Horses

The BUDENNY (or Budyonny) horse is a Russian warmblood created from crossing early native Russian breeds(Don and Chernomor) with thoroughbreds.? They were named after Marshall Budenny,? famous Bolshevik cavalry commander in the Russian civil war (1918-1920)

Breeding History ?
After world war 1 and the Russian civil war, the Russian army was low in quality cavalry horses, so breeding commenced in the Rostov region of Russia, with the aim of creating an enduring cavalry horse.? Horses from this breeding program made up a great part of the Russion cavalry in World war II.

Selected Don and Chernomor mares were crossed with Thoroughbred stallions. The Chernomor is a smaller, lighter, and more active Cossack than the Don but otherwise quite similar. ?
The results of the first crossings were known as Anglo-Dons. The best of these horses were chosen and interbred to form the foundation stock of the Budenny Breed. Greta care was taken in the breeding programme with mares given access to the best pastures, were housed from the elements in winter and grain fed. Youujng horses were tested for speed and ability on cavalry equitation corses and the best performers then selected for breeding programmes.

Of the 657 mares used to create the fixed type,

1. 359 were Anglo-Dons,
2. 261 were Anglo-Dons crossed with Chernomors,
3. 37 were Anglo-Chernomors.

These mares were mated with Anglo-Don stallions, and any mares without distinctive Thoroughbred character were put back to Thoroughbred stallions. The breed was recognized in 1949.

In the early days, three types of Budenny were recognized: "Massive", "Eastern", and "Middle"? however demand for all-purpose competition horse dictated on one would propser, those which had a greater proportion of Thoroughbred blood than earlier varieties. Modern Budenny stock has good bone, a strong build, and is distinctly Thoroughbred in appearance.

hey stand around 1.63 m (16 hh). Most (80 per cent) are chestnut, their coats having a golden sheen inherited from the Don and Chernomor. Their conformation is sometimes marred by poor leg structures with offset cannon bones in the forelegs and overly straight hind legs most likely the result from the unsuccessful Kazakh and Kirghiz crosses.? That said, they are generally of good riding horse type, with an elegant, high-quality head. The breed's stamina greatly exceeds that of a full Thoroughbred, and it is also said to have a calm, sensible temperament.

SPORT
As you would expect from a horse bred for this purpose, they are fast(though not as fast as a thoroughbred) with high endurance.? The do well in long-distance, steeplechase and cross-country competitions.?