The Russian heavy truck horse is the pride of domestic horse breeding. Russian and Ukrainian scientists worked on its breeding and improvement, and the breeding work itself dragged on for almost a hundred years. The breed was registered in 1952. We will tell about its origin, characteristics and advantages further.
Russian heavy truck horse
Features of the breed
The idea of creating a Russian heavy draft horse arose when not a single farm could do without a horse. It is now possible to do all the hard work by car, but 150 years ago it was done by horses: they plowed and transported goods.
Russian heavy truck is the pride of domestic horse breeding. This horse is unpretentious, smart, hardy, obedient. Even modern villagers use it to help with the housework. One of the advantages of the breed is that the animals are undemanding to the food supply. Eating pasture, they maintain good physical shape.
The modern Russian heavy truck is represented by three varieties:
- Ural type. It is characterized by long limbs, which are abundantly covered with hair.
- Massive type. These horses are considered the largest.
- Novoalekseevsky type is characterized by smaller dimensions compared to the previous one.
History of origin
About 150 years ago, small heavy-duty Belgian horses, Ardennes, were brought to the territory of Russia. Although their appearance was not impressive, however, the villagers appreciated the performance of foreign horses and unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention. These animals showed activity, were ready to work tirelessly, while not particularly needing a rich food supply. It was the Belgian Ardennes that became the progenitors of the Russian heavy truck. They have been bred on private farms for decades.
Large-scale selection work began in 1860 at the Petrovsky Academy. The main core of the new breed was formed there. The best Ukrainian and Russian horses were taken as a basis, foals with optimal signs were selected from their crosses. However, the offspring adopted the external disadvantages of the Ardenes. To renew the blood and eliminate defects, scientists crossbred mares with Brabancons.
By the end of the 18th century, the breed changed its appearance for the better. When an exhibition was held in Paris in 1900, where the improved Russian heavy truck was officially presented, the breed received public recognition. The stallion present at the exhibition was even awarded a gold medal. In the future, selection work continued until the start of the civil war. Scientists directed their efforts to increase the height of horses. For this, the descendants of the Ardenes were crossed with large breeds.
Appearance of a Russian heavy truck
The Civil and Great Patriotic Wars caused damage to the breeding stock of the Russian Ardennes, but still the breed was saved. The new horses were very different in appearance from their Belgian ancestors, but retained their main qualities:
- physical strength;
- endurance;
- adaptability to the climate of the middle zone;
- unpretentiousness and undemanding to the food base.
In 1952, the breed was officially named the Russian heavy truck. Since then, she has been considered one of the best among the horses of domestic selection.
Appearance
The Russian draft horse is not tall, but it is very well built. Representatives of the breed have a muscular body, strong legs and a powerful chest. Consider the external characteristics of the Russian heavy truck:
- height – 150-153 cm;
- stallion weight – 650-700 kg, mares – 500 kg;
- medium-sized head with a wide frontal part;
- the neck is not long, with a characteristic smooth bend, powerful;
- the withers are wide;
- the line of the back is even, the lumbar part is fleshy;
- barrel-shaped chest with well-defined muscle mass;
- croup rounded, forked, slightly lowered;
- strong limbs of medium length with the correct setting, covered with long hair;
- the mane is thick;
- the color is predominantly red or brown, less often – red-roan or black.
Attention! On the lower part of the legs, right above the hooves, Russian heavy trucks have white marks. This is their typical feature.
Character
Representatives of the domestic breed of horses are distinguished by a good disposition. They never show temper. These animals are smart and balanced, quickly get used to the owner and obey him.
The Russian heavy truck is active and hardworking. He is able to work not only in harness, but also under saddle. Horse breeders note that representatives of the Russian heavy draft breed are trustworthy. Even if an inexperienced rider manages them, the horse will not throw him out of the saddle.
Attention! The Russian heavy truck horse is able to quickly get used to the owner and the new mode of operation. It is hardy and undemanding to the conditions of detention.
Despite the complaisant and calm nature, the horse can buck in response to rough treatment. Like any other animals, the descendants of the Arden, sensing danger, show the instinct of self-preservation, begin to defend themselves.
Features of breeding
Breeders have been working for decades to create and improve the characteristics of the Russian heavy truck breed. In order to preserve its signs, the breeding of these animals takes place along the main established lines, within the tribe. The owners of thoroughbred stallions and mares adhere to these principles so that the resulting offspring do not lose valuable features and qualities.
Mares of this breed are precocious. Already at the age of 3 years, their growth stops, they are ready for reproduction and work. For breeding they are used for 24-25 years. A newborn foal is born quite large – 230-240 kg. The offspring grows rapidly due to the high milk yield of females.
Attention! A mare for 1 lactation period is able to give 2500-3000 liters of milk. The record holder in this area was a horse named Lukoshka, who gave 4800 liters of milk in 305 days.
The use of Russian heavy trucks
Today, representatives of the breed we are discussing are used in different directions. Their use in agriculture still remains relevant. In the villages, the horse plows the land, serves farms, transports firewood, coal, and water containers.
The breed is used in agriculture and tourism
The second area of use of strong and beautiful horses is tourism and leisure. In the parks, children and adults ride them, taking horseback rides, and few will refuse a photo with such beauties. With good care, the Russian heavy truck looks luxurious.
In the dairy industry, these horses are actively used. Koumiss, a fermented milk product, is made from their nutritious milk. In Russia, mare’s milk cheese, which is in demand in Kazakhstan, is not yet produced, but it may soon appear on store shelves in our country.
The horse breed Russian heavy truck deserves high marks from horse breeders. She shows excellent qualities that distinguish her from other horses – endurance, diligence, the ability to adapt to new conditions of life and work, unpretentiousness. The descendants of the Belgian Ardennes are the pride of Russian selection.
