Kabardian breed of horses: description and characteristics, rules of keeping

The archaic Kabardian horse breed is not considered an elite breed suitable for status riders. However, these hardy, stately, beautiful animals are known all over the world. Kabardian horses are universal, suitable for pack and draft work, and for riding, and for military service. For many decades, strong and frisky horses were bred for cavalry, and today Kabardians are ideal companions for tourists in mountainous areas.

Origin of the Kabardian horse

It is clear from the name of the breed that the place of origin of the horse is the North Caucasus. This area is replete with steep slopes and deep gorges, the mountain paths here are narrow and winding.There are two versions of the origin of the Kabardian breed. Some experts believe that the Kabardians were bred by crossing local steppe horses with Arabian, Persian and Turkmen horses. According to another version, the Kabardian breed is original, its appearance is the result of careful selection of native mountain horses.

The inhabitants of the Caucasus needed strong and hardy horses capable of moving through mountainous terrain, suitable for both riding and transporting goods. This is how Kabardian horses were bred, brave, frisky, desperately flying into battle, moving with amazing grace along dangerous mountain paths, capable of overcoming many kilometers of a difficult path without rest.

In the 16th century, Kabardian horses were known in western Asia and eastern Europe. The stately and hardy breed has become legendary. Representatives of the nobility and merchants gave a lot of money for Kabardian stallions. The Crimean and Turkish khans especially loved the Kabardians.

Stud farms of the Russian Empire were engaged in active breeding of the Circassian breed. In the 20th century, the breed remained one of the best bred in the highlands. Kabardian horses were used by Red Army cavalrymen who fought in the mountainous areas of the Eastern Front during World War II. Since the beginning of the 20th century, breeders began to actively improve the breed. The result of their work was the Anglo-Kabardian variety of the breed, whose representatives differ in body structure, more suitable for sports activities.

After the collapse of the Union, the stud farms were in a deplorable state, in the 1990s the breed almost disappeared, only 300 mares capable of reproduction remained in the whole country. However, the Kabardians managed to save the breed. By 2000, the number of individuals had increased so much that it was no longer possible to talk about the threat of extinction of the breed.

Description and characteristics of the breed

The Kabardian horse was bred specifically for movement in mountainous areas. The animal feels comfortable both high in the mountains and in the valley. Changes in climatic conditions and atmospheric pressure from highlands to lowlands are not a problem for the Kabardian horse.

Thanks to successful long-term selection, a breed was obtained that can easily move along dangerous rocky roads. The horse freely and fearlessly rises and falls along steep slopes, walks along winding paths, is not afraid of gorges and abysses. Kabardians have a great sense of a safe path and a unique ability to keep their balance even on the narrowest sections of the road.

Intrabreed types

Kabardian breed is divided into three types according to the conditions of keeping and purpose of use:

1. Light type. For adults, a lean "eastern" physique is characteristic. Horses are used purely for riding.
2. Classic. Stronger, leaner horses. Well defined muscle mass.
3. Massive. This is the tight type. The body of adults is heavy, massive. The skeleton and muscles are well developed. The neck is thick, the legs are strong. This variety is bred in the Stavropol Territory.

Exterior

Kabardian horse is a typical representative of the harness and riding category.

External features:

• withers height - up to 150 cm;
• weight - up to 400 kg;
• head with expressive features, hook-nosed;
• neck short, muscular;
• chest is wide, voluminous;
• body lean, sinewy, muscular, harmoniously built, almost no body fat;
• croup wide, saggy;
• legs are strong, tendon, forearm is elongated, saber structure is typical for joints of hind limbs;
• hooves are strong, with a low load, horseshoes are not needed;
• tail and mane are short, hairline is sparse, wavy.

Animal suits

The breed standard for color is strict. There are only the following purebred Kabardians:

• bay (most common);
• black;
• redheads;
• mousy (the rarest color).

Character and temperament

Kabardian horses are freedom-loving and frisky. They are quite capricious, obstinate, stubborn, but they do not take courage. Such character traits are due to the origin and history of the formation of the breed: the highlanders needed horses for military operations and movement in the mountains. Pampered European horses would not be up to the task.

Kabardian horses are noble, have a developed intellect, unquestioningly obey the owner.

But the orders of an unfamiliar rider can be ignored. To manage a shrew, you need a lot of experience in riding. An inexperienced, insecure rider can be thrown off by a horse, even bitten with his teeth. Therefore, beginners learning to ride a Kabardian pet are not given for training.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Of the advantages of the Kabardian breed, it should be noted:

• endurance (a horse is able to walk 100 km a day, dragging a load of 150 kg);
• strong immunity;
• fertility of mares even after 20 years;
• ability to quickly adapt to environmental conditions;
• high juvenile survival;
• undemanding to the quality of food;
• versatility of application.

Breed faults:

• obstinacy, stubbornness;
• late breeding readiness.

Containment conditions

The uniqueness of the Kabardian breed is that it is adapted for herd keeping. For good he alth, horses must be in constant motion. In the Caucasus, it is customary to keep young individuals in herds; they are transferred to the stable at the age of 9. It was the harsh living conditions that formed strong immunity and high adaptability to the environment in horses.

When kept in both the herd and the stable, the horse must be carefully looked after to keep it he althy. Leaving implies:

1. Cleaning the stables. Change of bedding. Disinfection of tools and stall partitions.
2. Combing the mane and tail.
3. Regular hoof inspection. Their cleaning and hooking.
4. Daily brushing of coat.
5. Washing the anus and the tailbone.
6. Examination of horse teeth by a dentist every 6 months.

Breeding

Individuals that have reached the age of 3 are prepared for mating. The foal stays with the mother for the entire lactation period. Cubs are weaned from breeding mares at 7 months, from ordinary mares at 5 months. If the foal is sick, then it is left with the mother for up to a year.

Diet

The herds walking in the pasture feed on pasture. In the winter months and during the dry summer period, add to the diet:

• grain;
• straw;
• fresh vegetables;
• meadow hay.

In the autumn, to prevent hypovitaminosis, breeding and work-loaded individuals are given 6-8 kg of carrots daily. During lactation, mares add potatoes and beets to the main diet.

Diseases and treatment

Kabardian horses have excellent immunity. However, with high physical exertion, the animal may develop lameness. Also, Kabardians are characterized by a predisposition to inflammatory pathologies of the respiratory system.

Most commonly diagnosed diseases:

1. Streptococcal lesion. The infection is transmitted through the air and through contaminated food. The disease is accompanied by fever, mucous discharge from the nose, swelling of the lymph nodes. Treat horses with penicillin antibiotics.
2. Flu. In horses, it is accompanied by cough, mucous nasal secretions, fever. A sick animal is given inhalations and penicillin antibiotics.
3. Helminthiasis. Often, worms are found in herd horses. In a sick individual, the coat grows dull, defecation is disturbed, and anemia occurs. They treat the animal with medicines against helminths, conduct a thorough disinfection of the stall.

Scope of the breed

Kabardian horses are suitable for:

• riding;
• overcoming tourist routes in mountainous areas;
• border control;
• hard work.

Tourists who want to travel on horseback through the mountainous areas of Russia are most often given Kabardian horses.In sports, Kabardian horses are good only in triathlon and long-distance races. In other types of equestrian sports, they are weak, as they are inferior to other breeds in flexibility and speed.

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