Karabakh
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Names: Karabakh.
Origin: The Karabakh is an ancient mountain saddle breed. It was developed in Nagorny Karabakh in Azerbaijan between the Araks and Kura rivers.
Breeding: Prior
to the 19th century the Karabakh had a substantial influence in improving horse
breeds in the neighboring countries. It was developed by crossing the native
Azerbaijan horses with Persians, Arabs
and Turkmenians. The Arabian influence was most pronounced; there are
important similarities in appearance between the Karabakh and the Arabian.
Breed numbers are very small. At present, the Karabakh is
bred at Agdam stud, yet the total herd is composed of Arab Karabakh crossbred of
various grades. Effort are currently under way to regenerate the Karabakh breed.
In 1981, Volume 1 of the studbook was published.
Description: Long-term breeding based on taboon management in the mountains has led to the evolution of specific features in the breed.
Back: Average in length.
Body: Build is clean and thick-set, muscles are well developed, and tendons are well defined.
Chest: Deep.
Color: Chestnut, or bay with a characteristic golden tint. Many are of the metallic golden color unique to this and the Akhal-Teke breed.
Croup: Average in length, wide, and well muscled.
Eyes: Alert.
Hair: Fine, soft, and gleaming; hair of the forelock, mane, and tail is thin.
Head: Small and clean-cut.
Hooves: Not large, yet solid.
Legs: Properly set, sometimes bowed.
Loin: Flat, short, and wide.
Neck: Set high and average in length.
Profile: Straight.
Size: The horse is not large. The average measurements (in cm) of stallions are: height at withers 150, oblique body length 147, chest girth 169, cannon bone girth 18.6; mares: 146, 145, 164 and 18.5 respectively.
Skin: Thin.
Withers: Average in height.
Temperament: Alert and often fiery.
Features:
Uses: Frequently bred for racing.
Accomplishments:
Curiosities:
Profiles: Zaman - the Karabakh horse presented to Queen Elizabeth; she often rode the little stallion before he was loaned to a stud near Salisbury.
Conclusion: