Thousands of years have passed since the domestication of horses. These animals have always been faithful helpers for people. They were used by the villagers as a draft force, and the knights traveled great distances on them, going into battle. Later, horses began to be harnessed to luxurious carriages, and now, in the era of mechanization, popular horse breeds are used in equestrian sports.
breed breeding
What underlies the popularity of horse breeds?
Different horses were popular in different eras. When people had to manually cultivate the land and transport heavy loads, they needed strong and hardy horses. In this regard, in the 18th century, heavy draft breeds were the most in demand. After 100 years, interest in equestrian competitions appeared in European countries. Horse racing allowed not only to satisfy the ambitions of the public, but also to make good money. The need for heavy trucks disappeared completely due to the rapid development of technical progress, but the popularity of riding breeds increased.
Some horses attract attention with their external beauty and temperament, others – with speed of movement and grace. For example, mustangs living on the American continent. These horses are extremely beautiful and popular, but only a person who has managed to tame him can afford to have such a horse.
Horse breeds that have won world fame
ะัะฐะฑัะบะฐั
Arabian horses are the most recognizable in the world. This breed is the oldest on earth. It was bred by the Bedouins who inhabited the Arabian Peninsula in the 4th-6th centuries AD. An Arabian horse cannot be confused with another, it has several features inherent only to it:
- pike profile;
- raised tail;
- unusual skeletal structure.
Arabian horse
Attention! Arabian horses are renowned for their endurance. They are able to overcome a daily distance of 160 km, while managing a small amount of drink and food.
Thoroughbred
This breed of horses has gained worldwide fame due to its high running speed. These are the fastest horses over short distances. Beach Rackit, a purebred English horse, set a world record when he ran 409m at 69,9km/h. No other breed competes with thoroughbreds in horse racing competitions, as they have no equal in speed of movement.
English racehorses are very beautiful in appearance. They are characterized by elegance, grace, nobility and grace of forms, but these animals have a drawback – a complex character. They tend to show temper and disobedience, they are difficult to train.
Akhalteke
This popular horse breed comes from Turkmenistan. According to scientists, it is more than 5 thousand years old. She is distinguished by her extraordinary beauty and proud disposition. Horses of isabella color are considered especially attractive. The wool of horses glistens and shimmers in the sun. Akhal-Tekes are purebred horses, that is, for centuries they have never crossed with representatives of other breed lines.
The popularity of the Akhal-Teke is explained not only by the ancient origin and purity of blood. They are famous for their proud disposition. Horses become attached to the owner and remain faithful to him until the end of their lives, and they are wary of strangers. Endurance and unpretentiousness are qualities inherent in these animals. They easily tolerate a hot climate, easily overcome great distances, and can do without water for a long time.
Attention! The Akhal-Teke horse has a beautiful physique and graceful movements. The peculiarity of the horses is the eastern section of the eyes and the long swan neck. Some individuals lack a mane.
Akhal-Teke horse
Mustang
The history of mustangs began in the 16th and 17th centuries in America, when Spanish conquistadors brought horses to the continent. The Indians did not immediately appreciate the animals, at first they used them as a source of food. Looking at the Europeans, the locals realized that horses are an excellent means of transportation, and began to tame and domesticate them. The strayed and feral horses formed large herds. They became known as mustangs.
The number of wild horses gradually increased, but at the end of the 19th century, the mustangs were endangered, they were killed for their skins and meat. Today, the population has been restored and protected by US law.
The popularity of these horses is due to their extraordinary beauty, inherited from Andalusian and Arabian ancestors. These are beautifully built animals of medium height – 1,55 m with well-developed muscle mass. Their suits are different, but black mustangs are especially beautiful with a piebald coat color. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by endurance, strong immunity, high running speed, unpretentiousness and love of freedom.
Pearl
The popular Indian breed of horses, the Marwari, owes its origin to the Rajput Rathor clan, whose members allowed only the strongest, most beautiful, smart, hardy and loyal horses to be bred. The history of these horses is associated with many legends. One of them says that a ship crashed near the coast of India, Arabian horses were transported on it, which became the basis for breeding Marvari.
A distinctive feature of animals is their ears, turned inward, forming a semblance of a heart above their heads. Marwar horses became famous thanks to their courage and devotion. If the owner of the horse was wounded in battle, the four-legged friend never left him, but was nearby and protected from enemies.
marwar horse
Appaloosa
This breed is popular due to its recognizable appearance. Appaloosian horses are carriers of the piebald gene. Large or small spots contrast on the main white or dark background of the coat, which looks very impressive.
Of particular interest are the colors:
- marble;
- snowflake;
- frost;
- leopard.
The Appaloosa breed is characterized by the white color of the sclera of the eyes, and the skin of individuals is pigmented. The exterior of the horses is also impressive – they are not tall, but have a massive chest, a downed muscular croup and strong limbs. The mane of these animals is soft and silky.
Popular European horse breeds
Friesian
This breed line originated in the small province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The ancestors of modern Frisians were local draft horses and horses of Spanish origin. The popularity of the breed is due to the luxurious appearance of its representatives. In the Baroque era, horses were harnessed to royal carriages.
The Friesian breed belongs to the heavy-duty breed. These are stately, well-built and strong animals, demonstrating clear movements. They are characterized by a black suit, there are no other colors in the breed. Frisian horses are the owners of a wide developed chest, a muscular long neck, and a rounded downed croup. Lush brushes adorn the lower part of the limbs, and a luxurious mane flaunts on the head.
Attention! The Friesian horse makes good contact, has a calm and docile nature. She is hardworking, hardy and strong, for which she is valued not only in Europe, but also on other continents.
Friesian breed
french sel
The breed was bred in France on the basis of Norman mares and English riding stallions imported into the country. In the middle of the 20th century, it was improved with the help of French trotters, Anglo-Arabs and Arabian horses. From their ancestors, the villages inherited the ability to develop a high gallop speed, a powerful jump, endurance and strength.
Reference. The French Selle is a popular equestrian horse breed. Horses take part and win numerous victories in dressage, show jumping, triathlon competitions.
Breeds of domestic selection, which are popular
Oryol trotter
In the 18th century, Count Orlov bought from the Turkish Sultan a beautiful gray stallion, a thoroughbred Arab named Smetanka. One of the sons of the horse became the founder of the popular breed of horses, the Oryol trotter. Representatives of this line are distinguished by a frisky and steady trot.
The Oryol trotter is beautifully built, its profile betrays the presence of Arab blood. The body of the horses is lean, the neck is long, curved, the legs are slender and strong. The breed is considered one of the best in domestic selection, it is valued not only in Russia, but throughout the world.
Budennovskaya
The Budyonnovskaya horse breed was bred in the Rostov region on the basis of Don mares and thoroughbred English stallions; it was registered in 1948. At first, these horses served for the needs of the army, and are now used in equestrian sports. They have gained popularity due to their endurance, strength and unpretentiousness. The Budyonnovskaya horse inherited tirelessness from the Don ancestors, and from thoroughbred riding horses it inherited perseverance and the will to win.
Horse breed Budyonnovskaya
Representatives of this breed line participate in competitions and win victories in various disciplines:
- dressage;
- smooth jumps;
- show jumping;
- triathlon.
The Don
The Don horse breed, popular in Russia, was bred under the leadership of Budyonny on the basis of Kalmyk mares, which were brought to the Don by nomads. For breeding, stallions of Arab, Persian origin and the best representatives of thoroughbred riding breed were used.
Don horses are medium-sized, but very hardy and hardworking animals. They are able to make long transitions for several days. Horses are not afraid of either heat or cold, they are undemanding to nutrition and quality of care.
Two colors are common in the breed – red and bay. The Don horse has a short, shiny coat. A distinctive feature of the horses are concave knees, and they are located slightly lower than that of representatives of other breeds. This structure of the limbs allows the Don horse to make a powerful jump and easily move on various grounds. Today, this breed is in demand among athletes; it has shown itself especially well in show jumping, driving, and horse racing.
The popularity of different breeds of horses is associated with their external characteristics or interesting history, while others won it thanks to sporting achievements or hot temperament. Every nation highly appreciates native horses, because their ancestors worked on their breeding. However, some breeds have gained worldwide fame and recognition, these include thoroughbred horses – Arabian, English riding and Akhal-Teke.
