The archaic Kabardian horse breed is not considered an elite one, suitable for high-status riders. However, these hardy, stately, beautiful animals are known all over the world. Kabardian horses are universal, suitable for pack work, draft work, riding, and military service. For many decades, strong and agile horses were bred for cavalry, and today Kabardians are ideal companions for tourists in mountainous areas.
Origin of the Kabardian horse
From the name of the breed it is clear that the horse’s place of origin 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 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 selective selection of aboriginal 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, playful, desperately flying into battle, moving with amazing grace along dangerous mountain paths, capable of covering many kilometers of difficult path without rest.
In the 16th century, people learned about Kabardian horses in western Asia and eastern Europe. The stately and hardy breed has become legendary. Representatives of the nobility and merchants gave huge amounts of money for Kabardian stallions. The Crimean and Turkish khans especially loved the Kabardians.
Stud farms of the Russian Empire were actively breeding 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, the representatives of which are distinguished by a body structure more suitable for sports activities.
After the collapse of the Union, stud farms found themselves in a deplorable state; in the 1990s, the breed almost disappeared; only 300 mares capable of reproducing remained in the entire country. However, the Kabardians managed to preserve the breed. By 2000, the number of individuals had increased so much that there was no longer any 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 climbs and descends steep slopes, walks along winding paths, and is not afraid of gorges and abysses. Kabardians have an excellent sense of a safe path and a unique ability to maintain balance even on the narrowest sections of the road.
Intrabreed types
The Kabardian breed is divided into three types according to conditions of maintenance and purpose of use:
- Light type. Adult individuals are characterized by a lean “oriental” build. Horses are used purely for riding.
- Classical. Stronger, leaner horses. Well defined muscle mass.
- Massive. This is the harness type. The body of adult individuals is heavy and massive. The skeleton and muscles are well developed. The neck is thick, the legs are strong. This variety is bred in the Stavropol region.
Exterior
The Kabardian horse is a typical representative of the harness and riding category.
External characteristics:
- withers height – up to 150 cm;
- weight – up to 400 kg;
- head with expressive features, hump nose is noted;
- the neck is short, muscular;
- the chest is wide, voluminous;
- the body is lean, sinewy, muscular, harmoniously built, there are almost no fat deposits;
- the croup is wide, saggy;
- the legs are strong, tendon, the forearm is elongated, the joints of the hind limbs are characterized by a saber structure;
- the hooves are strong; when the load is low, horseshoes are not needed;
- the tail and mane are not long, the hair is sparse and wavy.
Animal suits
The breed standard for color is strict. There are only the following purebred Kabardians:
- bay (most common);
- blacks;
- redheads;
- mousey (the rarest color).
Character and temperament
Kabardian horses are freedom-loving and playful. They are quite capricious, obstinate, stubborn, but they do not lack courage. Such character traits are determined by the origin and history of the formation of the breed: the mountaineers needed horses for fighting and movement in the mountains. Pampered European horses would not be able to cope with such tasks.
Kabardian horses are noble, have developed intelligence, and unquestioningly obey their owner.
But the orders of an unfamiliar rider may be ignored. To control a shrew, you need a lot of experience in horse riding. An inexperienced, insecure rider can be thrown off by a horse, or even clawed with his teeth. Therefore, beginners learning horse riding are not given a Kabardian pet for training.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Among the advantages of the Kabardian breed, it should be noted:
- endurance (the horse is able to walk 100 km per day, carrying a load of 150 kg);
- strong immunity;
- fertility of mares even after 20 years;
- ability to quickly adapt to environmental conditions;
- high survival rate of young individuals;
- undemanding to the quality of food;
- versatility of application.
Breed faults:
- obstinacy, stubbornness;
- late readiness for reproduction.
Conditions of detention
The uniqueness of the Kabardian breed is that it is adapted for herd keeping. For good health, horses must be in constant motion. In the Caucasus, it is customary to keep young animals in herds; they are transferred to a stable at the age of 9. It was the harsh living conditions that formed horses’ strong immunity and high adaptability to the environment.
When kept in both a herd and a stable, the horse must be carefully cared for to ensure it remains healthy. Care involves:
- Cleaning the stables. Change the bedding. Disinfection of tools and stall partitions.
- Combing the mane and tail.
- Regular hoof inspection. Cleaning and hooking them.
- Daily brushing of the coat.
- Washing the anus and reticulum.
- Examination of equine teeth by a dentist every 6 months.
Breeding
Individuals who have reached 3 years of age are prepared for mating. The foal remains with its mother for the entire lactation period. Cubs are weaned from brood mares at 7 months, and from regular mares at 5 months. If the foal is sick, then it is left with its mother for up to a year.
Diet
Herds walking around the pasture feed on pasture. In the winter months and during the dry summer period, the following is added to the diet:
- corn;
- straw;
- fresh vegetables;
- meadow hay.
In the autumn, to prevent hypovitaminosis, breeding and overworked individuals are given 6-8 kg of carrots daily. During the lactation period, 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.Kabardians are also characterized by a predisposition to inflammatory pathologies of the respiratory system.
The most commonly diagnosed diseases:
- Streptococcal infection. The infection is transmitted through the air and through dirty food. The disease is accompanied by fever, mucous discharge from the nose, and swollen lymph nodes. Horses are treated with penicillin antibiotics.
- Flu. In horses, it is accompanied by a cough, mucous nasal discharge, and increased body temperature. The sick animal is inhaled and given penicillin antibiotics.
- Helminthiasis. Worms are often found in herd horses. A sick individual's coat becomes dull, defecation is impaired, and anemia occurs. The animal is treated with anti-helminth medications and the stall is thoroughly disinfected.
Scope of application of the breed
Kabardian horses are suitable for:
- horse riding;
- overcoming tourist routes in mountainous areas;
- border control;
- harness work.
Tourists who want to travel on horseback in the Russian mountains are most often given Kabardian horses. In sports, Kabardian horses are good only in eventing and long-distance racing. In other types of equestrian sports they are weak, as they are inferior to other breeds in flexibility and speed.
