CURLY-HAIRED HORSES A SPECIAL BREED

Mary Aldredge, left, and Mann hold the Curly while Aldredge's daughter, Savannah, prepares for a ride.

The Bashkir Curlies are best-known for their beautiful curly hair.

Aldredge and Savannah stand next to Goldilocks, a female Curly who is named appropriately for her golden locks.

Debbie Mann has had horses all her life, from the horse she had as a little girl to the nine horses she and her husband, Randy, own today. And there's no question in her mind what kind of horses she likes the best.

She calls them Curlies, but their actual breed name is Bashkir Curly. Mann says there is far more to these horses than their distinguished curls.

"They're so unique," she said. "There's no other horse like them. They're so calm and good natured."

Mary Aldredge of Jackson also loves Curlies. She houses one of the five Curlies in the barn owned by Mann and her husband. She and her husband, Patrick, stable the rest on their 11-acre farm, Big Cone.

Like Mann, she and her family has owned horses for a long time and when she first heard of the Bashkir Curly, she placed an ad in the paper, looking to buy.

Randy Mann, who loves to talk about Curlies, responded to the ad to do just that. Their families became friends, and when Aldredge bought some Curlies of her own, Randy wanted to breed his mares with Aldredge's stallion.

"We came together through Curlies," Debbie Mann said.

The stallion, Prince Charming T, was ideal for breeding. He's gaited, which means he's more smooth to ride, very gentle natured, and kid-broke. His hair is very kinky, and that is uncommon in the Curlies that Aldredge has seen.

"He's one of the oldest living Curly stallions and was one of the earliest to be registered, with the number 93," Aldredge said. Registered horses are more sought after horses and carry a higher price tag because they have to meet a higher criteria.

There are only about 2,500 registered Curlies in the United States and Prince Charming T's number proves he was one of the first.

The Curly's history is a bit mysterious. For years, equine historians have looked for the breed's roots and migrations. According to an recent article in Horse Illustrated, today's Bashkir Curly is considered both a Russian and an American breed. But this particular horse appears to be quite the world traveler.

Curlies have been traced to ancient China, Turkey and North Africa. Native American legends also tell of curly-coated horses.

They are distinguishable, as their name suggests, by their curly hair. Most of the hair on their entire bodies is curly, from their eyelashes to the hair in their nose.

The elegant, curly coat, varying from tight curls to brilliant waves, keeps the horse warm during winters, even helping the horse withstand freezing temperatures.

An interesting fact about Curlies is that they are hypoalergenic, which means that those who might normally be allergic to horses generally would not be allergic to Curlies.

In the summer the Curly can shed its thick locks in favor of a cooler summer coat, often opting to shed its mane and tail.

The horse has other exceptional attributes, as well: a steadfast love of people and an incredible intelligence.

Aldredge was looking for a horse that would be good for her 2-1/2-year-old daughter, Savannah, to ride, so she was especially attracted to Curlies.

"They seem to like humans better than they like horses," Aldredge said.

She also likes that Curlies are "good keepers;" you don't have to put horse shoes on them and you don't necessarily need a barn for them, just a wind break.

Training this breed of horse is much different than training a regular horse, Mann says.

"They're not like other horses," she said. "They hate repetition. That helps them learn really fast."

Mann has trained three Curly foals, who readily walk into a trailer, have their hooves trimmed and will easily accept a child on their back.

Both women say few people even know about these types of horses are looking to promote them.

"A lot of people are looking for a family horse," Aldredge said, "and a Curly would be perfect for them."

Neither can't say enough good things about Curlies.

"I love their personality," Mann said. "They're just so curious and people-oriented, although, of course I like their curls, too."