The Caspian Breed

An American, Louise Firouz opened a riding school for children in Iran. In 1965 she began searching the villages nearby to find horses suitable for her students. She was surprised to find a herd of small refined horses running wild in a area near the Caspian Sea.

She immediately realized that these were the same horses that were pictured on the ancient Persian palace of Persepolis. Although there were less than thirty, this was the lost breedstill alive, 1300 years after they were supposed to have vanished.

After capturing several of them, she returned to her riding school. The horses were quick to learn and soon became special friends and companions to the children. These remarkably kind and gentle horses were named Caspian, for the area in which they had been found.

Extensive research was conducted and the horses were tested by scientists to confirm that they were the "lost breed".

Louise was intent on saving them from extinction, and began carefully collecting and breeding only the purest Caspian horses. Political problems in Iran were threatening the survival of the breed, so Louise decided to get some of the horses out of Iran before they vanished again. In 1971 Prince Phillip wanted to help, he imported three Caspians from Iran into his stable at the Royal Palace in England.

Between 1971 and 1976, nine stallions and seventeen mares were imported to Europe.

These horses and their offspring had been saved from the tragedies that happened to most of the horses left behind in Iran. In 1993, Louise was able to get seven more Caspians into England.

With the thoughtful care and concern from their English owners, the Caspian horses flourished and their number increased. Some of these horses were exported to Australia and New Zealand to start breeding programs. Due to the unending dedication and love for the unique Caspian bleeders from Iran, and New Zealand, this marvelous horse became available for transport to the United States.

Between 1994 and 1998 many members of the CHSA have imported into the United States 105 of the finest Caspian horses available in the world, and have produced 58 foals of extraordinary quality.

Although the American Livestock Breeds conservancy has listed the Caspian horse as "Critical Rare Breed", this regal horse is slowly but surely being restored to it's former honored place among the noblest of horses.