Tiger horse facts for kids
| Distinguishing features | Leopard coloring, ambling gaits, Spanish influence |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
Tiger Horses are special horses known for their unique spotted coats and smooth ways of moving. They look a lot like Appaloosa horses, but they have their own special gaits. These horses were developed in the United States. They are still a developing breed, meaning breeders are working to make them even better.
What Makes a Tiger Horse Special?
Tiger Horses have beautiful spotted coats. This coloring is called "leopard complex." It means they can have many different patterns of spots. Their coats are very similar to those of the Appaloosa horse.
How Tiger Horses Move
Tiger Horses are called "gaited" horses. This means they have special ways of walking and running that are very smooth. These movements are called "ambling gaits." They are different from the usual trot or canter that many horses do.
Some of their unique gaits include:
- The "glider gait" or Indian shuffle
- The stepping pace
- The running walk
- The diagonal fox trot
These gaits are very comfortable for riders. Horses must perform these gaits naturally. They cannot use special equipment or shoes to make them do these movements. They must be "flat-shod," meaning their hooves are trimmed normally without special shoes.
Different Types of Tiger Horses
There are two main types of Tiger Horses: the "Heavenly Type" and the "Royalty Type." Because the breed is still quite new, horses within these types can look a bit different from each other. This is called "conformation," which means the way a horse's body is built.
Breeders are working to make most Tiger Horses have a "convex profile." This means their face has a slightly curved, outward shape. This look is important because it shows their connection to Spanish horses. These Spanish horses are part of the Tiger Horse's family tree.
The Tiger Horse Association guides breeders. They suggest using the best "Glider" horses for breeding. These are horses that perform the glider gait very well. They should be bred with "Royalty" type horses. As of 2011, a Heavenly Type horse with a glider gait can only be officially registered if one of its parents is a registered Royalty Type horse. This helps guide the breed's development.
