The Pintabian horse is still known as a “rare” breed, with just over 300 horses being registered. If you desire colour, stamina and a trainable sensitive horse, then the Pintabian may be for you.

Pin-tay-bee-an is the correct pronunciation and as we start our description, it is important to note that the criteria that makes this a new breed of horse rather than just an entry in the colour registries.

As you already know, the Arabian does not have a spotted coat. In order to have a colour pattern, there was a tobiano pinto, 7 generations ago that was crossed with an Arab. The tobiano colour pattern is defined as non-symmetrical, with large irregular colour spots. As each generation produced this spotted Arab, it was mated back to a 100% pure Arab to gain back the Arabian bloodlines until the “Pintabian” was produced. Because the tobiano gene is dominate, genetics experts have known that is was possible to breed this pattern into an Arabian to produce a relatively “pure” strain of tobiano horses with over 99% pure Arabian blood.

To quickly determine the amount of Arabian blood, add the blood percent of the stallion to the percent of Arab blood in the mare and divide by two. This manipulation of blood factoring differentiates the Pintabian from the other coloured horse registries.

One parent must be of 100% Arabian blood and the other spotted horse to be of 99.2% or higher Arab bloodlines. This combination produces a Pintabian foal, coloured or not, in the IAHA/CAHR registries as a half-arab. The rule being that one parent must be 100% Arabian blood.

This chart may help you determine the percentage of Arabian blood.
1/2 Arabian=50% Arabian in blood
3/4 Arabian=75% Arabian in blood
7/8 Arabian=87.5% Arabian in blood
15/16 Arabian=96.75% Arabian in blood
63/64 Arabian=98.4735% Arabian in blood
127/128 Arabian=99.21875% Arabian in blood (results in a Pintabian)

When two Pintabians are crossed with each other, the resulting foal still carries over 99% Arabian blood. Pintabian foals without the desired tobiano markings are eligible for registration as breeding stock, as they are still over 99% Arabian. Purebred Arabians may be registered as outcross horses to allow for additional bloodlines.

There is no compromise for the wonderful Arabian horse. It has versatility, legendary lineage, and it is “poetry in motion”. The introduction of the Pintabian into the Arabian does not diminish the lineage but helps to enhance it. As we are sure that you know, the breeding, raising and training of any horse requires a lot of time, money and dedication. But when you see one of these beautiful Pintabians, you will know what we mean when we say that it has been worth it. The Pinto gene that was added to these high-spirited animals has cooled the sometimes-fiery temperament of the Arabian.

The resulting Pintabian foals come from selective breeding of the stallion and the mare. Both parents represent the best of the Arabian bloodlines. Pintabians are bred for their beauty, intelligence, disposition, stamina, and are very versatile. They have a dished head that is wide-set between large eyes, long arched neck, short back, level hip, and high tail carriage. The general height range is 14.2 to 15.2 and weigh between 900-100 pounds.

Is your interest peaked? Would you like to breed, or purchase a Pintabian? The rare Pintabian has taken many years to produce. As with all emerging breeds, it will take many more years until Pintabian becomes synonymous with other breeds as a common name. This breed needs time and dedicated horse breeders in order to attain the success it so richly deserves. The Pintabian horse is eligible for triple registry with CAHR/IAHA, CPHA/APAR/PHA, and the PHRI.

To obtain more information on the Pintabian, the registry publishes the “INK SPOT”. The registry is located at P.O. Box A, Karlstad, Minnesota, 56732. They do an excellent job on keeping registry records, or contact us at the Polar Pintabian & Brightbank Arabian Ranch in Stony Plain, Alberta. You can reach us at 780-968-2421, fax-780-963-1669, email spots@telusplanet.net