During the coexistence of humans and horses, horse breeds arose, developed and died out. Depending on climatic conditions and the needs of mankind, people’s opinions about which breed is the best also changed. In the 6th century BC. The Thessalian horses were considered the best, then this title passed to the Parthians. In the Middle Ages, Iberian horses were famous. Since the 18th century, this place has been occupied by the Arabian breed.
Although some modern horse breeds claim very ancient origins, it is unlikely that the horses in this area have survived unchanged. Modern breeds are related to ancient horses only by breeding territory.
Classification
There are more than 200 breeds of horses in the world, ranging from very small ones to real giants. But only a few of them were specifically bred for specific purposes. Most are versatile native breeds that can be harnessed or used for riding.
It is unlikely that it will be possible to consider all horse breeds with photos and descriptions, including the native horses of the Japanese Islands, but the most common and popular ones can be indicated. In the USSR, it was customary to divide breeds into three types:
- riding;
- horse-drawn;
- harness
At the same time, draft breeds could also be divided into light draft and heavy draft breeds.
Another classification has been adopted around the world:
- purebreds;
- half-blooded;
- heavy-duty
Half-blooded breeds include breeds that originate from local livestock and were initially often used for agricultural purposes. These horses are a vivid example of how a draft breed according to the Soviet classification suddenly becomes a riding one. And after several decades, people can no longer imagine that these horses could be harnessed to an ordinary cart.
In addition to classification by purpose, there is also a classification by type:
- hunter;
- cob;
- hake;
- polo pony.
This classification is based more on appearance, although the horse must physically meet certain requirements. But the breed does not matter in this classification.
But it’s better to start understanding what breeds of horses there are with purebreds. There are fewer of them. It makes no sense to arrange horse breeds alphabetically, since the name of a heavy draft breed and a refined riding breed may begin with the same letter. The alphabet only makes sense within types.
Purebred
They have approximately the same “pure” blood as the “pure-blooded Aryans” had in the 30s of the last century. The literal translation of the name Thoroughbred is “carefully bred.” This is the original name of the horse breed, which in Russia is called the Thoroughbred Saddlebred.This literal translation is closer to the concept of what should be considered a purebred breed.
Another point that defines “purebred” is the Stud Book, closed from outside influences.
But so far in Russia only three breeds are usually considered purebred: Arabian, Akhal-Teke and Thoroughbred.
Arabic
It arose around the 7th century AD on the Arabian Peninsula. Together with the Arab conquerors, it spread throughout almost the entire Old World, laying the foundation for all the breeds now considered half-blooded.
Considered an improver for all mixed breeds. The Arabian horse has several intrabreed types, so you can choose a suitable sire for almost any half-bred breed.
But if maanegi are difficult to find today, then the Tersky Stud Farm, which breeds the Russian population of Arabs of three types, is always happy to provide other types of Arabian horse breeds with photographs and names.
Stavropol siglavi.
Being of a rather delicate constitution, these horses are not as refined as foreign show horses, which are already openly called cartoonish.
Although they cannot be called the most expensive breed of horses, since this is only a type, it is the show siglavies that are the most expensive horses in the mass. Even ordinary horses of this type cost more than $1 million.
Koheilan.
The most “practical” and large type of Arabian horse. Compared to the Siglavi, these are rough horses, distinguished by good health.
Koheilan-siglawi.
Combines the sophistication of siglavi with the strength and practicality of koheilan.
Akhal-Teke
It took shape in Central Asia, but the exact time of breeding is unknown. Like Arabian horses, it was used by nomadic tribes during raids and wars. It differs from the Arabian by the very long lines of the body and neck. Many fanciers consider Akhal-Teke horses to be the most beautiful horse breed. And not lovers of “herrings”. There are no comrades according to taste or color, but everyone admits one thing: Akhal-Teke horses have a lot of interesting colors.
Thoroughbred
Brought out more than 200 years ago in Great Britain. For breeding, mares of the local island stock and eastern stallions were used. As a result of strict selection based on the results of racing tests, a large horse of long lines was formed. Until the end of the twentieth century, the Thoroughbred was considered the best breed of horse for show jumping, eventing and steeplechasing. Today, in show jumping and eventing, it is not the breed that is chosen, but the horse, and the Thoroughbred has lost its position to half-blooded European breeds.
Other
The English taxonomy also provides for other purebred breeds:
- Barbary;
- Hydran Arabian;
- Yomudskaya;
- Spanish Anglo-Arab;
- Katiwari;
- Marwari;
- French Anglo-Arab;
- Shagia Arabian;
- Javanese pony.
The Spaniards add the Andalusian breed to the list. These horse breeds, exotic for Russians, are best presented with photos and names.
Barbary
Formed in the north of the African continent. Origin unknown. It is not even clear who owns the palm in the appearance: Arab or Barbary. Some believe that Arabian horses were formed with the close participation of Barbary horses. Others are the opposite. It is most likely that these rocks mixed to form each other.
But the Barbary is distinguished by a hook-nosed profile, characteristic of Iberian breeds.The same profile is often found in the Hadban Arabian horse, which is very similar in characteristics to Barbary horses.
Hydran Arabian
Hungarian Anglo-Arab, formed in the 19th century. The breed was started by the Arabian stallion Siglawi Arabian, exported from Arabia. From the Spanish mare and Siglawi Arabian, the foal Hydran II was obtained, which became the founder of the Hydran Arabian breed. When breeding the breed, local mares and horses of the Spanish breed were used.
There are two types of the breed: massive for agricultural work and lightweight for riding. The color is mostly red. Height 165-170 cm.
Yomudskaya
A close relative of the Akhal-Teke, formed under the same conditions. Southern Turkmenistan is considered the homeland of the Yomuds. Yomud horses were bred in herds, while Akhal-Teke horses were kept next to tents. Yomuds are stronger and rougher horses. If you compare the image of the Yomud horse breed with a photo of the Akhal-Teke horse, the difference, despite all their relatedness, will be very noticeable. Although the Akhal-Teke sometimes come across very similar to the Yomud.
The main color of the Yomud horse is gray. There are also black and red-haired individuals. Height is about 156 cm.
Spanish Anglo-Arab
The second name is “Hispano”. The product of crossing Arabian stallions with Iberian and English mares. The result was a lightened Thoroughbred horse and obedience Andalusian horse. Hispano's height is 148-166 cm. The color is bay, red or gray.
Katiwari and Marwari
These are two closely related Indian breeds. Both carry a large percentage of Arab blood. A distinctive feature of both breeds is the tips of the ears curved towards the back of the head. In extreme cases, the tips close together to form an arch over the back of the head.The height of both populations is 148 cm. The color can be any color except black.
These horses are the national treasure of India and are prohibited from export to other countries. Therefore, a Russian can get acquainted with these horse breeds not from photographs only on a personal trip to India.
French Anglo-Arab
Breeding began 150 years ago. And the French Anglo-Arab is also not the product of exclusively crossing a Thoroughbred with an Arabian. The local French breeds Limousin and Tarbes also took part in the development of this variety of Anglo-Arab. The modern Stud Book includes individuals with at least 25% Arab blood.
These are high-quality horses used in classical equestrian disciplines at the highest level. Racing trials are also carried out for Anglo-Arabs. Strict selection helps maintain high quality livestock.
The height of the French Anglo-Arab is 158-170 cm. The color is red, bay or gray.
Shagia Arabian
These are truly purebred Arabs, who through selection have increased their height and acquired a more powerful backbone. Bred in Hungary. The Shagiyas have retained the elegance and temperament of an oriental horse. But their average height is 156 cm, versus the usual around 150 cm for other types of Arabian horses. The main color of Shagiya is grey.
Javanese pony
Native of Indonesia. The local stock on the Indonesian islands was crossed with Arabian and Barbary horses, which the Dutch East India Company brought to the islands for its needs. It is not known why the British classify this pony as a purebred and not a half-blood.
From its eastern ancestors the pony received a sophisticated appearance, and from the local stock it received high resistance to heat. The height of this little horse is 127 cm. It can be any color.
Half-breeds
This group includes both riding and draft breeds, with the exception of draft horses (with the exception of the Percheron). The term “half-blood” means that Arabian or Thoroughbred horses took part in the creation of the breed.
This is explained by the fact that when breeding sports horses, those who show results are taken as sires and do not pay attention to origin. This method allows you to very quickly obtain a new result, which the Dutch and French have successfully proven by breeding their Dutch half-breds and French horses. There is no point in considering European sporting breeds separately; they are all relatives and are phenotypically similar to each other.
Instead, you can consider riding and draft Russian horse breeds as the most common in Russia. Russian riding breeds include:
- Donskaya;
- Budennovskaya;
- Terskaya;
- Russian Arab.
The Donskaya and Budennovskaya horses are close relatives, and without the Donskaya the Budennovskaya horse will also cease to exist. Terskaya practically no longer exists. Only the Arab is not in danger yet, although the demand for these horses has fallen today.
Universal and draft horse breeds:
- Oryol trotter;
- Russian trotter;
- Vyatskaya;
- Mezenskaya;
- Pechora;
- Transbaikal;
- Altai;
- Bashkir;
- Karachaevskaya/Kabardinskaya;
- Yakutskaya.
Apart from the first two, all the rest belong to aboriginal breeds, formed naturally to meet the needs of the population living in these territories.
The Oryol trotter has lost its significance as a carriage horse and, together with the Russian, today is more of a prize trotter. Due to the low cost of Russian and Oryol trotters rejected after testing, they are readily purchased by amateurs for use in show jumping, racing and dressage. The level that a trotter can achieve in such sports is not high. But even for amateurs, it is often enough to “jump a little, do a little dressage, run a short distance, go to the fields.” For this level, trotters are one of the best breeds in Russia.
Mountain horse breeds can also be classified as universal. They are ridden on horseback, carried packs, and, if possible, harnessed to a cart. The mountainous regions in Russia include Altai and Karachaevskaya/Kabardinskaya. If we add the territory of the former USSR, then Karabakh and Kyrgyzstan will be added. Abroad, the most famous mountain horse is the Haflinger/Gaflinger.
Heavy-duty
In colloquial speech "heavy trucks". Sometimes they use tracing paper from the English “cold-blooded”, which is incorrect from the point of view of terminology. The term “cold-blooded” also comes across. In this case, what appears before your eyes is a horse lying in ambush with a sniper rifle.
Draft horses are the largest horse breeds in their height category. Three breeds of heavy trucks were bred in the USSR:
- Russian;
- Vladimirsky;
- Soviet.
All of them descend from foreign heavy trucks.
Russian
The formation of the Russian draft horse began even before the Revolution on the basis of Ardennes stallions and local breeding stock. The influence of other heavy draft horses: the Belgian and the Percheron had such little effect on the Russian that this breed retained all the features of its Ardennes ancestors. Like the Ardennes, the Russian Heavy Truck is short: 150 cm at the withers.
Soviet
The formation of the Soviet heavy truck began at the end of the 19th century, and ended only in the middle of the 20th. Belgian stallions and Percherons took part in the creation of the Soviet heavy truck, which were crossed with local mares. Next, the offspring were bred “inside”. The height of Soviet heavy trucks is 160 cm. The color is red.
Vladimirsky
The youngest and tallest breed of Soviet-made heavy trucks. Vladimirets was bred on the basis of local breeding stock crossed with Clydesdale and Shire stallions. Registered Vladimir heavy truck was in 1946. Height is 166 cm. The color can be any, but it must be monochromatic. The most common is bay.
The best
Very often the buyer wants his horse to be the very best: the fastest, the most beautiful, the rarest, etc. But all the “best” criteria are subjective.
Today the rarest breed in the world is Terskaya. But in Russia you can still buy it without much difficulty. But Haflinger, popular in Europe, is much more difficult to get in Russia. But it is possible. But the Rocky Mountain Horse, which is by no means small in its homeland, is one of the rarest in Russia today. So what is the rarest horse breed?
Shires are officially considered the tallest horse breed, growing over 177 cm at the withers.But for some reason they forgot about their closest relatives, the Clydesdales, growing up to 187 cm. And the gray line of Kladrubers, easily reaching the same dimensions as the Clydesdales, only snorts in the direction of the Shires.
Pictured, officially registered as the tallest horse in the world, Shire named Sampson stands 2.2m tall at the withers.
The concept of “the largest horse breed” can also be confusing. If by “large” we mean “tall,” then Shires, Clydesdales, gray Kladrubers and... American Percherons simultaneously claim this title. Given the American passion for gigantism.
If “large” means “heavy,” then this is again a Percheron. But already European, with shorter legs.
The situation is similar with the concept of “the largest breed of horses.” In this case, the word “big” is a synonym for the word “large”.
Even the fastest horse breeds can become confusing. Fast in what area? In classic horse racing, this is the Thoroughbred. In the quarter mile race (402), the Quarter Horse will win. In the 160 km race, the Arabian horse will come first. In a baiga without rules over a distance of 50 km, where the horses always gallop at the limit of their strength, the winner will be an unsightly Mongolian or Kazakh horse.
There is only a well-composed diet, thanks to which the horse can bear the required loads, but does not show the desire to play.
It’s better not to mention beautiful horse breeds unless you want to quarrel with a friend. Everyone has their own criterion of beauty.Here it is only appropriate to remember the saying “there are no ugly horses, there are only bad owners.” If a person likes forelock colors, then his standard of beauty will be Appaloosa and Knabstrupper. I like the power - some of the heavy trucks. I like the “statuary and cartoonishness” - Arabic siglawi for the show. The list can be endless.
Perhaps only about the smallest breed of horses can we speak more definitely. There are two of them: the Falabella pony and the Miniature American horse.
Falabella is a small, short-legged pony with all the characteristics of a pony.
The American Miniature Horse is proportionally built like a normal large representative of this species. But the height at the withers does not exceed 86 cm.
Conclusion
When choosing a pet, you don’t need to focus on breed or external qualities, unless your goal is to conquer sporting peaks. (If this is exactly the goal, it is better to contact a trainer.) Many fanciers notice that the horse chooses its own owner, to the point of “I can’t stand small red mares - now I have a small red mare.”
