Tack used by mounted police is largely similar to standard riding tack, with adaptations for police
use. Synthetic saddles are often favoured over those made of natural leather to reduce weight, important both
because of long riding hours and because police officers must carry numerous articles of personal equipment. One
dressage master has defined it as "returning the freedom of the horse while carrying the rider." Feral horse, a
horse living in the wild, but descended from once-domesticated ancestors. Most "wild" horses today are actually
feral. The only true wild (never domesticated) horse in the world today is the Przewalski's horse. When so marked,
riders must pass through the flags. In some areas, wilderness or undeveloped areas are difficult to find; in these
places, no more than 10% of the route can be on hard-surfaced roads. Predominant colors of the ponies are
chestnut, bay, and black and occasionally gray, black, white, cream colored, or pinto. This pony has a nicely
shaped head with a straight profile, large eyes, and small ears. The jaw is deep, tapering to a small muzzle. The
neck is short and well muscled; the back is short and straight. The earliest history of miniature horses was in the
1650 A.D. records at the Palace at Versailles where King Louis XIV (The Sun King) kept a vast Zoo, replete with
unusual animals, including tiny horses. In the mid 20th Century, many distinct small horse breeds emerged including
the Miniature Shetland Pony, the Miniature Toy Horse and the Midget Pony. These breeds formed this historical
foundation for the Miniature Horse breed.
| 