It is not for nothing that the Caucasus is called the "precious pearl" of Russia. Beautiful mountains, healing water, unique species of flora and fauna - all this is in the Caucasus.
This is how one of the best Russian breeds of horses was created - the Karachai, obtained by crossing Mongolian horses with horses of the eastern type.
These unpretentious, enduring and very smart animals have always been a valuable gift at any Caucasian holiday, in the mountainous terrain with them can only compete with other Caucasian horses - Kabardins.
History of origin
Researchers-loreologists believe that the Karachai breed of horses began its formation at the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Beneficial grazing lands of the north-western part of the Elbrus region contributed to the development of these animals. Travelers who visited these regions at that time admired the endurance of Karachai horses and the ease and grace with which they move along the seemingly impassable mountains.
All the best qualities of this breed were fully appreciated during the war with Turkey, which took place from 1877 to 1878. A large detachment of the Russian army under the command of General Babich on horseback on these "climbers" made an unprecedented transition from Kuban to Sukhumi, overcoming the Marukhsky mountain pass. There were almost a thousand Karachai horses in the train carrying bales of food and ammunition. One hundred and fifty kilometers full of impassability, in the mountains, could withstand only very enduring and courageous animals. Sometimes horses had to be lowered onto the path with the help of ropes!
Over time, the Karachai horses became the main battle horses of the Terek and Kuban Cossacks, where the best qualities of this breed began to form.
Demand for the Karachais was growing, and horse breeding in the region began to develop rapidly.
The development of Karachai horse breeding was complicated by the fact that such a livestock industry as sheep breeding, which occupied the lion's share of suitable pastures in the region, was strongly developed here. In order to preserve the pastures for horses, it was even necessary to involve a government commission, which understood the value of the Karachai horse breeding.
Breeding continued even during the Great Patriotic War until, in 1943, the peoples of Karachai-Cherkessia were sent to Central Asia. All Karachai horses were documented as Kabardian horses, and even the name of this breed was crossed out from all literary and special sources.
Only in 1990, this breed was recognized as independent.
Exterior
Outwardly, Karachais are often compared to Kabardins. Despite the fact that these horses are really similar, the enthusiast and great lover of this breed B.P. Voityatsky in his works noted the fact that the Karachai horses were domestication much less than their neighbors so that this horse variety has greater intra-breed variability and differs from the Kabardins by a more coarse body. Karachais are smaller than their Kabardinas but look more stocky and massive.
According to the main parameters of the Karachai elite, Kabardins are almost as good as Kabardins: the average height in the crest is 141.82 centimeters, the chest in the girth is 171.63 centimeters, and the girth of the metacarpal joint is 17.96 centimeters.
Typical features of the appearance of this breed:
- Dry head, bony in the front-facial part, with a fleshy lower jaw;
- long moving ears, whose shape of planting is similar to a lyre;
- convex undulating profile (sometimes straight or humpbacked);
- Relatively short neck of medium density (individuals with fleshy neck of straight profile can also be found);
- of the withers is not high;
- backline - straight, with well developed muscular lumbar spine and slightly lowered wide croup.
Current state of the breed
As it was said earlier, the Karachai breed of horses returned to the Breed Book in 1990. Eight years later, in 1998, these horses took part in the ascent to Elbrus, which contributed to the popularization of these animals. In 2001, an expert assessment of the producers of the Karachaevskiy stud farm was carried out, which showed a high percentage of elite tribal animals.
In 2006, the number of breeding herd reached eight hundred heads.
The total number of Karachai horses in 2008 reached 20 thousand, including more than three thousand animals - with documented pedigree.
Tribal lines of the breed
Genetic varieties of this breed are separated along the male line.
The famous Urusov apologist names eight such lines, called by the name of the first stallion-producer:
Argamak;
Orlik;
Dausuz;
Borey;
Tugai;
Shaman;
Bail;
Arsenal.
It is worth to say that this breed is very convenient for breeding because even with a closely related crossing the quality and viability of the offspring does not fall.