard complex coat
patterns. Appaloosa, Knabstrupper, Noriker and other horses also exhibit the Lp gene but
physically, are quite different from the Tiger Horse.
MORE RECENT ORIGINS OF THE TIGER HORSE
How did the Tiger Horse first enter the Americas? The most accepted finding is that it
arrived via Spain in the form of the Spanish Jennet during the 1400's. Its flowing mane
and tail, exotic coat patterns and a fourth, or ambling gait made it highly desirable in
Spain and later by the plains Indians and the Nez Perce tribe in particular. Some remnants
of that early horse can be found in the United States today, within the Appaloosa breed.
The Nez Perce Indians are credited with having bred large numbers of spotted, gaited
horses around the Palouse River district, hence the name "Appaloosa." By the
time the Appaloosa Horse Club was formed, approximately 40 years ago, infusions of
Thoroughbred and Draft horses had greatly shifted the breeds original identity to what the
Appaloosa is today.
The Tiger Horse Registry exists to promote and protect the original characteristics of
the Tiger horse and
selects from the Appaloosa horse breed, those individuals most suited for
this purpose. Tiger horses are born with a natural ability to perform a smooth middle or
fourth gait and can cover great distances at a very easy pace, also known as "the
running walk." These characteristics together with exotic color are highly desirable
to Tiger horse breeders. Rules apply within the organization to see that a natural middle
gait and exotic color is maintained in this breed. Today's contemporary Appaloosa breed,
which has largely been bred away from the smooth middle gaits, occasionally produces
"genetic throwbacks" which fully qualify as Tiger Horses. TIGRE is home to
Appaloosa horses that perform the "running walk."
Todays Tiger horse is a breed of a Spanish/American type, which combines the easy
riding four-beat gait with the Lp color pattern, (leopard complex gene) which is also
found in the Noriker, Altai, Knabstrupper, Appaloosa and others. The Spanish description
of these colorful patterns used during the Spanish colonial period was "El Caballo
Tigre," but the "Tigre" horse is known to have been in existence prior to
that. The original "Tiger" or "Tigre" horses originated on the
Siberian Steppes of Asia, the Don region of Russia where it is believed they were once
used to hunt tigers.
Breed Characteristics
The Tiger Horse of the 20th century has no tigers to hunt but is strongly
built, moderately sized and averages 15 hands with excellent legs and striped feet, making
it an outstanding using animal. Influenced by contemporary four-gaited American horses and
horses carrying the leopard complex gene, Breeders can anticipate the return of a modern
version of the classic Spanish horse known as "El Caballo Tigre" which itself
was developed by careful outcrossing.
While Tiger horses are capable of performing in many areas, from working cattle to
various levels of dressage, the emphasis of the Tiger Horse Registry will always be on
producing a sturdy, sound, useful horse which is suitable for comfortable long distance
traveling or long hours of showing. Insufficient bone or foot and unsound leg, back or
shoulder structure, will not be accepted and will be seriously penalized in the show ring
and should therefore be avoided by breeders. Overly large heads are also undesirable. The
stride is long. The legs are straight and move forwards in a straight line rather than
showing any rotation. The heart girth and loin are almost equally deep and the neck and
hip are equally proportioned. The head is neat and of average length while the eyes and
nostrils are large. The Tiger horses temperament is sweet. They exhibit controlled
spirit and an affection for (and a willingness to co-operate with) humans.
The Tiger horse comes in all base coat colors ie., black, bay, chestnut etc., but is
noted for the addition of exotic Tiger coat patterns. The leopard complex gene is white
and when inherited, is deposited on top of the horse's base coat color. An important
characteristic, the Lp gene might not always be visible on the body of the horse, but must
be evident in other aspects, from sclera eyes to striped hooves and mottled genitalia and
muzzles. If striated hooves are the only characteristic visible, these will not be
acceptable unless the horse's legs are solid colored. Striated hooves alone are not
acceptable when they appear below white socks or stockings.
Within the Tiger horse ranks, there is a hierarchy for color and gait. The horses are
categorized in order of importance as "Ghosts," "TEF's" and
"TG's."
GHOSTS
Ghost's which are
born "white" but show base coat color on all points including above each striped
hoof, are recognized by TIGRE as homozygous for the leopard complex gene, which means they
inherited the gene from both parents and guarantee color production. Not only is the
homozygous color important but the fourth or smooth middle gait, must also be present.
TEF'S (Tiger Exotic Foundation)
TEF's are the Peacocks of the breed. Some TEF's also guarantee
color production.
TEF's and Ghosts are both considered to be "exotics." TEF's wear spotted
"color" over more than 50% of the body and are very eye-catching and appealing.
Some TEF's are homozygous for color but are not as easily identified, as are Ghosts.
TEF's, after many foals with 100% color inheritance are on the ground, can be assumed to
be homozygous. Others are merely heterozygous meaning they do not guarantee color when
bred to "solids." Breeding to other exotics always makes sense, when colorful
success is the goal.
TG's (Tiger Horses)
While less colorful, TG's are a very important part of the breed's identity. TGs
exhibit only 25 % or less of the Lp gene often only through the other accepted
characteristics of the Tiger horse, sclera eyes (the whites showing on one or both eyes)
mottled genitalia and muzzles, plus striated hooves and the all-important fourth or middle
gait.
GAIT
Although the gait is identifiable at birth, Tiger Horses are not accepted for registration
until they are at least six months of age when precise gait will be more evident. Rather
than a square gait, or "running walk," some foals prefer to move diagonally upon
maturity, while others may move laterally or show a tendency to pace. Waiting until a foal
is six months of age before videotaping gait and applying for registration gives TIGRE a
clearer picture of the foal's strengths. The squarest gait, known as "the running
walk," is highly desirable.
In order to cement the middle gaits into the Tiger Horse breed, the
squarest gaits
should be used whenever possible. Because breeders are forced to turn to solid colored
horses that gait, for infusions into the breed, often only one parent is
"colored" and one parent is "gaited." The resulting foals if fully
qualified inherit color and gait.
TIGRE has noticed that gait inheritance is very often gender related. Sires to
daughters and dams to sons. This information helps breeders select an appropriate mate for
their breeding prospect. The resulting foals must then be bred back to others that
qualify. This is the only way the genes can be returned to the horse wearing the leopard
complex gene.