Sorraia
The Primitive Horse of the Southern Iberian Peninsula, or commonly known as "Sorraia", is known over 8000 years BC.
In 1927 a horse population was found in the valley of Sorraia with the Sorraia horse characteristics. 70 years after the "discovery" it can be said that the Sorraia has been reconstructed and preserved, altough the small number of existing in the world means that the Sorraia is in danger of extinction.
In 1994 Associação International de Criadores do Cavalo Ibérico de Tipo Primitivo "Sorraia" was founded. Also the Stud-Book of Sorraia was founded. This Stud-Book is a closed book and so only animals with known genealogy can be admitted, so that the breed stays the same as it was 10 000 years ago.
To be included in the Stud-Book, all the animals must comply with certain regulations, namely:
a) Ascendency, Descendency - 3 independent registries are kept
* Youngstock, birth certificate -> Livro de Nascimentos (LN) (The Book of Births)
* Adult graded breeding stock registry -> Livro de Reprodutores (LA) (The Book of Adults, breedingstock)
* Other breeding stock, registered either in L.G. or R.Z. -> Livro de Reprodutores Complementares (LRC) (The Book of Complementary Breeding Stock)
The LN is reserved for animals already registered in Registo Nacional de Equinos (National Equine Registry) with both parents registered in the LA or LRC. The registry in the LN is confirmed after DNA test is confirmed.
To get a Sorraia horse graded and thus registered in the LA the animal has to be registered in LN, meet the breed standards, have no conformational or other defect that might be hereditary; must have good conformation and be well developed, comply with the sanitary regulations and must be identifiable within the regulations.
In 1927 a horse population was found in the valley of Sorraia with the Sorraia horse characteristics. 70 years after the "discovery" it can be said that the Sorraia has been reconstructed and preserved, altough the small number of existing in the world means that the Sorraia is in danger of extinction.
In 1994 Associação International de Criadores do Cavalo Ibérico de Tipo Primitivo "Sorraia" was founded. Also the Stud-Book of Sorraia was founded. This Stud-Book is a closed book and so only animals with known genealogy can be admitted, so that the breed stays the same as it was 10 000 years ago.
To be included in the Stud-Book, all the animals must comply with certain regulations, namely:
a) Ascendency, Descendency - 3 independent registries are kept
* Youngstock, birth certificate -> Livro de Nascimentos (LN) (The Book of Births)
* Adult graded breeding stock registry -> Livro de Reprodutores (LA) (The Book of Adults, breedingstock)
* Other breeding stock, registered either in L.G. or R.Z. -> Livro de Reprodutores Complementares (LRC) (The Book of Complementary Breeding Stock)
The LN is reserved for animals already registered in Registo Nacional de Equinos (National Equine Registry) with both parents registered in the LA or LRC. The registry in the LN is confirmed after DNA test is confirmed.
To get a Sorraia horse graded and thus registered in the LA the animal has to be registered in LN, meet the breed standards, have no conformational or other defect that might be hereditary; must have good conformation and be well developed, comply with the sanitary regulations and must be identifiable within the regulations.
Standard Sorraia 100pts
1 - TYPE - Subconvex and "mediolined" profile. Long
legged animals with large bones but with good texture. Poor
musculature. When thin have a mulish forms and when fat more rounded
figure.
2- HEIGHT - Average height measured from withers on adult animals:
- females ...... 144cm
- males ......... 148cm
3 - COLOUR - Varies between light buckskin and dark liver buckskin or light mouse dun and dark mouse dun, always has dorsal stripe. More or less striped on legs. Abundant and bicoloured manes with dark hair on the centre line and the body coloured on the outside. The tail is also bicoloured. Extermities (tips of the ears, nose and legs) always with dark tone.
4 - TEMPERAMENT - Unpredictable when broken in but becomes docile and tolerant with work. Reacts with agility and finesse to the aids of the rider. Sometimes likes to look at its surroundings. Stallions, docile but very lively.
5 - GAITS - Correct, not very extended or jumpy. Can keep up considerable speed for a long period of time. Round but net elevated.
6 - APTITUDE - As a ridden pony and light agricultural work.
7 - HEAD - Dry and square, with subconvex profile, the cranium slightly inclined in relation to the face that is longish. Expressive eyes, inserted in elliptic orbit located after and above the occipito-incisive line. Long, dry and mobile eyes with late insertation due the cranial inclination.
8 - NECK - Well inserted, fine, of medium length, ewenecked in thin animals, stores fat for famine times so it looks round in fat animals.
9 - WITHERS - High and long, goes nearly to the mid-back in soft line.
10 - CHEST - Not very large but well muscled. Deep but not very large torax. The place of girth is well situated under the place of the saddle.
11 - RIBCAGE - Extense and composed of flat and long bones.
12 - SHOULDERS - Of medium length, dry and relatively oblique.
13 - BACK - Short, horizontal and prominent from the ribs.
14 - LOINS - Short, large and convex. Attached harmoniously to the croup.
15 - CROUP - Of medium length and width, anf with eliptical form that lets the sacroiliac joint visible with subconvex profile.
16 - LEGS - Light bones with good conformation. Upper arms: Inclined in harmony. Forearms: Good conformation and not very muscled. Knees: Good conformation, dry and not very large. Cannons: Slightly long and dry, with visible tendons, not very hairy. Fetlocks: Small with only little hair. Pasterns: Long and harmoniously inclined. Hoofs: Good shaped, light and of good quality. Hocks: Good conformation.
2- HEIGHT - Average height measured from withers on adult animals:
- females ...... 144cm
- males ......... 148cm
3 - COLOUR - Varies between light buckskin and dark liver buckskin or light mouse dun and dark mouse dun, always has dorsal stripe. More or less striped on legs. Abundant and bicoloured manes with dark hair on the centre line and the body coloured on the outside. The tail is also bicoloured. Extermities (tips of the ears, nose and legs) always with dark tone.
4 - TEMPERAMENT - Unpredictable when broken in but becomes docile and tolerant with work. Reacts with agility and finesse to the aids of the rider. Sometimes likes to look at its surroundings. Stallions, docile but very lively.
5 - GAITS - Correct, not very extended or jumpy. Can keep up considerable speed for a long period of time. Round but net elevated.
6 - APTITUDE - As a ridden pony and light agricultural work.
7 - HEAD - Dry and square, with subconvex profile, the cranium slightly inclined in relation to the face that is longish. Expressive eyes, inserted in elliptic orbit located after and above the occipito-incisive line. Long, dry and mobile eyes with late insertation due the cranial inclination.
8 - NECK - Well inserted, fine, of medium length, ewenecked in thin animals, stores fat for famine times so it looks round in fat animals.
9 - WITHERS - High and long, goes nearly to the mid-back in soft line.
10 - CHEST - Not very large but well muscled. Deep but not very large torax. The place of girth is well situated under the place of the saddle.
11 - RIBCAGE - Extense and composed of flat and long bones.
12 - SHOULDERS - Of medium length, dry and relatively oblique.
13 - BACK - Short, horizontal and prominent from the ribs.
14 - LOINS - Short, large and convex. Attached harmoniously to the croup.
15 - CROUP - Of medium length and width, anf with eliptical form that lets the sacroiliac joint visible with subconvex profile.
16 - LEGS - Light bones with good conformation. Upper arms: Inclined in harmony. Forearms: Good conformation and not very muscled. Knees: Good conformation, dry and not very large. Cannons: Slightly long and dry, with visible tendons, not very hairy. Fetlocks: Small with only little hair. Pasterns: Long and harmoniously inclined. Hoofs: Good shaped, light and of good quality. Hocks: Good conformation.
THE GRADING POINTS TABLE
Head and neck ............................................ 1
Shoulders and withers ...................................1
Chest and ribcage .........................................1
Back and loins ...........................................1,5
Croup ........................................................ 1
Legs .........................................................1,5
Overall Conformation .................................1,5
Gaits .........................................................1.5
Legs .........................................................1,5
Overall Conformation .................................1,5
Gaits .........................................................1.5
Total 10
