BALUCHI HORSE
Found in areas of Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sind, Muzaffargarh,
Bahawalpur, and Baluchistan, the Baluchi Horse, is typically
put to use for tonga pulling, tent pegging, and riding for
pleasure.
Characteristics include a gray, chestnut, or bay color, along
with strong, fine legs and touching pointed ear tips, as well
as a long neck and fine heard. Generally, the characteristics
of the Baluchi horse will depict where they derive from. For
example, the horses in Pakistan are typically larger, yet
with a lighter build. Because they have ears that are turned
in, people typically find them similar to the Indian Kathiawari.
The Baluchi Horse is a possible descendant of the Banamba,
Beledougou, and the Barb of West Africa.
BAN-EI HORSE
One of the most popular racing horses in Japan, the Ban-ei
horse is exclusively used in horse racing. This draft type,
heavy breed, specifically geared for the popular heavy sledge
race called Ban-ei Keiba, stands anywhere between fourteen
to sixteen hands. The origin of the Ban-ei horse is in the
areas of Breton and Percheron.
BANKER HORSE
Believed to be a descendent of 16th century Spanish horses,
the Banker Pony originates in the North Carolina Bank Islands,
such as Shackleford Island and the other Outer Islands of
the North Carolina Bank. This semi-feral breed of horse peaks
at around fourteen hands.
BARB HORSE
Originating from the North African region of Maghreb, the
Barb, is typically used as a horse for light riding. The Tunisian,
Moroccan, and Algerian are a few of the many varieties of
the Barb. Descendants of the Barb include the United States
developed Spanish Barb and the West African Barb.
BASHKIR HORSE
Originating from the steppe zone and mountains of the Urals
and Volga, the Bashkir breed is typically used for meat, milk,
and as a utility or draft horse. Identifying characteristics
of the Bashkir include its fleshy, short neck, massive head,
and low withers. Typically, the Bashkir has a broad, erect
back, with a rounded croup, long, sprung ribs, with bony,
short legs.
As a bony, wide-bodied, small horse, it has a thick tail
and mane. Typically colors include mouse grey, roan, chestnut,
and bay. Stallions typically carry measurements of 143 cm
tall at the withers, 144 cm long, 180 cm chest girth, and
20 cm bone girth. Mares typically carry measurements of 142
cm tall, 145 cm long, 178 cm chest girth, and 18.5 cm bone
girth.
Because mares are typically used for milk, the average amount
of milk produced by the mare is 1500 kilograms of milk for
the market place. However, the high breeds of mares, in seven
to eight lactation months, will produce 2700 kilograms of
milk. The work endurance of the Bashkir is extremely high.
Work to improve the Bashkir breed is underway. Many breeders
are breeding with pure bloods and attempting to cross the
breed with the Heavy Draft of Russia. Other experiments have
been tried with the breed, such as crossing with the Yakut
horse and the Kazakh horse.
BASHKIR CURLY HORSE
No one knows the specific origination of the breed of horse
known as the Bashkir Curly. In fact, in the horse world, this
is to be called the greatest mystery of all. There are many
theories as to the origin and naming source. One such theory
is that the Bashkir Curly is a direct descendant of the Bashkir
from Russia. Though researchers have no been able to prove
this because the theory seems unlikely after examination of
the breed further. Researchers such as Shan Thomas, Russian
scientists, zoo's in Moscow, and livestock experts have discounted
this theory altogether.
On the other hand, during their research they have found
that the Tajikistan Lokai, does have many of the same Curly
Coat characteristics. However, this does not seem likely as
well. Ship logs from horse imports do not depict any imports
from the settlers from Russia to the North American coasts.
The realistic fact is that horses and stock breeding were
not altogether popular in the 1700 or 1800 hundreds. Breeding
was rarely successful and only a few horses or livestock were
kept with the settlements. In fact, Russian America only had
16 horses in the year 1817. Many horses died yearly thanks
to the Siberian trip, which was dangerous at the time. Furthermore,
local people named the horses in the region Yakut. Therefore,
it can be deduced that horses coming from Russian into the
Alaskan region would have likely been the breeding of the
Yakut instead of the Lokai or Bashkir breeds. The Lokai and
Bashkir horses were generated further west and south than
the Yakut breeds were.
More theory still exists, yet another one is that the Bashkir
Curly ancestors may have existed in the Ice Age, crossing
the land bridge. This theory cannot be supported due to lack
of any fossil evidence in the America's to prove any horse
existence prior to the Ice Age.
Several more theories have also been discredited due to lack
of any evidence to support the claim or have yet to be tested.
Blood tests performed on two hundred curly horses have concluded
that the Baskir Curly is not a distinct breed genetically.
In fact, the testing concluded that many different breeds
of horses contributed the development of the horse. The most
prominent being Morgans and Quarter Horses.
Bashkir Curly – The Formation of The American Breed
Present day Bashkir Curly's are not as mysterious. It begins
in 1898 when a young man named Peter Damele was riding along
with his father on the mountain range of Peter Hanson, which
is located near Austin in a very remote section of Nevada.
Though Peter died at 90 years old in 1981, it was not before
he recalled vividly the sites he saw one day. He came across
three horses together. The horses bodies had curly ringlets
that were both tight and covered the entire horse. Both Peter
and his father were intrigued by these horses and began breeding
them from that day forward. Most of the American Bashkir Curly
horses derive from the herd Peter and his father owned.
In 1971, the American Bashkir Curly registry was established.
It was the goal of the founds to prevent the extinction of
the Baskir within the United States. Because they were becoming
heavy in numbers, people were slaughtering them ignorantly.
The founders also started the act of establishing traits in
breeding. They summoned owners in the United States to identify
the Bashkir Curly unique characteristics. After compilation
of these traits, many interesting characteristics were noted.
For example, the mane hair of the Bashkir Curly can be entirely
shed, in some cases their tail hair can be as well. This is
routinely done during the summer season. During the winter
season, the hair grows back. This is seen as a great characteristic
for owners because the tight, kinky, fine hair can become
virtually impossible to maintain.
Another feature that is extremely interesting is that the
offspring of the Bashkir Curly only receives the characteristics
of the curly half of the time. In other words, only half of
their young will only have the characteristics of the Curly.
This is true even when the male and female are both curly
coats. Winters are no trouble for this breed of horse, they
are extremely hardy and able to sustain through winter conditions
of extreme severity. In Nevada, the 1951 to 1952 winter was
extremely harsh. The only surviving breeds were the curly
horses.
The Bashkir Curly is a medium sized horse, comparable to
that of the Morgan in its early days. Generally they can come
in a variety of colors that most common horses come in, which
includes Pinto and Appaloosa. Some horses have chestnuts,
while others have ergots. Oriental breeds have wide eyes for
a wide vision range. Their hooves are black, tough, and round.
Other characteristics include a short back, strong hocks,
flat knees, straight legs, powerful shoulders, and smooth
rump,.
The Bashkir Curly is popular is horse events. You can easily
spot them in events such as dressage and driving, endurance
riding, competitive riding, gaited pleasure, western pleasure,
English equitation, roping, jumper, hunter, Gymkhana, Reining,
western riding, pole bending, and barrel racing.
About the Author
Phillipe Wiskell is a writer for HorseClicks.com, popular
classifieds of horses
for sale,
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