Garrano Pony
Both the Garrano Pony and the more famous Sorraia are ancient breeds that have descended from the same stock and have developed along different lines according to their habitat. The Sorraia lives in Spain, mostly between the rivers Sor and Raia, and the Garrano pony lives in neighboring Portugal. The Garrano, or Minho, as the breed is sometimes called, mainly lives in the fertile regions of Minho and Tras os Montes, and has probably been more subjected to outside infusions of blood than the Sorraia.
There are similarities between primitive cave paintings of the Paleolithic era and the Garrano, which indicates the breed's antiquity, and it is generally considered that the Garrano is one of the ancestors of both the Andalusian and the little-heard Galician. In recent years, the Garrano has had fairly frequent infusions of Arab blood, a procedure implemented by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture. This has had the effect of greatly refining the breed, but losing some of its primitive features.
The Garrano ponies are strong and hardy, with a quiet temperament. They have been used for riding, and for light farm work, and were widely employed in the past for pack purposes. They are very sure footed and can travel easily and smoothly over the difficult, steep and densely wooded terrain of their homeland and, as such, perform much better in this area than a motorized vehicle. They were also used by the military for pack purposes and are very useful driving horses in harness. For their size, they have a remarkable turn of speed and are used for competing in the traditional trotting races of the region.
In appearance, the Garrano now an attractive pony of some quality, bearing
some Arab-type traits. This is especially seen in the head, which is fine,
pretty, and often has a concave profile, although it can also sometimes be
slightly heavy. They tend to have small ears, lively large eyes, and a ling
neck set to a straight shoulder. The back is short and compact, with sloping
muscular quarters, and a low-set tail. They are deep and wide through the
chest, and have short, strong legs with hard, broad joints, and well-formed
hard hooves. They are mostly bay or chestnut in color, and stand at between
10hh and 14 hh.