Horse Breeds: Soviet Heavy Draft, Spanish Barb, Spanish Mustang, Standardbred, Sudan Country-Bred

ET HEAVY DRAFT*975 pounds, and are small- between 13.3 and 14.1
Developed during the 1880's and 1890's, the Soviethands. They have a smooth gait causing a
Heavy Draft was recognized as a "new heavy draftcomfortable ride, and are surefooted which makes
breed". They were bred extensively, in areas includingthem excel on trails.
Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Gorki, Ryazan, Penza and Orel*SPANISH MUSTANG*
regions. These areas had developed industries andDuring the 1950's, men joined to form an organization
agriculture, and needed strong, fast horses of amplethat had the purpose of preserving the last of the old
size to assist them with their work.type of Spanish Mustangs. The breed once roamed
Native horses were initially improved by the stallions ofthroughout the western United States in large numbers,
Belgian Brabancon Draft breeds. In 1936, there were 3but during that time they were threatened to become
state breeding centers, Pochinkovsk, Gavrilovo-Posadextinct. In order to preserve the breed, a man by the
and Mordovian that branched later to the Alexandrozname of Brislawn collected individual horses that he
farm and the Yaroslavl farm. Two facilities werehimself considered to be the best examples of the
turned into studs. Demand for Soviet Heavy DraftSpanish Mustang breed.
horses grew as the agricultural production proceeded.The Spanish Mustang is known for stamina and
Today's purebread Soviet Heavy Draft horses aretoughness, and is a good characteristic that shows
distinguished by their height and expressed harnesstheir Spanish heritage. Other breeds would have
type. They have strong bones and muscles and standperished in conditions that the Spanish Mustang was
about 163cm tall. They weigh between 850kg andable to survive and multiply. The spanish horse has a
1000 kg, although the mares is quite a bit lower,very profound influence on numerous breeds. Modern
between 650 and 750kg. Soviet Draft horses haveSpanish Mustang horses retain the qualities that the
average sized heads, average necks and low withershorses had when teh Spaniards conquered a new
that are slightly dipped. Most horses of the breed areworld.
brown, bay or chestnut.*STANDARDBRED*
*SPANISH BARB*The fastest harness horse in the world, the
Tracing a lineage from Andalusian and Spanish JennetStandardbred must meet 'standards' in regards to their
horses in North America during the 16th century, thespeed and breeding in order to be registered as a
Spanish-Barb breed was most prevalent in thestandardbred. Interestingly enough, as the breed
Southeast and Southwest areas of Spanishbecomes smarter, their speed decreases.
settlement. Spanish-Barb horses provided theAppearance
foundation for Choctaw Indian and Chickasaw breeds-The standardbred looks a lot like the Thoroughbred,
and the Chickasaw horses played a role in thebut does not stand as tall. Standardbred's are about
develoment of the American Quarter Horse. In the15.2 hands, and they have longer bodies than the
Southwest, Spanish barb horses were owned by thestandardbred breed. Their heads are refined and on
early Spanish and Mexican cowboys- and latermedium sized necks. They have muscular quarters
became the foundation for wild mustang herds in theand their legs are set well back. The breed comes in
west.brown, bay, and black most often, but other colors are
The Spanish barb horses almost were absorbed intosometimes found. They weigh between 800 and 1000
the general horse population, but thanks to a fewpounds.
dedicated families and ranchers, the breed has*SUDAN COUNTRY-BRED*
survived. No attempt at registry was done until theA light riding horse, the Sudan Country-Bred originated
Spanish Barb Breeders association was formed inin Sudan. It was developed from crossing Arab and
1972.Thoroughbred horses with Dongola breeds. They are
The Spanish Barb breed weighs between 800 andoften found in brown, roan, bay, chestnut or black.