With long manes shining and shimmering in the wind, the Oregon Wonder Horses had a magical look.
The mystical creatures, popular in circuses, slept with their long locks in plaits to prevent them becoming tangled.
Despite the story that the Oregon Wonder Horses had been captured from a legendary wild herd, they appear to have been bred from draft horses, possibly with Andalusian as well.
Mystique: With their long manes shinning and shimmering in the wind, the Oregon Wonder Horses have a magical look similar to that of children's toy My Little Pony
Famous: Due top the wonderful growth of hair, Linus has been facetiously dubbed the Sampson of equine
Growing: After they were bred primarily in captivity, the growth of their hair increased with each generation
The wonder horses were known for their rich chestnut color and more importantly, the amazing length of their manes and tails. Bred primarily in captivity, the growth of their hair increased with each generation.
Their excessively long manes and tails would have been a severe hindrance in the wild and needed a lot of care. One of the earliest long-maned horses was a Percheron named Prince Imperial who also laid claim to the world's longest mane. Prince Imperial originally belonged to Emperor Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte III (nephew of the famous Napoleon).
In 1869, a Marion livestock breeder named Jacob Howser traveled to France and bought the horse for $3,000. Howser exhibited Prince Imperial at fairs and horse shows around the USA and billed him as 'The Greatest Living Curiosity of This or Any Other Age.'
Tales of wonder: Circuses and sideshows often invented exotic stories about their exhibits
High maintenance: Excessively long manes and tails would have been a severe hindrance in the wild and needed a lot of care in a domestic situation
Prince Imperial was credited with having the longest forelock (at 7 ft) and longest mane (at 9 ft 10 inches) in the world, the mane later described as 14 ft 3 inches at its longest. He weighed 1840 pounds and is believed to have been one of the first Percherons imported into the USA. When not exhibited, his mane was braided and the braids looped to stop the hair dragging on the ground.
Prince Imperial died in 1888 but continued to be a curiosity and money-spinner for his owner. Professor AG Ward stuffed the horse so that Howser could continue to exhibit him.
Care: When not being exhibited, their man was braided and the braids looped to stop the hair dragging on the ground
Record: One of the earliest long-maned horses was a Percheron named Prince Imperial (not pictured) who also laid claim to the world's longest mane
The stuffed horse was kept in Howser's living room when not on tour and after Jacob Howser died, his sons continued to exhibited Prince Imperial. The tradition continued to the next generation with Jacob Howser's grandsons and great-grandson Jake Howser doing the same.
Great-gradson Jake Howser tried to end the tradition and instructed his sons to burn the stuffed horse when Jake died.
Display: Even after the horse died they were still considered so interesting that a taxidermy specimen was exhibited
Show stopper: Called Linus this wondrous horse was taken around fairs, show-grounds and museums for many years, showing off her glorious long mane.
The Wonder Horses of Oregon are remarkable for the great growth of hair in mane and tail, which for length and thickness is not equaled in the world
Luckily for sideshow historians, Prince Imperial was sold to another local family.
He was put on a wheeled platform and dragged through local parades. He later became the property of Theodore Myers, associate director of the Marion campus of Ohio State University and member of the board of the local historical society.
Myers kept Prince Imperial in a travelling case in his barn. Prince Imperial eventually became the property of the Marion County Historical Society and continues to enjoy a degree of posthumous fame as a static exhibit in Marion, Ohio. at the Heritage Hall.
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