Country of origin | Qinghai, China |
---|---|
Use | Saddle horse and farm work |
Traits | |
Weight |
|
Height |
|
Color | Bay, chestnut, black, sometimes grey |
The Datong ( simplified Chinese: 大通马; traditional Chinese: 大通馬; pinyin: Dàtōng mǎ) is a Chinese breed of small horse or pony native to northern Qinghai. It is a sturdy pony, well adapted to life at high altitudes. As with several other Chinese horse breeds, the population is in decline.
The breed originated in a high-altitude biotope, at around 2,400 m, around the Datong drainage basin [1] in northern Qinghai. [2]: 153 In the 19th century, Hequ horses were imported from southern Qinghai to northern Qinghai, to be crossed with the Datong to improve it. [2]: 216 This increased the size of the breed. [2]: 154 From 1934 onwards, some Datongs were crossed to produce the Shandan breed. [2]: 368 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) lists 60,000 Datong animals in 1980. [1]
The FAO gives an average of 1.26 m for females and 1.31 m for males, with average weights of 271 and 321 kg respectively. [1] The average birth weight of females is 38 kg. [1]
There are two types, light and heavy. [2]: 153 The light pony [1] is a coarse, compact-looking pony, very strong and muscular. [2]: 154 The back is long, but as a whole is harmonious. [2]: 154 The head is heavy, of medium length, broad in the cheeks, with a straight or "rhinoceros" profile. [2]: 154 The ears are of medium length, with open nostrils. [2]: 154 The neck is short, thick and muscular, not very well connected to the withers, which are fairly flat. [2]: 154 Chest deep, ribs well rounded, abdomen elongated. [2]: 154 The rump is short and sloping. [2]: 154 The medium-length legs are covered with feather along the entire length of the barrel. [2]: 154 The joints and hooves are very strong. [2]: 154 The hocks are slightly closed. [2]: 154 The mane and tail are thick and abundant. [2]: 154
The light Datong has a drier head, longer limbs and a more refined muzzle than the heavy type, and is reputed to be strong and lively. [2]: 154 The Datong's temperament is considered good. [2]: 154 Trotters and gaited can be found in the breed. [2]: 154 The Datong is also renowned for its exceptional endurance, particularly at high altitudes, [2]: 154 up to 3,500 m. [1]
The coat is bay, chestnut, black, or sometimes gray or, even more rarely, leopard complex. [2]: 154 White markings are possible on the head and lower limbs. [2]: 154
Genetic studies have determined that this breed belongs to the Qinghai and Tibetan Plateau horse group, of which the Datong is a member along with the Hequ, Chaidamu and Yushu. [3] [4]
The Datong is used for agricultural work, [2]: 154 especially as a packhorse. [1] It is also bred for meat. [5]
The Datong is one of China's native horse breeds, originating in northern Qinghai to be precise. [2]: 153 In 2005, Datong ponies numbered between 20,000 and 23,024 head. [1] According to the FAO's 2007 assessment, this horse was not threatened with extinction. [6] The threat level is now (2019) indicated as unknown on DAD-IS. [1]
Country of origin | Qinghai, China |
---|---|
Use | Saddle horse and farm work |
Traits | |
Weight |
|
Height |
|
Color | Bay, chestnut, black, sometimes grey |
The Datong ( simplified Chinese: 大通马; traditional Chinese: 大通馬; pinyin: Dàtōng mǎ) is a Chinese breed of small horse or pony native to northern Qinghai. It is a sturdy pony, well adapted to life at high altitudes. As with several other Chinese horse breeds, the population is in decline.
The breed originated in a high-altitude biotope, at around 2,400 m, around the Datong drainage basin [1] in northern Qinghai. [2]: 153 In the 19th century, Hequ horses were imported from southern Qinghai to northern Qinghai, to be crossed with the Datong to improve it. [2]: 216 This increased the size of the breed. [2]: 154 From 1934 onwards, some Datongs were crossed to produce the Shandan breed. [2]: 368 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) lists 60,000 Datong animals in 1980. [1]
The FAO gives an average of 1.26 m for females and 1.31 m for males, with average weights of 271 and 321 kg respectively. [1] The average birth weight of females is 38 kg. [1]
There are two types, light and heavy. [2]: 153 The light pony [1] is a coarse, compact-looking pony, very strong and muscular. [2]: 154 The back is long, but as a whole is harmonious. [2]: 154 The head is heavy, of medium length, broad in the cheeks, with a straight or "rhinoceros" profile. [2]: 154 The ears are of medium length, with open nostrils. [2]: 154 The neck is short, thick and muscular, not very well connected to the withers, which are fairly flat. [2]: 154 Chest deep, ribs well rounded, abdomen elongated. [2]: 154 The rump is short and sloping. [2]: 154 The medium-length legs are covered with feather along the entire length of the barrel. [2]: 154 The joints and hooves are very strong. [2]: 154 The hocks are slightly closed. [2]: 154 The mane and tail are thick and abundant. [2]: 154
The light Datong has a drier head, longer limbs and a more refined muzzle than the heavy type, and is reputed to be strong and lively. [2]: 154 The Datong's temperament is considered good. [2]: 154 Trotters and gaited can be found in the breed. [2]: 154 The Datong is also renowned for its exceptional endurance, particularly at high altitudes, [2]: 154 up to 3,500 m. [1]
The coat is bay, chestnut, black, or sometimes gray or, even more rarely, leopard complex. [2]: 154 White markings are possible on the head and lower limbs. [2]: 154
Genetic studies have determined that this breed belongs to the Qinghai and Tibetan Plateau horse group, of which the Datong is a member along with the Hequ, Chaidamu and Yushu. [3] [4]
The Datong is used for agricultural work, [2]: 154 especially as a packhorse. [1] It is also bred for meat. [5]
The Datong is one of China's native horse breeds, originating in northern Qinghai to be precise. [2]: 153 In 2005, Datong ponies numbered between 20,000 and 23,024 head. [1] According to the FAO's 2007 assessment, this horse was not threatened with extinction. [6] The threat level is now (2019) indicated as unknown on DAD-IS. [1]