Representatives of the Karachay breed are considered one of the most beautiful horses in the world. Information about the strengths and weaknesses of these horses, about the features of their content, you will find in this material.

Origin of breed

In addition to the fact that this breed has a beautiful exterior, it is also one of the oldest. The mountains of the northern part of the Greater Caucasus, the regions today belonging to the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, are considered her homeland. The breed was bred with the involvement of oriental horses. The first records of the breed date back to the 17th century.

Characteristic

As a result of long-term breeding, an animal with a short stature, a hardy one, capable of moving along stony slopes and breathing rarefied air high in the mountains, resistant and quickly adapting to environmental conditions, was bred.

Did you know? Karachay horses were used by Russian troops for long crossings in the mountains. At the time of the Russian-Turkish war in 1877, more than 100 horses overcame the most difficult Marukh pass and covered 160 km. And in the twentieth century - 3 thousand km in 47 days, and walked on areas covered with 3-meter snow.

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External characteristics

Undoubtedly, the living conditions in the mountains affected the appearance of the horses. Initially, they were bred as work horses, so they have a massive physique and strong legs. All the distinguishing features of the exterior are summarized in the table:

Appearance	Characteristic
Height at the withers	152-200 cm
Body length	156 cm
Chest circumference	187 cm
Metacarpal circumference	19.1 cm
Suit	the most common bay; found red, black, gray, karakova; rare - bulan, roan, piebald
Head	medium in size, dry, hunchbacked
The ears	medium in size, pointed
Neck	medium in length, muscular
Mane	thick, long
Withers	long, short
Croup	short, wide, slightly deflated
Tail	thick, long, sometimes wavy
Back	straight, durable
Chest	wide, deep
Limbs	front - set wide, slightly clubbed; rear - set correctly, sometimes saber fencers
Hooves	strong, regular shape

Temperament

Karachay horses are obedient and loyal to the owner. However, they are brave. They do not cause much trouble, patient, hardworking, smart, resistant to disease, hardy. They can eat any food and live in harsh conditions. They have a quick reaction.

Did you know? In the Stalinist days, when the Karachai people were subject to repression, the Karachai breed was called Kabardian. The original name was returned to her after 40 years - in 1980. Although today, some people claim that the Karachay breed is just a myth.

Pros and Cons of Content

The maintenance of Karachai horses has a number of advantages, but it is not without drawbacks.

• If you are planning an institution of this particular breed, then you need to know that its advantages are:
• Universality.
• Endurance.
• Good immunity.
• Unpretentiousness.
• High fecundity.
• Use in the highlands.
• Fitness for herd keeping.
• The ability to easily acclimatize.
• Soft step.
• Longevity.

By cons, only more modest riding qualities can be considered in comparison with the best riding breeds.

Productive qualities

The breed is divided into 3 types:

1. Characteristic.
2. Massive.
3. Horse.

The first type is the most common. It includes lower individuals with strong legs. They are used for:

• horse riding;
• riding in a team;
• grazing farm animals;
• mountain tourism;
• transport work.

Massive type with a short stature, wide body and torso in a stretched format. Horses belonging to this type are indispensable for transport work. This type is the most unpretentious in care.

Riding horses are the tallest. Used for:

• travels;
• walks;
• in tourism;
• for breeding works;
• at the border service;
• take part in competitions, exhibitions.

The current state of the breed

Today, Karachay horses are mainly bred on 17 farms in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, as well as abroad. In 2006, there were about 20 thousand individuals in the homeland of the breed. Demand for this breed is increasing every year.

Tribal lines

To date, 8 tribal lines are known:

1. Daususa. The most common line. Its representatives are distinguished by their massiveness and strong physique, amazing stamina and high fecundity. A promising line Dubochka was formed from it.
2. Borea. Another numerous line. The horses related to it are characterized by high growth and gentle running.
3. Kobchik. Representatives of this line have a dry constitution and are quick.
4. Orlik. These horses are massive, strong and very hardy.
5. Argamak. Representatives grow taller than 160 cm. They have massive legs. Among them, mostly bay suits are found.
6. Tugan. Suspended in development, since no worthy successors were found.
7. Pledge. Stallions are characterized by increased performance, good horse-riding characteristics, a strong constitution.
8. Arsenal. Small ruler. It is considered a reference.

Breeding and care

Despite the fact that Karachai horses are unpretentious, they still require minimal care and the provision of a stable with certain parameters. Only an animal kept in the right conditions, receiving high-quality balanced feed and care, can well perform the tasks that a person entrusts to him.

Stall decoration

Horses can be kept:

• in the stall;
• in groups;
• in the stalls.

The last option is considered optimal. For the maintenance of one adult individual, it is recommended to allocate an area under the stall of 16 m², for a young individual 12 m² is enough. This size will be enough for the horse not only to sleep in it, but also to move normally. The ceiling height must be at least 3 m. This is important for normal air circulation.

The door to the stall should be no longer than 1.5 m. It will be convenient for the owner to start and withdraw the horse into an opening of this size. All parts of the stall must be durable and, if necessary, withstand the impact of the hoof.

The horse box For normal lighting, it is necessary that the stables have large windows, preferably placed 2 meters above the floor. When calculating the number and size of window openings, one should proceed from the fact that the ratio of the total area of ​​windows to the area of ​​the room should be 1 to 15.

Be sure to have artificial lighting in the stable. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the wiring can not get the horse.

Normally, the stable should maintain the temperature in winter at +8 ... + 11 ° С, in summer - up to +23 ° С. The optimum humidity is 60–75%. Temperature and optimum humidity are controlled by a high-quality ventilation system. It can be of 3 types:

1. Natural - with the help of windows and doors.
2. Supply and exhaust - with the help of special openings under the roof.
3. Mechanical - working with fans that are forced to turn on by a person.

If airing is used, care must be taken to ensure that horses are not exposed to drafts. If the horses are not kept in harsh winters, heating in the stable is not needed. But you need a warm floor:

• wooden;
• adobe;
• from expanded clay tile.

If the floor is concrete, then you need to lay a bed of straw, peat or sawdust in a thicker layer.

The stall should be equipped with:

• manger for hay;
• feeder for juicy and concentrated feed;
• feeder for mineral additives and a drinking bowl.

They are set at 1 m from the floor.

Feeding Features

The diet of horses includes such feeds:

• rough (hay, straw, haylage, branches);
• juicy (silage, root crops, tubers, vegetables, fruits);
• cereals (oats, barley);
• green (meadow grass);
• concentrated (oat, barley, beetroot concentrates, bran, cake, meal, bagasse).

As for the regularity of the meal, if the horse is not busy with hard work and spends most of the daytime on a grass-rich pasture, then she should have enough pasture.

In winter, in the absence of pasture, feed the animal in small portions 3-4 times a day, preferably at the same time.

Important! Control the quality of the feed before giving it to the animal. The presence of dust in the hay threatens the development of diseases of the respiratory organs, the presence of mold can provoke serious poisoning. When compiling a diet, you should consider:

• mass;
• age;
• employment;
• activity;
• weather;
• seasonality.

The daily ration of a horse that is inactive in work and weighs 500–600 kg may look like this:

• 10-15 kg of hay;
• 4–5 kg of concentrated feed;
• 1-2 kg of bran;
• 2-3 kg of succulent feed.

Periodically, special vitamin-mineral supplements should be introduced into the diet:

• salt;
• a piece of chalk;
• bone meal;
• dicalcium phosphate;
• disodium phosphate;
• fish fat;
• yeast;
• premixes.

A horse that is actively involved in labor activities should receive:

• 7 kg of hay;
• 7 kg of haylage;
• 5 kg of silage;
• 5 kg of oats;
• 50 g premixes;
• 40 g of salt.

First you need to feed the horse with hay, then succulent feed, and finally - grain. Coarse feed is distributed in portions for the whole day - first divided into halves, one of which will need to be fed before bedtime. The remaining half is divided into 2 parts and given in the morning and evening.

Important! If you cannot independently calculate the amount of necessary feed and mineral supplements per day, then you should seek the advice of a competent veterinarian who will write down the menu, taking into account all the characteristics of your horse. Newborn foals are fed breast milk until they are 6 months old. The first complementary foods - concentrates - are administered from 2 months. Starting from 3 months, gradually accustom to other types of feed - to hay, grass. The foal menu that has been weaned from the mother should contain:

• hay;
• cereals;
• wheat bran;
• cake;
• sprouted oats;
• carrots;
• a piece of chalk;
• salt.

Horses are not allowed to feed:

• lily of the valley;
• digitalis;
• elderberry;
• spurge;
• clover (in large quantities);
• clover (in large quantities);
• rice and wheat bran (in large quantities).

Gastrointestinal and other problems can develop from the use of all the ingredients in the list.

Important! After the horse has eaten, it is possible to start work on it no earlier than in 1.5–2 hours.

Around the clock, the horse should have access to clean, fresh and cold water. In winter, it should be no lower than +14 ... + 16 ° С. On the day of one individual, 3-5 buckets of water will be required. Be sure to drink the horse 30 minutes before eating.

Care and hygiene

Caring for a horse involves:

• combing mane and tail;
• brushing wool;
• bathing;
• hoof cleaning;
• dental care;
• anthelmintic measures;
• preventive veterinary examinations.

Wool is cleaned with special brushes and scrapers. Cleaning should begin on the left side. Movement is from head to croup. The legs are cleared last. Then, with a metal or plastic brush and comb, comb the mane and tail.

Hair care is a great time to communicate with the animal. He needs to speak affectionate words, praise, admire. Wool cleaning is done every day.

Video: Horse Shine

Daily need to clean and hooves. This will require a special hook.

You can bathe the animal in open water sources or in the shower. Horses love this process.

Often the owner should pay attention to the condition of the horse’s teeth. At least 1 time per year, the animal must be examined by a veterinarian in order to timely detect and begin treatment of a health problem.

Manure in the stable needs to be cleaned daily. This will require:

• wheelbarrow;
• dung forks;
• shovel forks.

The easiest way to clean is when the floor in the room has a slope and all sewage merges into the gutters located along the building.

Every day, a partial change of raw litter is also carried out. Its complete replacement and cleaning in the stable is carried out once a week. For cleaning you will need:

• broom;
• brush;
• bucket;
• rake;
• basket.

In order to raise a horse, you can take it to special courses or conduct classes on your own. There are many guides and training videos in open sources that will tell you how to do it right and help speed up the process. The main thing to remember is that horses do not tolerate rudeness. The entire learning process should be based on encouragement. The owner will require perseverance, endurance, patience, regularity and consistency.

You will probably be interested to know how horses sleep.

It is advisable to start education from an early age. However, since horses are distinguished by intelligence and quick wisdom, even in adulthood, with proper master behavior and knowledge of the psychology and behavior of the horse, you can achieve the desired results.

The merits of the Karachai breed have already been appreciated by many people in various countries. These horses are able to survive in ascetic conditions, but they gratefully respond to high-quality feed and improved life.

Video: Karachaevskaya breed of horses