Horses have always been associated with nobility and grace. Since ancient times, these animals have been involved in farming, horse racing and just for riding. They are quite beautiful, smart and cause a lot of positive emotions. Depending on the use of animals, their breeds were also chosen. Over the entire existing period of contact of people with these wonderful representatives, many species have developed, died out and reborn again. Undergone changes and exterior features of horses. The list of breeds that are popular in our country, we propose to consider in this review.
Brief information
Worldwide, there are approximately 300 different types of horses. Some standard representatives have been known for a long time, but such a variety as at present has never been observed in horse breeding. The list of horse breeds began to grow significantly from the 18th century. All of them differ in their origin, exterior, dimensions, body structure, distribution area, productivity and use in the economy. About 50 groups of these graceful representatives are bred within our country. The review provides a fairly voluminous list of horse breeds with photos of some of them. Illustrations perfectly demonstrate the external features of these animals.
What are the criteria for the classification of subspecies
In Russia, horse breeds are divided, taking into account zootechnical characteristics, into local, factory, and transitional ones. The first include: forest, steppe, mountain. To the second two groups: harness, heavy, horse, trotter.
Belonging to a specific group is determined by the combination of several features. This can be seen even in the names of representatives, for example: Belarussian harness, Ukrainian horse breed, Oryol trotter. As you can see, the parameters of the animal, its history of breeding, the scope of use and ability are taken into account here.
Individuals are divided according to their adaptive capacities to different climatic zones, and according to their exacting care and maintenance. Based on this, the Altai representatives are not brought together with the Akhal-Teke representatives, since they are incompatible in temperature and other environmental conditions.
Characteristics of thoroughbred horses
Despite the fact that among the horses there are applicants for the status of Aboriginal people, it cannot be said that nothing has changed in their pedigree from the moment of their origin. In fact, they are close to their ancestors only in the area of distribution. What then is meant by such a thing as purebred? This word itself has the meaning of "carefully bred." This means that other breeds are not used to improve the characteristic qualities of animals during their reproduction. In our country, the original name was awarded to purebred horse representatives, bred by strict selection.
The distinctive qualities of purebred horse breeds include: strong temperament, that is, excessive agility, exquisite appearance, sophisticated skeleton, dry constitution, structure inherent in the upper warehouse. These are the most refined and beautiful horses.
The list of purebred horse breeds includes:
- Akhal-Teke;
- Arabic
- thoroughbred horse;
- Andalusian.
In addition, the following foreign subspecies are classified as natives:
- Barbary
- kativari:
- Javanese pony;
- Spanish Anglo-Arab;
- hydran arabian;
- Marvari
- shagia arabian;
- Yomuda;
- French Anglo-Arab.
Let's consider some breeds in more detail.
Horse
The horse owes its origin to UK breeders. The breed was bred with the participation of eastern stallions and females from the local livestock. Its characteristic features are an elongated body and decent size. In the past centuries, animals were chosen for show jumping, steeplechase and triathlon. They can be safely attributed to the most beautiful breeds of horses. We can say that against the background of other subspecies, they stand out for their noble exterior. They are easy to educate. Individuals are used to ennoble other varieties.
Arab
The Terek stud farm breeding the domestic population offers several types of horses of this breed. Of these, you can choose the right stallion to reproduce half-blood animals of any subspecies. All representatives differ in the structure of the body and suit. There are four types of horses:
- Hadban. Horses are gray or bay. Their characteristic features are light constitution, beautiful posture and high growth. Animals are obedient, hardy, used mainly in sports.
- Cocheilan. Powerful representatives with a wide chest. They have established themselves as strong horses and runners.
- Siglavi. High graceful horses are distinguished by endurance and calm. They have a gray coat color, relatively low.
- Kocheline siglavi. Hybrids that incorporate all the characteristics of these varieties. Their color is different: brown, bay, gray and red. Hybrid individuals are quite strong and hardworking.
Breeds of horses in Russia: list
Let's pay attention to the most popular breeds in our country. These are the top species, which include:
- Budenovskaya;
- tersky;
- Russian Arab;
- Don.
Of the harness and universal subspecies, the following are known:
- Oryol trotter;
- Pechora
- Vyatka;
- Bashkir;
- Transbaikal
- Russian trotter;
- Yakut;
- Karachay;
- Altai;
- Mezenskaya.
What subspecies are suitable for the Moscow region?
In the Moscow region, horse breeding specializes in breeding elite horses. All of them are distinguished by high strength, good endurance, unique color and body structure. Let's pay attention to the most popular horses in the Moscow region. List of breeds:
- trakenenskaya;
- Bashkir;
- Frisian;
- Akhal-Teke;
- Hanover
- Arabian horses.
Breeds for Crimea
The peninsula has developed industrial, amateur and sports horse breeding. Local farmers are breeding Bashkir representatives and Russian heavyweights most often for meat. There are mixed subspecies that are grown by lovers of these animals for various shows, races and exhibitions.
It is believed that all breeds in the area descended from wild Scythian individuals. The first were relatively low and had a powerful head. The second - more slender and have a compact structure of the skull. These representatives were crossed for a long period. Closer to the 20th century, riding horses appeared here. So, what breeds of horses are bred in the Crimea? The list of varieties that have been ennobled and carry the blood of the best horses, includes:
- Cherkasy;
- Arabic
- Crimean mountain;
- Scythian;
- wild.
What to consider when choosing an animal?
To choose an animal according to goals and preferences, it’s not enough just to get acquainted with the list of horse breeds. It is important to carefully study all the characteristic features of a particular species, the history of origin, a description of appearance, color. Possessing information about with which representatives the breed was bred, it will be possible to guess the color of the future offspring. And if they possessed any advantages inherent in the natives, it would be possible to hope for the manifestation of such signs in factory or transitional individuals.
When breeding work with horses, special attention is always paid to their purpose. It would be ridiculous to have a purebred beauty, and then use it to transport goods, as well as to expect high performance in sports from a weak horse. There are universal varieties that have shown themselves remarkable both under the saddle and in the harness. As it was noticed by the horse breeders, friezes can cope with different tasks. This breed is considered universal.
The temperament of individuals is also important. There are horses with a more ardent character, others are friendly or persistent, while heavy ones are usually phlegmatic.
Promising varieties
Of all the varieties, the most popular are sports breeds. They began to dominate others in terms of perspective, after various mechanized systems began to develop rapidly and the need for the exploitation of animals decreased significantly. And also the cavalry has lost its essential significance. Since horseback riding has become quite popular, we will focus on the best representatives suitable for this sport.
- Akhal-Teke. Compared to other breeds, horses are distinguished by a long neck, thinness and an elongated body. The characteristic features of the breed include a variety of stripes. Animals are graceful and temperament, remain loyal to its owner. Previously used by nomads to participate in raids.
- Arabian horses. They are among the natives, the subspecies was bred in the IV century. They are famous for the proportional lines of the case, relatively small. They differ in the special structure of the skeleton, in animals the profile is somewhat concave. These representatives have long been used in breeding and almost all new breeds carry their blood.
- Hanover. This subspecies was bred as a result of crossing other purebred animals. They are distinguished by a calm disposition and attractive exterior. Horses are characterized by such qualities as endurance and undemanding care.
Riding horses have an excellent memory and they are very malleable in education. All of them have beautiful appearance and are very popular all over the world.