|
Moriesian Standards
|
| |
- The head should show a balance of Friesian nobility and Morgan refinement; the eyes expressive and soft, the face straight or slightly dished and short. The ears should be small and upright with turned in tips.
- The neck should rise from a high set on the withers and show a clean arch to an upright head set. The throatlatch should be refined to allow flexion. The appearance is regal.
- The withers should be defined yet blend into both neck and back cleanly.
- The powerful shoulders should be a blend of depth of the Morgan with sloping angle of the Friesian. Movement to be free.
- The back should be strong, well muscled and short to medium in length and the barrel round and deep. A long or weak back is a fault. It should blend into broad loins and a well muscled and round croup. The croup should not be higher than the withers.
- The legs should be straight, lighter boned than a Friesian but more substantial than a Morgan with well-defined joints. The front legs should have forearms longer than the cannon bones and the rear legs have well muscled gaskins and cannon bones that are perpendicular to the ground. Legs may or may not be feathered.
- The feet should be size proportionate to leg bone mass, well formed, hard and strong.
- The height of the Moriesian should fall between 15.1 and 16.1 hands though variations are acceptable.
- Any color is accepted though most common are black, bay, and chestnut.
- The horse's temperament should be kind, alert, and willing. Both heritages provide the Moriesian a combination of stamina and versatility with calmness and loyalty.
- All movement should be free and forward with suspension. The walk should have a distinct four-beat cadence and good length of stride. The trot should have a two beat cadence, be balanced, animated, and show forward reach and engagement behind. The canter should have a three beat cadence, be well balanced and powerful with drive from behind.
|
| |
|
|
Moriesian Coat Colors
| |
| Most Moriesians are black, it being the dominant gene color of
Friesians. Some black Friesians carry a recessive red gene and
will produce chestnut foals. Another gene, when present, will restrict
the black color to mane, tail and legs resulting in a bay horse.
The genetic cause of brown is as yet undefined. |
| Black: The horse is completely black. Some black horses fade
in the sun, turning to various shades of brown. |
|
| |
|
 |
Chestnut: The horse is any shade of reddish-brown from light
to dark(liver chestnut).
|
| |
|
| Bay: The horse is light to dark red with black points. |
|
| |
|
Brown: The horse is a combination of black and tan. It can
vary from black with tan highlights in the flanks, muzzle and
underbelly to very light contrasting shades.
Other coat colors are variations of the above with modifying genes that dilute
or alter the shades. White markings follow a genetic pattern of their own. |
|
|
