Characteristics and features of keeping large traction horses of the Russian breed

The Russian breed of Ardens, large traction horses, was bred for farming. She was taken out to help transport heavy loads. Horses differ in their size and endurance. They are kept by many breeders for sale, meat, kumis and making rare varieties of cheese. Individuals are unpretentious in care. Pulling horses are ranked among the Ardennes - the largest horses on the planet.

How the breed was born

The horse breed was formed by absorption crossbreeding at the beginning of the 20th century. The founders of the Russian traction horses were the draft horses and the Belgian ardens. The Russian heavy truck was registered in 1952. It is the result of crossing Russian traction horses with half-blooded ardens. They were used to improve other breeds. Traction horses have spread throughout Russia and neighboring countries.

Advantages and disadvantages

Heavy horses have the following positive qualities:

• early maturity of young individuals;
• a large amount of milk during lactation;
• endurance;
• unpretentious content;
• the ability to give offspring 20-25 years old;
• power;
• obedience.

Of the shortcomings, it is noted that it is desirable to feed the horse with balanced compound feed. If she does not receive sufficient nutrition, then the weight gain slows down. In rare cases, the horse shows dissatisfaction during work if he does not like something.

Full description and exterior

The characteristics of the Russian heavy truck include the following criteria:

• height at the withers - 146-150 cm;
• pastern girth - 20-21 cm;
• the body is deep, elongated;
• legs are short, strong, dry;
• the head is small, wide;
• the neck is muscular, short;
• the back is long, softish;
• the loin is wide, the croup is slightly forked;
• the color is red, red-roan, less often bay, bay-roan, black, gray.

At stud farms, out of 100 mares of a Russian heavy truck, the output of young stock is 80-85%, in the best times it reaches 90%. By one and a half years of life, the weight gain of a young individual is 97%. By the third year of life, they gain mass and growth of an adult. Mares and stallions no older than 20-25 years old are allowed for breeding.

Where are Russian heavy trucks used?

The heavy draft horse is widely used in farming and agriculture. Horse use area:

• help in the household;
• reproduction for sale;
• extraction of kumis;
• making rare types of cheese;
• growing for meat;
• transportation of heavy loads.

There are several breeders who are engaged in breeding specifically one breed - the Russian heavy truck.Individuals are raised for sale to foreign countries, kept on farms at factories.

Interesting information! A mare during lactation gives 3000 tons of milk per year.

Features of the content

Russian ardens are unpretentious in content. The rules for caring for them are no different from other breeds.

Stable

The building for horses must be well ventilated; keep them in separate pens on a leash, horses are arranged in a row. The walls for the partitions are made deaf, 1.4 m, the height of the doors is at least 2.5 m, the width of the corral is 1.2 m. The height of the ceiling is 3 m. The floor is bare, with sawdust.

They equip outdoor walking pens in the open air, 20 m are allocated for one animal², for a young individual - 12 m²... An area of ​​400 m is sufficient for breeding².

Feeding and drinking

Heavy trucks are fed 3-4 times a day in small portions. Horse feed is divided into groups:

1. Rough feed. For 100 kg of animal weight, 1.5-3 kg are given. Permitted hay of legumes in the budding phase, cereals in the panicle ejection phase. The best hay varieties consist of: alfalfa, clover, good quality meadow grasses, spring straw.
2. Juicy feed. For 100 kg of mass, 2-4 kg of feed are fed. This category includes: potatoes (8-15 kg per day), beets (8-10 kg), carrots (the same amount), silage (8-15 kg), corn (10 kg). The rest of the components are given per 100 kg of mass. It is advisable to mix ingredients together for a variety of diet.
3. Concentrates. Horses prefer oats from grain concentrates. The category includes corn, wheat bran, barley, oil cake, meal, molasses.

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The diet of heavy horses should include the following components:

• dry matter;
• feed units;
• crude and digested protein;
• lysine;
• crude fiber;
• salt;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• copper;
• zinc;
• cobalt;
• manganese;
• iodine;
• carotenes;
• vitamin complex.

To achieve such a composition, coarse, juicy feed and concentrate are combined with each other. Animal feed must be fresh.

The water compartment in the stable is made in the form of a separate room. Water is used from artesian springs; the liquid in the drinkers is changed daily. It must be at least 23 C. In open areas, ponds, rivers, lakes are suitable for watering. The main thing is that the water meets hygienic standards.

Care and hygiene

It is necessary to wash a horse when it is impossible to clean it. In winter, the procedure is not carried out at all. In summer, horses are washed as needed, 1-3 times per season. For this you will need:

• horse shampoo;
• water;
• scraper.

For the first procedure, the water is heated to 26-30 C, next times lower the temperature to 16-20 C. The washing process should not take more than 15 minutes. These horses are not very fond of water, for them it is an unpleasant process. Step-by-step actions:

1. They wet the skin of the animal.
2. Shampoo is applied with a washcloth.
3. Carry out cleaning actions.
4. Wash off the shampoo with plenty of water.
5. Remove residual moisture with a special scraper.
6. Dry the horse's head with a dry washcloth.

To make the skin dry faster, the horse is brought out into the sun in sunny weather. In cloudy weather, the animal is strolled down the street at a slow pace.

Breeding

Russian traction horses breed up to 20-25 years. The total growth of young stock is 85%. In the stable, a separate room is set aside for breeding. A mare and a horse are driven into it during the mating season. After giving birth, the female is given time to rest, 2 years. During this period, the mare feeds the young with milk. After completing lactation, she is sent back to mating.

Important! Young growth grows rapidly and by 1.5 years it grows by 97%.

Interesting facts about Russian heavy trucks

Russian heavy trucks are known all over the world. This horse breed is still very popular among breeders. Interesting Facts:

1. The Russian traction horse is recognized as the largest heavy-harness horse.
2. The most valuable representatives of the breed are concentrated in Russia and Belarus from private breeders.
3. The breed was developed by scientists not only from Russia, but also from Ukraine.
4. The breed of the Russian heavy truck is divided into the Ural and Ukrainian types.
5. These individuals are still used to improve other breeds.

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The Belgian Ardennes became the founders. The largest horse reached 2.2 m in height and weighed 3000 kg. However, due to their weight, it was difficult for them to move, after which they began to withdraw a horse with the same characteristics, but more miniature.

The state of the breed today

Currently, stud farms are going through hard times. Of the 22 factories that housed 1,000 animals each, 8 survived. The owners have difficulties with the animal care personnel and are forced to do part of the work on their own. Russian ardens are medium-price horses. They continue to be bought for personal use and breeding.

The Russian breed of large traction horses is widely used in agriculture. Such assistants help to cope with the transport of heavy loads. Ardens are unpretentious in care and maintenance. Any stable conditions and the simplest feed are suitable for them. Horses gain muscle mass quickly.