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Kabardian (horse)
Encyclopedia
The Kabarda or Kabardin horse
is a breed from the Caucasus
, currently part of the Kabardino-Balkaria
region of Russia
and Georgia
. Historically the breed has been known for at least 400 years, but its origins are probably as old as the Hittite
civilization. These horses are noted for their endurance and ease to adapt in difficult environments.
and the Turkoman
. The breed are usually kept in herds, and are moved between mountain pastures in the summer and foothills areas in the winter.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Count Stroganov began a program of crossing Kabardas with Arabians, and the results were considered satisfactory. After the 1917 Russian Revolution
, the numbers of Kabarda were hugely reduced, and during the 1920’s efforts were made to re-establish the breed. Between 1935 and 1953, the purebred population averaged 446 stallions and 3272 mares. During early half of the twentieth century, a new breed, called the Anglo-Kabarda
was formed by crossing Kabardas with Thoroughbred
s, and in 1966 the new breed was recognized. By the late 1980’s the number of purebred Kabarda breeding mares had dropped to between 400 and 450, concentrated mainly at the Malokarachaevski and Malkinski studs and other breeding farms in the Kabardino-Balkaria region, including the Krasny Partizan collective farm in the Stavropol territory.
, or gray
. They are a solid, cleanly built horse with a clean head, a well-muscled neck, medium-high withers, a deep chest, long, sloping shoulders, a short, solid back, and a muscular, slightly sloping croup. Their legs are correctly set, with clean, well-developed joints and hard hooves. The Kabardas’ blood has a heightened oxidizing capacity, useful for work high in the mountains. The breed also is an easy keeper
, that is, it has a tendency to accumulate fat quickly, which helps when the horses are exposed to extreme conditions on a regular basis, but can be a hardship for owners when the horses are kept stabled.
In recent years, Kabardas bred in the Karachai republic began to be referred to as the Karachai breed. These horses are generally of the massive type described above.
outside of Russia, and for the creation and improvement of other breeds, such as the Anglo-Kabarda
, the Tersky, and native stock in Armenia
, Azerbaijan
and Georgia
. Although they are mainly used as a saddle horse
, they have work well in harness
and as a pack horse. The mountain tribesmen of the Caucasus make hay
on steep slopes by hitching Kabardas to horse-drawn mowers.
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
is a breed from the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, currently part of the Kabardino-Balkaria
Kabardino-Balkaria
The Kabardino-Balkar Republic , or Kabardino-Balkaria , is a federal subject of Russia located in the North Caucasus. Population: -Geography:The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part....
region of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. Historically the breed has been known for at least 400 years, but its origins are probably as old as the Hittite
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
civilization. These horses are noted for their endurance and ease to adapt in difficult environments.
History
The Kabarda has been bred since the 16th century by mountain tribesmen in the northern Caucasus, and is the product of centuries of selective breeding for the ability to survive in harsh conditions. The Kabarda breed was formed from a combination of steppe horses, the Karabakh, the ArabianArabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
and the Turkoman
Turkoman Horse
The Turkoman horse, or Turkmene, was an Oriental horse breed from the steppes of Central Asia, now extinct. Modern descendants include the Akhal-Teke and the Yamud horse breeds. Horses bred in Turkmenistan are still referred to as Turkoman, and have similar characteristics...
. The breed are usually kept in herds, and are moved between mountain pastures in the summer and foothills areas in the winter.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Count Stroganov began a program of crossing Kabardas with Arabians, and the results were considered satisfactory. After the 1917 Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
, the numbers of Kabarda were hugely reduced, and during the 1920’s efforts were made to re-establish the breed. Between 1935 and 1953, the purebred population averaged 446 stallions and 3272 mares. During early half of the twentieth century, a new breed, called the Anglo-Kabarda
Anglo-Kabarda
The Anglo-Kabarda or Anglo-Kabardin is a breed of horse that is a cross between the Kabarda and the Thoroughbred. Representatives of the breed may have between 25 percent and 75 percent Thoroughbred blood...
was formed by crossing Kabardas with Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s, and in 1966 the new breed was recognized. By the late 1980’s the number of purebred Kabarda breeding mares had dropped to between 400 and 450, concentrated mainly at the Malokarachaevski and Malkinski studs and other breeding farms in the Kabardino-Balkaria region, including the Krasny Partizan collective farm in the Stavropol territory.
Breed Characteristics
The Kabarda stands 14.1 to 15.1 hands high, with a coat that is bay, blackBlack (horse)
Black is a hair coat color of horses in which the entire hair coat is black. Black is a relatively uncommon coat color, and novices frequently mistake dark chestnuts or bays for black. However, some breeds of horses, such as the Friesian horse, Murgese and Ariegeois are almost exclusively black...
, or gray
Gray (horse)
Gray or grey is a coat color of horses characterized by progressive silvering of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike many depigmentation genes, gray does not affect skin or eye color Their adult hair coat is white, dappled, or white intermingled...
. They are a solid, cleanly built horse with a clean head, a well-muscled neck, medium-high withers, a deep chest, long, sloping shoulders, a short, solid back, and a muscular, slightly sloping croup. Their legs are correctly set, with clean, well-developed joints and hard hooves. The Kabardas’ blood has a heightened oxidizing capacity, useful for work high in the mountains. The breed also is an easy keeper
Easy keeper
An easy keeper, easy doer or good doer is a livestock animal that can live on relatively little food. The opposite of an easy keeper is a hard keeper , an animal that is prone to be too thin and has difficulty maintaining adequate weight.Easy keepers tend to be found most often in breeds...
, that is, it has a tendency to accumulate fat quickly, which helps when the horses are exposed to extreme conditions on a regular basis, but can be a hardship for owners when the horses are kept stabled.
Sub-Types
There are three main subtypes of the Kabarda breed:- Basic type – This is the predominant type, a typical mountain riding horse that is rangy but well-muscled.
- Oriental type – This type shows a more Arabian influence, with smaller heads, very clean legs, thinner skins, and hotter temperaments.
- Massive type – This type is bigger, with a more robust bone structure similar to a typical carriageCarriageA carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
horse.
In recent years, Kabardas bred in the Karachai republic began to be referred to as the Karachai breed. These horses are generally of the massive type described above.
Uses
The Kabarda horse has been bred for stony and mountainous terrain. The breed is usually fast and has good endurance. They are often used as a sport horseSport horse
Sport horse, or Sporthorse, is a term used to describe a type of horse, rather than any particular breed. The term generally refers to horses bred for the traditional Olympic equestrian sporting events of dressage, eventing, show jumping, and combined driving. The precise definition varies...
outside of Russia, and for the creation and improvement of other breeds, such as the Anglo-Kabarda
Anglo-Kabarda
The Anglo-Kabarda or Anglo-Kabardin is a breed of horse that is a cross between the Kabarda and the Thoroughbred. Representatives of the breed may have between 25 percent and 75 percent Thoroughbred blood...
, the Tersky, and native stock in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. Although they are mainly used as a saddle horse
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, they have work well in harness
Driving (horse)
Driving, when applied to horses, ponies, mules, or donkeys, is a broad term for hitching equines to a wagon, carriage, cart, sleigh, or other horse-drawn vehicle by means of a harness and working them in this way...
and as a pack horse. The mountain tribesmen of the Caucasus make hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
on steep slopes by hitching Kabardas to horse-drawn mowers.