This page will contain news stories about barcelona, as they become available.BarcelonaBarcelona is the capital city of Catalonia. It is located in the comarca of Barcelonès, along the Mediterranean coast (41°23′N 2°11′E) between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs. It is 160 km (100 mi) south of the Pyrenees mountain range. The population of the city proper is 1,593,075 (est. 2005), while the population of the metropolitan area is 4,686,701 (est. 2005). Population of the province of Barcelona is 5,226,354 (est. 2005), although this only covers 7,733 km² (3,000 mi²) around the city. The mayor of Barcelona is Joan Clos. HistoryLegend attributes the Carthaginian foundation of Barcino to Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal. About 15 BC, Romans redrew the town as a castrum (a Roman military camp) centred on the "Mons Taber", a little hill nearby the contemporary city hall (Plaça de Sant Jaume). The Roman Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino was outshone by the province's capital Tarragona but some important Roman remains are exposed under the Plaça del Rei, entrance by the city museum, Museu d'Història de la Ciutat and the typically Roman grid-planning is still visible today on the map of the historical centre, the Barri Gótic ("Gothic Quarter"). Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated in the cathedral butted up against them [1]; the basilica La Seu is credited to have been founded in 343. The city was conquered by the Visigoths in the early 5th century, by the Moors in the early 8th century, reconquered from the emir in 801 by Charlemagne's son Louis who made Barcelona the seat of Carolingian "Spanish Marches" (Marca Hispanica), a buffer zone ruled by the Count of Barcelona. Barcelona was still a Christian frontier territory when it was sacked by Al-Mansur in 985. Barcelona seen from the cableway over the harbourThe counts of Barcelona became increasingly independent and expanded their territory to include all of Catalonia, later formed the Crown of Aragon who conquered many overseas possessions, ruling the western Mediterranean Sea with outlying territories as far as to Athens in the 13th century. The forging of a dynastic link between the Crown of Aragon and Castile marked the beginning of Barcelona's decline. The city is home to the University of Barcelona, founded in 1450. The city was devastated after the Catalonian Republic of 1640 - 1652, and again during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. King Philip V of Spain demolished half of the merchants' quarter (La Ribera) to build a military citadel, as a way of both punishing and controlling the rebel city. Official use of Catalan language was forbidden, and the University withdrew. Barcelona and the province of Catalonia were annexed by the French Empire of Napoleon after he invaded Spain and put his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. It was returned to Spain after Napoleon's downfall. During the 19th century, Barcelona grew with the industrial revolution and the introduction of many new industries. During a period of weaker control by the Madrid authorities, the medieval walls were torn down and the citadel of La Ribera was converted into an urban park: the modern Parc de la Ciutadella, site of the 1888 "Universal Exposition" (World's Fair). The exposition also left behind the Arc de Triomf and the Museu de Zoologia (a building originally used during the fair as a cafe-restaurant). The fields that had surrounded the artificially constricted city became the Eixample ("extension"), a bustling modern city surrounding the old. The Plaça Reial next to Les RamblesThe beginning of the 20th century marked Barcelona's resurgence, while Catalan nationalists clamoured for political autonomy and greater freedom of cultural expression. Barcelona was a stronghold for the anarchist cause -anarchist opposition to the call-up of reservists led to the city's Tragic Week in 1909- siding with the Republic's democratically elected government during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). It was overrun by Francisco Franco's forces in 1939, which ushered in a reign of cultural and political repression that lasted decades. The protest movement of the 1970s and the demise of the dictatorship turned Barcelona into a centre of cultural vitality, enabling it to become the thriving city it is today. While it may still be the second city of Spain, it has a charm and air that is unique and prized. A decline in the inner city population and displacement towards the outskirts and beyond raises the threat of urban sprawl. The city has been the focus of the revival of the Catalan language. Despite massive immigration of Castilian speakers from other parts of Spain in the second half of the 20th century, there has been notable success in the increased use of Catalan in everyday life. Barcelona was the site of the 1992 Summer Olympics. The city's controversial 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures was held between May and September of the same year, lasting a marathon 141 days. Famous people who have lived and worked in Barcelona include: master painters Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dali, Antoni Tàpies, Enrique Tábara, Eugenio Granell, Antonio Saura, Manolo Millares architect Antoni Gaudi. See also: List of Counts of Barcelona Events
DemographicsDemographic evolution, 1900-2005, according to the Spanish Instituto Nacional de EstadísticaThe city of Barcelona being the second largest in Spain, has a fair amount of immigrants numbering 230,942. Many of them are from Spain's former posessions in Latin America, mostly Ecuador, Argentina, and Colombia. There are vast amounts of Moroccan, Pakistani's and Eastern Europeans, particularly immigrants from Romania and the Ukraine. GeographyTo its north, the city borders the Besòs river and the municipalities of Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià de Besòs; to the south it borders the Zona Franca, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat; to the east is the Mediterranean; and to the west are Montcada i Reixach and Sant Cugat del Vallès. Tibidabo, a prominent peak to the northwest, is visible from much of the city. Barcelona is divided into several districts. The following list favors Catalan-language names over Spanish-language names; as of 2004, they are the most commonly used and the only official ones:
Tourist attractionsCiutat VellaBarcelona offers a unique opportunity for the tourist on foot to walk from Roman remains to the medieval city, and then to the modern city with its open thoroughfares and grid-iron street pattern. The historic city center is fairly flat, while the modern city fans out towards the surrounding hills, bordered by steep streets that are vaguely reminiscent of those found in San Francisco. Beginning of Les Rambles at the old harbourA notable feature is Les Rambles, a boulevard that runs from the city center to the waterfront, thronged with crowds until late at night and lined by florists, bird sellers in the higher part, craft sellers in the lowest, street entertainers, cafeterias, and restaurants. Walking along Les Rambles one can see the world-famous opera house El Liceu, the food market of La Boqueria and the Plaça Reial (literally Royal square), with its arches and palm trees, amongst other interesting buildings. There's also a Wax Museum near the end. It is also worth keeping an eye out for pickpockets, for whom the boulevard is a favourite haunt. Les Rambles ends at the old harbour, where a statue of Christopher Columbus points eastwards across the Mediterranean Sea to his birth place of Genoa. Next to it is the Museu Marítim (naval museum), which chronicles the history of life on the Mediterranean, including a full-scale model of a galley. The buildings of the museum are the medieval Drassanes (shipyards), where the ships which sailed the Mediterranean were built. The old harbour offers all kinds of other amenities, including the second largest aquarium in the Mediterranean area and an IMAX cinema. To the north of downtown is the Parc de la Ciutadella, which includes both the Parlament de Catalunya (Catalan Parliament) and the Parc Zoològic de Barcelona (zoo). One of Barcelona's most famous residents, the late albino gorilla Copito de Nieve ("Snowflake"), lived and died recently at the zoo. The park also contains science museums, like the zoology museum, housed in a modernist building. Modernist architectureThe Sagrada Família churchOutstanding is the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí, who lived and worked in Barcelona, and who left several famous works like the Palau Güell in the city's old center, the Parc Güell at the northern tip of Gràcia, and the immense but still unfinished church of the Sagrada Família, which has been under construction since 1882, financed by popular donations like the cathedrals in the Middle Ages (However, it is not a cathedral: the cathedral of Barcelona is the Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia, a Gothic building of the late Middle Ages). The Sagrada Família is billed for completion in 2020. Another very notable modernist building in the older part of the city is the Palau de la Música Catalana, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and built in 1908. In the modern districts of the city are several avenues on which most of the international merchants offering clothing, jewelry, leather goods and other items have their stores. The most elegant avenue is the Passeig de Gràcia, where two Gaudí buildings are situated, the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and the Casa Batlló, along with buildings by other famous modernista architects: Casa Ametller by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Casa Lleó Morera by Domènech i Montaner. Several of these buildings and indeed the Sagrada Familia church itself are threatened by Mayor Clos' plans to build a large railway tunnel for high-speed trains under the city's shaky 19th century foundations. In recent years, office developments along Passeig de Gràcia have been allowed to break up the architectural unity of the 19th and early 20th century buildings lining the avenue - a process which shows no signs of slackening. Property speculation is also blighting other areas of the city, including the 19th century Poble Nou district with its many interesting buildings dating from Catalonia's Industrial Revolution. Many of these have now been levelled to make room for the city's ill-starred "22@" project to build an area for ICT-based firms. "Slash and burn" property speculation in Poble NouMuseumsArt visits include the museum of the Fundació Joan Miró,hi where several paintings and sculptures of this artist are shown, together with guest exhibitions from other museums around the world. There is also a unique museum featuring the lesser known works of Pablo Picasso from his earlier period. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia (in the Palau Nacional left behind by the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition) possesses a well-known collection of Romanesque art, including wall-paintings of Romanesque churches and chapels around Catalonia that have been transferred to the museum. The Contemporary Art Museum is also worth a visit, not only because of its paintings and sculptures, but because of its architecture. The building was designed by the American architect Richard Meier. The Fundació Antoni Tàpies holds a collection of Tàpies works. Visitors should note that the opening times of Barcelona's museums vary considerably and are often highly inconvenient; careful planning is recommended to avoid wasted trips. Montjuic and TibidaboFor spectacular views over the city and the coast line there are two hills. One, Montjuïc hill, is next to the harbour and perched above a large container terminal. On its top is an old fortress which used to guard the entrance to the port. Around the hill are a group of installations known as the "olympic ring" and that were the heart of the 1992 summer olympics: the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium (originally built in 1929 but completely refurbished for the 1992 olympics), the Palau Sant Jordi (a multi-purpose installation designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, used primarily for all kinds of indoor sport events but also for concerts and other cultural activities) and the Bernat Picornell Pools. On the way down, there could be found the Botanical Gardens and the Costa i Llobera gardens, with an unique cactus collection. Uptown is the hill of the Tibidabo, 512 meters high, with an amusement park (which, after a long economic struggle, now belongs to the city council) and a monumental church on its summit. The church mosaics provide a curious example of the religious art style much in vogue during the dictatorship. There's also the Torre de Collserola, a telecommunications tower designed by Norman Foster which also has a windowed balcony with a great view over the city. SportsBarcelona is the home city of two internationally-known football teams: FC Barcelona, also known as Barça, who play at the 100,000 capacity Camp Nou stadium, and RCD Espanyol, who play at the 56,000 capacity Olympic Stadium. FC Barcelona has also internationally known basketball and handball teams that play at the Palau Blaugrana, situated in the same complex as the Camp Nou. Near Barcelona, in Montmeló, the Circuit de Catalunya racetrack hosts the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix. AcademiaIn addition to the University of Barcelona, the city is home to the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Technical University of Catalonia, the Ramon Llull University and the International University of Catalonia. World Heritage Sites in BarcelonaUNESCO World Heritage Sites in Barcelona:
TransportationIn addition to its port, of great historical and contemporary commercial importance, Barcelona is served by El Prat International Airport ('El Prat') in the town of El Prat de Llobregat. Barcelona is a hub for RENFE, the Spanish state railway network, and its main suburban train station is Sants-Estació (which is under renovation and enlargement at present in order to prepare for the arrival of the AVE system). The AVE high-speed rail system was recently extended from Madrid to Lleida in western Catalonia, and is expected to reach Barcelona by 2007. Renfe and the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) run Barcelona's widespread commuter train service. Barcelona's transit company, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), runs the Barcelona Metro system and city bus. See List of Barcelona metro stations. Barcelona has recently adopted another transport option with two new tram lines known as Trambaix and Trambesòs. ParksPlaça d'Espanya with fountains in frontBarcelona, with its mild weather and dense medieval centre, is renowned for its parks and open spaces. Besides the beaches, the Rambles and Parc Güell are the most famous of these. See above for a description of the Rambles. See separate article on Parc Güell (1914), the large fantastical park designed by Antoni Gaudí for a housing estate and opened to the public in 1922. The site of the Barcelona International Exhibition in 1929 and 1930, the Parc de Montjuïc was laid out by engineer Jean C. N. Forestier and architect Nicolas M. Rubio Tuduri. It is chiefly notable now for the cultural institutions that use the former palaces and exposition buildings. The German Pavilion, a landmark of modern architecture designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for this Exhibition was exhaustively reconstructed on its original site in 1986. Montjuïc Stadium was renovated and expanded by Vittorio Gregotti for the 1992 Olympic Games. In 1983 the Plaça dels Països Catalans in front of the Sants railway station was redesigned by Helio Piñon Pallares and Albert Vaiplana Vea in pink granite paving with an undulating metal pergola and various hard furnishings that have become popular with skateboarders. At the same time, the neighboring Vapor Nou factory, was converted into the Parc de la Espanya Industrial for public recreation. This park, designed by Luis Peña Ganchegui and Francesc Rius Camps and completed in 1985 integrated the industrial shapes of the site with a dominant water feature and displays of sculpture. Since 1983 a formal program of park creation has been carried out by the Mancomunitat de Municipis de l'Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona. The purpose of this program has been to reclaim space for the public which is threatened either by neglect or overdevelopment. Typically these new parks are carefully designed by architects, planners and landscape architects concerned not just with functional elements, but also with the unique characteristics of the site and its position in a layered understanding of the city. Though the budgets may be small, the level of ingenuity and care in design and implementation is often very high. Some examples (note that many are not in Barcelona per se but on its metro area):
This program of planned parks is often among the civic improvements for which the city actively seeks international events as spurs for redevelopment. For example, the upgrades to Montjuïc and the seaside industrial areas for the 1992 Olympic Games were accompanied by the building of recreational facilities in other parts of the city lacking development. One notable site is the Vall d'Hebron, a deep ravine in the foothills of the Collserola range north of the city. The urban design by Eduard Bru created a terraced sequence of belvedere-like platforms with views of the city. CrimeBarcelona, like other big cities, has a large number of criminals who mainly prey on tourists. They usually work in groups whereby the victim is distracted by one party while being robbed by another party. Many pickpockets are known to the police and some have been arrested hundreds of times only to be released once the police have filled in a report. Stealing money or goods worth less than about $360 without the use or threat of violence is classified as hurto or petty theft under Spanish law and is treated as a minor misdemeanor no matter how many times it is repeated. The problem is compounded by the few policemen "walking the beat" in Barcelona, even though the city has one of the highest police to citizen ratios in Europe. Areas where one should be particularly careful are the Barri Gòtic, El Raval, and the Ramblas. Internet cafes are a popular target in general. It is not uncommon for thieves to cut bags and backpack straps. Mobile phone theft is also a popular petty theft crime when tourists leave their phones on tabletops. This page about barcelona includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about barcelona News stories about barcelona External links for barcelona Videos for barcelona Wikis about barcelona Discussion Groups about barcelona Blogs about barcelona Images of barcelona |
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Mobile phone theft is also a popular petty theft crime when tourists leave their phones on tabletops. However, mares produce a much lower yield of milk than do cows. It is not uncommon for thieves to cut bags and backpack straps. They may let it ferment to produce kumys. Internet cafes are a popular target in general. Mare's milk is used by peoples with large horse-herds, such as the Mongols. Areas where one should be particularly careful are the Barri Gòtic, El Raval, and the Ramblas. It is also commonly found in commercially produced pet food. The problem is compounded by the few policemen "walking the beat" in Barcelona, even though the city has one of the highest police to citizen ratios in Europe. Although consumption by humans is considered abhorrent by some people in the United Kingdom, the US and Australia, it is eaten in many other parts of the world and is an export industry in the USA. Stealing money or goods worth less than about $360 without the use or threat of violence is classified as hurto or petty theft under Spanish law and is treated as a minor misdemeanor no matter how many times it is repeated. Horse meat has been used as food for animals and humans throughout the ages. Many pickpockets are known to the police and some have been arrested hundreds of times only to be released once the police have filled in a report. See: Horse (Zodiac). They usually work in groups whereby the victim is distracted by one party while being robbed by another party. According to Chinese folklore, each animal is associated with certain personality traits, and those born in the year of the horse are: intelligent, independent and free-spirited. Barcelona, like other big cities, has a large number of criminals who mainly prey on tourists. The horse features in the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The urban design by Eduard Bru created a terraced sequence of belvedere-like platforms with views of the city. However, several other explanations are equally plausible. One notable site is the Vall d'Hebron, a deep ravine in the foothills of the Collserola range north of the city. The common European practice and tradition of saddling and mounting the horse from the lefthand side is often said to originate from the need to avoid inadvertantly striking the horse with a carried sword in the process. For example, the upgrades to Montjuïc and the seaside industrial areas for the 1992 Olympic Games were accompanied by the building of recreational facilities in other parts of the city lacking development. "Heavy" or draft horses such as Clydesdale, Draft, Percherons, and Shire horses weigh up to 2800lbs (about 907kg). This program of planned parks is often among the civic improvements for which the city actively seeks international events as spurs for redevelopment. Light horses such as Arabians, Morgans, Quarter Horses, Paints and Thoroughbreds weigh up to 1300lbs (about 590kg). Some examples (note that many are not in Barcelona per se but on its metro area):. Both groups agree that 'genuine abuse' should be ended within the industry. Though the budgets may be small, the level of ingenuity and care in design and implementation is often very high. Horse professionals that understand equine psychology and care claim they know what is best for horses than rights activists that live horseless lives and are easily influenced by propaganda. Typically these new parks are carefully designed by architects, planners and landscape architects concerned not just with functional elements, but also with the unique characteristics of the site and its position in a layered understanding of the city. Animal living conditions vary, but many rodeo stock live on open ranches when not working on the weekend. The purpose of this program has been to reclaim space for the public which is threatened either by neglect or overdevelopment. Sports like rodeo and racing are closely monitored by veterinarians to prevent and treat injuries if they occur. Since 1983 a formal program of park creation has been carried out by the Mancomunitat de Municipis de l'Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona. Most horse owners that compete in sports, however, does not force-breed, kill unprofitable horses, or have poor living conditions for their horses. This park, designed by Luis Peña Ganchegui and Francesc Rius Camps and completed in 1985 integrated the industrial shapes of the site with a dominant water feature and displays of sculpture. They also cite psychological harm, poor living conditions, forced-breeding, and the killing of unprofitable horses as forms of abuse. At the same time, the neighboring Vapor Nou factory, was converted into the Parc de la Espanya Industrial for public recreation. Activists claim rodeos turn a blind eye to minor injuries which do not impair performance. In 1983 the Plaça dels Països Catalans in front of the Sants railway station was redesigned by Helio Piñon Pallares and Albert Vaiplana Vea in pink granite paving with an undulating metal pergola and various hard furnishings that have become popular with skateboarders. Rodeos claim that an injured horse is less profitable than a healthy horse. Montjuïc Stadium was renovated and expanded by Vittorio Gregotti for the 1992 Olympic Games. This brings a dilemma; If a horse gets an injury while competing, is this immoral? If a horse slips in its pasture while playing, is this ok?. The German Pavilion, a landmark of modern architecture designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for this Exhibition was exhaustively reconstructed on its original site in 1986. All sports are dangerous, but then one observing horses in nature can see more terrible injuries occurring than occur in sports. It is chiefly notable now for the cultural institutions that use the former palaces and exposition buildings. Such extreme viewpoints are rare, however, and many people are more reasonable and worried that sports may cause injuries to horse atheltes, just as they do for human athletes. Rubio Tuduri. Animal rights activists have the general viewpoint that all animal ownership is wrong, and thus using horses for riding and sports is also wrong, but these events are 'softer targets' than trail riding or 'refined' sports like dressage. Forestier and architect Nicolas M. One problem is a disagreement about terms like abuse. N. Both sides provide contradictory evidence. The site of the Barcelona International Exhibition in 1929 and 1930, the Parc de Montjuïc was laid out by engineer Jean C. Rodeo and racing professionals do have a strong case against radical claims. See separate article on Parc Güell (1914), the large fantastical park designed by Antoni Gaudí for a housing estate and opened to the public in 1922. It is difficult for average people (or even experts) to differentiate between normal equine abilities and actual abuse. See above for a description of the Rambles. Horse racing and rodeo are more easily targeted because of their extensive use of animals in sport. Besides the beaches, the Rambles and Parc Güell are the most famous of these. Most animal rights groups such as the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which advocate against animal ownership, target wilder horse "sports", with claims of cruelty. Barcelona, with its mild weather and dense medieval centre, is renowned for its parks and open spaces. Competitions exist in the following forms:. Barcelona has recently adopted another transport option with two new tram lines known as Trambaix and Trambesòs. Riders can choose any color, and optionally accoutrements such as chaps, bolo ties, belt buckles, and (shiny) spurs. See List of Barcelona metro stations. The riders must wear cowboy boots, jeans, a shirt with long sleeves, and a cowboy hat. Barcelona's transit company, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), runs the Barcelona Metro system and city bus. But show -- in the form of outfit (and silver ornaments on saddle and tack) -- forms part of Western riding. Renfe and the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) run Barcelona's widespread commuter train service. In dressage all riders wear the same to prevent distraction from the riding itself. The AVE high-speed rail system was recently extended from Madrid to Lleida in western Catalonia, and is expected to reach Barcelona by 2007. The outfit of the competition Western rider differs from that of the dressage or 'English' rider. Barcelona is a hub for RENFE, the Spanish state railway network, and its main suburban train station is Sants-Estació (which is under renovation and enlargement at present in order to prepare for the arrival of the AVE system). Technically, fewer differences between 'English' and Western riding exist than most people think. In addition to its port, of great historical and contemporary commercial importance, Barcelona is served by El Prat International Airport ('El Prat') in the town of El Prat de Llobregat. The cowboy's boots, which have high heels of an uncommon shape, also feature a specific design to prevent the cowboy's foot from slipping through the stirrup. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Barcelona:. The Western saddle has a very much more substantial frame (traditionally made of wood) to absorb the shock of roping, a prominent pommel surmounted by a horn (a big knob for snubbing the lasso after roping an animal), and, frequently, tapaderos ("taps") covering the front of the stirrups to prevent the cowboy's foot from slipping through the stirrup in an accident and resulting in a frightened horse dragging him behind it. In addition to the University of Barcelona, the city is home to the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Technical University of Catalonia, the Ramon Llull University and the International University of Catalonia. These multiple work needs mean that cowboys require different tack, most notably a curb bit (usually with longer bars than an English equitation curb or pelham bit would have) which works by leverage, long split reins (the ends of which can serve as an impromptu quirt) and a special kind of saddle. Near Barcelona, in Montmeló, the Circuit de Catalunya racetrack hosts the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix. Working with half-wild cattle, frequently in terrain where one cannot see what lurks behind the next bush, means the ever-present very great danger of becoming unseated in an accident miles from home and friends. FC Barcelona has also internationally known basketball and handball teams that play at the Palau Blaugrana, situated in the same complex as the Camp Nou. For roping calves, the horse learns to pull back against the calf, which falls to the ground, while the cowboy dismounts and ties the calf's feet together so that he can be brand it, treat it for disease, and so on. Barcelona is the home city of two internationally-known football teams: FC Barcelona, also known as Barça, who play at the 100,000 capacity Camp Nou stadium, and RCD Espanyol, who play at the 56,000 capacity Olympic Stadium. Once the cowboy has twirled the lariat and thrown its loop over a cow's head, he must snub the rope to the horn of his saddle. There's also the Torre de Collserola, a telecommunications tower designed by Norman Foster which also has a windowed balcony with a great view over the city. That means that horses must learn to neck rein, that is, to respond to light pressure of the slack rein against the horse's neck. The church mosaics provide a curious example of the religious art style much in vogue during the dictatorship. The cowboy must control the horse with one hand and use the lariat with the other hand. Uptown is the hill of the Tibidabo, 512 meters high, with an amusement park (which, after a long economic struggle, now belongs to the city council) and a monumental church on its summit. A main differentiating factor comes from the need of the cowboy to rope cattle with a lariat (or lasso). On the way down, there could be found the Botanical Gardens and the Costa i Llobera gardens, with an unique cactus collection. Western riding evolved stylistically from traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish, and its skills stem from the working needs of the cowboy in the American West. Around the hill are a group of installations known as the "olympic ring" and that were the heart of the 1992 summer olympics: the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium (originally built in 1929 but completely refurbished for the 1992 olympics), the Palau Sant Jordi (a multi-purpose installation designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, used primarily for all kinds of indoor sport events but also for concerts and other cultural activities) and the Bernat Picornell Pools. Dressage, jumping and cross-country offer forms of what Americans refer to as 'English riding' (although the United States has a strong following of riders in those disciplines). On its top is an old fortress which used to guard the entrance to the port. The three following count as Olympic disciplines:. One, Montjuïc hill, is next to the harbour and perched above a large container terminal. Visitors should note that the opening times of Barcelona's museums vary considerably and are often highly inconvenient; careful planning is recommended to avoid wasted trips. Standardbred trotters and pacers race in harness with a sulky or racing bike. The Fundació Antoni Tàpies holds a collection of Tàpies works. It occurs most commonly in the United Kingdom. The building was designed by the American architect Richard Meier. Steeplechasing involves racing on a track where the horses also jump over obstacles. The Contemporary Art Museum is also worth a visit, not only because of its paintings and sculptures, but because of its architecture. Quarter Horses traditionally raced for a quarter mile, hence the name. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia (in the Palau Nacional left behind by the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition) possesses a well-known collection of Romanesque art, including wall-paintings of Romanesque churches and chapels around Catalonia that have been transferred to the museum. Thoroughbreds have a pre-eminent reputation as a racing breed, but Arabians, Quarter Horses, and Appaloosas also race on the flat in the United States. There is also a unique museum featuring the lesser known works of Pablo Picasso from his earlier period. In harness:. Art visits include the museum of the Fundació Joan Miró,hi where several paintings and sculptures of this artist are shown, together with guest exhibitions from other museums around the world. Under saddle:. Many of these have now been levelled to make room for the city's ill-starred "22@" project to build an area for ICT-based firms. Today, several categories of racing exist:. Property speculation is also blighting other areas of the city, including the 19th century Poble Nou district with its many interesting buildings dating from Catalonia's Industrial Revolution. Humans have always had a desire to know which horse (or horses) could move the fastest, horse-racing has ancient roots. In recent years, office developments along Passeig de Gràcia have been allowed to break up the architectural unity of the 19th and early 20th century buildings lining the avenue - a process which shows no signs of slackening. The list of horse breeds provides a partial alphabetical list of breeds of horse extant today, plus a discussion of rare breeds' conservation. Several of these buildings and indeed the Sagrada Familia church itself are threatened by Mayor Clos' plans to build a large railway tunnel for high-speed trains under the city's shaky 19th century foundations. They show more excitability, and often more dominance; and the longer you ride them, the more excited they become, instead of merely getting tired (although any breed of horse can succumb to fatigue). The most elegant avenue is the Passeig de Gràcia, where two Gaudí buildings are situated, the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and the Casa Batlló, along with buildings by other famous modernista architects: Casa Ametller by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Casa Lleó Morera by Domènech i Montaner. True hotbloods usually offer greater riding challenges than other horses, especially the coldblood. In the modern districts of the city are several avenues on which most of the international merchants offering clothing, jewelry, leather goods and other items have their stores. The term "warmbloods" covers everything else, but the term also specifically refers to the European breeds, such as the Hanoverian, that have dominated dressage and show jumping since the 1950s. Another very notable modernist building in the older part of the city is the Palau de la Música Catalana, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and built in 1908. The slow, heavy draft horses class as "coldbloods", as they usually possess a quite calm temperament. The Sagrada Família is billed for completion in 2020. The Thoroughbred is also included in the "hotblood" category. Outstanding is the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí, who lived and worked in Barcelona, and who left several famous works like the Palau Güell in the city's old center, the Parc Güell at the northern tip of Gràcia, and the immense but still unfinished church of the Sagrada Família, which has been under construction since 1882, financed by popular donations like the cathedrals in the Middle Ages (However, it is not a cathedral: the cathedral of Barcelona is the Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia, a Gothic building of the late Middle Ages). The Arabian horses, whether originating on the Arabian peninsula or from the European studs (breeding establishments) of the 18th and 19th centuries, gained the title of "hotbloods", for their fiery temperaments. The park also contains science museums, like the zoology museum, housed in a modernist building. Some other breed registries allow artificial insemination, embryo transfer, or both. One of Barcelona's most famous residents, the late albino gorilla Copito de Nieve ("Snowflake"), lived and died recently at the zoo. A foal born of two Thoroughbred parents, but by means of artificial insemination, is barred from the Thoroughbred studbook. To the north of downtown is the Parc de la Ciutadella, which includes both the Parlament de Catalunya (Catalan Parliament) and the Parc Zoològic de Barcelona (zoo). For example, all Thoroughbred registries require that a registered Thoroughbred be a product of a natural mating. The old harbour offers all kinds of other amenities, including the second largest aquarium in the Mediterranean area and an IMAX cinema. Breed registries also differ as to their acceptance or rejection of breeding technology. The buildings of the museum are the medieval Drassanes (shipyards), where the ships which sailed the Mediterranean were built. Still other breeds, such as most of the warmblood sporthorses, require individual judging of an individual animal's quality before registration or breeding approval. Next to it is the Museu Marítim (naval museum), which chronicles the history of life on the Mediterranean, including a full-scale model of a galley. Other breeds tolerate limited infusions from other breeds—the modern Appaloosa for instance must have at least one Appaloosa parent but may also have a Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, or Arabian parent and must also exhibit spotted coloration to gain full registration. Les Rambles ends at the old harbour, where a statue of Christopher Columbus points eastwards across the Mediterranean Sea to his birth place of Genoa. Some breeds have closed studbooks; a registered Thoroughbred, Arabian, or Quarter Horse must have two registered parents of the same breed, and no other criteria for registration apply. It is also worth keeping an eye out for pickpockets, for whom the boulevard is a favourite haunt. The modern landscape of breed designation presents a complicated picture. There's also a Wax Museum near the end. During the late middle ages the Carthusian monks of southern Spain, themselves forbidden to ride, bred horses which nobles throughout Europe prized; the lineage survives to this day in the Andalusian horse or caballo de pura raza español. Walking along Les Rambles one can see the world-famous opera house El Liceu, the food market of La Boqueria and the Plaça Reial (literally Royal square), with its arches and palm trees, amongst other interesting buildings. The Arabs had a reputation for breeding their prize mares to only the most worthy stallions, and kept extensive pedigrees of their "asil" (purebred) horses. A notable feature is Les Rambles, a boulevard that runs from the city center to the waterfront, thronged with crowds until late at night and lined by florists, bird sellers in the higher part, craft sellers in the lowest, street entertainers, cafeterias, and restaurants. The idea of a "purebred" animal gained importance in Europe during the 19th century but selective breeding has occurred almost everywhere man has kept horses. The historic city center is fairly flat, while the modern city fans out towards the surrounding hills, bordered by steep streets that are vaguely reminiscent of those found in San Francisco. See: Domestication of the horse. Barcelona offers a unique opportunity for the tourist on foot to walk from Roman remains to the medieval city, and then to the modern city with its open thoroughfares and grid-iron street pattern. Finally, certain geneticists have started evaluating the DNA and mitochondrial DNA to construct family trees. The following list favors Catalan-language names over Spanish-language names; as of 2004, they are the most commonly used and the only official ones:. A second school -- the "Single Foundation" -- holds only one breed of horse underwent domestication, and it diverged in form after domestication through human selective breeding (or in the case of feral horses, through ecological pressures). Barcelona is divided into several districts. One school, which we can call the "Four Foundations", suggests that the modern horse evolved from two types of early domesticated pony and two types of early domesticated horse; the differences between these types account for the differences in type of the modern breeds. Tibidabo, a prominent peak to the northwest, is visible from much of the city. These schools grew up reasoning from the type of dentition and from the horses' outward appearance. To its north, the city borders the Besòs river and the municipalities of Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià de Besòs; to the south it borders the Zona Franca, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat; to the east is the Mediterranean; and to the west are Montcada i Reixach and Sant Cugat del Vallès. Several schools of thought exist to explain how this range of size and shape came about. There are vast amounts of Moroccan, Pakistani's and Eastern Europeans, particularly immigrants from Romania and the Ukraine. The Patagonian Fallabella, usually considered the smallest horse in the world, compares in size to a German Shepherd Dog. Many of them are from Spain's former posessions in Latin America, mostly Ecuador, Argentina, and Colombia. The draft breeds can top 20 hands (80 inches, 2 metres) while the smallest miniature horses can stand as low as 5.2 hands (22 inches, 0.56 metres). The city of Barcelona being the second largest in Spain, has a fair amount of immigrants numbering 230,942. Horses come in various sizes and shapes. See also: List of Counts of Barcelona. Another that has numerous photographs of various colors and markings is Equine color. Famous people who have lived and worked in Barcelona include: master painters Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dali, Antoni Tàpies, Enrique Tábara, Eugenio Granell, Antonio Saura, Manolo Millares architect Antoni Gaudi. Another good resource for horse color is: Horse color, markings, and genetics. The city's controversial 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures was held between May and September of the same year, lasting a marathon 141 days. For horse color and marking genetics see Equine coat color genetics. Barcelona was the site of the 1992 Summer Olympics. Elsewhere:. Despite massive immigration of Castilian speakers from other parts of Spain in the second half of the 20th century, there has been notable success in the increased use of Catalan in everyday life. On the legs:. The city has been the focus of the revival of the Catalan language. On the face:. A decline in the inner city population and displacement towards the outskirts and beyond raises the threat of urban sprawl. In fact, one will often refer to a horse in the field by his or her coat color rather than by breed or by gender. While it may still be the second city of Spain, it has a charm and air that is unique and prized. Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings, and a specialized vocabulary has evolved to describe them. The protest movement of the 1970s and the demise of the dictatorship turned Barcelona into a centre of cultural vitality, enabling it to become the thriving city it is today. Horses older than colts and fillies become known as horses and mares respectively. It was overrun by Francisco Franco's forces in 1939, which ushered in a reign of cultural and political repression that lasted decades. Thoroughbred racing defines a colt as a male horse less than five years old and a filly as a female horse less than five years old; harness racing defines colts and fillies as less than four years old. Barcelona was a stronghold for the anarchist cause -anarchist opposition to the call-up of reservists led to the city's Tragic Week in 1909- siding with the Republic's democratically elected government during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). In horse racing the definitions of colt, filly, mare, and horse differ from those given above. The beginning of the 20th century marked Barcelona's resurgence, while Catalan nationalists clamoured for political autonomy and greater freedom of cultural expression. You can view an entire equine dictionary at: The Horse Dictionary. The fields that had surrounded the artificially constricted city became the Eixample ("extension"), a bustling modern city surrounding the old. For details, see Horse gaits. The exposition also left behind the Arc de Triomf and the Museu de Zoologia (a building originally used during the fair as a cafe-restaurant). Some horses, called Gaited Horses, have gaits other than the most common four above. During a period of weaker control by the Madrid authorities, the medieval walls were torn down and the citadel of La Ribera was converted into an urban park: the modern Parc de la Ciutadella, site of the 1888 "Universal Exposition" (World's Fair). It was returned to Spain after Napoleon's downfall. However, one would not gallop a horse during training in a ring or enclosed area, due to the fact that the horse may slip in attempting to gallop in such an area. Barcelona and the province of Catalonia were annexed by the French Empire of Napoleon after he invaded Spain and put his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. The gallop is usually used in races or fox hunting. Official use of Catalan language was forbidden, and the University withdrew. To get a horse into gallop, the rider must alter their position so they are slightly more forward in the saddle, then they should allow the horse to head and gently kick the horse's sides. King Philip V of Spain demolished half of the merchants' quarter (La Ribera) to build a military citadel, as a way of both punishing and controlling the rebel city. Horses that usually are galloped in a straight line need to be caused to alternate leads so that they do not suffer a muscular imbalance and subsequent difficulty making turns in one direction or the other. The city was devastated after the Catalonian Republic of 1640 - 1652, and again during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. In turning at a very rapid rate, it is even more important that the horse use the appropriate lead, leading with the left leg if making a left turn, and the right leg if making a right turn, since the faster the turn the more the horse needs to lean into the turn. The city is home to the University of Barcelona, founded in 1450. The gallop also involves having a leading leg. The forging of a dynastic link between the Crown of Aragon and Castile marked the beginning of Barcelona's decline. The gallop is another "four beat" gait which follows a similar progression to the canter, except the two paired legs land separately, the hind leg landing slightly before the foreleg. The counts of Barcelona became increasingly independent and expanded their territory to include all of Catalonia, later formed the Crown of Aragon who conquered many overseas possessions, ruling the western Mediterranean Sea with outlying territories as far as to Athens in the 13th century. Barcelona was still a Christian frontier territory when it was sacked by Al-Mansur in 985. The canter is not a natural gait, but a restrained form of a gallop. The city was conquered by the Visigoths in the early 5th century, by the Moors in the early 8th century, reconquered from the emir in 801 by Charlemagne's son Louis who made Barcelona the seat of Carolingian "Spanish Marches" (Marca Hispanica), a buffer zone ruled by the Count of Barcelona. Also called "lope" when riding in a Western show class. Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated in the cathedral butted up against them [1]; the basilica La Seu is credited to have been founded in 343. To get a horse to canter from gallop, one must alter the position of the body slightly back in the saddle, then you must place the outside leg behind the girth to allow the horse to canter on the correct leg, and apply pressure on the reins. The Roman Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino was outshone by the province's capital Tarragona but some important Roman remains are exposed under the Plaça del Rei, entrance by the city museum, Museu d'Història de la Ciutat and the typically Roman grid-planning is still visible today on the map of the historical centre, the Barri Gótic ("Gothic Quarter"). To get a horse to canter on the correct leg from trot, one must go into sitting trot, place their outside leg slightly behind the girth and squeeze with the inside leg. About 15 BC, Romans redrew the town as a castrum (a Roman military camp) centred on the "Mons Taber", a little hill nearby the contemporary city hall (Plaça de Sant Jaume). In making a fairly tight turn, the inside leg (the one nearest to the center of the turn) should lead, as this prevents the horse from "falling in". Legend attributes the Carthaginian foundation of Barcino to Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal. In the arena, the horse should canter on the inside lead. . When cantering in a straight line, it does not usually matter which foreleg (or leading leg) goes first, but both leads should receive equal practice time, as otherwise the horse may become "one-sided" or develop a reluctance to canter on a specific lead. The mayor of Barcelona is Joan Clos. the rhythm should be 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc. 2005), although this only covers 7,733 km² (3,000 mi²) around the city. A cantering horse will first stride off with the outside hind leg, then the inside hind and outside fore together, then the inside front leg, and finally a period of suspension in which all four legs are off the ground. Population of the province of Barcelona is 5,226,354 (est. A canter is a "three beat" gait in which a foreleg and opposite hindleg strike the ground together, and the other two legs strike separately. 2005). The population of the city proper is 1,593,075 (est. A rider on a walking horse initiates a trot by reducing tautness on the reins and applying more leg pressure. It is 160 km (100 mi) south of the Pyrenees mountain range. In this gait, each leg bears weight separately, making it ideal to check for lameness or for stiffness in the joints. It is located in the comarca of Barcelonès, along the Mediterranean coast (41°23′N 2°11′E) between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs. A trot is a "two beat" diagonal gait in which a foreleg and opposite hindleg (often called "diagonals") touch the ground at the same time. Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia. Parc Nou del Prat, on the Llobregat delta, adjoining Sant Cosme and the airport. To initiate a walk when a horse is trotting, the rider gently applies pressure on the reins. Once a quarry, now boasts an artificial lake that converts to public swimming pool in summer, and magnificent statue by Basque artist Eduardo Chillida. A rider on a trained horse gently squeezes the sides of the animal and releases the pressure on its reins in order to initiate a walk from a stationary position. Parc de la Creueta del Coll, 1987, Oriol Bohigas, Josep Martorell, David Mackay, architects. The walking horse will lift first a hind leg, then the foreleg on the same side, then the remaining hind leg, then the foreleg on the same side. Parc del Litoral, at the mouth of the River Besos. A walk is a "four-beat" lateral gait in which a horse must have three feet on the ground and only one foot in the air at any time. Parc de les Planes, located at the boundary of three districts. A narrow linear park defined by hedge walls and a grid of trees on the bank of the Congost River. Many people consider the Shetland pony as the archetypal pony, as its proportions are so different from those of horses. Parc de Torrent Congost (Granollers), 1996, Enric Battle and Joan Roig. However, a distinct set of characteristic pony traits, developed in northwest Europe and further evolved in the British Isles, make it less clear whether it is more appropriate to use the word "pony" to describe a size or a type. Parc de Canserra (Barberà del Vallès), 1996, Studio BCQ. Thus normal variations can mean that a horse stallion and horse mare can become the parents of an adult pony. Trees and a pool strengthen the sensual escape from the surrounding city. Below the threshold an animal is a pony, while above the threshold it is a horse. The design recaptures the pattern of agricultural use using beds of flowering plants. The threshold is 14.2 hh (1.47 m) for an adult. Parc del Torrent Ballesters (Viladecans), 1997, Arturo Frediani/SOB Associates. Usually, size alone marks the difference between horses and ponies. A ramble built over parking spaces. By convention, 15.2 hh means 15 hands, 2 inches (1.57 m) in height. Carrer Brasil, 1996, Olga Tarraso and Jordi Hernrich. Perhaps because of extensive selective breeding, modern adult horses vary widely in size, ranging from miniature horses measuring 5 hands (0.5 m) to draft animals measuring 19 hands (1.8 m) or more. Parc Güell. Horse height is measured at the highest point of an animal's withers. Palau de la Música Catalana. One hand is defined in British law as 101.6 mm, a figure derived from the previous measure of 4 Imperial inches. Palau Güell. The English-speaking world measures the height of horses in hands. Hospital de Sant Pau. Because horses and humans have lived and worked together for thousands of years, an extensive specialized vocabulary has arisen to describe virtually every horse behavioral and anatomical characteristic with a high degree of precision. Casa Milà (La Pedrera). For instance, if the majority of the herd wants to stop and eat, the whole herd follows suit and stops. Sant Martí: Fort Pius, Sant Martí de Provençals, Poble Nou, La Verneda, el Clot. Recently, researchers have observed that a form of "majority rule" appears to exist among horses. Sant Andreu: Barri del Congrés, Sant Andreu de Palomar. An alpha mare dictates the direction in which a family herd travels, while the stallion brings up the rear, "herding" his family. Nou Barris: Can Peguera, Porta, Canyelles, Ciutat Meridiana, Guineueta, Prosperitat, Vallbona, Verdum, Vilapicina, Roquetes, Trinitat Vella, Trinitat Nova, Torre Baró, Torre Llobeta and Turó de la Peira. A stallion is not usually successful in acquiring his own mares from other stallions until he reaches 7 or 8 years of age. Horta-Guinardó: Horta, El Carmel, La Teixonera, El Guinardó. Once young males reach breeding age and begin to attempt to breed with mares or to challenge the herd stallion, the stallion drives them out of the herd to form "bachelor bands" with other young stallions. Gràcia: Vallcarca, Barri de la Salut, Gràcia, El Camp d'en Grassot. These normally consist of a mature stallion, his harem of about one to ten mares, and the mares' offspring. Sarrià - Sant Gervasi: Pedralbes, Sarrià, Sant Gervasi, Vallvidrera. Horses live in family groups in primarily grassland habitats. Les Corts. Even domesticated horses startle easily and must, for the safety of riders, undergo careful introductions to strange objects and situations. Sants - Montjuïc: Can Tunis, Montjuïc, Hostafrancs, Sants, Poble Sec. Their eyes are located on the sides of their heads, providing a wide field of view while grazing (slightly less than 180 degrees to each side, overlapped in front and leaving a blind spot in the rear). The Eixample: Sant Antoni, Esquerra de l'Eixample ("the left side of the Eixample" with the sea at your back), Dreta de l'Eixample ("the right side of the Eixample"), Barri de la Sagrada Família. They have a natural tendency to flee from danger, though they will fight if cornered. Ciutat Vella (old city): El Raval (also known as the Barri Xinès), the Barri Gòtic, and the Barri de la Ribera. In nature, horses function as prey animals. 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures. Examples of extinct horse genera include: Propalaeotherium, Mesohippus, Miohippus, Orohippus, Pliohippus, Anchitherium, Merychippus, Parahippus, Hipparion and Hippidion. 1992 Summer Olympics. The genus Equus, to which all living equids belong, evolved a few million years ago. 1982 Hosted eight matches of the twelfth Football World Cup. Horse evolution was characterized by a reduction in the number of toes, from 5 per foot, to 3 per foot, to only 1 toe per foot. 1962 In late September, major flooding kills 800+ people in the surroundings. In the course of roughly a million years, horses evolved from leaf-eating forest-dwellers into fast grass-eating inhabitants of the Great Plains. 1952 Eucharistic Congress. One of the first true horse species was the tiny Hyracotherium, also known as eohippus, "the dawn horse". 1936 People's Olympiad, cancelled because of the Spanish Civil War. Horses are believed by scientists to have first evolved in what is now North America. 1929 International Exposition (World's Fair). At one time there were twelve families of odd-toed ungulates, though today only three survive; tapirs and rhinoceroses are the closest living relatives of the modern horse. 1909 Tragic Week. Perissodactyls were the dominant group of large terrestrial browsing animals until the Miocene (about 20 million years ago), when even-toed ungulates, with stomachs better adapted to grass digestion, began to outcompete them. 1888 Universal Exposition (World's Fair). Horses and other equids are odd-toed ungulates of the order Perissodactyla, a relatively ancient group of browsing and grazing animals that first arose less than 10 million years after the dinosaurs became extinct. All equids are part of the family Equidae, which dates back more than 50 million years. Main article: Evolution of the Horse. Full species list:. This will probably remain a novelty hybrid as these individuals tend to inherit some of the nervous, difficult nature of their zebra parent. Recently breeders have begun crossing various species of zebra with mares or female asses to produce "zebra mules"—zorses and zonkeys (also called zedonks). A hinny is the less common hybrid of a female ass and a stallion. A mule is a hybrid of a male ass and a mare and is infertile. The Donkey, Burro or Domestic Ass, Equus asinus, like the horse, has many breeds. Other members of the horse family include zebras, donkeys, and hemionids. The Icelandic horse has a four-beat gait called the "tölt", which equates to the rack exhibited by several American gaited breeds. Introduced by the Vikings into Iceland, Icelandic horses did not subsequently undergo the intensive selective breeding that took place in the rest of Europe from the Middle Ages onwards, and consequently bear a closer resemblance to pre-Medieval breeds. The Icelandic horse (pony-sized but called a horse) provides an opportunity to compare contemporary and historical breed appearances and behaviour. Feral horses may provide useful insights into the behavior of ancestral wild horses. Isolated feral populations are often named for their geographic location; in Namiba feral animals known as Namib Desert Horses live in the desert, while the Sable Island Horses are resident on Sable Island, Canada. Several populations of feral horses exist, including those in the West of the United States and Canada (often called "mustangs") and in parts of Australia ("brumbies") and New Zealand ("Kaimanawa horses"). Wild animals, whose ancestors have never undergone domestication, are distinct from feral animals, who had domesticated ancestors but now live in the wild. [1]. Small wild breeding populations of this animal exist in Mongolia. Mongolians know it as the taki, while the Kirghiz people call it a kirtag. Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), a rare Asian species, is the only true wild horse alive today. Thanks to the efforts of the brothers Lutz Heck (director of the Berlin zoo) and Heinz Heck (director of Tierpark Munich Hellabrunn), the resulting Wild Polish Horse or Konik more closely resembles the tarpan than any other living horse. Its genetic line is lost, but its phenotype has been recreated by a "breeding back" process, in which living domesticated horses with primitive features were repeatedly interbred. The tarpan, Equus ferus ferus, became extinct in 1880. For example, the Forest Horse (Equus ferus silvaticus, also called the Diluvial Horse) is thought to have evolved into Equus ferus germanicus, and may have contributed to the development of the heavy horses of northern Europe, such as the Ardennais. Wild species continued to survive into historic times. Competing theories exist as to the time and place of initial domestication. The earliest evidence for the domestication of the horse comes from Central Asia and dates to approximately 4,000 BCE. . Until the middle of the 20th century, armies used horses extensively in warfare; soldiers still refer to the groups of machines that have replaced horses on the battlefield as "cavalry" units, and sometimes preserve traditional horse-oriented names for military units (Lord Strathcona's Horse). Though isolated domestication may have occurred as early as 4500 BC, clear evidence of widespread use by humans dates to no earlier than 2000 BC, as evidenced by the Sintashta chariot burials, thus firmly establishing the domestication of the horse. In some human cultures, horses are also widely used as a source of food. Most notably, horses can be ridden by a person perched on a saddle attached to the animal, and are also widely harnessed to pull objects like wheeled vehicles or plows. Horses have long been one of the most economically important domesticated animals, and have played an important role in the transport of people and cargo for thousands of years. The horse (Equus caballus) is a sizeable ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. Bull.Zool.Nomencl., 60:81-84. Usage of 17 specific names based on wild species which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic animals (Lepidoptera, Osteichthyes, Mammalia): conserved. Opinion 2027 (Case 3010). 2003. International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Equistar Publications, Ltd., 1996. Hakola, B.S., R.N., C.M.I. and Susan E. Riegal, D.V.M. Illustrated Atlas of Clinical Equine Anatomy and Common Disorders of the Horse, by Ronald J. (By members of the faculty and staff, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.) Harper Collins, 1996. Book of Horses: A Complete Medical Reference Guide for Horses and Foals, edited by Mordecai Siegal. Gymkhana. Steeplechase. Vaulting (gymnastics and dance on horseback). Campdrafting. Polocrosse. 3-Day Eventing- a competition where you are judged on your total score from a day of dressage, stadium jumping and cross country. The common clothes worn are usually brighter colors and less conservative. Cross Country Jumping, a jumping course that contains logs, and natural obstacles mostly. Show Jumping. Dressage. Rodeo. Reining. Rapa das bestas. Polo, a team game played on horseback, involves riders using a long-handled mallet to drive a ball on the ground into the opposing team's goal while the opposing team defends their goal. Hunter paces are usually a few miles long. Hunter paces are usually held in a series. Hunter Pacing, a sport where a trained rider rides a trail at speeds based on its condition and then people compete to ride closest to that perfect time. Jousting. Horse show. Horse hacking. Fox hunting. Charreada, the highest form of Mexican horsemanship based on a mixture of Spanish and Native traditions. Cavalry (sport). Bullfighting (rejoneo). It consists of bareback bronc riding and of saddle bronc riding. Bronc riding (riding a bucking "wild" horse for a timed duration) counts as a separate event, not considered part of Western riding as such. In team roping, one horse and rider lassos a running steer's horns, while another horse and rider lassos the steer's two hind legs. In calf roping, the rider has to catch a running calf by the neck with a lasso, stop the animal in its tracks, rapidy dismount the horse and immobilize the calf by tying three of its legs together. Roping: also banned in Europe. While riding, the rider jumps off his horse onto a steer and 'wrestles' it to the ground. Steer wrestling: Europe does not allow this activity because of animal welfare concerns, but it occurs in the United States of America, usually at rodeo events. Halter class is particularly popular with younger riders who do not yet have the skill or confidence to partake in other forms. Clothing of the handler and the halters tend to be more flashy in this discipline. In regular halter class, judges will put emphasis on the performance and build of the horse when awarding points, in 'showmanship at halter' the performance of the handler and horse are both judged equally. The horse is taken through a short pattern where the horse and handler must demonstrate control during walk, jog and turns. The standard position of the handler is on the left side with the shoulder near the horse's eye. Halter class: here the horse is shown with only a halter and without a rider, but with a handler controlling the horse from the ground using a leadrope. In pole bending, horse and rider gallop the length of a line of six upright poles, turn sharply and weave through the poles, turn again and weave back, and gallop back to the start. In a barrel race, horse and rider gallop around a cloverleaf pattern of barrels, making agile turns without knocking the barrels over. Barrel racing and pole bending: the timed speed/agility events of rodeo. The horses have to move sideways, make 90 degree turns while moving backwards, a fence has to be opened and/or closed while mounted, and more such maneuvers relevant to everyday ranch or trail riding tasks are demonstrated. Speed is not important, but total control of the horse is. Trail class: in this event, the rider has to maneuver the horse through an obstacle course in a ring. The catch: the riders cannot close the gate to the pen till they have corralled all the cattle (and only the intended cattle) inside. Team penning: a popular timed event in which a team of 3 riders must select 3 to 5 marked steers out of a herd and drive them into a small pen. A jury awards points to the cutter. The calf then tries to return to its herdmates; the rider loosens the reins and leaves it entirely to the horse to keep the calf separated, a job the best horses do with relish, savvy, and style. The horse and rider select and separate a calf out of a small group. Cutting: more than any other, this event highlights the "cow sense" prized in stock breeds such as the Quarter horse. Reining - considered by some the "dressage" of the western riding world, reining requires horse and rider to perform a precise pattern consisting of canter circles, rapid "spins" (a particularly athletic turn on the haunches), and the sliding stop (executed from a full gallop). The horse must remain under control, with the rider directing minimal force through the reins and otherwise using minimal interference. Western pleasure - the rider must show the horse in walk, jog (a slow, controlled trot), trot and lope (a slow, controlled canter). Equitation classes occur in the Huntseat, Saddleseat, and Western disciplines. Equitation refers to those classes where judges assess the rider, not the performance of the horse. Riders also commonly show Arabians and Morgans saddleseat in the United States. Saddleseat (also known as Park or English Pleasure riding), a uniquely American discipline, developed to show to best advantage the extravagantly animated movement of high-stepping gaited breeds such as the American Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walker. A winning show hunter has very good conformation, a smooth jumping style (with tightly-folded front legs), a good length of stride, and an appealing manner. Hunter classes in various divisions and fence heights demonstrate the horse's ability to jump smoothly and safely. For equitation, see below. In the modern show ring hunters show "on the flat" at the walk, trot, and canter, and "over fences". Huntseat riding as a show discipline derived from English foxhunting and from the natural desire for people to prove that the superiority of their mount. In the last-named, the horses jump over fixed obstacles, unlike show jumping, where the majority of the obstacles will fall down or apart if hit by the horse. "roads and tracks") and the "cross-country" jumping phase. Eventing, combined training, horse trials, "the Military," or "the complete test" as its French name translates, puts together the obedience of dressage with the athletic ability of show jumping, the fitness demands of a long endurance phase (a.k.a. At the Grand Prix level fences may reach a height of as much as 6 feet. Show jumping comprises a timed event judged on the ability of the horse and rider to jump over a series of obstacles, in a given order and with the fewest refusals or knockdowns of portions of the obstacles. One dressage master has defined it as "returning the freedom of the horse while carrying the rider.". Competitive dressage has the goal of showing the horse carrying out, on request, the natural movements that it performs without thinking while running loose. Dressage ("training" in French) involves the progressive training of the horse to a high level of impulsion, collection, and obedience. The humans alternately run and ride. Ride and Tie involves three equal partners: two humans and one horse. Ride and Tie (in North America, organized by Ride and Tie Association). Note especially the Tevis Cup. Races begin at 20 miles and peak at 100 miles. Endurance races take place over a given, measured distance and the horses have an even start. The American Endurance Ride Conference organizes the sport in North America. Endurance riding, a sport in which the Arabian dominates at the top level, has become very popular in the United States and in Europe. Harness Racing in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. The United States Trotting Association organizes harness Racing in the United States (although the horses may also pace). Arabian Horse Racing. Appaloosa Horse Racing. Quarter Horse Racing--mostly in the United States, and sanctioned there by the American Quarter Horse Association. Thoroughbred National Hunt racing or steeplechasing in the UK. Thoroughbred flat racing; (under the aegis of the Jockey Club in the United Kingdom and the Jockey Club of North America). Whorls, coloquially known as "cow licks" - are divergent or convergent patches of hair found anywhere on the body but mostly on the head, neck and just in front of the stifles. Stocking (white marking that extends as high as the knee or hock). Sock (white marking that does not extend as high as the knee or hock). Ermine marks (black marks on the white just above the hoof). White Face (sometimes called Bald Face). Blaze (broad white stripe down the middle of the face). Stripe (narrow white stripe down the middle of the face). Snip (a white patch on the muzzle). Star (a white patch between the eyes). These horses have normal eye colour, and they stay white for life. Rarely there are true white horses born and are documented to have a dominant white gene (see Gray (horse) for a discussion of these). All white, may be the result of overlapping pinto, appaloosa, or sabino markings. White - Any non-albino white horse is called a gray, even though they appear white. Tobiano - a genetic trait among horses which produces a characteristic white pattern in the coat. Splash - a genetically controlled horse coat variation. Sorrel - a light brown coat with a flaxen mane and tail. This color occurs while the horse is "graying out.". Rose gray: a gray horse with a pinkish tinge to its coat. Roans also have solid colored heads that do not lighten. Roans are distinguishable from greys because roans typically do not change colour in their lifetimes, unlike gray that gradually gets lighter as a horse ages. Roan can happen on any body color; for example, there are palomino roans and dun roans. Red roans are chesnut and white hairs, blue roans are black/bay with white hairs. Roan - a color pattern that causes white hairs to be sprinkled over the horse's body color. Perlino - Exactly like a cremello but a bay horse with two dilute genes. Often cited as being a color "within three shades of a newly minted coin", palominos actually come in all shades from extremely light, to deep chocolate. Palomino-chestnut horse that has one cream dilute gene that turns the horse to a golden, yellow, or tan shade with a flaxen (white) mane and tail. Today, Paint horses are the world's fifth most popular breed. Paint - In 1962, the American Paint Horse Association began to recognize pinto horses with known Quarter Horse and/or Thoroughbred bloodlines as a separate breed. Specific patterns such as tobiano, overo, and tovero refer to the orientation of white on the body. Piebald is black and white, while Skewbald is white and brown. Pinto - a multi-colored horse with large patches of brown, white, and/or black and white. It is often a grayish/silver colored horse with dark dun factors. Grulla- A black horse with a dun gene. Some gray horses that are very light must wear sunscreen. If you would define the horse as white it is still grey unless it is albino. Gray horses can be born any color, and eventually most will turn gray or white with age. Gray - A horse with black skin and clear hairs. Fleabitten gray - refers to usually red hairs flecked in the coat of a gray horse. Dun - Yellowish brown with a dorsal stripe along the back and occasionally zebra stripings on the legs. Dapple gray: a gray colored horse with rings, or dapples, scattered throughout. There are no true albino horses. Often called pseudo albinos, they have blue eyes. Cremello - A chestnut horse with two dilute genes that washes out almost all colour. Chestnut- A reddish body color with no black. Buckskin- A bay horse with a gene that 'dilutes' the coat colour to a yellow, cream, or gold while keeping the black points (mane, tail, ears, legs). Brown - A bay without any black points. Usually for a horse to be considered black it must be completely black with no brown at all, only white markings. As their foal coat begins to shed out, their black color will show through,but jet black foals are born jet black. Black foals are usually born a mousy grey color. Jet black is a blue-black shade that is fadeproof. Ordinary black horses will fade to a rusty brownish color if the horse is exposed to sunlight on a regular basis. Black- There are two types of black, fading black and jet black. Three types - Dark bay, blood bay, light bay and just bay. Bay- From light brown to very dark brown with black mane and tail with black points. A true Appaloosa is actually a breed, not a color. There are different patterns: blanket- white blanket that typically starts around or behind withers with dark spots mostly over the hips, snowflake - solid with white spots over hips, and leopard - which is white with dark spots over all the coat. Appaloosa - a breed of horse with spots, any color mixed with white. yearling - male or female horse one to two years old. weanling - a young horse that has just been weaned from their mother (usually 6 months or a little older). stallion - adult, male horse that is able to produce offspring. shelt or shelty - a Shetland pony. School Horse/Pony- A horse owned by a riding academy. pony - equine 14.2 hh or less (58 inches, 1.47 metres). The word being derived from the latin for 'light horse'. palfrey - a smooth gaited type, a riding horse, often used incorrectly to mean a woman's horse, but in fact, was ridden by knights and ladies and instead refers to the light build of the riding horses body. nag - A rude term used to describe old horses, 'ugly' horses (but beauty is only skin deep) or skinny, sickly horses. According to BLM, though, a mustang is an unclaimed, unbranded, free-roaming horse. mustang - a feral horse found in the western plains of North America. mare - adult female horse. jenny - a female donkey. horse - adult equine of either sex over 14.2 hh (58 inches, 1.47 m). 10 cm). One hand is equal to 4 inches (appox. Hand - a unit of measuring used frequently to measure a horses height. hackney - a specific breed of flashy, elegant driving pony. I'm going out on a hack.". eg. Generally used only by English-style riders. Not a trail ride or schooling ride. hack - A horseback ride taken for the purpose of pleasure, either for horse or rider. green - a term used to describe an inexperienced horse. god dog - how the Apaches referred to horses. gelding - a castrated male horse of any age. garron - small and disdained horse. foal - infant horse of either sex. filly - female horse from birth till the age of 4. draught horse - heavy, muscular beast of burden. destrier - a heavy, strong medieval war horse not to be confused with a charger or palfrey. colt - an unaltered male horse from birth till the age of 4. cob - any horse of a short-legged, stout variety, with short legs, and a compact body, neck and back. Charger - a medieval war horse of lighter build not to be confused with a destrier. Brumby - a wild or untrained Australian horse. Bronco - a wild, untamed horse, typically used in reference to the American mustang. Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi). Plains Zebra (Equus quagga). Hartmann's Mountain Zebra (Equus hartmannae). Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra). Kiang (Equus kiang). Onager (Equus hemionus). Wild Ass (Equus africanus). Domesticated Donkey (Equus asinus). Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Tarpan (Equus ferus ferus) (extinct). Wild Horse (Equus ferus)
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