We have a horse!!!!!!!!!!Meet Dakota Gold!

Last week we decided to go check out the American Bashkir Curly mare that the girls' vaulting teacher had for sale or lease. We discussed leasing her first, to make sure she is the right horse for our family, and to give Mandy time to quiet her father's concerns that Mandy would get a horse and he would get stuck paying for the board.

I have been researching the Bashkir Curlys for the past two months. Since Dakota Gold is an "extreme Curly" I was apprehensive. The extreme Curly shed their manes and tails, and I was afraid she would be homely.

extreme trait Curly Horse

However, as soon as we pulled into the stable and I saw all the Curlys in the field, I fell in love. They look like huge stuffed animals. Their pictures truly do not do them justice at all. I also love the chunky little bodies. They are so cute. But what sold us on Dakota is their extreme intelligence and puppy dog personalities.

I had read online that

Curly lovers swore their horses had extremely friendly natures and were very intelligent, but I have to admit I am a horse snob and I thought that Arabians were the smartest horses on earth...well, I can now say that I have changed my mind. These little horses--most who are only one generation removed from the wild--are so smart that it is almost scary. Dakota is so bright and inquisitive and protective and stubborn and funny....she just seems like a Ridiman girl already! She is as bright as an Arabian, but not as flighty.

When I first went out into the field to meet her I had Shelby on my far hip. Dakota is the boss mare in a herd of twelve, and she bent herself completely around me, curling her neck around me and even curving her back and butt towards me to protect us from the other curious horses. As soon as any other horse would approach us she would chase them away by snorting and stomping, and then curl herself around me again. She decided we were "her" people right away.

Her fat little back makes her easy to ride bareback. She walks very quickly, and has a wonderful trot. The girls laugh because when she trots she swirls her short little tail around in circles like a helicopter.

Can you tell we are infatuated?

Dakota Rose was born on a Dakota reservation Standing Rock and her bloodlines trace directly back to Custer's Last Stand (on the Native American side). She is a rare Native American breed known as a Bashkir Curly....she has a curly coat like a poodle dog or a Rex cat...she is adorable! There are less than 3,000 curly coated horses in the world, and they are on the endangered and rare livestock list...we are honored to be the guardians of this precious bloodline. Crazy Horse preferred to ride these curly coated "buffalo" horses...even her eyelashes and whiskers are curly!

We are already wanting to breed her and add more Curlys to the world! Dakota is nine years old and only green broken, so we won't be showing this year or taking her to re-enactments this year, but next year--watch out!!

Horse Heaven: more Bashkir Curly pictures

Meet Strawberry Bud, our new Paint mare!

This entry has 7 comments:

Hi Ken,

I enthusiastically share your family's love for Arabians, who are the foundation stock of all light horse breeds in the world. When I was a teenager/college student, I used to show Arabians. I had a wonderful gelding by Khemosabi (your family will know who he was--probably the most beautiful horse of this century). Thank you for sharing the link. http://public.fotki.com/hypoint/arabians/arabian_horse_khemosabi/khemosabi_.html is a picture of Khemosabi.

Here are some pictures of Dakota Gold, "our" Baskir Curly.

http://journals.aol.com/hestiahomeschool/HomeschoolingJournal/entries/2006/02/20/we-have-a-horsemeet-dakota-gold/5076 Her bloodlines trace back directly to the battle of Little Big Horn (on the Native side).

My children are on a vaulting team...they do gymnastics on horseback, and their coach raises Baskir Curly horses. She is very dedicated to keeping the line pure--there are not many of the old type Curlies from Standing Rock left. Because of inbreeding, and the fact that so many of the horses were slaughtered at the same time their owners were massacred, there were very few of them left. One of the foundation sires that they outcrossed the Curlies to was an Arabian stallion. Like purebred Arabians, Curlies have two fewer vertebrae in their spines, making for very short backs. .

They are so rare that until I met these horses I had never seen a living Curly. Even their eyelashes are curly! They are extremely hardy and can survive the terribly harsh winters at Standing Rock. They are very bright and love people. It is a little hard to get used to a horse who sheds its mane and tail in the summer--she has just a little tiny wisp of a tail...and no mane to speak of. Apparently they were wonderful buffalo hunters, and the Dakota revered them because they were curly coated like buffalo. I have never met such intelligent horses that also are a bit wily. They also have the unique behavior pattern of "spooking" in place. Instead of shying and bolting when they see danger or are startled, they plant their forefeet firmly and lower their heads and stare. They are quite small compared to other American breeds...again, like Arabians. They have big hearts and are very loyal.

http://www.curlyhorses.com/blackhawk.html has drawings of Curlies at Little Big Horn by Black Hawk.

One thing that I am proud of is that the Curly breeders have been returning them to the Dakotas. I know that a lovely little mare was sent to Rosebud Community Center. Our friend donated one to the Kentucky Horse Park.

Well, I can babble on about horses forever. :-) We have been so thrilled with leasing Dakota Gold. She has brought so much joy into our lives.

love, Kas

Written by hestiahomeschool Blog about this entry

This entry has 25 comments: (Add your own)

#25 Comment from cw2smom
3/21/06 10:29 PM | Permalink

Kas...She's a beauty! I learned something by reading this entry! I had no idea that there were curly horses....fascinating! What a wonderful addition to your beautiful family! Enjoy! Lisa
#24 Comment from hewasolddog299
3/4/06 7:05 AM | Permalink

You're a fortunate bunch to have been adopted by such a fine mare. I do hope she brings y'all up right.

wil

http://dailysnooze.blogspot.com/
#23 Comment from mzgoochi
3/3/06 5:14 AM | Permalink

She's beautiful and congrats to you all. I loved looking at the pics.

Lahoma
#22 Comment from lrttklly
2/27/06 12:23 PM | Permalink

Oh Kas!!!
You're infatuated??
So am I!
What a beautiful addition to your family.
This horse is perfect.
May you all enjoy many blessed years togather.
Love,
Loretta
#21 Comment from moondawghouse
2/26/06 6:24 PM | Permalink

Long time no hear from. Hope you and yours are all well and happy. I'm still recovering from a fractured rib I got in a nasty fall and hope to be back on the road in another week or so.

That's a beautiful animal you have there. I've seen horses that looked like that before, but never knew what they were called, or that they were so rare. I know how some little girls and horses are -- I can remember a little childhood sweetheart of mine who was obsessed with them. That's all she thought about. Last I heard, she had a big farm and raises quarter horses, so I guess her dream came true, just as yours did. Isn't that nice, when that happens??

Larry

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We have a horse!!!!!!!!!!Meet Dakota Gold!