Sage is a mustang, which both is and is not a breed.
I had her DNA tested through Texas A & M University, which has this to say on the matter: Originally mustangs were Spanish horses or their descendants, however throughout the years they had influence from many different horse breeds. There are several mustang registries, but overall there is just too much complexity to consider them in breed ancestry analysis.
Since May, I have spent a lot of time researching Little Colorado mustangs.
I know what genes are commonly found in that herd, so I was expecting Sage to have a mix of North American breeds, specifically Standardbred, Morgan and "something gaited, maybe Missouri Fox Trotter".
Well, I got the "something gaited" part right. Sage's top two breeds are Mountain Pleasure Horse and Rocky Mountain Horse.
Breed number three is where this gets interesting.
Breed number three is the best breed.
It's official: Sage is a Shetland Pony!!!
Okay, I get it. These tests aren't one hundred percent accurate. They measure ancestral DNA not actual breed mixes. Blah blah blah. I don't care about any of that.
Sage is a Shetland Pony. You will never convince me otherwise!
Posts
Now I'm shocked. I don't like Shetland ponies and spent quite a bit of time looking to buy a non-Shetland Pony.
ReplyDeleteThe pony I got a few weeks ago reminds me of Sage. So I guess I did buy a Shetland pony after all. Damn. ;-)
It's a shame you live so far away, otherwise the Shetland ponies could meet. I think mine will look like a little Sage in her summer coat.
Ponies are the best! -Kristie
ReplyDeleteSorry - but this is hilarious! Sage a shetland pony? I'd never had guessed that!
ReplyDeleteI love that you got yourself a pony! It’s what every Horse Girl wants!!
ReplyDeleteYay Pony!
ReplyDeleteI can see it in that last picture of her face. She looks like a lot of American Shetlands in that respect at least!
ReplyDelete