Heavenly Horses
Sometimes a foal is born from a Royalty registered parent that does not inherit gait or immediately exhibit a middle gait. It is easier to identify the lateral and square gaits from day one of a foals life, but the diagonal gaits are more difficult to identify until the horse is mature or under saddle. Our breed is a gaited one but we accommodate non-gaited offspring which we register in the Heavenly Horse division. Gaited stock is registered in the ROYALTY files.
With the exception of Appaloosa “Few Spots” that do not gait but are accepted on an inspection basis and registered as Heavenly Horses, provided of course they can help our cause for substance and coat patterns. In the future we will consider approving
breeds as out cross partners should we need any enhancements that we do not already have. Horses with substantial bone for example would be a nice infusion if too much refinement exists. These approved breeds will not necessarily
be registered as Tiger Horses and we do not accept horses just because they gait. Every “original entry” must offer an important advantage for our breeds continued Soulon profile. Gaited Horses that exhibit one of the important
Lp gene characteristics are encouraged to apply for Tigre registration See CHARACTERISTICS on the Registration Pages for more examples of the Lp gene, but the Heavenly Horse division was created with the specific
intention of offering protection to breeders who are using only one gaited parent and one Appaloosa for color. Foals who mature to show a middle gait can upgrade to the Royalty horse files.
(“Antique Tapestry Showing the Heavenly Type”)
Ghost Horses like these typically demonstrate the glider gait and are therefore registered as Heavenly Horses. Their Gait is unique and resembles the jog-trot of the Cowboy’s Horses but is much faster. Heavenly Horses share coat patterns with Royalty.
Some ancient Heavenly Horse history:
The Chinese were farmers at a very early period and have existed as a great nation since the dawn of early man, but did not ride horses at all before 600BC. Drafts and smaller pot-bellied horses were used for
ground work but they eventually developed a superior military horse and then 220 years later began crossing riding horses on Draft stock and produced a first generation Soulon that might have looked like this.
Obvious refinement came later as we see from ceramic sculptures of the famous Soulon a horse that is much celebrated to this day and featured in Museums and on artists canvas alike.
Unlike their nomadic
neighbors to the north and west who were accomplished riders, the Chinese for centuries were ill-equipped to protect themselves against marauding Hsiun-nu, the Huns, who according to the Chinese had
unbeatable cavalry. This was all to change during the Han Dynasty, with the introduction of horses from the Heavenly Mountains district and known by the same name. Many other names have been applied to
the original horses and their descendants, from “Heavenly,” to “horses of the air” to “blood sweating horses” to “Tiger Horses” etc., but sthe name HEAVENLY should not be confused as one and the same with
the temporary division we have created for our non-gaited stock. Indeed many of the original Heavenly Horses from Siberia would have exhibited strong middle gaits
More About Heavenly Horses:
The term "heavenly horses" refers to a legendary breed of horses that were believed to possess divine powers. These horses were said to have great strength and endurance, and were often described as "sweating blood" - a phenomenon that was considered a sign of their otherworldly origin. In Chinese mythology, the "heavenly horses" were seen as a way for humans to attain immortality, and as a result they became the object of worship and admiration. The origin of the "heavenly horses" is shrouded in mystery, and there are many different theories about where they came from. Some believe that they were native to the mountains of Ferghana, a region in Central Asia, while others suggest that they were the result of interbreeding between different horse breeds. They are called blood sweating horses because when they run, their blood vessels are very clearly defined through their thin, almost-transparent skin. The glands around their shoulders and neck are so strong that when they sweat, they emit a reddish liquid that makes the colour of their fur looks darker and gives the disconcerting appearance of bleeding. Hence, they were given the Chinese name Han Xue Ma (which translates as ‘sweats blood’) horse. Despite the many theories about the "heavenly horses", their importance in Chinese mythology cannot be denied. They were seen as a symbol of power and strength, and were often depicted in art and literature as beings of great beauty and majesty. In the 2nd century BC, the Chinese cavalry was sent to Davan in search of these legendary horses, and the war that ensued was said to be caused by their desire to obtain them.