Info on Curlies
Some of this information comes from the International Curly Horse Association website.
What is a Curly Horse?
The origin of the Dominant Curly Curlies were first discovered by white men in America in the wild herds of mustangs in Eastern Nevada, at the turn of the 20th Century. The Sioux and Crow Indians had Curly horses as early as 1800, though whether these two kinds of Curly horses were related we don't know. There is, as well written and pictorial evidence of curly haired horses found at various times in various places around the world - Charles Darwin writes of curly horses in South America, for instance. Again, whether these horses are at all related to the American dominant gene Curly horses is unknown at this time. Hopefully future research will shed some light on these matters. The Damele's, a Nevada ranching family, were the first to gather and use the Curlies on their ranch, in the 1930s. They interbred the tough, intelligent range Curlies with their ranch horses, and with an Arabian stallion, Nevada Red, and later a Morgan stallion, Ruby Red King. They found the Curly coat often came through on the cross-bred foals, showing that the Curly gene was dominant in these range Curlies. They also frequently got the other Curly characteristics which they prized - strong bone and hooves, calm, intelligent, easily trainable temperament, friendly personality, tough constitutions and stamina, etc.
Appearance
Curlies come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and almost all colors. The winter curls on different individuals can range from crushed velvet looking, to marcelle waves, to tight ringlets, to "french knot" microcurls. Manes and forelocks can be corkscrewed, ringletted, or dreadlocked. Tails may have some wave or curl. The hair in their ears is curly, the whiskers, eyelashes, and fetlocks are often curly or wavy. These curls are considered
a hallmark of the breed, and most owners would never shave or scissor them off.
Uses and Abilities
The original Curlies were used by white men for ranch work, and Native Americans for buffalo hunting. There is evidence the Native Curly owners considered their Curly "Buffalo Horses" to be sacred. Today, Curlies are used as sporthorses (Dressage, jumping, combined driving, etc.), Western
and ranch horses, pleasure horses, trail horses, endurance horses, and exotic looking pasture ornaments! There has been some gaited blood mixed into some Curlies, and about 10% of Curlies will do either a foxtrot or running walk or stepping pace (aka Curly shuffle). This is a natural low stepping smooth gait. Curlies are generally considered unsuitable for racing, and for any mechanically induced gaits in such performance areas as high stepping Park horses, "Big Lick" gaited horses, or the ultra slow Western Pleasure horse.
Hypoallergenic Qualities
Most people who are allergic to horses can tolerate Curlies with little or no allergic reaction- a dream come true for many! Hypo - means, by definition, below normal. We claim that Curly Horses are Hypoallergenic. We do not, and can not, claim that Curly Horses are Nonallergenic. If you
are considering purchasing a Curly Horse that you will not be allergic to, we recommend testing your reaction to any given horse you might be considering, and consult with your allergist for the best and safest way to do this. Hair samples can be sent as a preliminary test. For people who are dangerously allergic to horses, we highly recommend doing any testing in the presence of your allergist, with emergency drugs immediately available. Though they may very well not be needed! For people who are allergic to horses, they also do have to determine that it is only the horses themselves that they are allergic to, and not hay, straw, pollen, dust, manure, etc.- in these latter cases, the breed of horse wouldn't matter.
Care of the Curly Coat
Curlies do not need pampering, but they do need good basic care. Since they are a horse that developed in the wild, they tend to be easy keepers, with tough hooves and hardy constitutions. They tend to be winter hardy. This does not excuse lack of care, though. Good food in the right amounts, adequate shelter, regular veterinary care, worming, hoof trimming and shoeing as needed, dental care, etc., all should be provided just as they would be for any other horse.
Information about the International Curly Horse Org
The North American Curly Horse Registry was formed for the purpose of promoting and Registering the Dominant Gened Curly Horse found on the Western plains of the Americas for over two hundred years and its heirs. As the intent of the ICHO has been one of continuing research to solve the many mysteries of this complicated breed, we have committed ourselves to registering all "curly Horses" as well as creating a division for straight haired horses that are the product of one of two dominant curly parents. This commitment also includes a division for the registration of Recessive Curly haired horses. Our geneticists assure us that the dominant and recessive gened horses are not the same animal but we have created this Division for continuing education in the similarities that do exist in animals with curly coats. These horses will not be identified as North American Curly Horses but as Recessive Curlies in their own division.
We would like to acquaint you with many of the terms you will be hearing and seeing as your involvement with this breed deepens. Knowing the meanings of these words will help you formulate a comprehensive breeding plan and better awareness of the complicities that make up this unusual horse.
Dominant gene - one that expresses a trait or characteristic that will be expressed in the offspring even though it is only carried by one of the gene pairs it recieves. The dominant Curly gene is dominant over the straight gene. A dominant gene can not be recessive as yet determined, and a dominant Curly gene is the one carried by our North American Curly Horses.
Homozygous Dominant Curly - A curly horse that had two dominant gened parents and recieved a dominant gene from each parent.This horse has two curly genes and therefore when bred, will always produce a curly offspring. At the present time, there is no way of knowing if a horse is homozygous except through breeding with straight haired horses or other curly horses and never having a straight haired foal. Twelve breedings to straight haired horses with all curly offspring would be indicative of the homozygous condition.The ICHO has recently instigated testing at the U to isolate the curly gene is being done at the present time and when completed by 2002 will allow us to determine this homozygous condition through blood or hair DNA tests.
Heterozygous Curly - A curly horse that has received a curly gene from one parent and a straight gene from the other. This horse has approximately a 50% chance of passing on its curly gene if bred to a straight mare and 75% chance of having a curly foal if bred to another heterozygous Curly horse.
Straight Curly - A horse that had one or two dominant heterozygous curly parents but did not receive the curly gene and has straight hair. It however will carry parental traits. There is a 25% chance of this happening when both parents are heterozygous.
Minimally Expressed Curly - This is a rare occurrance but some animals don't get curls all over their body and sometimes will only express the curls on certain body areas such as legs, just on shoulders or other small areas. These horses do carry the dominant gene and can produce a curly haired offspring, even when bred to a straight haired horse. Usually these horses can be identified by curls in the ears. Just a wavy mane or tail is not indicative as several other breeds display this trait.
Recessive Curly - This is a curly haired horse usually born from two straight parents and has received the recessive curly gene from each of them. Genetically they are homozygous recessive [possesses two recessive curly genes] This recessive curly gene is recessive to the straight haired horses and turns up very infrequently in some breeds including Percheron, Morgan, Quarter Horse and Arab. The Recessive curly offspring turn up more
frequently in the Foxtrotters although many of our present day curly Foxtrotters are of the dominant variety. When two Recessive Curly horses are bred they will always produce a curly offspring. The NACHR is aware that some mingling of the recessive and the Dominant curly has occurred during the breeds formation when the differences were not understood. Now that awareness that the recessive curly is only the same type of horse as its parents, such as a Percheron or Arab, but not the same horse as the dominant curly which we determine carries its own set of individualized traits. We are trying to emphacize the differences through seperate registration and breeding practices.
The ICHO is presently involved in scientific experiments using hair and skin samples. Much is being learned and we will keep our members thouroughly advised of all new facts. Our philosophy must be based on knowledge and that is our goal in forming this Registry. We welcome you and your participation.
Please contact ICHO with all questions. We have a world renowned advisory board to help us in trying to answer you correctly and using the best knowledge we can to help make your horse the one of your dreams.