In ancient times, steppe and northern forest (tarpan) horse breeds were brought to the southern Ural slopes, which became the parent pair for the horse of the Bashkir breed. Hardy horses became the pride of an entire nation and played an important role in his life.
From the history
The Bashkir breed, whose history began in the 17th century, received the name of the country in which it was bred - Bashkiria. And due to the fact that it borders on the Ural lands, horses began to spread and are actively used in Siberia. The main role of Bashkir horses was to deliver mail, because they easily traveled long distances due to their stamina, hard work and unpretentiousness.
Horses of the Bashkir breed quickly gained popularity. They began to breed in the Samara, Perm and Kazan provinces, where they harnessed to the top three to overcome long distances. After all, animals could ride up to 150 km in eight hours without stops and food.
The maintenance of Bashkir horses did not cause any trouble. They were driven out to pastures all year round and fed on their own, and for the winter they gathered hay for them and set up huts in which horses could hide from frost and cold winds.
Character Features
Horses of the Bashkir breed were formed under the influence of environmental conditions. The character was also influenced by steppe and forest roots. Therefore, the Bashkirs are represented by wild or semi-wild animals with a developed sense of ownership. Herds are often divided into groups - schools, in which kosyachnik stallions run, protecting and protecting their school not only from the encroachments of strangers, but also from predatory animals, in which fights with horses often die.
Horses of the Bashkir breed, the description of which we give, run in herds, are often left unattended. This is due to the fact that the stallion leaders are responsible for the duties assigned to them. They do not allow horses to disperse and do not allow outsiders to them. This applies not only to animals, but also to humans. Confidence is only familiar to the riders.
The true Bashkir horse breed, photo of which is presented below, combines the characteristic features of steppe and forest animals. Today, work is underway to improve the breed. As a result of interspecific selection and a well-developed diet, modern Bashkirs are distinguished by tirelessness, strength and endurance, despite their low growth.
Description of appearance
In addition to the listed advantages, how else are the horses of the Bashkir breed different? Its features are also that it is one of the rare animals whose fur does not cause allergies in humans.
Bashkir horses are distinguished by a large physique with relatively short stature. The height of the breed at the withers does not exceed 150 cm. A rather large, rough head is located on the massive fleshy neck. The animals are characterized by a straight back and a loin convenient for fastening the saddle, which ends with a slightly lowered croup. Bashkirs are proud owners of a wide powerful chest and strong lean limbs with developed hooves. The mane and tail are thick and long, often contrasting in color with the thick coat of the body.
Stallions and mares vary in size:
- height at the withers: 144-147 cm and 140-143 cm;
- oblique body length: 152-154 cm and 148-150 cm;
- chest girth: 178-180 cm and 175-177 cm;
- metacarpus circumference: 19.5-20 cm and 18.3-18.7 cm;
- live weight: 450-460 kg and 430-440 kg.
The suit of the Bashkir horse breed was inherited from its northern forest ancestors - tarpan - and can be micey, savras (most often representatives of the steppe subtype), bulanic, red, brown, fawn and gray. Also found are zebroid suits with clear whitish stripes on the body.
Subtypes of breed
Mountain and steppe subtypes of the breed are distinguished, which differ slightly in size (smaller mountains), in productivity and appearance. According to economic characteristics, several groups are distinguished, which are equipped with the level of milk yield, fitness for harness and saddle. Inhabitants of the steppe area are better suited for horse riding due to their lighter head, higher legs and slender body. They also have a more mobile and playful disposition.
There are still harness and horse-harness subtypes of the Bashkirs. They are valued for speed and agility, easy control and the ability to travel long distances without food and rest. Horses have a good and trusting disposition, which made them irreplaceable companions of cavalrymen during the Great Patriotic War, and today they are used to teach the art of riding.
Application
Horses of the Bashkir breed, the characteristics of which imply suitability for heavy agricultural work and endurance when riding and draft, are actively bred with the aim of obtaining meat and milk. And if horse meat is a traditional product in Bashkiria, from which kazy (horse meat sausage), various meat dishes, and also are dried and dried, then conflicting disputes have been going on for dairy production. Many believed that getting milk from mares would lead to degeneration of the breed's qualitative characteristics, because the foal's growing body will not receive the required amount of nutrients.
But after the doctor Postnikov proved the beneficial properties of mare's milk, animal husbandry began to actively gain momentum. In Bashkiria, light-weighted and heavy-duty breeds appeared that crossed with local horses. The result was hybrids that were larger and more productive than pure Bashkir breed.
The number of horses was growing rapidly, but due to hybridization the population of purebred Bashkir horses began to decline, and this could lead to the complete extinction of the breed. As a way out of this situation, it was proposed to open breeding stations, the activity of which allowed to preserve the unique qualities of the Bashkir breed horse.
The content of Bashkir horses
Horses of the Bashkir breed are the most unpretentious due to the qualities inherited from wild ancestors. They are able to be kept year-round in open pasture conditions and independently obtain their own feed. As the cold weather draws near, horses grow a thick, long coat that does not need regular brushing. But in severe winters with heavy snowfalls, animals need shelter and food.
To prevent horses from suffering from diseases, it is necessary to control their growth and development, during which animals must move a lot. Specialist consultations will not interfere, and at the end of the work, you need to clean your nostrils and hooves, because moisture and sweat can accumulate there, which adversely affect the health of pets and can become a source of infections.
Feeding requirements
Nomadic life and relative freedom influenced the unpretentiousness of horses for food. Most of the time they are able to independently find themselves a sufficient amount of food, and in winter the herd eats harvested hay, concentrated feed and vegetables. With a balanced and sufficient nutrition, horses do not need additional top dressing, and they will tirelessly perform agricultural work and overcome huge distances in harnesses.
Features of horse selection
Selling horses of the Bashkir breed orientation to the buyer. That is, the animal should be selected based on the purpose of using the animal.
- If the animal is purchased for agricultural work and transportation of goods, then a stallion is better. They are more powerful and hardy than mares, able to perform almost any job.
- For dairy production, it is necessary to take a mare, having previously found out some indicators. If you get a foal or a young filly, you need to understand what its productivity is. This can be determined by the indicators of her mother's milk yield. The norm of milk productivity varies between 1.5-2 thousand liters per year.
- Horses of both sexes are equally suitable for riding. Bashkirs are characterized by playfulness, playfulness and speed of running, as well as the ability to overcome long distances. And thanks to the complaisant disposition, the Bashkir breed horses are ideally suited for horse riding training for both adults and children.
It should be taken into account the fact that when using animals for hard work, you should take care of an additional balanced feeding so that the pets restore their strength as much as possible.
What can representatives of the Bashkir breed get sick
Animals, like humans, are prone to disease. All diseases of horses are usually divided into infectious and non-infectious. The first include ailments caused by infections from the penetration of parasitic microorganisms into the animal's body. Animals can be infected by cousins, birds, rodents and blood-sucking insects. Such ailments are characterized by rapid spread and cause tremendous damage to the household.
Non-communicable diseases usually include animal wounds. The most common injuries to legs and hooves.
Horses of the Bashkir breed are unique animals that combine the qualities of wild ancestors and the humility of domestic breeds. They are famous for high rates of carrying capacity, endurance and unpretentiousness. Today they are the most popular animals for training in riding skills, because animals are characterized by a calm and balanced character.