Russian "extreme" breeds

Russia has many breeds that are perfectly suited to its conditions, even to the most rigorous conditions of semi–wild keeping in Russia's steppe, taiga, and mountains, or deserts and arid hot steppes. We will refer to them as "extreme" breeds.
     We believe that understanding this will enable owners and breeders of Russian horses in the world, of which there are many already, to get a better insight into some inherently Russian breeds, to understand the environment that has produced them, and to treat their Russian acquisitions in a way that suits them better.

Russian climates

Russia occupies a huge landmass, most parts of which are far removed from oceans. This affects the country's climate immensely. Unlike that of Europe or other Western countries, the climate on most of Russia's territory is characterized by sharp temperature variations, both seasonal and daily, and relatively low air humidity. Such climates are called continental. They produce special horses. Certain areas with extreme continental climatic conditions have produced "extreme" horses.

Survival of the fittest

Most of Russia's "extreme" horses live in the open and are products of the climate and local conditions. It took centuries, sometimes millennia, for those horses to adapt to their respective conditions. The extreme Russian breeds are a good example of Darwin's theory in action. They are products of a combination of two selections: natural selection, as a result of which thousands of animals died from the elements, and primitive selective breeding by humans.
     Nature and breeders sort of joined forces to breed for survival and endurance, with speed and conformation often being of secondary importance. The end result is stunning.
     According to Andrea Stercken, a German endurance authority: "Many Russian horses have normal pulse rates from 25 to 30, which after work falls immediately from 100 to 40. This is an ideal metabolic requirement for an endurance horse, which cannot be achieved in other horses even after long–term training."

Steppe horses

Huge areas in Russia with low precipitation rates are normally steppe, or rather various kinds of steppe. These are places with frosts down to –40°C (in Siberia down to –60°C) and blizzards in winter, and up to +40°C and drafts in summer. The Russian steppe, by the way, was exactly the place where the Horse has been domesticated millennia ago. This uncomfortable environment imposed extremely demanding requirements on the health, soundness, robustness, and stamina of the animals.

Characteristics

The steppe horses have developed qualities that do not occur in European and other horses produced under more favorable conditions. Kept in the open, Russia's steppe horses are able to retain heat during cold seasons. This is helped by the shape of their bodies and ability to accumulate fat. They have thick skins and dense fur coats. The hides of Yakutian and other Siberian steppe horses are so good that they are used to make fur caps and coats.
     Most of steppe horses have phenomenal endurance, and may cover hundreds of kilometers under conditions unthinkable by Western standards. They have extremely hard hoofs and often go unshod. They are born survivors.
     They are absolutely at home in the steppe and find their way easily. Steppe stallions in winter can protect their harems from wolfs.

Keeping

Most steppe horses live out and receive no hay or other extra feed all the year round. Their winter keeping is called tebenevka, the Russian for winter grazing, where animals produce feed from under a snow layer up to 1 meter thick, the way the reindeer does in the tundra. Now,   when after a thaw a layer of ice covers the steppe, the horses are sometimes given some hay.
     The steppe horses' system is used to seasonal variations in the level of feeding, with days of lush growth of the steppe vegetation followed by long spells of draft or frost. Therefore, in good seasons the horses quickly accumulate reserves of fat, which also protects their organs from heat losses, and lasts them through harder spells.
     Sometimes in search of food steppe horses cover dozens of kilometers. When they cannot find proper food under the snow, they can for a while subsist on bark or any cellular tissue. In the last war, Cossack regiments during winter raids behind unfriendly lines would sometimes feed their Dons and other steppe horses by boiled wooden shavings or needles and branches of coniferous trees. Colic and other nutritional diseases are as good as unknown in steppe steeds.

Mountain horses

In the Caucasus and Central Asia there are a number of good mountain equine breeds, the best of them being the Kabardin. They are horses of high altitudes, rarefied air, steep rocky slopes, and alpine meadows. They are especially valuable at altitudes higher than 3,000 meters, where other horses are good for nothing.

Characteristics

The Russian mountain horses have through centuries developed some specific qualities that make them ideal for mountains. They can trek along narrow mountain trails on the verge of a precipice, cross torrential currents, trot or gallop downhill, etc. This all requires from a mountain horse unique qualities usually not to be found in a "normal" horse. Their movements are smooth and elastic. On dangerous mountain trails they are extremely cautious and sure–footed. They are brave and reliable.
     Their whole system is adapted to life in the mountains. Their blood features a heightened oxidizing capacity. Their heart, lungs, tendons, ligaments, and muscles are extremely strong. They have a suitable nervous system, quick reflexes, agility, and flexibility.
     The body of mountain horses is dense, massive and elongated, the hindlegs are often sickle–shaped. The hoof is extremely hard, so that shoeing them is often a problem — most mountain horses go unshod.

Keeping & breeding

Like their steppe cousins, Russian mountain horses are on their own for the better part of the year. They may be used extremely heavily, given only a couple of hours to rest and graze.
     During the servicing season mares are grouped in herds of 15–25 and put in charge of a stallion, who services and protects them from other stallions and wolv. Mares normally foal in the mountains, sometimes on frost–bitten soil.
     In recent decades experimenting is going on with crossing mountain horses with Thoroughbreds. Experience shows that although the horses became faster at lower altitudes, every drop of Thoroughbred blood impairs their performance at higher altitudes,

Desert horses

Russian desert horses, e.g., Akhal–Tekes, live at ambient temperatures that are higher than that of their body. For centuries they have had to cover enormous distances over red–hot sands without water and not much food, often heavily laden with the rider and supplies. Again, through rigorous natural selection and long–term evolution they have become what they are now.

Characteristics

Their metabolism and other processes occur in a more intensive way than in other breeds. They are easily aroused, have a fiery temperament.
     Their thermodynamics is radically different from other breeds, being oriented at exuding heat, and cooling their system. They have a better surface–to–mass ratio, which improves heat transfer. They have extremely little subcutaneous fat, thin skin, and a meager hair cover of lighter colors. Their hydration is adapted to the desert: they sweat intensively with a relatively economical expenditure of water.
     Studies have revealed that, as compared with other breeds, Russian desert horses have denser blood with more hemoglobin, dry residue, and ashes. Their bones have a smaller volume, but are denser.
     They are reared on a high–protein low–volume diet.

The Russian desert horses, especially Akhal–Tekes, are extremely beautiful and elegant. This makes them more and more popular in the World, a welcome fact by itself. But would–be breeders of those unusual horses in cool and damp climates should thinks twice before breeding them under conditions that are unfavorable for them.

Do not hesitate to apply to us for advice!