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Home , Feral horse, Grullo, Heck cattle, Konik, Lutz Heck, Tadeusz Vetulani

fighting during breeding season at Oostervaardersplassen in the . Photo by Mark Hamblin/Wild Wonders of Europe. Image courtesy Rewilding Europe.

20 • www.horsesandpeople.com.au A World OF

Return To The Wild

WORDS BY Alex Mullarky

Johann Friedrich Gmelin, the German What was the ? More than a century ago, the last wild naturalist, was the first to give a Tarpan was lost. ferus ferus or detailed description of the Tarpan in The Tarpan was not a breed in his 1774 book ‘Travels through ’. the Eurasian wild , commonly the sense of the Arabian or the known as the Tarpan, once roamed He described a small, fast, mouse- , but a distinct subspecies coloured horse. In 1841, an engraving in great herds across Europe but, by of horse. Equus ferus caballus, the the end of the 19th Century, they had was made of the Tarpan by an artist domesticated horse, is a subspecies called Borisov. The image is believed become extinct. After centuries of of Equus ferus, the . The hunting, the last wild died in an to depict a young colt and is the only Tarpan, scientific name Equus ferus known illustration of the species. attempt to evade capture. Some years ferus, was another subspecies, along later, the last captive Tarpan passed with the extant Equus ferus prsewalskii, At one point in history, the Tarpan away and the species passed into the Przewalski’s horse. The common history. could be found grazing the fields and name ‘Tarpan’ has its roots in a Turkic meadows of southern and language, simply meaning ‘wild horse’ at one extreme, or thundering Yet today, the name Tarpan is more or, occasionally, indicating a horse. commonly heard than might be across the steppe through to central Russia at the other. However, expected of a long-extinct horse. In 440BC, Herodotus reported herds After decades of obscurity, the centuries of interbreeding with of wild white horses grazing around domestic and feral horses, combined identity of the Tarpan was reclaimed the shores of a lake roughly in the by one group after another as with the popularity of hunting it for its region of modern . Even before meat, led to Tarpan numbers dwindling attempts were made to resurrect this ancient record was created, cave this ancient species. Can these until only a few remained. On the paintings depicted dun horses as far cusp of the 20th Century, the last wild attempts to ‘breed back’ the wild back as 17,300 years ago, when the horse be rightfully called Tarpan? Tarpan was killed. Within years the last paintings at in France are living Tarpan, captive in a Russian zoo, Can the Tarpan really be reborn from believed to have been made. ? followed.

Horses and People Magazine • March 2016 • 21 22 • www.horsesandpeople.com.au A World OF HORSES

What did the Tarpan look like?

There is only one existing photo of a Tarpan, taken at the Moscow Zoo in 1884. However, there is much debate about whether this horse was a true Tarpan, part-bred or just a . It ‘’ is the depicts an 18-year-old gelding captured principle of recreating extinct on the Zagradovsk steppe many years earlier. The long is not believed by means of artificial to be characteristic of the Tarpan type, selection; either by breeding but indicative of a domesticated horse’s The Heck Horse the descendants of a species influence in this individual’s breeding. Perhaps the most famous attempt to to attempt to recreate it Most accounts agree the Tarpan was a breed-back the Tarpan was undertaken genetically or by breeding small, stocky horse with a short mane, by German brothers Heinz and . small ears and a dorsal stripe. The most Directors of two of ’s largest similar species to create a common coat colours were , dun, zoos. The brothers took a particular physical resemblance to the and brown. Some sources describe interest in breeding-back, attempting to extinct . striped legs, while others say the Tarpan recreate the (Europe’s extinct had a light-coloured belly. Their hooves wild ox), as well as the Tarpan. Their were dark and very tough. efforts produced Heck and the Heck Horse, both of which survive to Mouse dun or grulla colouration, no • white markings are allowed, The resurrection of the Tarpan this day. As the Nazi regime came to power, the work of the Heck brothers Black dorsal stripe, Strangely enough, extinction was not was favoured as it aligned with the Nazi • the end for the Tarpan. It is a mistake ideology of eugenics; are sometimes referred to as Aryan Cattle. Black markings on the lower leg, that humanity seems to have been • inside the knee and on the lower determined to rectify, one way or another. When the Heck brothers took it upon hock, themselves to resurrect Europe’s wild ‘Breeding back’ is the principle of Dark hooves, recreating extinct animals by means of horse, they selected horses with a • artificial selection; either by breeding physical resemblance to the few accounts Two-toned mane - flaxen with darker the descendants of a species to attempt and visual records of the Tarpan. Their • hair in the centre, and to recreate it genetically or by breeding ‘new ’ were created from a mix similar species to create a physical of Icelandic horses, Przewalski’s horses, Height of 12.2-13.2hh. resemblance to the extinct animal. It Dülmen , Gotland ponies and • seemed the Tarpan’s genes had vanished, Polish . The horses they created The Heck Horse may not be the Tarpan although the Polish Konik may be the are often a light shade of black dun with reborn in a genetic sense, but it is clear exception, so breeders attempted to the characteristic dorsal stripe and no it has revived interest in the ancestor of recreate the Tarpan by breeding for its white markings. Proportionally, they are the domestic horse and has gained much appearance and character as they had roughly 12.2-13.2hh; some have upright appreciation as a breed in its own right. been historically recorded. manes, others falling manes.

The Hecks’ breeding program was Several notable attempts over the TOP: The last Tarpan to die in decades have led to the creation of effectively brought to an end by the Second World War, but it was not the captivity. Photo courtesy Moscow entirely new breeds which, although Zoo, Russia, 1884. they may not be the Tarpan itself, share end for the Heck Horse. A herd was many of its characteristic toughness and returned to the Białowieża Forest, from FAR LEFT: Painting of a horse at Lascaux, France, believed to be primitive beauty. which some of the Koniks had been taken and survive there still. From the 17,300 years old, with the typical 1950’s onwards, Heck Horses were dun colouring of primitive horse types, like the Tarpan. exported to the , where the North American Tarpan Association was TOP LEFT: Professor Vetulani eventually set up, although it is unclear if (centre) with stablehand K. Kozak it is still active. The Tarpan studbook was on his left and veterinarian Dr created by Ellen Thrall in 1975 and the Wiaczesław Demiaszkiewicz on his breed standard dictates: right. Photo by Prof. Vetulani. Image courtesy Zygmunt Vetulani.

BOTTOM LEFT: A group of Konik colts eating willow branches in Białowieża. Photo by Prof. Vetulani’s assistant, Dr Witold Folejewski. Image courtesy Zygmunt Vetulani.

Horses and People Magazine • March 2016 • 23 Hegardt’s Horse or Stroebel’s Horse

Perhaps the most unusual attempt to breed-back the Tarpan was begun by Harry Hegardt of Oregon, United States of America, in the 1960’s. Hegardt drew from the horses available to him to create his herd of new Tarpans: feral , descended from the first horses brought to the by the Spanish centuries before. Believing these horses must have descended from Tarpans at some point in their history, Hegardt bred for the appearance of the Tarpan, selecting horses for their grullo coats, , round bellies and thick heads, all of which combined to create his new Tarpan - Hegardt’s Horse.

When Hegardt passed away in 1990, his herd was taken over by Lenette and Gordon Stroebel, who had been past his unique herd for years. They managed the herd for many years from their ranch, Genesis Equines. More than two decades later, considering the difficulties facing the horses when he became too infirm to look after them, Gordon Stroebel decided the time had come to find them a new caretaker. So, with the help of a rescue organisation, Equine Outreach, more than 50 horses were re-homed together to Sue Ramsay of Oregon.

24 • www.horsesandpeople.com.au LEFT: Konik horses on the grass A World plains of Oostervaardersplassen in OF HORSES the Netherlands. Photo by Mark Hamblin/Wild Wonders of Europe. Image courtesy Rewilding Europe.

FAR LEFT: Young people performing an acrobatic show at the Sierakow State Stud as part of their European tour. Photo by Patrycja Wojciechowska.

BELOW: Trap (Sire: Palasz, Dam: Trzmielina), a from the National Park in Zwierzyniec. Photo by Patrycja Wojciechowska.

Hegardt’s or Stroebel’s Horse is a During the First World War, the hardiness Vetulani died in 1952, but for the Konik unique, sturdy horse with many of the of the Panje Horses recommended them breed it was only the beginning. The characteristics that we have come to for use as transport by the German and studbook recognises Konik Horses of associate with the tarpan, although we Russian militaries. Some years after the both a stockier, more primitive type, will never know what it truly looked like. war, these horses attracted the interest and a finer type with a smaller head and It is not a recreated Tarpan, but that does of the biologist Tadeusz Vetulani, who more defined withers; most Konik Polski not diminish its value as a breed in its is credited with coining the name Konik will fall between the two. The desired own right or as a fascinating look into the for the breed, from the Polish word ‘koń’, height is between 130-140cm, with an mechanics of de-extinction. meaning horse. Thanks to Vetulani, public abundant mane and tail. Today, the Konik interest in this small horse began to grow is used for pleasure riding, farming and and a number of studs were set up to light transport, and has also found less The Polish Konik preserve the type. Vetulani conducted conventional uses in equine-assisted research into the Tarpan and he put therapy and, perhaps most interestingly, The Konik is not an example of breeding- forward the theory of their being two rewilding. back in the same sense as the Heck types - the forest Tarpan and the steppe Horse, but the breed has deep historical Tarpan. ties to the Tarpan. According to the Return to the wild Konik Polski studbook, the “Konik Polski Further to his research, Vetulani horse is a small, native, primitive breed Rewilding Europe is an organisation introduced a number of Koniks to the descending directly from the extinct wild dedicated to repopulating Europe with Białowieża Forest, in the hope these Tarpan horse, which inhabited the steppe wild animals and is responsible for the surroundings would draw out their and forest-steppe zones of Eastern return to the wild of numerous herds inherent wild characteristics. However, and Middle-Eastern Europe”. One story, of horses across the continent. The his experiment was effectively brought perhaps legend, tells of ’s last wild Konik is one of the breeds considered to an end in February 1940 when the Tarpans being given to farmers in the ‘rewildable’, most suited to “Free ranging… Heck brothers stole 33 of the best Konik Biłgoraj region, which then mixed with In the lowland areas of Northern [and] specimens in the Białowieża reserve and their domestic stock and created what ”. Their rewilding plan took them to Germany to contribute to was then known as the Panje Horse. recognises “These new wild horses their own breeding-back project. When are not necessarily identical to the the war ended, Vetulani was able to extinct European wild horse, but are return only a handful of horses to the very capable of surviving without help forest, and after an intensive restoration and regaining their lost role in Europe’s program, the herd was re-established. ”.

Horses and People Magazine • March 2016 • 25 26 • www.horsesandpeople.com.au A World OF HORSES

The Tarpan is not the only extinct species that scientists and interested parties have attempted to bring back

Once horses have been rewilded, from the dead... What these “Breed standards are of no further use… stories have in common is The new wild horses should not be these species were driven to considered as belonging to a certain extinction by humans, just like breed”. The Konik has been reintroduced Why can’t we let the Tarpan lie? in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains, the Tarpan. Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands The Tarpan is not the only extinct species and the Fens of Cambridgeshire, , that scientists and interested parties among other places. have attempted to bring back from the We will never know what the Tarpan dead. The aurochs, the lost wild cattle of Wouter Helmer of Rewilding Europe truly looked like, how it behaved, where Europe, were the subject of another Heck explained the reasoning behind their it liked to roam, or how it interacted with brothers’ restoration attempt, and the actions. “With currently millions of people and domestic horses. However, quagga, a subspecies of , was bred hectares of abandoned landscapes in in the attempt to recreate it, we have back by a group in South Africa in order Europe - abandoned by both people at the very least stumbled upon some to fill the gap in the that it left and their - there is a unique of the hardiest, most well-rounded and behind. opportunity to rewild those landscapes, adaptable horses in the world. These to start based economies, but horses have a vital role to play in the What these stories have in common is also to explore the rewilding of large rewilding of our planet. these species were driven to extinction herbivores as key species in these large by humans, just like the Tarpan. By ecosystems… The fact the Konik, by narrowing their range and hunting many people, is seen as the descendant References them to the edge of existence, human of the Tarpan makes it easier to rewild expansion made it impossible for these History Book IV, Herodotus this breed”. In fact, the Konik has “Proven • creatures to survive. While other species, to be very well adapted to natural such as Przewalski’s horse, have been breedingback.blogspot.co.at conditions with high survival rates under • caught at the crucial moment and difficult circumstances”. brought back from the brink, in the • pzhk.pl/en case of the aurochs, the quagga and the History, then, has come full circle on the Tarpan, we were too late. amu.edu.pl/~vetulani/Tadeusz Konik: from ancient wild ancestors flying • across the steppe and winding through Attempts to return the dinosaurs, the the primeval forests of Europe, to • heckhorses.blogspot.com.au mammoth and the dire wolf from at the of humankind extinction appear to stem more from and millennia of cooperation, they are • ‘Rewilding Horses in Europe’, curiosity but, in the case of these returned to the wild once more. They Rewilding Europe, 2014 recently-lost , guilt is perhaps may not be the Tarpan reborn, but they the driving force. It is the fear that are its descendants; spiritually, if not certain animals will never be seen by Acknowledgments genetically. our descendants and leave a critical hole in their ecosystems that prompts This article could not have been written conservation efforts today, and it is that without the generous support of Patrycja FAR LEFT: Konik . Photo by Wojciechowska of the Polish Horse Patrycja Wojciechowska. same sense of something missing which we feel in regard to extinct animals, Breeders Association, Wouter Helmer of TOP LEFT: A demonstration of which instigates rewilding and breeding- Rewilding Europe, Joan Steelhammer of how Koniks can be used; in this back projects. Equine Outreach (www.equineoutreach. case, pulling logs. Photo by Patrycja com), Linda L. Martin (www.llmartin.com) Wojciechowska. and the Dixie Meadows Herd of North BOTTOM LEFT: Heck Horses, or American Heck Tarpan Horses. North American Tarpans, at Dixie Meadows Farm. Photo by Linda L. Martin.

LEFT: Uhlans or Polish light cavalry who ride with lances at the Sierakow State Stud. Photo by Patrycja Wojciechowska.

Horses and People Magazine • March 2016 • 27