Messara horse
{{Short description|Breed of horse}}
{{Infobox horse
|name= Messara
|image= Cheval crétois profil.jpg
|image_caption= Young Cretan horse at Georgioupoli, Grillos stables
|features =
|altname= Cretan Horse
|nickname=
|country= Crete
|group1=
|std1=
}}
The Messara (also known as Cretan horseJasper Nissen: Enzyklopädie der Pferderassen. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 2003, {{ISBN|3-440-09723-4}} (German)) is a light riding and draft horse found on the island of Crete off the coast of Greece.
History
The native mountain-type Messara pony has been on the Island of Crete for at least 1000 years. The name comes from the Messara Plain where they are usually found. Cretan horses were developed by crossing native and Arabian breeds imported during the Ottoman occupation in the 17th century.Hendricks, Bonnie. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press, 1996, p. 283. {{ISBN|0-8061-2753-8}} It is now a rare breed with only around 100 representatives. Since 1994 there is a studbook and a conservation programme has been started.{{Cite web |url=http://efabis.tzv.fal.de/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=-1,reportsreport8a_50008410 |title=Messara description in the European Farm Animal Biodiversity Information System |access-date=2009-06-25 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217225505/http://efabis.tzv.fal.de/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=-1,reportsreport8a_50008410 |archive-date=2012-12-17 |url-status=dead }}
Characteristics
The main coat colours found in the Messara are bay, brown (a variation of bay), black and gray. They usually stand between {{hands|12.2|and|14}} high. They retain some characteristics of their Arabian ancestors. Most Messara ponies have a natural pacing gait that is easy and comfortable to ride. They are very good at walking on rocky ground and uneven surfaces.