Horse Breeds: Baluchi, Ban-ei, Banker, Barb, Bashkir, Bashkir Curly
Author: Phillipe Wiskell

*BALUCHI*

Found in areas of Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sind, Muzaffargarh,
Bahawalpur, and Baluchistan, the Baluchi Horse, is typically put
to use for tonga pulling, tent pegging, and riding for pleasure.


Characteristics include a gray, chestnut, or bay color, along
with strong, fine legs and touching pointed ear tips, as well as
a long neck and fine heard. Generally, the characteristics of
the Baluchi horse will depict where they derive from. For
example, the horses in Pakistan are typically larger, yet with a
lighter build. Because they have ears that are turned in, people
typically find them similar to the Indian Kathiawari. The
Baluchi Horse is a possible descendant of the Banamba,
Beledougou, and the Barb of West Africa.

*BAN-EI*

One of the most popular racing horses in Japan, the Ban-ei
horse is exclusively used in horse racing. This draft type,
heavy breed, specifically geared for the popular heavy sledge
race called Ban-ei Keiba, stands anywhere between fourteen to
sixteen hands. The origin of the Ban-ei horse is in the areas of
Breton and Percheron.

*BANKER*

Believed to be a descendent of 16th century Spanish horses, the
Banker Pony originates in the North Carolina Bank Islands, such
as Shackleford Island and the other Outer Islands of the North
Carolina Bank. This semi-feral breed of horse peaks at around
fourteen hands.

*BARB*

Originating from the North African region of Maghreb, the Barb,
is typically used as a horse for light riding. The Tunisian,
Moroccan, and Algerian are a few of the many varieties of the
Barb. Descendants of the Barb include the United States
developed Spanish Barb and the West African Barb.

*BASHKIR*

Originating from the steppe zone and mountains of the Urals and
Volga, the Bashkir breed is typically used for meat, milk, and
as a utility or draft horse. Identifying characteristics of the
Bashkir include its fleshy, short neck, massive head, and low
withers. Typically, the Bashkir has a broad, erect back, with a
rounded croup, long, sprung ribs, with bony, short legs.

As a bony, wide-bodied, small horse, it has a thick tail and
mane. Typically colors include mouse grey, roan, chestnut, and
bay. Stallions typically carry measurements of 143 cm tall at
the withers, 144 cm long, 180 cm chest girth, and 20 cm bone
girth. Mares typically carry measurements of 142 cm tall, 145 cm
long, 178 cm chest girth, and 18.5 cm bone girth.

Because mares are typically used for milk, the average amount
of milk produced by the mare is 1500 kilograms of milk for the
market place. However, the high breeds of mares, in seven to
eight lactation months, will produce 2700 kilograms of milk. The
work endurance of the Bashkir is extremely high.

Work to improve the Bashkir breed is underway. Many breeders
are breeding with pure bloods and attempting to cross the breed
with the Heavy Draft of Russia. Other experiments have been
tried with the breed, such as crossing with the Yakut horse and
the Kazakh horse.

*BASHKIR CURLY*

No one knows the specific origination of the breed of horse
known as the Bashkir Curly. In fact, in the horse world, this is
to be called the greatest mystery of all. There are many
theories as to the origin and naming source. One such theory is
that the Bashkir Curly is a direct descendant of the Bashkir
from Russia. Though researchers have no been able to prove this
because the theory seems unlikely after examination of the breed
further. Researchers such as Shan Thomas, Russian scientists,
zoo's in Moscow, and livestock experts have discounted this
theory altogether.

On the other hand, during their research they have found that
the Tajikistan Lokai, does have many of the same Curly Coat
characteristics. However, this does not seem likely as well.
Ship logs from horse imports do not depict any imports from the
settlers from Russia to the North American coasts.

The realistic fact is that horses and stock breeding were not
altogether popular in the 1700 or 1800 hundreds. Breeding was
rarely successful and only a few horses or livestock were kept
with the settlements. In fact, Russian America only had 16
horses in the year 1817. Many horses died yearly thanks to the
Siberian trip, which was dangerous at the time. Furthermore,
local people named the horses in the region Yakut. Therefore, it
can be deduced that horses coming from Russian into the Alaskan
region would have likely been the breeding of the Yakut instead
of the Lokai or Bashkir breeds. The Lokai and Bashkir horses
were generated further west and south than the Yakut breeds
were.

More theory still exists, yet another one is that the Bashkir
Curly ancestors may have existed in the Ice Age, crossing the
land bridge. This theory cannot be supported due to lack of any
fossil evidence in the America's to prove any horse existence
prior to the Ice Age.

Several more theories have also been discredited due to lack of
any evidence to support the claim or have yet to be tested.
Blood tests performed on two hundred curly horses have concluded
that the Baskir Curly is not a distinct breed genetically. In
fact, the testing concluded that many different breeds of horses
contributed the development of the horse. The most prominent
being Morgans and Quarter Horses.

Bashkir Curly – The Formation of The American Breed

Present day Bashkir Curly's are not as mysterious. It begins in
1898 when a young man named Peter Damele was riding along with
his father on the mountain range of Peter Hanson, which is
located near Austin in a very remote section of Nevada. Though
Peter died at 90 years old in 1981, it was not before he
recalled vividly the sites he saw one day. He came across three
horses together. The horses bodies had curly ringlets that were
both tight and covered the entire horse. Both Peter and his
father were intrigued by these horses and began breeding them
from that day forward. Most of the American Bashkir Curly horses
derive from the herd Peter and his father owned.

In 1971, the American Bashkir Curly registry was established.
It was the goal of the founds to prevent the extinction of the
Baskir within the United States. Because they were becoming
heavy in numbers, people were slaughtering them ignorantly. The
founders also started the act of establishing traits in
breeding. They summoned owners in the United States to identify
the Bashkir Curly unique characteristics. After compilation of
these traits, many interesting characteristics were noted. For
example, the mane hair of the Bashkir Curly can be entirely
shed, in some cases their tail hair can be as well. This is
routinely done during the summer season. During the winter
season, the hair grows back. This is seen as a great
characteristic for owners because the tight, kinky, fine hair
can become virtually impossible to maintain.

Another feature that is extremely interesting is that the
offspring of the Bashkir Curly only receives the characteristics
of the curly half of the time. In other words, only half of
their young will only have the characteristics of the Curly.
This is true even when the male and female are both curly coats.
Winters are no trouble for this breed of horse, they are
extremely hardy and able to sustain through winter conditions of
extreme severity. In Nevada, the 1951 to 1952 winter was
extremely harsh. The only surviving breeds were the curly
horses.

The Bashkir Curly is a medium sized horse, comparable to that
of the Morgan in its early days. Generally they can come in a
variety of colors that most common horses come in, which
includes Pinto and Appaloosa. Some horses have chestnuts, while
others have ergots. Oriental breeds have wide eyes for a wide
vision range. Their hooves are black, tough, and round. Other
characteristics include a short back, strong hocks, flat knees,
straight legs, powerful shoulders, and smooth rump,.

The Bashkir Curly is popular is horse events. You can easily
spot them in events such as dressage and driving, endurance
riding, competitive riding, gaited pleasure, western pleasure,
English equitation, roping, jumper, hunter, Gymkhana, Reining,
western riding, pole bending, and barrel racing.


About The Author: Phillipe Wiskell is a writer for
http://HorseClicks.com, popular classifieds of horses for sale,
used horse trailers and land for sale.