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The Don horse derives its name from the Steppes region of
Russia, across which the Don River flows. This region is naturally exposed to
severe weather conditions and, because of this, the Don is incredibly hardy and
tough, able to survive where many other breeds of horses would undoubtedly
perish. They have evolved through the 18th and 19th centuries, and are probably
descended from a cross between the steppe-bred Mongolian horses and the
Turkemene, Karabakh, Akhal-Tekes, and Orlov stallions. The Don achieved
considerable fame during the military campaigns of 1812-1814 when the Cossacks
invaded France. A lot of the French horses were unable to cope with the extreme
cold, harsh winters, and died, whereas the Dons survived and thrived. After
these events, the importance of the Don was realized, and selective breeding
began in earnest during the 1830s.
Dons were bred primarily for use in the cavalry, both for
riding and harness use. At the beginning of the 20th century, however,
Thoroughbred and Arab blood was introduced to the Don, but since then the breed
has remained largely untouched by any outside blood. The Don has some fairly
major conformational faults, which for years breeders have worked on
eradicating. Despite these short-comings, the Don is extremely useful for its
tough, enduring qualities. In the former Soviet Union, the don is frequently
introduced to other Soviet breeds, although the main one is the Budyonny. The
Don is suitable for lights draft work and riding, and they tend to have a quiet,
yet energetic, temperament.
In appearance these horses are not much to look at. They
have an eastern-type head of average size, and the neck is generally well-formed
and muscular. The shoulder are usually quite upright, which causes a choppy,
restricted stride. They have broad, deep chests and long, straight backs. Their
quarters are often weak, with a rather straight croup and a low-set tail.
Their pasterns are often upright, although they have very hard, tough hooves.
These horses have a tendency to be long in leg and often exhibit conformational
defects, such as calf knees in front and sickle hocks behind. Usually the Don is
brown or chestnut, sometimes with a metallic sheen, which reflects back to its
Akhal-Teke ancestry. They stand between 15.2 and 16.2 hh.
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