Race to save tiny horses that pulled Achilles’ chariot
THEY are one of the world’s oldest – and rarest – breeds of horse, thought to have pulled the chariot of Greek hero Achilles as he waged war on Troy.
But the tiny Skyrian horse is now facing extinction – and one devoted Scots owner is determined to save the breed. Changes in farming methods on their native Greek island of Skyros, as well as interbreeding with donkeys, mean only about 250 are left.
Amanda Bergen, 46, from Edinburgh, has six and is working with an owner in France to create two new bloodlines.
Mrs Bergen, a former Royal Veterinary Corps groom, said: ‘We may not be able to save the breed but I can die knowing I’ve tried. They are unlike other horses – they share no DNA with the domesticated horse.’ Mrs Bergen’s involvement began when she viewed a Shetland pony for sale two years ago and was asked to take four-year-old Skyrian Adara instead.
Standing around 3.5ft tall, Skyrian horses are friendly and inquisitive. They were historically harnessed threeabreast to pull chariots and threshing machines and are widely believed to feature on a frieze in Athens’ Parthenon temple. The remaining ponies are scattered between owners in Greece, France, and Scotland. The Scottish Skyrian Horse society was founded ten years ago and there are now 37 of the horses in Scotland.
Mrs Bergen owns a string of Skyrian mares and the first foal to be born in Scotland. Her daughter, Kayleigh, helps look after the herd.
As well as Adara, she cares for Ioli, 16, Anastasia, 14, Bambouras, 11, Bakiri,
12, and Athena, 2.
Mrs Bergen said: ‘They really look like the horses in the Parthenon. Would they be brave enough to go to war? Absolutely. They can be very opinionated if they don’t want to do something and are very strong.’