Rhodian Pony Rhodes

Sometimes when you go on vacation, either for lack of time or for the lack of knowledge of the place you see, many aspects and activities that an island can offer are overlooked.

In this regard, we want you to discover also a side of the Rhodes island which is still not very well known today but which is part of the cultural background of this beautiful piece of land.

Today we will dedicate ourselves to the "miniature horses of Rhodes" or also called Rhodian Pony. It is a species of animals now endangered which, thanks to the Phaethon association https://www.facebook.com/RhodesHorses/ with a group of young volunteers, ensures their survival and takes care of the small horses.

The association born in 2001 is located in Archangelos in the north-east part of the island of Rhodes where you can meet these wonderful specimens, go out on horseback or help volunteers take care of the four-legged guests. Pony seminars and conferences are also organized to help people become aware of the importance of safeguarding local flora and fauna.

With love and devotion to its roots, the non-profit Phaethon Association takes care of maintaining the stables, keeping a record of the lineage and health of this particular breed in collaboration also with personnel specialized in this sector.

Although they are classified as ponies, in reality they do not have the typical characteristics of the species apart from the small size. The main reason that makes them as special as the miniature horses of Skyros is that they are the smallest existing on our planet and not by the hand of man but by their natural evolution. The coat is usually red or dark brown and some have white marks on the forehead. They are part of the subspecies Equus Caballus Caballus. Their birth is attributed to 54 million years, just bigger than a dog (about 110 cm) with large eyes and medium-sized ears, a dense mane, a tail that reaches almost to the ground, a strong musculature and equipped with great intelligence. They were widespread in the Greek hinterland, on the islands up to Asia Minor, the Caspian Sea and in North Africa. A species with a meek character, endowed with a lot of physical endurance and low nutritional needs. They were mainly used to assist man in transport, plowing the fields and, up to two hundred years ago, every family on the Rhodes island had at least one of these beautiful and very useful animals. To date, few specimens remain and the volunteers of the Phaethon association have become real custodians of this small quadruped so curious and part of the history of Greece.

Here is a nice alternative on the things to see in Rhodes, which can certainly make you spend a different day in contact with nature and with a piece of history that this island exudes from wherever you go.

I recommend if you have time to jump, in addition to helping the Phaethon Association you can discover places that are part of the local culture and if you are in the company of your children make them have a unique experience.