50 Rare Horse Breeds You May Never See
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Horses are magical creatures that display a combination of grace, speed and enormity that can only be described as awe-inspiring. What’s more are the horses that appear mythical — the ones that are so rare you have likely never heard of them, let alone seen one.
Unfortunately, a lot of these rare horse breeds have ended up on endangered species lists, but horse enthusiasts are working to ensure these horses continue to mystify us well into the future. Here, we look at 50 rare horse breeds and what exactly makes them so unique.
Lippizan
Almost wiped out in World War II, the lovely Lippizan breed of Austria has fought to regain numbers ever since. With fewer than 3,000 of them in the world, the Lippizan is considered a rare breed but for much more than just numbers.
Turning almost pure white as they age, gray Lippizans are known for their unicorn-like appearance as well as their prowess of upper level haute ecole dressage at the Spanish Riding School. Watching a Lippizan stallion perform Airs Above the Ground is something viewers never forget.
Highland Pony
The Highland Pony is one of two pony breeds that hail from Scotland. Named after the Highlands, this is a stout pony breed with draft-like features.
White markings, such as a face star or leg stockings, are strongly discouraged in this breed, and stallions with facial markings are not allowed to be licensed with the European registry. They are adaptable to almost any discipline. There are less than 6,000 of them in the world, with most of them in Europe.