Descriptions and characteristics of the best breeds of riding horses, history of breeding and application

When they talk about riding horses, they represent slender horses with a proud head carriage, a restive character. Many thoroughbred horses have been bred, differing in exterior, character, behavior. Hence the different uses of them by man. Calm and docile horses are intended for riding. And to participate in sports races, animals are selected that have strength, energy, and the desire to win.

Swiss warm-blooded

The history of the riding horse breed goes back to the X century, when the Benedictine monks were engaged in horse breeding. For many centuries, selection of stallions was carried out, in the creation of the tribe of which stallions from France, Ireland, Germany, Sweden participated. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the creation of a universal warm-blooded horse, capable of participating in triathlon and dressage, was completed.

Characteristics of the breed's exterior include:

• proportionally folded head;
• muscular neck;
• deep and wide chest;
• long, straight back;
• slanting shoulders;
• beveled croup.

The Swiss riding horse is medium in size. At the withers, it reaches no more than 165 centimeters.

Chilean

Horses came to South America together with the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors of the continent. Already in the 19th century, racehorses of the Chilean selection became known in many countries of the world. The standards of a thoroughbred horse include the fact that it:

• weighing up to 300 kilograms;
• with well-developed muscles;
• dense skeleton;
• resistant to disease;
• recovers quickly from injuries.

The color of horses is often black, bay. A pure breed does not have foreign blood impurities, it is appreciated by agricultural producers for its ability to perform hard work.

Kabardinskaya

Kabardian horse breeders bred riding horses, crossing local fillies with Arab, Karabakh and Persian stallions. The breed is interesting for its exterior. Together with a strong bone, the horse has a sufficient chest width, dry limbs. The animals are dark in color.

By nature, Kabardian horses are lively, obedient. Horses are easy to train. They are used to overcome mountain passes. They can walk along rocky paths for a long time, covering distances of 100 kilometers, without rest, in a loaded state.

The popularity of the Kabardian horse breed is high.The creation of the International Organization of Kabardian Horse Lovers speaks of the importance of the issues of preservation and restoration of the number of thoroughbred stallions.

Karabakh

One of the valuable breeds of riding horses is divided into 2 types according to the exterior: dense individuals with strong legs and tall ones with a light body. The unifying indicators of the breed of Karabakh horses are:

• height - up to 150 meters;
• well developed skull, tapering downward, with deep-set, protruding eyes;
• neck with a thin crest and well-developed muscles;
• wide chest;
• straight back;
• short dry legs with small hooves.

The color of the purebred Karabakhs includes the whole range of golden shades. Individuals with a golden-lemon coat or orange color with a dark mane and tail are beautiful. There may be marks on the torso, stockings on the legs.

In our time, the population of purebred horses is being restored; use horses in competitions, tourism business.

Ukrainian horse

Breed selection was carried out at stud farms after the end of the Patriotic War. S. Budyonny himself supervised the breeding of the riding horse. He supplied the plant with trophy animals exported from Western Europe.

Only in the 90s of the last century did horses appear that had the desired exterior. Tall, tall, they were distinguished by a strong skeleton, bone structure, dryness, harmony of constitution. The Ukrainian riding horse combines the best qualities of sports breeds. Together with liveliness, agility, horses are famous for perseverance, poise.

Lipizzan

A noble and beautiful horse, combining intelligence, temperament, was obtained by selecting the best specimens for over 4 hundred years. In the creation of the breed, the genes of the best representatives of Western European horses were used. Now thousands of purebred horses continue to amaze with their success in sports, taking prizes. They are also used in classic horse riding.

The animals have inherited small, alert ears from the Arabian trotters. Muscular thighs with a powerful short neck, well-defined joints and tendons harmonize in the exterior of the breed. The bushy tail is lifted up, and the long mane flutters, adorning the light gray, piebald, bay horses. Easily adapt to harsh environmental conditions. Meek in character, they look royally proud and dignified.

Trakehner

To breed the warm-blooded breed, Arab and English horses were brought to Prussia. To create a horse with high sporting qualities, it was necessary to conduct a careful selection of the best specimens of animals. In Russia, a Russian traken was brought out, using horses exported from Prussia.

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The growth of thoroughbred horses is more than 160 centimeters. Together with the strength of the body, the strength of the legs, the horses have a dry broad-forehead. The animals are dominated by red, black, bay color. Hardy stallions are bred for participation in sports triathlon. Horses are distinguished by a rhythmic step, they are able to easily run with a gait.

Terskaya

After a long selection, the Terek horse breeders registered a new breed, which was entered in the State Register in 1948. Among the specimens obtained as a result of crossing, those were taken to the tribe, the exterior of which corresponded to the indicators:

• growth - from 1.5 meters;
• muscular, slightly dry build.

Distinctive features of the Terek horse are strong legs, breadth of back and croup. The head is of medium shape and has a concave profile. Tersk horses are recognized by their gray color, although there are specimens with a bay and red coat color.

Thoroughbred horses are bred in the Stavropol Territory for participation in equestrian sports competitions, tourism business. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by their peaceful disposition and endurance.The mares are fertile, which helps to quickly increase the number of livestock. Horses rarely get sick and live long.

Russian horse

For dressage, the Russian horse breed, bred more than 20 years ago, is suitable. The cross contains genes of Oryol, Arabian, Akhal-Teke trotters.

The horses' constitution is ideal for sporting events. The wool of animals is shiny, black or bay color. They are 165 centimeters high at the withers. The girth in the chest and the length of the body are the same size - 180 centimeters. From the side, when the horse moves, the body resembles a square.

Thoroughbred horses with long and strong legs show high results in sports, participating in triathlon, dressage, show jumping. Riding horses can be seen at the parades, the opening of the Olympic Games. Animals are easy to learn, obedient in control, energetically and accurately perform tasks.

Marwari

Horses appeared in the Indian state of Marwar by crossing local ponies and Arabian horses. The breed is quite rare, with an amazing appearance, characterized by:

• large head shape with a straight profile;
• long neck, well-defined withers;
• straight shoulders;
• thin legs.

More often there are horses of a bay and red color, less often - gray and piebald. There are many superstitions associated with marwari. So, a black horse is classified as an animal that brings misfortune. Horses with white toes and markings on their bodies are prized as promising good luck. The structure of the ears of the marwari, which resemble hearts, is interesting. Unique horses are used universally: they are harnessed to carriages, transported on them, and they ride for walks.

Kiger Mustang

A variety of wild mustang bred in America. It is impossible to choose a more suitable horse for riding, show jumping, than a horse of the Kiger breed. Their intelligence is combined with endurance and enthusiasm.

The standard for the breed is a dun horse with a black mane. There are light stripes in the color of the coat of the legs and body. The body of the mustang is short, the neck and back are strong, with well-developed muscles. The large head has sharp ears. Large eyes give the horse's muzzle expressiveness.

Iberian

One of the oldest breeds, which Homer mentioned in his poems, is famous for its gracefulness. In the Middle Ages, only these beautiful animals were kept in the Portuguese, Spanish stables.

Characteristic features of the breed are: large head, elongated neck forming a right angle. The body is powerful, with a rounded croup.

Legs are well muscled with prominent bones. Animals have a well-developed sense of balance. They are appreciated for their excellent physical performance. The color of thoroughbred Iberians can be either gray or rich chestnut tone. Iberian horses are used for riding, military affairs, because they are quick-witted, courageous, balanced.

Holstein

For the first time, Holstein horses are mentioned in the chronicles of the 13th century. Over time, the breed has acquired significant changes in its exterior; these horses have become beautiful animals with a long, arched neck. The setting of the horse's limbs is considered exemplary - widely spaced in the forearms, with a proportional and dense metacarpus, shortened hock joints, strong tendons.

The stately trotters are fantastically capable of working, so they easily achieve high results in sports. Holsteiners are often used at parades, ceremonial trips.

Donskaya

The breed is represented by horses with a stubborn, hot character. The homeland of the Don horses was the Rostov region, and the progenitor was the Nogai horse. For a beautiful shade of color, the horses are called “the gold of the Don steppe”. For the Cossacks, they are the most loyal, reliable animals. Horses constantly need physical activity and training. The thoroughbred horses have developed muscles, a wide skeleton. The hooves are usually strong due to the constant movement across the steppe.

Representatives of the breed are short. The average is 160-170 centimeters.Tall, light horses that are used for riding are especially appreciated. They can withstand loads for a long time due to their excellent physical qualities.

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Hanover

The improvement of the breed of local Lower Saxon mares by mating with English, Iberian and German stallions took a long time. But the result was worth the long effort. Purebred Hanoverians have such characteristics as:

• rectangular folding;
• the length of the body is greater than the height at the withers;
• long neck with high output;
• a strong back with a short loin;
• suit gray, bay, red, black.

With such an exterior, Hanoverian horses are capable of reaching prize heights in sports.

Budennovskaya

At first, the horse was created for the needs of the cavalry, since the initiator of its breeding was the commander S. Budyonny. Don mares and English stallions were crossed. The resulting purebred horses later became excellent athletes, participated in competitions in various disciplines.

You cannot take your eyes off the perfectly built horses of the Budyonnovsk breed. They have excellent physical characteristics:

• developed muscles, giving endurance and strength;
• powerful croup, high withers to hold the rider;
• well-positioned dry feet for a fast run;
• wide deep chest, able to overcome wind resistance.

Horses are bred of all stripes: from shades of golden to terracotta, with the same mane and tail. Their ears are like a lyre; stallions are very sensitive, pick up sounds well.

Akhal-Teke

Akhal-Teke horses are purebred horses bred in Turkmenistan in ancient times. Hardy and lean horses have a long dry body, thin legs, flexible neck. There is not a single gram of excess fat under the silky coat and thin skin. The horses' slanting eyes are beautiful, the shape of the ears is ideal.

The suits of the Akhal-Teke breed are diverse. There are horses with a chocolate brown body and black mane, tail, or completely black, shining, or cognac red. Interesting animals of gray color with black stockings on their legs and the same mane and tail, with pinkish milky wool. Akhal-Teke argamaks are strongly attached to their owners. Active and easily excitable by nature, they are real children of the temperamental south.

Menorca horse

These synchronously dancing horses grew up on the island of Menorca, in the Mediterranean. The black suit horses reach 160 centimeters at the withers. They have long and dry limbs, lush tails and manes, beautifully set heads with neat ears. Minorcan horses are used for performances in the circus, at the festival. Horses are easy to train, move gracefully, and can stand on their hind legs for a long time.

Arab purebred

One of the most expensive and demanded horses in the world, the Arabian one, became famous for its high working capacity and graceful gait. No wonder the thoroughbred trotter was used to breed other breeds of riding horses.

The color of Arabian argamaks is different: from gray to silver-bay, karak. But the rarest horse is the black one.

The height at the withers of horses is 150 centimeters, weight is 500-600 kilograms. The trotters' speed is high - 50-60 kilometers per hour. The belonging to a pure breed is indicated by:

• elongated neck;
• thin bones, rounded flattened croup;
• short refined muzzle - the profile is concave, and the forehead is wide;
• expressiveness of large eyes, miniature ears;
• the slenderness of long legs with short hooves.

The horse's body is covered with silky hair. The tail is fluffy and rises up during the gallop. Arabian horses are ideal for sports.

English racehorse

Thoroughbred trotters include representatives of the English breed. It is considered to be athletic, because to win you need energy, endurance, and audacity.These qualities are present in the English racehorse.

The color of English horses is bay, karak, black. The proportionally folded head of the horse is in harmony with the broad chest, straight neck, muscular long back. Thoroughbred trotters are whimsical in grooming, they do not tolerate climatic changes in temperature, they are demanding on nutrition.

American horse

This breed of horses can be found at exhibitions, show programs, films. Use animals for horseback riding. They are called "show-ring peacocks" for their beautiful gait. Riders choose thoroughbred horses for their ability to walk with a gait, walk, and wreck. At the same time, riders are amazed by the smooth movement of trotters. In animals, a dry, narrow head, a long, beautifully curved neck, a high withers, a short but strong back are noted.

Orlovo-Rostopchinskaya breed

Bred at the end of the 18th century, the horse underwent a rigorous selection for the tribe. For elite horses, pedigrees were created, where the qualities of purebred animals were prescribed. The beauty of the shape of the elite horses helped them to become the best among riding horses in Russia. The clarity of the breed is determined by a light head with a long nape, high withers, muscular back, straight croup. The position of the limbs in trotters is correct. The legs are equipped with well-developed joints, broken tendons. The breed has all the data to show itself perfectly on the racetrack.