Could your horse come to represent its breed in an equine DNA chain being collected by two long riders intent on travelling the globe by horseback?
CuChullaine and Basha O'Reilly plan to circle the globe in a two-year ride covering what they call the equestrian equator. If they are successful in the logistically difficult expedition, they will become the first equestrians to do so.
The project has received samples from the following breeds thus far:
Appaloosa, BLM Mustang, Brumby, Buz-kasi, Camargue, Cossack Working Horse, Criollo, Exmoor, Fell Pony, Fjord, French Trotter, Jackmabadi, Kazakh, Lusitano, Marwari, Mongolian, Mule, Noriker, Paso Fino, Pinto, Poitou Donkey, Quarter Horse, Sable Cream Dun, Shetland, Spanish Barb, Tennessee Walking Horse, Thoroughbred, Waziri, Welsh Pony (Section A).
Samples have been promised for the following breeds: American Paint Horse, Missouri Foxtrotter, Rocky Mountain Horse, Mountain Pleasure Horse, Kentucky Mountain Horse, Marsh Tacky, Waler, Anglo Arab, Konik, Curly Mustang, Saddlebred, Silver Paint, Oldenburg, Trakehner, Welsh Cob, Dartmoor, Peruvian Paso, Caspian, Kurd, Turkoman, Spanish Mustang, Manga Larga, Wilbur Cruce Mustang, Andalusian, Zorse, Morgan, Dutch Warmblood, Azteca, Canadian Horse, Newfoundland Pony, Kaimanawa, New Zealand wild horse, Ponui, New Zealand wild donkey, Campolina, Brasilian Criollo, Black Pearl, Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina, Merens, Bardigiano, Breton Postier or Percheron, Tunisia, Spanish Trotter, Majorcan, Minorcan, Spanish Breton, Navarre Hack, Pottok, Asturian, Galician, Losino, Burguete, Caballo de las Retuertas, Marismeño, Spanish-Arabian, Catalonian Donkey.
As part of the ride, Basha is working with scientists and horse owners to collect hair samples from every known horse breed.
"This is an unprecedented global search for equine DNA because every breed of horse is a critical component of the project," says CuChullaine, who founded the Long Riders' Guild.
"We are calling on all horse-owners to become active participants. This is simple because it only requires checking on our website to see if their breed of horse has been registered.
"If not, then by sending in a few hairs from their horse's mane or tail, he becomes the global representative of that breed," he says. "And yes, five new horse breeds have already been identified, so by the conclusion of the ride we will have the most comprehensive breeds list ever known."
While the pair will be collecting hair samples from breeds encountered on their ride, they are keen for horse-owners world-wide to send in samples, thus including horses on continents not on the journey's route.
"The goal is to construct the first uninterrupted equine DNA chain," says CuChullaine, "thanks to an unprecedented international alliance of equestrian, cultural and scientific co-operation."
The pair say the equine DNA chain could ultimately help in unravelling the origins of the horse.
"Though the horse has lived alongside mankind for millennia, many of his mysteries are still unresolved, and because of a lack of modern academic evidence, equestrian concepts often end up being argued with more passion than proof," says CuChullaine.
"The global equine DNA project will offer a host of new answers in fields ranging from archaeology to zoology."
The couple's journey will cover 12,000 miles and cross 11 countries.
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