Royalty Horses

Modeled after the "Soulon" (above left), a Chinese horse of the T'Ang Dynasty 618 AD, today's Royalty registered Tiger Horses number among the most exotic in the breed.  They come in a variety of colors and coat patterns, including leopards, spotted blankets,  varnish roans and spotted roans. All are born with  strong middle gaits that nobody needs to teach them to perform.

These modern day versions of the ancient Tiger Horse are living proof that genes take millions of years to disappear.

The Royalty Tiger Horse
The Royal Tiger Horse is gaited and colorful. Tigre's Royalty Stud Book, accepts only those horses that fully qualify as having inherited one of the middle gaits, IE, diagonal, square or lateral and the presence of the Lp gene, IE striated hooves, mottled muzzles/genitalia and/or various body spot coat patterns. Foals born from two Royalty registered parents, automatically qualify as Royalty.

Pheno-type (what a horse looks like) must also be of Iberian or Soulon type.  Foals from one Royalty and one Heavenly, or other parent, will be evaluated for the appropriate registration and their ability to enhance the goals of Tigre.

The ideal for our gaited "Royalty" division, is one that exhibits an uphill style of movement, and a horse that will perform one or more of the smooth middle gaits naturally.  These horses are bred to excel in such disciplines as versatility classes, trail riding, and competitive  and distance riding events. Their gaits can be compared to many modern day gaited breeds, but with a straight way of going, and no exaggerated rotation of limb or lift. Royalty registered horses work naturally off their hindquarters, and demonstrate a ready willingness to move out in full middle gait, from a standing position.

In appearance, the original entry horse should show a typical Iberian profile, with a substantial and  naturally arched neck bending at the second vertebrae. The withers should be moderate to high, The shoulders sloping back but at the same angle as their pasterns. The back should be of moderate length. The strongest middle gaiters will have a low tail set but will not be penalized for a higher one. A good length of body is also desirable. The strongest middle gait will be the judging criteria in all Royalty cases. Legs and height of horses range in refinement, but Tiger Horses should always be clean boned with average sized hooves, usually displaying more heel than 3-gaited horses display, and should follow a direct line from the top of the pasterns to the ground. Pasterns  in gaited horses are often shorter and straighter than those of 3-gaited horses. The disposition of the Royal Tiger Horse should never be in question and should be sociable and friendly to humans.