The Russian breed of Ardennes, large draft horses, was bred for farming. She was brought out to help transport heavy loads. Horses are distinguished by their size and endurance. Many breeders keep them for sale, meat, production of kumys and the production of rare varieties of cheese. Individuals are unpretentious in care. Traction horses are classified as members of the Arden family - the largest horses on the planet.
How the breed was born
The horse breed was formed through absorption crossbreeding at the beginning of the twentieth century.The founders of Russian traction horses were draft horses and Belgian Ardennes. The Russian heavy truck was registered in 1952. Is the result crossing Russian draft horses with half-blooded Ardens. They were used to improve other breeds. Traction horses spread throughout Russia and surrounding countries.
Advantages and disadvantages
Heavy draft horses have the following positive qualities:
- precocity of young individuals;
- large amounts of milk during lactation;
- endurance;
- unpretentiousness of content;
- the ability to produce offspring for 20-25 years;
- force;
- humility.
Among the shortcomings noted, what to feed a horse preferably balanced feed. If she does not receive enough nutrition, weight gain will slow down. In rare cases, a horse shows dissatisfaction during work if he doesn’t like something.
Full description and exterior
Characteristics of the Russian heavy truck include the following criteria:
- height at withers – 146-150 cm;
- metacarpal girth – 20-21 cm;
- the body is deep, elongated;
- legs are short, strong, dry;
- the head is small, wide;
- the neck is muscular, short;
- the back is long, soft;
- The loin is wide, the croup is slightly forked;
- Color: red, red-roan, less often bay, bay-roan, black, gray.
At stud farms, out of 100 Russian draft mares, the yield of young animals is 80-85%, in the best times it reaches 90%. By the age of one and a half years, the weight gain of a young individual is 97%. By the third year of life, they gain the mass and height of an adult. Mares and stallions no older than 20-25 years are allowed for breeding.
Where are Russian heavy trucks used?
The draft horse is widely used in farming and agriculture. Area of use of horses:
- help with housekeeping;
- reproduction for sale;
- production of kumiss;
- production of rare varieties of cheese;
- rearing for meat;
- transportation of heavy loads.
There are several breeders who are engaged in breeding specifically one breed - the Russian draft horse. Individuals are raised for sale to foreign countries and kept on farms at factories.
Interesting information! A mare during lactation produces 3000 tons of milk per year.
Content Features
Russian Ardennes are unpretentious in maintenance. The rules for caring for them are no different from other breeds.
Stable
The building for horses should be well ventilated; They are kept in separate pens on a leash, the horses are placed in a row. The walls for the partitions are made blank, 1.4 m, the height of the doors is at least 2.5 m, the width of the pen is 1.2 m. The ceiling height is 3 m. The floor is bare, with sawdust.
Outdoor outdoor exercise pens are equipped, 20 m are allocated for one animal2, for a young individual – 12 m2. An area of 400 m is sufficient for breeding2.
Feeding and watering
Heavy trucks are fed 3-4 times a day in small portions. Feed for horses is divided into groups:
- Roughage. Per 100 kg of animal weight they give 1.5-3 kg. Legume hay is allowed in the budding phase, cereals in the panicle ejection phase. The best varieties of hay consist of: alfalfa, clover, good quality meadow grass, spring straw.
- Juicy feed. 2-4 kg of feed are fed per 100 kg of weight. This category includes: potatoes (8-15 kg per day), beets (8-10 kg), carrots (the same amount), silage (8-15 kg), corn (10 kg). The remaining components are given per 100 kg of mass.It is advisable to mix the ingredients together to diversify your diet.
- Concentrates. Horses prefer oats among grain concentrates. The category includes corn, wheat bran, barley, oil cake, meal, and feed molasses.
The diet of heavy horses should include the following components:
- dry matter;
- feed units;
- raw and digested protein;
- lysine;
- crude fiber;
- salt;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- copper;
- zinc;
- cobalt;
- manganese;
- iodine;
- carotenes;
- vitamin complex.
To achieve this composition, roughage, juicy feed and concentrate are combined. Animal food must be fresh.
The watering compartment in the stable is made in the form of a separate room. Water is used from artesian springs, and the liquid in drinking bowls is changed daily. It must be at least 23 0C. In open areas, ponds, rivers, and lakes are suitable for watering. The main thing is that the water meets hygienic standards.
Care and hygiene
It is necessary to wash a horse when it is impossible to clean it. In winter, the procedure is not carried out at all. In the summer, horses are washed as needed, 1-3 times per season. For this you will need:
- horse shampoo;
- water;
- scraper.
For the first procedure, the water is heated to 26-30 0C, next times reduce the temperature to 16-20 0C. The washing process should not take more than 15 minutes. These horses do not really like water; for them it is an unpleasant process. Step by step steps:
- They wet the animal's skin.
- Apply shampoo with a washcloth.
- Carry out cleaning actions.
- Rinse off the shampoo with plenty of water.
- Remove remaining moisture with a special scraper.
- Dry the horse's head with a dry washcloth.
To make the skin dry faster, the horse is taken out into the sun in sunny weather.In cloudy weather, the animal is walked along the street at a slow pace.
Breeding
Russian draft horses breed until they are 20-25 years old. The overall increase in young animals is 85%. There is a separate room in the stable for breeding. A mare and a horse are driven into it during the mating season. After giving birth, the female is given time to rest, 2 years. During this period, the mare feeds the young with milk. After completion of lactation, she is again sent for mating.
Important! The young grow quickly and by 1.5 years they have grown by 97%.
Interesting facts about Russian heavy trucks
Russian heavy trucks are known all over the world. This breed of horse is still very popular among breeders. Interesting Facts:
- The Russian draft horse is recognized as the largest draft horse.
- The most valuable representatives of the breed are concentrated in Russia and Belarus from private breeders.
- Scientists not only from Russia, but also from Ukraine were involved in breeding the breed.
- The Russian heavy truck breed is divided into the Ural and Ukrainian types.
- These individuals are still used to improve other breeds.
The founders were the Belgian Ardennes. The largest horse reached 2.2 m in height and weighed 3000 kg. However, due to their weight, it was difficult for them to move, after which they began to breed a horse with the same characteristics, but more miniature.
State of the breed today
Currently, stud farms are going through difficult times. Of the 22 factories that housed 1,000 animals, 8 have survived. The owners are experiencing difficulties with staff to care for the animals and are forced to do some of the work themselves. Russian Ardennes are related to horses middle price category. They continue to be purchased for personal use and breeding.
The Russian breed of large draft horses is widely used in agriculture. Such assistants help cope with the transportation of heavy loads. Ardens are unpretentious in care and maintenance. Any stable conditions and the simplest feed are suitable for them. Horses quickly gain muscle mass.
