There is a fascinating story behind this small breed of horse that is believed to be the oldest breed of horse in existence. In 1965, the horse known as the Caspian was discovered roaming wild in the remote Elborz Mountains in Northern Iran. On the shores of the Caspian Sea the breed known as the Royal Horse of Iran were and often are captured and slaughtered for food. In recent archaeological finds, the Caspian is believed to be the small horse that is depicted on walls of ancient Persian palaces pulling the golden chariots of King Darius who reigned 600 BC at the palace of Persepolis. Among 10,000 bones recently unearthed at the site of Hamadan , Iran, the Caspian bones have been proof that the beautiful little horses lived more than 5000 years ago. Some say there is evidence linking the area to the final resting place of Noah's Ark. Could it have been this breed of horse that disembarked from the ark of Noah?

There are 110 Caspian horses at Texana Farm in Hempstead, Texas.

"We call these exquisite animals "God's little horses." says Les Stevens, who along with his wife Anne, have opened the first Caspian Riding Academy. Truly a small horse, the Stevens are working to save the horses from extinction. The horses still in Iran are the foundation stock. In the United States since 1995, all Caspian bloodlines are now represented at Texana Farm. Dr. Gus Cothran of the University of Kentucky conducts the DNA and bloodtyping for parentage here in the United States. The Stevens imported 60 young Caspians horses about 5 years ago. Horses under two years of age were imported due to the strict quarantine restrictions placed on older horses that are of breeding age or already bred. With their growing herd of these magnificent creatures, Les and Anne have found them to be incredibly versatile.

A true children's horse, these 11-12 hand horses prove with their attitudes, real gentleness and athletic abilities. Caspians make a wonderful riding horse, english or western, hunter jumpers, cart horses and can be the backyard pet or compete favorably with larger breeds in the show ring. They have great stamina and can easily accommodate an adult in a 2-wheeled cart. Children can now enjoy the excitement of running poles, barrels and even roping off the backs of the Caspian. They range in color from deep bay to dappled gray and everything in between. The exception being there are no paints or appaloosas.

"We apologize for our passion." says Anne. "Everything we do in life revolves around our horses. We love the experimentation of combining strengths and the predictability of the foaling dates."

Les went on to say, "It's so rewarding to see children riding them. The Caspians are a link to history, a living bridge to 5000 years ago. I'm in awe of that."

Les is on the board of directors to BASE, (Biblical Artifact Search and Exploration) some of the people who were responsible for discovering Mt. Sinai and the original location of the crossing of the Red Sea. The BASE is now actively in search of Noah's Ark. With only 600 or so known Caspian horses in the world, the Stevens will continue to breed Caspians to ensure the continuous link to history as well as promoting the breed for the enjoyment of children.

Meghan Dietz, originally out of Buffalo NY, has been training the Caspians at Texana Farm for the last year and a half. Meghan teaches students to ride as well as training the horses to be handled and ridden. David Back, the general farm manager who also holds a masters in Equine Reproduction, over sees the breeding operation of the Caspians that is always live cover, and done in hand. David also trains the Caspians to work under harness. The Texana Farm website at www.caspianhorse.com goes into great detail about Louise Firouz, the woman who discovered the Caspian horse and still actively rallies for their preservation. The Caspian was believed to be extinct some 1300 years ago, and Louise Firouz has work diligently and tirelessly for the Caspian Horse. In the book titled Lost Mountains of Noah by Robert Cornuke and David Halbrook, you can follow in the search for the Ark and learn about the discovery of the Caspian horse.

Caspian horses are for sale at Texana Farm with prices starting at $1500. Also available are several show carts and wagons in sizes that would suit smaller horses. Les and Anne Stevens are members of the Houston Area Carriage Association (HACA), the International Caspian Society (ICS), and the Caspian Horse Society of America (CHSA). You can locate them in Hempstead, Texas, near Houston through their website at www.caspianhorse.com.

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