American Tarpan Studbook Association
By Ellen J. Thrall, Registrar

THE Tarpan horse is a genetic recreation of the original wild horse type that was first domesticated around 3,000 B.C. in southern Russia. Scientists believe that the Tarpan was the wild ancestor of the Arabian horse.
The Tarpan horse is a small, sturdy equine, standing around 13 hands. All Tarpans are grulla dun in color, with a dark dorsal stripe and a semi-erect two-toned mane and tail. The Tarpan has perhaps the toughest hoofs found on any horse and never requires shoe¬ing.
Although small in stature, the Tar-pan is extremely strong and can easily carry a large adult rider. Their calm dispositions make them ideal mounts for children, and their physical stamina should eventually help them excel in endurance riding.
The modern Tarpan horse was bred back into existence by two German zoologists, Heinz and Lutz Heck, working at the Tierpark Hellabrunn (Munich Zoo) in the early 1930s. Dur¬ing the 1950s, six Tarpans were im¬ported into the United States from Germany. These six animals slowly reproduced, and in 1979 the 100th Tarpan foal was born in the United States. The present living population of Tarpans in the United States is around 50; perhaps 100 Tarpans are in the entire world, so they are truly one of the rarest horses in existence.
The American Tarpan Studbook As¬sociation was formed May 30, 1971, to locate and register all the Tarpans in the United States. Tarpan owners firmly believe that "Tarpans are ter¬rific."

Diane Fitzgerald showing the Tarpan stallion Kublai Khan.
Photo by Kent L. Benedict