Horse Breeds: Soviet Heavy Draft, Spanish Barb, Spanish Mustang, Standardbred, Sudan Country-Bred By Phillipe Wiskell At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

*SOVIET HEAVY DRAFT*

Developed during the 1880's and 1890's, the Soviet Heavy Draft was recognized as a "new heavy draft breed". They were bred extensively, in areas including Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Gorki, Ryazan, Penza and Orel regions. These areas had developed industries and agriculture, and needed strong, fast horses of ample size to assist them with their work.

Native horses were initially improved by the stallions of Belgian Brabancon Draft breeds. In 1936, there were 3 state breeding centers, Pochinkovsk, Gavrilovo-Posad and Mordovian that branched later to the Alexandroz farm and the Yaroslavl farm. Two facilities were turned into studs. Demand for Soviet Heavy Draft horses grew as the agricultural production proceeded.

Today's purebread Soviet Heavy Draft horses are distinguished by their height and expressed harness type. They have strong bones and muscles and stand about 163cm tall. They weigh between 850kg and 1000 kg, although the mares is quite a bit lower, between 650 and 750kg. Soviet Draft horses have average sized heads, average necks and low withers that are slightly dipped. Most horses of the breed are brown, bay or chestnut.

*SPANISH BARB*

Tracing a lineage from Andalusian and Spanish Jennet horses in North America during the 16th century, the Spanish-Barb breed was most prevalent in the Southeast and Southwest areas of Spanish settlement. Spanish-Barb horses provided the foundation for Choctaw Indian and Chickasaw breeds- and the Chickasaw horses played a role in the develoment of the American Quarter Horse. In the Southwest, Spanish barb horses were owned by the early Spanish and Mexican cowboys- and later became the foundation for wild mustang herds in the west.

The Spanish barb horses almost were absorbed into the general horse population, but thanks to a few dedicated families and ranchers, the breed has survived. No attempt at registry was done until the Spanish Barb Breeders association was formed in 1972.

The Spanish Barb breed weighs between 800 and 975 pounds, and are small- between 13.3 and 14.1 hands. They have a smooth gait causing a comfortable ride, and are surefooted which makes them excel on trails.

*SPANISH MUSTANG*

During the 1950's, men joined to form an organization that had the purpose of preserving the last of the old type of Spanish Mustangs. The breed once roamed throughout the western United States in large numbers, but during that time they were threatened to become extinct. In order to preserve the breed, a man by the name of Brislawn collected individual horses that he himself considered to be the best examples of the Spanish Mustang breed.

The Spanish Mustang is known for stamina and toughness, and is a good characteristic that shows their Spanish heritage. Other breeds would have perished in conditions that the Spanish Mustang was able to survive and multiply. The spanish horse has a very profound influence on numerous breeds. Modern Spanish Mustang horses retain the qualities that the horses had when teh Spaniards conquered a new world.

*STANDARDBRED*

The fastest harness horse in the world, the Standardbred must meet 'standards' in regards to their speed and breeding in order to be registered as a standardbred. Interestingly enough, as the breed becomes smarter, their speed decreases.

Appearance

The standardbred looks a lot like the Thoroughbred, but does not stand as tall. Standardbred's are about 15.2 hands, and they have longer bodies than the standardbred breed. Their heads are refined and on medium sized necks. They have muscular quarters and their legs are set well back. The breed comes in brown, bay, and black most often, but other colors are sometimes found. They weigh between 800 and 1000 pounds.

*SUDAN COUNTRY-BRED*

A light riding horse, the Sudan Country-Bred originated in Sudan. It was developed from crossing Arab and Thoroughbred horses with Dongola breeds. They are often found in brown, roan, bay, chestnut or black.

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