The Royalty Tiger Horse

The Royal Tiger Horse is gaited and colorful. Tigre's Royalty Stud Book, accepts only those horses that fully qualify as having inherited one of the middle gaits, ie, diagonal, square or lateral, and must show some characteristic of the Lp gene. The newborn filly on the right is supremely beautiful and exhibits most of the characteristics we are referring to. Mottled muzzle and genitalia. Roan patterning somewhere on her body. Sclera showing (whites of the eye like that of humans), and other Appaloosa characteristics depending on the particulars of coat pattern. Striped hooves are sometimes the only characteristic present and provided they appear below solid colored ankles (coronet bands and pasterns) they will be acceptable. The only exceptions Tigre makes is for foals born from two Royalty registered parents that automatically qualify as Royalty even though some are born without spots and may never develop spots. The presence of solid colored offspring is very important as it helps to keep good facial and genital pigmentation available. Here in the USA where summers can be brutal and bright, the Appaloosa gene causes horses to suffer from sunburn if too many depig- mented areas exists, especially around the eyes and muzzles. Spots on the solid colored foals will sometimes develop later but we can only be sure a copy of the Lp gene has been inherited if the foal at least has striped hooves.

Pheno-type (what a horse looks like) must also be of Iberian or Soulon type. Foals from one Royalty and one Heavenly, or outsider parent, will be evaluated for the appropriate registration and their ability to enhance the goals of Tigre considered.

The ideal for this division is one that exhibits an uphill style of movement, in other words the horse has visible withers and the back is slightly angled back towards the croup. Royalty horses built the right way, will naturally perform one or more of the smooth middle gaits. Ghost Horses tend to favor a gait we have named the Glider Gait. Royalty horses are bred to excel in disciplines such as versatility classes, trail riding, western pleasure and competitive trail, plus difficult distance riding events. Their gaits can be compared to many modern day gaited breeds, and all three middle gaits exist. ie, the lateral stepping pace. the square running walk, or diagonal fox trot, all must exhibit a straight way of going ie, exaggerated rotation of limb or forced “lift” is undesirable. This breed has been modeled after long distance endurance riding horses that can stand up to the arduous rigors and challenges that country riding can present. Excessive rotation of limb or shoulder causes early fatigue and pain. Because of their angular build, Royalty registered horses work naturally off their hindquarters and demonstrate a ready willingness to move out in full middle gaits, naturally “on the bit,” and from a standing position. (photo of a “Near Leopard”)

In appearance, the “original entry” horse (outsider wishing to register), should show a typical Iberian profile, with a substantial and naturally arched neck that bends at the second vertebrae. The withers should be moderate to high, the shoulders sloping back but at the same angle as their pasterns. The back should be of moderate length. Gaited horses exhibit shorter, straighter pasterns than trotters do.

The strongest middle gaiters will have a low tail set but will not be penalized for a higher one. A good length of body is also desirable. The strongest middle gait will be the judging criteria in all Royalty cases.

Legs and height of horses will range in refinement, but Tiger Horses should always be clean boned with average sized hooves, usually displaying more heel than 3-gaited horses do which should follow a direct line from the top of the pasterns to the ground.

The disposition of the Royalty Tiger horse should never be in question. These horses should be sociable and friendly to humans with a willingness to trust, and therefore learn quickly. Modeled after this ancient ceramic sculpture of a “Soulon,” a legendary Chinese horse from the T’Ang Dynasty (618-780), modern day Royalty horses number among the most exotic in the world, and come in a variety of colors and coat patterns, including leopards, blankets, and roans. All Royalty horses are born with strong middle gaits.