Thank you for your inquiry and interest in our beloved Curly Horses.
Most Curlies are of medium size, but they can also be found in pony and draft sizes. They resemble the early-day Morgan in conformation. Since Curlies have been crossed with other breeds due to their own scarcity, they come in all colors, even with Appaloosa or Pinto markings.
Curlies have powerful hindquarters, a short back which indicates five lumbar vertebra, round barrel, and a V'd chest. Their legs are described as having a stout round-bone cannon, flat knees and strong hocks. They have small chestnuts and some do not have ergots, linking them to the prehistoric horse. Curly hooves are thick walled, tough, and may be nearly perfectly round. The head of the Curly horse features small, elliptical eyes, with a slant and a soft, calm appearance, with the slant adding not only a greater range of vision to the rear with a deceivingly sleepy look. Curlies are wide between the eyes and have short broad ears. Many Curlies tend to be alert with a proud carriage and move with impulsion. Many may move at a running walk.
Of course, the curly coat is what distinguishes it most from all other horse breeds. Curly horses have coats in varying degrees of curliness. The pattern of curls can be anywhere from the appearance of crushed velvet, to a perfect Marcel wave to extremely tight curls over the entire body. Their body coats shed out in the summer and become wavy or fairly straight.
More interesting properties of the Curly hair are found in scientific tests. The hair itself is round, rather than flat. Recent research has tested the hair of the Curly horse to prove its claimed hypoallergenic property. A statement was released by Germany's University of Aachen stating that Curly horses are hypoallergenic. They believe this to be caused by two linked traits: a different protein in the skin combined with decreased amount of proteins in general in the skin.
Curly horses are extremely calm and gentle. They delight in human companionship and respond to kindness and affection. The Curly horse is suited to a wide variety of disciplines and is not limited to only a few. They have excelled in Western Riding, Reining and Roping, Gymkhana, Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, General English riding, Gaited Pleasure, Driving, not to mention trail riding and endurance events.
See our current list of Curlies for Sale!
