Audonian Sun horse
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| Country of origin |  Zaclaria |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Audonia |
| Use | Sporting horse |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Height |
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| Colour | Various
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| Distinguishing features | Riding horse bred for endurance; noted for 'metallic' coat of some individuals |
The Audonian Sun horse (Audonian:حصان الشمس), also known as the Sun horse, is a horse breed native to Audonia. They are known for their for speed and endurance, intelligence, and their shiny, metallic coat, which is where their name originates. Sun horses are adapted to severe climatic conditions and are thought to be one of the oldest existing horse breeds. There are currently about 20,000 Sun horses in the world, mostly in Zaclaria, although they are also found throughout Audonia.
Due to its natural athleticism, Sun horses can be a sport horse, good at dressage, show jumping, eventing, racing, and endurance riding. Sun horses are important figures in Audonian culture, being represented on stamps and
History
Sun horses are descendants of the Audonian horse, themselves descendants of the Orient horse. Approximately 3,000 years ago, native Audonians tribes began selectively breeding the horses, recording their pedigrees orally and using them for raiding. The precise ancestry is difficult to trace, however, because prior to about 1600 AD, horse breeds in the modern sense did not exist; rather, horses were identified by local strain or type.
Characteristics
The Audonian Sun horse is of medium size, usually standing some 144 to 160 cm at the withers, with a weight between 430 and 500 kg. Coat colors vary widely: the most frequent are bays (about 40%), duns (about 22%), blacks (about 12%) and chestnuts (about 11%); other colors include grey, cream and yellow. The coat often has a characteristic metallic sheen, which in duns may produce an unusual golden effect; it is sometimes claimed that this provided camouflage in the desert.
The Sun horse has a refined head with predominantly a straight or slightly convex profile, and long ears. It can also have almond-shaped or "hooded" eyes. The mane and tail are usually sparse. The long back is lightly muscled, and is coupled to a flat croup and long, upright neck. The Sun horse possess sloping shoulders and thin skin. The breed is tough and resilient, having adapted to the harshness of Audonia's desert lands, where horses must live without much food or water. This has also made the horses good for sport. The breed is known for its endurance, as shown in 1935 when a group of Audonian riders rode 5,000 km from Ashgabat to Moscow in 84 days, including a three-day crossing of 378 km (235 mi) of desert without water. The Sun horse is also known for its form and grace as a show jumper.
The quality of Sun horses are determined by the studbook manager. Depending on type, conformation, pedigree, quality of offspring and achievement in sport, the horses are designated as either Elite or Class I or Class II. There are usually 2 annual grading events in Zaclaria called the "International Sport Meeting and World Championship" where breeders present their best horses to a group of judges. At the World Championship, a group of judges evaluates the horses in age and gender categories as well as in various sport disciplines and a halter class.