This breed of mini drafts, a mix that was started between Haflingers and Icelandic Horses, was established in the early 1900s to assist in the development of roadways and hiking trails within Banff National Park up in Canada. Their broad chests and fluffy winter coat make living up in the cold Rockies bearable, and their densely muscled bodies make all the hard work they typically do possible for such a small breed of draft horse. Their size range varies, coming in around 13hh-15hh, with the tallest horses being only 15.0hh.
They tend to make a much better working horse rather than show horse and can often be used for carriage pulling and pulling farm equipment. They can still be ridden though despite being great working horses, and have retained the same unique gaits that Icelandic Horses are known for, the 'tölt' and 'skeið' gaits. They are typically hard working, easy going, and spirited horses, making for a great working or riding companion.
In recent years, the breed has come back into the spotlight after it had been more or less abandoned within the park and surrounding areas. Locals took it upon themselves to set up an event during the warmer months of the year to catch the wild horses, know as the "Summer Mini Round-Up". During the round-up, people from across the world can come and watch the horses parade through the main thoroughfare, making sure to keep an eye out on any horses they'd like to adopt after they've all been herded into the auction fields.
Merle [Mrlmrl ONLY, MrlMrl is fatal] (u) - A marking that is similar to Australian Shepherd dogs or Shetland Sheepdogs. Contains darker patches of fur that go over dilutions, roaning, and sooty, but under white markings. Works much like an Overo marking and can't be bred to another Merle horse.
Tan Points [Mrlmrl + Tan Points] (r) - Will only show if carrying for Merle AND if the base coat is red (chestnut, bay, and seal brown), but can still be carried if no Merle is present or if the base coat is black. Is a rather soft, ruddy colored underside marking that can cover the bottom half of the legs, the eyebrows, the inner ears, and lower half of the horse's face and neck, but will always show on the chest of the horse and from the ankles down on the legs. Will also go over dilutions, roaning, and sooty, but under white markings.
to win this bab, show me a picture of a merle dog! make sure to link back to where you found your picture <3
End Date: Aug. 7th
Username: Pandora!
Barn Name: OHS Dwell Among The Forest aka Calhoun
Stable Page: Oak Haven Stables
Gender: Stallion
Height: 14.2hh
Eye Color: I'll Guide You Home
Phenotype: Blue Taffy Roan Merle Tan Points
Genotype: Ee/AtAt/ZZ/RnRn/Mrlmrl + Tan Points
