Horse Breeds: Baluchi, Ban-ei, Banker, Barb, Bashkir, Bashkir Curly

*BALUCHI*

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*

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*

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*

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*

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*

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.