Sarmatian horses

[Michael Kerr]

Hi Alanus,just another thing I found out about Ili Valley and Alans/Wusun. The Alaunt (even sounds like an Alan dog) which in ancient times was a shepherd dog originated there. Quite huge and was used to guard cattle and sheep and big enough to take on a solitary wolf. Losses of livestock to predators hit nomads hard. I think like horses dog breeds have changed but now found mainly in Caucusus Mountains where the some Alans settled. It was also known as Sarmatian Mastiff and was ancestor to modern Molossan breeds in Balkans. People try to say Molossans originated in Balkans and spread east but with the flow of people travelling the other way that seems unlikely. Apparantly Alans prized these dogs and breeding them was a healthy business. Also Taigans were another breed of retriever that when birds or rabbits were shot they would retrieve the kill and I suppose the arrow, usually from water (which would have been useful for any Roxolani hunting on the Danube Delta wetlands). I was surprised to find out that ancestor of the poodle originated in Central Asia and was a working retriever before the French started breeding them into the pampered pets they now are (actually I like poodles). The Afghan I couldn't believe although it doesn't look so menacing, when trained in packs were used to bring down wolves as well. They used their speed and worked together to nip at the hindquarters of a wolf till it tired. I know dogs have got nothing to do with topic but I have been trying to find out about hunting techniques on Steppes and shepherd dogs and hunting dogs were important features of nomad life. Like you mentioned in another thread Falconry was popular. Even modern day Kazaks have eagles that can apparently bring down wolves. Sorry again for digressing from original topic.

Thank you Moi any information would be useful. I noticed in the article I posted that one of the reasons they nearly died out was the British didn't like the look of them and thought there was something wrong with them genetically and replaced them with Australian horses which I assume would be Walers which some feel were descended from the Cape horse as all the original horses brought to Australia from England with the First Fleet died and it was more feasible to replace them with horses from South Africa than England.
Below is image of Kazakh and his eagle

[attachment=7049]kazakheagle2.jpg[/attachment]

Regards
Michael Kerr