◗ FEATURE REPRINTED FROM THE EQUINE JOURNAL Endangered Breeds: The Russ by Victoria Tollman, Equus Survival Trust

PHOTO: © PERNILLA HAEGG Gotland stallion, Swedish Champion.

ave you ever wished for the perfect pony? est pony, that, like so many European breeds, are Not too big, not too small. Something safe thought to be descendants of the now extinct Hfor grandma or little Susie because it’s not . Like many wild types, the Gotland in the nature of the breed to kick or bite? One that Russ was originally a source of food, but archeolog- PHOTO: LESLIE BEBENSEE Gotlands come in many solid colors. you could dress up with balloons and flags for the ical evidence tells us the breed was eventually kept 4th of July Parade without the pony taking off like semiferal for work as well. a scared rabbit for places unknown, yet one who To the locals on Gotland, the pony is known as could turn around the next weekend and willingly the Russ, a corruption of “hross” – a Swedish Old give you its heart and soul competing in a com- Norse word for horse. They are also called skogs- bined event? baggar by the Gotlanders, which translates to “for- Search no more. You’ve found the Gotland est rams” or “little horse of the woods.” Russ. They are, according to long-time breed stew- The oldest known written references to the ard Leslie Bebensee, “the best little pony on the Gotlands come in the 13th century from the planet!” Skånelagen, a legal code of the times that men- tions the wild . Origins and History In the early 1800s, the Russ ponies numbered Gotland roots go deep. Whether the ancestral around 12,000 and were in common use by the stock came across the land bridge 10,000 years ago farmers as draft and pack animals. There were also from America or whether they were brought in free roaming herds in the forests. Often left to for- much later by boat when Scandinavians began age for themselves, the harsh winters assured the using remains a mystery. But evidence sug- breed would remain tough and savvy. As the 19th gests the origin of this tough pony breed reaches Century progressed, the Gotlands were much PHOTO: LESLIE BEBENSEE back into the Stone Age of the Baltic Islands off the sought after as working animals, particularly in the Gotlands are good jumpers. coast of . Gotlands were and still are a for- mines, and were heavily exported to England,

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Germany, and Belgium. appeared to be a positive beginning The culture and land of Gotland leading to the formation of a registry began to change and soon the forest in the 1960s, by the 1980s the breed became crisscrossed with fences as teetered on disappearing here. more land was plowed under and culti- A tragic combination of human cir- vated. Foraging became scarce and as a cumstances had left only a precious result the ponies began invading the handful. In 1989 the remnants of the farmlands for food. By the end of the last breeding herd were literally at 19th century and with the coming of death’s door. An important breeder the industrial age, the remaining who had a Gotland riding program for ponies were viewed more as pests the handicapped had passed away than the useful partners they had without a plan. In those days DNA and been. micro-chipping were not available and By the 1900s, numbers had there were no brands, tattoos or other dropped to an all-time critical low of identifying marks. Identification of 150 ponies. A few dedicated locals which ponies were which became an attempted to preserve the breed by obstacle that made the ponies tough engaging the help of the Gotland to sell as they were nearly all the same Agricultural Society who managed to color with no white markings. The generate a small amount of interest in heirs, having no interest in the ponies, the breed by holding summer fairs. As sent some 25 to auction. Some met a result, a few stud farms sprang up their demise as pet food. Only a pre- and breeders were encouraged. cious few were salvaged. PHOTO: LESLIE BEBENSEE But the promise of growth was short lived. Gotlands are fun to drive and can be serious To complicate matters, the registry had also World War I brought a new threat. Meat was scarce competitors. been the responsibility of the deceased breeder, and locals were poaching the ponies for food. With and with her demise, so too went the registry, leav- only 30 broodmares left at one point, the breed ing a number of ponies and breeders in confusion. teetered on extinction. 1950s to bolster the genetic diversity. With no means to register new foals or record Again the cry for help went out and the Gotland Likely the ancestral color was similar to the sales or the transfer of ponies, the registry stalled. Agricultural Society intervened. Together with a Tarpan, but today Gotlands come in any color from The Gotland breed suffered a great loss into few local farmers they created a 200-acre enclosure black to . Dun and are most com- obscurity as some breeders gave up and their that still exists today and serves as their home. mon, but the breed standard does not allow albi- ponies were absorbed anonymously into the gen- Into its borders were turned out three Gotlands nos, roans or piebalds. White markings are limited eral equine public. salvaged from a failing stud farm; five more ponies to an occasional sock or facial marking, but typical- A man named Jack Jungroth who lived in a con- were added from capture off the nearby moor, and ly ponies are solid. dominium in California became the unlikely savior together these eight ponies formed the foundation While most modern breeds reflect a genetic of one of two remaining Gotland Russ stallions. stock of the Lojsta Hed who are maintained in the conglomeration of crosses, the Gotland is one of Although he never actually saw the stallion during moor enclosure – a fitting location as it is only a the few breeds identifiable by blood type – i.e., the his tenure as temporary owner, he took it upon short distance away from the archeological finds Gotland can be identified solely on the basis of its himself to buy the stallion and to bravely hold the that authenticated the ponies’ place in the history blood because it has a distinct “marker” according remnants of the registry together while more long of Gotland. to Dr. Gus Cothran, a world renowned equine term efforts were put in place for the failing breed. General and Unique geneticist at Texas A&M University. The Gotland As a result of press releases and articles cover- Breed Characteristics Russ ponies tested in the USA also have a genetic ing the story, a couple of the ponies were recov- Gotlands are a strong, primitive looking pony, diversity greater than the average Thoroughbred, ered, but most were never found. Eight were gath- still bearing a striking resemblance to the extinct an amazing fact given that there are so few ered and brought to Kentucky to begin a single- . They are of medium size, 11 to 13 hands Gotlands in America. minded rescue by Leslie Bebensee, who spear- (with the average height around 12.2) and a very headed the effort that has secured a tentatively sturdy build. As such, they can comfortably carry Temperament and Personality slow but successful growth in America. adults up to 160 pounds for pleasure or competi- Gotlands are a gentle, but lively, pony not easily Today, the global status of the is a tion, and this also makes for convenient training or excitable, and are, therefore, considered a steady, growing success story. Diligence and determina- problem solving on behalf of less experienced reliable mount with more of a common sense tion on behalf of the breeders has increased num- young riders. “let’s think-it-over” attitude before reacting. Their bers from near extinction less than 75 years ago to They have a typical pony head with a straight or disposition is more like the mentality an estimated 8,000 today. The largest concentra- dished profile, small ears, and huge, bright eyes. of a calm,even temperament. This makes a well- tion of Gotlands is in its homeland Sweden, with Necks are muscular, withers are pronounced, the trained Gotland a confidence builder for children the balance primarily in (200), back is long, and the croup sloped. Their hooves and novice riders. These same characteristics make (300-400) and America (175-200). While this may are strong and rarely require shoeing. Legs are also them trustworthy partners in competitions. sound encouraging, consider that the numbers for strong and enduring. The shoulder has an excel- the total Gotland Russ population are less than the lent lay and accounts for the breed’s excellent trot- Modern Usage average annual crop of Thoroughbreds in the USA. ting abilities. Movement in general should be easy Gotlands, like so many pony breeds, are versa- The point is further illustrated by the fact that the going, elastic and smooth. tile, hardy and long lived, and as such enjoy great foal crop in Sweden is approximately only 550 Overall, this is a pony sure of foot, thrifty, and success at a variety of disciplines. They are good Gotlands per year. This makes it clear that the extremely hardy. If properly kept, a Gotland is not jumpers and excellent trotters. In Sweden, breed is still in need of careful monitoring. prone to colic or lameness, and unlike most Gotlands are used for showing and pleasure riding Approximately 150 ponies in Gotland still run ponies, the Gotland rarely founders. Their muscu- and also for racing, where their steady, fast trotting free at the Lojsta Moor enclosure, with the benefit lar-skeletal system is more akin to a horse than a ability attracts the under-21 set for . of management by the breeders and Gotland pony. They are also long lived and can be produc- Praised as a safe child’s mount, this same pony Agricultural Society. The care includes supplemen- tive well into their late 20s and early 30s. readily competes in jumping, , competi- tal hay in the winter, seasonal hoof trims and Due to their remote location, Gotlands didn’t tive driving and trail riding, and can still work health checks. Every June they release the stallion receive a great deal of “improvement” like some of handily as a draft pony. As such their popularity as chosen for that year’s breeding program; every the more mainstream breeds did, however, it is an adult’s mount is increasing. November they have a roundup to wean the foals. worth noting that some significant influences did For those who appreciate the soundness, savvy, Presently there are almost 200 purebreds in occur during the 19th century at a time when the and heart of a Gotland, but prefer something North America. The Equus Survival Trust lists the breed population was dangerously low and was in taller, the Gotland sport-cross produces a mount Gotland Pony as At Risk. serious trouble of inbreeding. Notably, the intro- or driving partner averaging 14 hands and can be duction of the yellow dun coloring was primarily registered as a partbred in the registry here in About the author: a long time equine conserva- from the stallion Olle, a Gotland-Syrian Arabian America. tionist, Victoria Tollman is the Executive Director cross (1886) and the oriental stallion Khedivan of the Equus Survival Trust (www.Equus-Survival- who introduced the gray coloring. There was also Current Status – At Risk Trust.org) a conservation organization dedicated the introduction of two Welsh pony stallions in the The Gotland had a false start in the 1950s when to the educational support and promotion of it first reached American shores. Despite what endangered equine breeds.

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