Contents
During the coexistence of man and horse, horse breeds arose, developed and died out. Depending on the climatic conditions and the needs of mankind, the opinion of people about which of the breeds is the best has also changed. In the VI century BC. Thessalian horses were considered the best, then this title passed to the Parthians. Iberian horses were famous in the Middle Ages. From the XVIII this place was occupied by the Arabian breed.
Although some modern breeds of horses claim to be of very ancient origin, horses in this area are unlikely to have survived unchanged. With ancient horses, modern breeds are related only to the breeding area.
Classification
There are more than 200 breeds of horses in the world, ranging from very small to real giants. But only a few of them were specially 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 breeds of horses 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 harness;
- draft.
At the same time, draft breeds could also be divided into light-draft and heavy-draft.
The world has adopted a different classification:
- purebred;
- half-breeds;
- heavy-duty.
Half-breeds include breeds that originate from local livestock and initially often had 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:
- gunter
- cob;
- hake;
- polo pony.
This classification is carried out more in appearance, although the horse must physically meet certain requirements. But the breed in this classification does not matter.
But to start to understand what breeds of horses are, it is better with thoroughbreds. There are fewer of them. Arranging horse breeds alphabetically does not make sense, since the name of a heavy draft breed and a refined riding horse can begin with the same letter. The alphabet only makes sense within types.
Thoroughbreds
They have about the same “pure” blood as the “purebred Aryans” had in the 30s of the last century. The literal translation of the name Thoroughbred is “carefully bred”. This name is in the original breed of horse, which in Our Country is called Thoroughbred riding. Such a 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 infusions.
But so far in Our Country, only three breeds are usually considered purebred: Arabian, Akhal-Teke and Thoroughbred riding.
Арабская
It originated around the XNUMXth century AD on the Arabian Peninsula. Together with the Arab conquerors, it spread throughout almost the entire Old World, laying the foundation for all breeds that are now considered half-breeds.
It is considered an improver for all half-breeds. The Arabian horse has several intrabreed types, so you can find a suitable sire in almost any half-breed breed.
But if Maanegi is difficult to find today, then other types of Arabian horse breeds with photos and names are always happy to provide the Terek stud farm, which breeds the population of Arabs of three types.
Stavropol siglavi.
Being rather delicate in constitution, these horses are not as refined as foreign show siglavi, 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 siglavi that are the most expensive horses in the mass. Even ordinary horses of this type cost more than $1 million.
Coheilan.
The most “practical” and largest type of Arabian horse. Compared to the Siglavi, these horses are rough and healthy.
Koheilan-siglavi.
Combines the sophistication of siglavy with the strength and practicality of coheilan.
Akhalteke
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 in the very long lines of the body and neck. Many amateurs consider the Akhal-Teke the most beautiful breed of horses. And not lovers of “herring”. There are no comrades for the taste and color, but everyone recognizes one thing: the Akhal-Teke horses have a lot of interesting colors.
Thoroughbred
Bred over 200 years ago in the UK. Mares of the local island livestock and oriental stallions were used for breeding. As a result of strict selection based on the results of race trials, a large horse of long lines was formed. Until the end of the XNUMXth century, the Thoroughbred was considered the best breed of horses for show jumping, triathlon and steeple chase. Today, in show jumping and triathlon, it is not the breed that is chosen, but the horse, and the Thoroughbred has lost its position to the half-breed European breeds.
Others
English taxonomy provides for other purebred breeds:
- Barbary;
- Hydran Arabian;
- Yomudskaya;
- Spanish Anglo-Arabic;
- Cativari;
- Marwari;
- French Anglo-Arabic;
- Shagia Arabian;
- Javanese pony.
The Spaniards add the Andalusian breed to the list. These exotic horse breeds for s are best given 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 appearance: Arab or Barbary. Some believe that the Arabian horses were formed with the close participation of the Barbary. Others are the opposite. It is most likely that these rocks intermingled to form each other.
But the Barbary is distinguished by the hook-nosed profile characteristic of the Iberian breeds. The same profile is often found in the Arabian horse of the Hadban type, which is very similar in characteristics to the Barbary horses.
Hydran Arabian
Hungarian Anglo-Arabic, formed in the XNUMXth century. The beginning of the breed was laid by the Arabian stallion Siglavy Arabian, exported from Arabia. From the Spanish mare and Siglavi Arabian, the foal Hydran II was obtained, which became the ancestor of the Hydran Arabian breed. When breeding the breed, local mares and horses of the Spanish breed were used.
There are two types in 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 in the same conditions. Southern Turkmenistan is considered the birthplace of the Yomuds. The Yomud horses were bred in herds, while the Akhal-Teke horses were kept near the tents. Yomuds are stronger and rougher horses. If we compare the image of the Yomud breed of horses with the photo of the Akhal-Teke, the difference, for all their relatedness, will be very noticeable. Although the Akhal-Tekes sometimes come across very similar to the Yomud ones.
The main color of the Yomud horse is gray. There are also black and red individuals. Height is about 156 cm.
Spanish Anglo-Arabic
The second name is Hispano. The product of crossing Arabian stallions with Iberian and English mares. The result is a lighter framed Thoroughbred and the obedience of an 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 are the tips of the ears bent to the back of the head. In extreme cases, the tips close, forming an arch over the back of the head. The height of both populations is 148 cm. The suit can be any, except for the crow.
These horses are the national treasure of India and are prohibited from being exported to other countries. Therefore, a can get acquainted with these breeds of horses not from photographs only during a personal trip to India.
French Anglo-Arabic
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 Limousine and Tarbes also took part in the formation of this variety of Anglo-Arab. Individuals with at least 25% Arabian blood are included in the modern Studbook.
These are high-class horses used in classic equestrian disciplines at the highest level. For the Anglo-Arabs, race trials are also carried out. Strict selection helps to maintain high quality livestock.
The height of the French Anglo-Arab is 158-170 cm. The suits are red, bay or gray.
Shagia Arabian
These are truly purebred Arabs, through selection they increased their height and received a more powerful skeleton. Released in Hungary. The Shagia retained the elegance and temperament of the oriental horse. But their average height is 156 cm, compared to the usual about 150 cm for other types of Arabian horse. The main suit of Shagia is gray.
java pony
Indonesian native. The local population in the Indonesian islands crossed with Arabian and Barbary horses, which the Dutch East India Company imported to the islands for their needs. It is not known why the British classify this pony as a purebred and not a half-blood.
From the eastern ancestors, the pony received a refined appearance, and from the local livestock, high resistance to heat. The height of this little horse is 127 cm. The color can be any.
Half-breeds
This group includes both riding and draft breeds, except for heavy trucks (with the exception of Percheron). The term “half-breed” 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, they take as producers those who show results, and do not pay attention to the origin. This method allows you to get a new result very quickly, which the Dutch and French successfully proved by breeding their Dutch half-breeds and French horsebacks. It makes no sense to consider European sports breeds separately, they are all relatives and are phenotypically similar to each other.
Instead, one can consider riding and draft breeds of horses as the most common in Our Country. Top breeds include:
- Donskaya;
- Budennovskaya;
- Terskaya;
- Arab.
The Don and Budennovskaya horses are close relatives, and without the Donskoy, the Budennovskaya horse will also cease to exist. Terskaya no longer exists. But nothing threatens the Arab yet, although the demand for these horses has fallen today.
Universal and draft horse breeds:
- Orlovsky trotter;
- trotter;
- Vyatskaya;
- Mezenskaya;
- Pechora;
- Transbaikal;
- Altai;
- Bashkir;
- Karachaevskaya/Kabardinskaya;
- Yakutskaya.
In addition to the first two, all the rest are native breeds that have formed naturally to meet the needs of the population living in these territories.
The Orlovsky trotter has lost its meaning of a carriage horse and, together with the , today is more of a prize trotter. Due to the low cost of and Oryol trotters rejected after testing, amateurs are willing to buy them for use in show jumping, races and dressage. The level that a trotter can achieve in such sports is low. But it is often enough for amateurs to “jump a little, ride a little dressage, run a short run, go to the fields.” For this level, trotters are one of the best breeds in Our Country.
Mountain breeds of horses can also be classified as universal. They are ridden on horseback, carrying packs, and if possible, harnessed to a cart. Mountains in Our Country include the Altai and Karachaev/Kabardinsk regions. If we add the territory of the former USSR, then Karabakh and Kirghiz will be added. Abroad, of the mountain horses, the Haflinger / Haflinger is most famous.
heavy draft
In colloquial speech “heavy trucks”. Sometimes they use tracing paper from the English “cold-blooded”, which is wrong, in terms of terminology. The term “cold-blooded” also comes across. In this case, a horse “gets up” before your eyes, lying in an ambush with a sniper rifle.
Heavy trucks are the largest breeds of horses in their height category. In the USSR, three breeds of heavy trucks were bred:
- ;
- Vladimirsky;
- Soviet.
All of them are descended from foreign heavy trucks.
The formation of the heavy truck began even before the Revolution on the basis of Ardennes stallions and local breeding stock. The influence of other heavy trucks: Belgian and Percheron, had so little effect on the that this breed retained all the features of the Ardennes ancestors. Like the Ardennes, the heavy truck is not tall: 150 cm at the withers.
The Soviet
The formation of the Soviet heavy truck began at the end of the 160th century, and ended only in the middle of the XNUMXth. Belgian stallions and Percherons, who were crossed with local mares, took part in the creation of the Soviet heavy truck. Further, the offspring were bred “in themselves”. The growth of Soviet heavy trucks is XNUMX 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. The Vladimir heavy truck was registered in 1946. Height is 166 cm. The suit can be any, but it must be monophonic. The most common bay.
The best
Very often, the buyer wants his horse to be the best: the fastest, the most beautiful, the rarest, and so on. But all the “most” criteria are subjective.
Today, the rarest breed in the world is the Terek. But in Our Country it can still be bought without much difficulty. But Haflinger, popular in Europe, is already much more difficult to get in Our Country. But you can. But the Horse of the Rocky Mountains, which is by no means small in its homeland, is one of the rarest in Our Country today. So what breed of horse is the rarest?
The highest breed of horses is officially considered Shires, growing over 177 cm at the withers. But for some reason they forgot about their closest relatives, the Clydesdales, which grow up to 187 cm. And the gray line of the Claudrubers, easily reaching the same size as the Clydesdales, will only snort towards the Shires.
In the photo, officially registered as the tallest horse in the world, Shire named Sampson is 2,2 m tall at the withers.
With the concept of “the largest breed of horses” confusion can also arise. If “large” means “high”, then Shires, Clydesdales, gray Kladrubers and … American Percherons simultaneously claim this title. With the American passion for gigantism.
If “large” is “heavy”, then this is again percheron. But already European, shorter-legged.
A similar situation 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 breeds of horses can get confused. Fast in what area? In classic racing, this is a Thoroughbred. In the quarter mile race (402), the Quarter Horse will win. In the 160 km run, the Arabian horse will come first. In a baiga without rules for a distance of 50 km, where the horses always ride at the limit of their strength, the unsightly Mongolian or Kazakh horse will be the winner.
There is only a well-composed diet, thanks to which the horse can carry the required loads, but does not show a desire to play.
It’s better not to mention beautiful breeds of horses if you don’t want to quarrel with a friend. The criterion of beauty is different for everyone. Here it is only appropriate to recall the saying “there are no ugly horses, there are only bad owners.” If a person likes chubar suits, then Appaloosa and Knabstrupper will be his standard of beauty. I like power – one of the heavy trucks. I like the “statuary and cartoonish” – Arabic siglavi for the show. The list is endless.
Perhaps only the smallest breed of horses can be spoken more definitely. There are two of them: Falabella pony and Miniature American horse.
Falabella is a small, short-legged pony with all the features of a pony.
The American Miniature Horse is proportionally built like a normal large member of this species. But the height at the withers does not exceed 86 cm.
Conclusion
When choosing a pet, you do not need to focus on breed or external qualities, if the goal is not to conquer sports peaks. (If that’s the goal, it’s best to see a trainer.) Many fanciers notice that the horse chooses its owner to the point of “I can’t stand small red mares – now I have a small red mare.”