A magnificent animal, the American White possesses versatility and beauty, making it an ideal animal in a multitude of situations. The American White horse breed, also known as the American Albino, is a color breed, meaning it can include any horse breed that falls into its color standards. Therefore, the American White is extremely versatile and capable of accomplishing almost any task. Currently, the American White can be seen in both English and Western shows, in parades, endurance competitions, as well as a working animal.
Originally, the American Whites were organ breeding and weighed in at an average of 1,200 pounds and stood at fewer than 16.2 hands. Eventually, the American White came to include all horse breeds. In order to qualify as an American White, a horse MUST have a white coat, without any ivory in it. Additionally, the American White must have pink skin. Unlike other albino animals however, the American White is not required to have pink eyes and therefore all eye colors are accepted. All horse breeds, from ponies to draft horses are accepted, so long as the horse meets the color requirements.
Old King was born in 1908 and had pink skin and a white coat. A stocky animal he was intelligent, gentle and used for riding and parading. When Old King was bred to colored mares, it was found that 50% of the foals he sired had the same white coloring. In 1917, Old King was sold to Caleb and Hudson Thompson, who hoped to create a new breed of horse. Using selective breeding methods, they were successful. In 1936, Hudson dropped out of the business when Caleb married Ruth Hackenburg.
Together, they continued to breed the American Albino. The Thompson’s and their Albino horses became known internationally and they started a children’s riding troupe and eventually, the troupe was seen with various celebrities. In 1937, the Thompson’s started the American Albino Horse Club, or AAHC. The very first horse registered with the AAHC was the grandson of Old King, Snow Chief the second. After the death of her husband, Ruth was forced to sell the majority of her herd, except for a few animals and it should be noted that Ruth continued to maintain the registry under the name of the American Albino Association.
Additionally, it should be noted at this time, the American Cream Horse was added as a division of the AAA and so in the 1970’s the American Albino horse became known as the American White horse. Fortunately, the American White horse does not suffer many of the ailments that other albinos suffer from, such as blindness, deafness or insanity. However, due to their pale pink skin, they are prone to sunburn and this should be taken into consideration.