The Kabardin Horse Breed

The Kabardin Horse dates back from at least themodern Kabardin is used for improving the
sixteenth century. Found in the mountainous regions ofneighbouring horse stock and for general riding and
Northern Caucasus it is like all mountain breeds andriving.
extremely hardy and sure footed animal. They wereThe Kabardin stands at about 15 to 15.2 h.h. and it is
produced from the horses of the Steppe tribes byusually bay or black without markings. This handsome
crossing the native Mongolian stock with Turkmene,horse has an amenable character. The head is
Persian and Karrabahk blood. The first Kabardins weremedium sized with either a straight or Roman nose,
smaller in stature than those bred today and werethe ears point inwards; the neck is strong and fairly
generally used for riding in the mountains.long and deep at the chest. The shoulders fairly
During and after the Russian Revolution many of thestraight; the back is short and straight with low withers;
Kabardin horses died and the numbers were seriouslythe body is short and deep, particularly at the girth; the
depleted, which led to some effort being made tohindquarters are well proportioned; the limbs are good
re-establish the breed in the 1920s. As several horseand strong with hard feet. It is a very sure-footed, agile
studs began to develop the breed, in particular theanimal with a homing instinct making it ideal for tackling
Kabardin Balkan and the Karachaev-Chercass studs, athe treacherous mountain tracks where it has evolved.
bigger stamp of animal emerged. One that wasIt is an ideal mount for long distance trekking, a popular
suitable as an army mount and for agricultural purposeriding and sports horse and is also used for driving
as well as a general riding horse. Today the principalpurposes.
studs are at Malokarachaev and Malkinare and the