Curly horses are horses which have a certain gene, inherited from their parents, which makes their hair curly. Not only their coat, but also other hair (mane, tail, fetlocks, even eyelashes) can be curled. They are becoming increasingly popular for their special qualities:

1) Hypoallergenic. People who suffer from horse allergies generally have a reduced reaction to curlies and many of them have no reaction at all, making this group of horses unique.

2) Appearance. The appearance of these horses, due to the curls or waves in their coat, is not only unusual but many people find it exceptionally attractive.

3) Feel. The soft curls of these horses have a wonderful feel to them, making petting and grooming of the horse a tactile pleasure.

4) Character. Many people have commented on their calm and sensible behavior, which apparently has been breed into the main bloodlines.

The curly hair genes are found in all sizes of horses, from draft horses and standard horses, down to miniatures. They occur with all colors of horses and all builds.

There are many different types of curls, depending on the horse: fine pin curls up to large, heavy curls or simple waves. Some curlies are born with normal straight hair, in which case on only knows that they are curlies because their parents were and because they show other curly characteristics such as being hypoallergenic.

One can therefore see great variety in curlies. At the moment, the curly breed standard is under development and breeders are working towards this evolving standard to create a set of uniform characteristics. However, in the meantime, if you are thinking of buying a curly horse you should keep in mind that there is no standard appearance so you should look around to find one that meets your preferences (e.g. size, color and curl).

Before buying a curly, keep in mind that the coat curl changes with season (curl is greater in winter) and age. The degree of change depends on the individual horse and its bloodline, with some horses remaining curly all year round and others having straight hair in summer. Curly horses also tend to have shorter and thinner hair in manes and tail (somewhat like the Appaloosa breed), although the extent of this also varies greatly depending on horse and bloodline. Therefore, it is useful before choosing a horse to see it in both winter and summer (ask the seller for photos). It is also useful to look at other horses of the same bloodline but different ages to see the expected changes as the horse ages.

If you are choosing a curly because these horses are hypoallergenic, be aware that the extent of this quality varies from horse to horse and that the benefit varies from person to person. Consequently, any combination of horse and person may exhibit no allergy, a reduced allergy, or the usual horse allergy. Therefore, one should test the person with the horse to determine the extent of the benefit. If one has extreme allergic reactions, take medical advice on how to do this test safely.

Other names for the curly horse include: North American Curly Horses, American Bashkir Curlies, and Bashkir Curlies. There are also a number of named bloodlines, each with their individual characteristics.

This Curly Horse article was written by Duber Stewart, owner of Horses for Sale

Tags: Horses