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The Karachay breed of horses began to form around the XNUMXth century. But then she still did not suspect that she was from Karachai. The name “Kabardian breed” was also not familiar to her. On the territory where the future breed was formed, a group of nationalities lived, bearing the common self-name Adyge. Not a single conqueror of the World passed by the Caucasus and the Caspian lowland, and Turkmen, Persian, Arab, Turkish war horses influenced the local population of horses. The southern steppe horses, including the Nogai horse, did not forget to check in. In peacetime, the Great Silk Road passed through the Caucasus. In the caravans, there were inevitably oriental horses, which mixed with the local stock.
With the arrival of the Empire in the Caucasus, the highlanders’ horses were called Adyghe or Circassian. The second name came from the name of one of the nationalities of the Adyghe group. But the name “Circassian” caused confusion, since at that time, in the area of the Ukrainian city of Cherkasy, another breed of horses intended for military needs was bred. By the name of the city, the Ukrainian breed was called Cherkasy. Accordingly, the Adyghe horse could no longer be called that. This would cause serious confusion. However, the Empire did not really bother with the development of horse breeding in the Caucasus region, although in 1870 a stud farm was founded in the village of Prirechnoye, which supplied the Adyghe horse to the royal army.
Systematic work with the breed, including for army needs, began after the revolution, when the Red Army needed a large horse population. At the same time, the name of the breed was also changed. Today, this circumstance is hotly debated.
How was formed
It is believed that the Circassians were settled agricultural peoples, but for protection from enemies and, to be honest, military campaigns against their neighbors, they needed a war horse. However, there is evidence that the life of the Adyghe was entirely tied to the horse. And this means that the population lived primarily by robber raids. The Circassians needed a horse not only capable of operating in equestrian lava, as it was in regular armies, but also having the ability to help out the owner during a duel or loose battle. And the host still had to be taken to the place of the battle.
That’s about the area on which it was necessary to carry the owner, today there are heated debates. Fans of the Karachay breed claim that Kabardino-Balkaria is almost flat terrain. This means that the Kabardian horse did not need to move along mountain paths. That is, “if it can move along mountain paths, then it is Karachay”. Supporters of the Kabardian breed of horses are very surprised by this argument: both administrative entities are located along the eastern foothills of the Caucasus Range and have a similar relief.
Thus, the first point of requirements in the formation of the breed is the ability to move along steep mountain paths.
The second requirement is hard hooves, since the population did not differ in special wealth and could not afford to spend money on iron horseshoes. Through cruel folk selection, the principle of which has been preserved to this day: “a good horse does not lame, we cannot treat a bad one,” the Karachai (Kabardian) horse acquired very hard hooves, allowing it to move unshod over rocky terrain.
Due to the influence on the Caucasian local population of horses of other breeds, several types were formed in the Kabardian breed:
- shriek
- cudden;
- hagundoko;
- tram;
- mock;
- krymshokal;
- opener;
- bechkan;
- shejaroko;
- abuk
- shagdi
Of all the types, only the shagdi was truly a warhorse. The remaining types were grown in peacetime and valued some for speed at the races, some for endurance, some for beauty.
A stallion could give out an ambush or reconnaissance by neighing, but the business of mares was to bring foals.
The origin of the name
The history of the Kabardian breed of horses begins with the establishment of Soviet power. For breeding the Caucasian livestock of horses, the Malkinsky stud farm left over from the time of the tsarist government in Kabardino-Balkaria was used, plus two more were built in Karachay-Cherkessia. One of them – Malokarachaevsky – still works today. From that moment on, a confrontation arises.
In Soviet times, the confrontation was secret, and the breed was given the name “Kabardinskaya” by the will of the authorities. Until the 90s and the parade of sovereignties, no one objected. Kabardian so Kabardian.
After the national self-consciousness jumped up, heated disputes began between the inhabitants of the two republics, to whom the breed “belongs”. They were not even embarrassed by the fact that the same stallion could produce for a year at the Malkinsky stud and be the champion of the Kabardian breed, and the next year breed mares at the Malokarachaevsky stud and be the champion of the Karachaev breed.
If we compare a photo of a Karachai horse and a photo of a Kabardian horse, then even a resident of these two Caucasian republics himself will not see the differences.
Stallion of the Karachai breed.
Stallion of the Kabardian breed.
The same straight shoulder, convenient for moving along mountain paths. Same croup. The same position of the neck. The color is different, but characteristic of both breeds.
The rest of the equestrian world did not understand the charm of such a division, and the Karabakh breed is completely absent in foreign sources. There is only Kabardian.
When buying a horse not from a factory, but from private hands, you will even have to believe the owner’s oaths. In addition, in the latter case, it is possible that the horse will turn out to be completely outbred.
Since the difference between the Kabardian and Karachai horse breeds lies in one line of breeding certificate and the administrative border between the republics, you can safely go to any of the two factories to buy an Adyghe (Caucasian) horse. A Kabardian horse bought at the Malkinsky factory becomes a Karachay horse as soon as it crosses the border of Karachay-Cherkessia.
Exterior
When describing the standard of the Caucasian horse, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to notice the distinctive features of the Kabardian horse from the Karachai, although the breed and type can be confused. Fans of the Karachay horse claim that this breed is more massive than the Kabardian, contradicting themselves. While in the Kabardian breed, since the founding of stud farms in the young Land of Soviets, three types have been distinguished:
- Oriental;
- main;
- thick.
If we compare the types of the Kabardian (Karachaev) breed of horses with photographs and names, it becomes obvious that the Karachaevskaya, which moves well in the mountains, cannot be more massive than the flat Kabardinskaya. The dependence is reversed: it is difficult for a large massive horse to make its way along mountain paths, but it is more convenient to put a more powerful horse in a harness.
The oriental type is distinguished by pronounced features of riding breeds, often with a straight head profile and light, dry bones. Good for steppe racing, but poorly suited for pack work. For a pack, a horse with a slightly more massive skeleton is needed.
The main type is the most numerous in the breed and is distributed throughout the region. These are horses with heavier bones, but not so massive as to be unable to keep their balance on mountain trails. This type combines the best features of a mountain horse.
The thick type has a long, massive body, well-developed bones and thick forms, making horses of this type look like light draft breeds.
In typical representatives of the breed, height at the withers is 150-158 cm. Body length is 178-185 cm. Metacarpus circumference is 18,5-20 cm. Horses grown in a plant on good feed can be even larger.
The head is light and dry, often with a hook-nosed profile. Medium length muscular neck, well defined withers. The back and loin are short and strong. Sloped croup. The chest is deep and wide.
The legs are dry, strong, with well-defined tendons. The position of the front legs is straight. Scaling or clubfoot are faults. Very often horses of this breed have saber hind legs, although in other breeds this structure is a disadvantage. Sometimes an X-shaped setting can be added to the saber. The hooves, which have the shape of a “cup”, also differ in a characteristic shape.
An interesting fact is that photographs of the Karachai horse breed are often the same as those that can be found on the request “photo of the Kabardian breed of horses.”
Fat
The most common are dark suits: bay of any suit and black. Red and gray colors may come across.
Such graying does not hide the main suit, but looks like a gray mesh on the body of the horse. Such marks are called “giraffe”. The photo shows a horse of the Karachaev breed with giraffe marks. True, she is Karachai according to the seller. The origin of this mare is unknown, there are no breeding documents, but it was brought from the Caucasus.
Allures
The specificity of the Karachai and Kabardian breeds of horses is that among them there are many individuals moving in specific gaits that are very convenient for the rider. But these individuals are not able to run at the usual trot and gallop. Horses capable of running with such gaits were very much appreciated by the highlanders when moving over considerable distances.
The main gaits of the Adyghe horses are also quite comfortable for the rider, because due to the straight shoulder, their step is rather short. The horse keeps the speed due to the greater frequency of movements. To get an idea about the way Caucasian horses move, you can watch a couple of videos.
Kabardian pacer.
Video of the Karachay horse-pacer.
It is easy to see that in terms of movement and appearance there is no difference between the horses.
Features of the national character
“The Kabardian horse is evil. I’m on the Christmas tree, he’s behind me. In fact, the nature of these horses is no more vicious than that of other native breeds, accustomed to surviving without human intervention and making decisions on their own.
At the same time, in the mountains, horses are largely dependent on a person, therefore, having understood what a person wants from them, mountain horses are happy to cooperate. Another thing is that often the horse simply does not understand why a person needs to chase a cow or “ride” in a small fenced area. That’s why you need to carefully smuggle the rider along a narrow mountain path is understandable: you need to move to another pasture or get into another village.
Because of such features, many consider the Adyghe horses to be stubborn. So it is, when compared with European sports breeds selected for unquestioning obedience. There will be a lot of butting with a horse of the Kabardian / Karachay breed.
They are not evil either. Rather, smart and not focused on communicating with many people. According to the reviews of the owners of Kabardian and Karachay horses, these animals tend to single out one person for themselves, obeying him in everything.
Aboriginal animals still need to prove that you are the owner and you can demand something from them. This is not possible for everyone.
Fitness in today’s world
In this video, a real lover of Kabardian horses claims that the horses are suitable for running.
Unfortunately, modern races over serious distances from 100 km are run almost exclusively by Arabian horses. The rules provide not only for the horse to overcome the distance, but also for a quick recovery after the run. A mandatory veterinary inspection is carried out after each stage of the run. Caucasian horses do not withstand such loads. Or they recover for a very long time, losing to rivals. Or they get lame. Lameness can be both real and physiological, arising from unbearable loads.
In show jumping, they lose because of the growth and low speed of the route. And in dressage because of the structure.
But Caucasian horses can be very good at the amateur level. Where you need to help out the rider or run a not too long distance. Their big plus and low price. They are in their homeland.
And there is also a very serious minus: a horse that has grown up in the mountains in the open air begins to get sick after arriving on the plain in the city. This applies not only to Caucasian, but also to other aboriginal horses that grew up far from civilization and lived under the open sky all year round. Respiratory diseases in such horses begin very quickly.
Reviews
Conclusion
To end the disputes over whose breed is more thoroughbred, it would be wise to return to the Caucasian horse its original name “Adyghe”, combining both populations. Adygei are poorly suited for keeping in a private courtyard if you need to use them in a harness. But they are not bad in amateur sports. And they even know how to run dressage schemes for beginners, where the actions of the rider are still important, and not the quality of the horse’s movements.