The Purosangue Orientale is an Italian horse breed that traces its origins back to 1864 when the desert-bred Arabians were brought to Sicily.
The PSO is known for its beauty, elegance, and athleticism, and if you are interested in learning more about this amazing breed, keep reading!
Purosangue Orientale Breed Info
Here are some of the key things you need to know about the Purosangue Orientale:
| Height (size) | 14.1 – 15.1 hand high |
| Colors | Bay, chestnut, gray |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Common Uses | n/a |
Purosangue Orientale Facts & Information (Breed Profile)
The origin of the Purosangue Orientale may be traced all the way back to Syria and Mesopotamia.
Beginning in 1864, the Italian government started sending envoys to Mesopotamia and Syria in order to acquire high-pedigree desert bred Arabian horses by purchasing them directly from Bedouin tribes.
The plan was a success, and many mares and stallions were transported to Sicily to the Royal Remount Station in Catania.
The PSO originally appeared in its modern form in the Kingdom of Italy on September 19, 1875, when Royal Decree No. 2690 established a specialized stud book for the breed.
In this stud book, it was stated that all horses whose origin could be confirmed to be pure had to be recorded with meticulous accuracy.
This was done so that the book could serve as a reliable reference for breeders in the process of selecting stallions and mares of pure blood.
However, the number of these horses is steadily decreasing nowadays.
To deal with this problem, the Government Stud, which is responsible for their breeding, has adopted a policy of crossing these horses with other types of Arabian horses.
However, this breeding practice is causing a dilution of the features and attributes that the original desert-bred strains of the Purosangue Orientale had.
The PSO is the oldest formally recognized Italian breed.
If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating breed, keep reading!
Alternative Names
“Oriental Purebred”
Temperament/Personality
Brave, sensible, easy going
Physical Characteristics
It is quite similar in appearance to an Arabian horse, although it is somewhat taller and has a more robust build.
Colors
Bay, chestnut, gray
Height (size)
14.1 – 15.1 hand high
Stallions
Average 14.5 hh
Mares
n/a
Weight
n/a
Blood Type
Warm
Common Uses
n/a
Health
n/a
Popular Traits
n/a
Feeding/Diet
n/a
Country of Origin
Italy
Ancestors
Desert-bred Arabian horses from Syria