Hairless Horses in History
by Annamaria Tadlock

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Blue Bell - "The Hairless Wonder"

This is from an old postcard. The text reads "The $25,000 Hairless Wonder, "Blue Bell". Unfortunately there is no date on it. I will try to find out when & where these pictures were taken. As you can see from the photo, she has no body hair as well as no mane or tail. This mare is obviously a draft type of horse.

Upper Hunter Courier, New South Wales, 1872, ran this under "Bidding for the Hairless Horse". Unfortunately it doesn't mention the breed of horse.

The hairless horse that has had greatness thrust upon him, is shortly to be exhibited by the same entrepreneur who "ran" Chang (the Chinese giant).

The vicissitudes through which the animal has passed during the past few weeks, since he was first introduced to public notice through the columns of this journal, are worthy of remark.

He was bought for the small sum of 10 shillings, the owner being ashamed of his looks, although as a hack he was worth considerably more.

£10 was then asked for him, with no bidders, but the different criticisms put him up in value, until he reached £20, at which price he was for sale a few days ago, when a telegram from Sydney "not to sell till communications were forwarded by post" took him out of the market.

The offer, made by the Sydney agent (which was accepted) would astonish some who look coldly on the unbefriended and hairless animal.

We cannot state the figure, but we may say that a share of him changed hands at the price of a good racehorse, and he is likely to be one of the wonders of the age.

Upper Hunter Courier, New South Wales, 1871, had the following article about a hairless horse (most likely this is the same horse that is mentioned above):

"This equine sensation is an established fact. We have been honoured by an interview, and must certainly say that it is one of the most remarkable freaks of nature we have ever met.

Its first appearance is provocative of genuine hearty laughter. The animal, which is well-known and not devoid of good points, is entirely destitute of mane, forelock or tail (as far as hair goes). Seen from behind it gives one the idea of a shapely rhinoceros.

Its belly is exactly like so much india-rubber, and the saddle - even when well secured by breastplate, crupper and girths - slips round after a very short time.

It would be curious to know whether the absence of capillary adornment dates from its birth, or is of later occurrence.

 

The Sharon Herald on September 23, 1914, had a headline titled "Claude Reznor buys the 'Hairless Horse'", with the following note:

The "hairless horse," one of the feature attractions at the Forest City Fair, North Randall, is be to exhibited at the Portage County Fair at Ravenna (Ohio), which opens today. The animal was purchased yesterday by Claude Reznor, Sharon, Pa., from "Sam" Strong, "Al" Bailey and Charles Clark, Hermit Club members, and will remain at Ravenna until the fair closes Thursday evening. Strong purchased the horse, the only one of the kind in the world, from Thomas Cathan, a farmer living near Gates Mills. More than 8,000 persons saw the animal at the fair last week. Reznor paid $1,000 for the animal.

Recent Hairless Horses:

The Observer, published in LaGrande, Oregon, ran the story "One of a Kind" on November 11, 2003. It tells the story of Harry, the hairless Percheron gelding. It is interesting to note that he too is a draft.

Harry is a big, black hairless — that's hairless — horse.
"His hair follicles are there, they just don't grow hair," owner Suzi Romine of La Grande says, shrugging.

In sharp contrast to Harry's smooth, dark hide the scraggly, faded gray-blond strands of his sparse mane and tail look like they've been severely over-processed by an indifferent hair stylist.

Combined with a few long whiskers on his chin, Harry is definitely odd looking. And though he may capture your attention by his strange looks, he will completely win you over with his heart.

Read our Q&A about Harry the Hairless Horse

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