Race horses: descriptions

Before talking about racehorses, you need to understand the terms. The fact is that the official classification of rocks does not use the concept of "race". In dictionaries the "race" horse is defined as belonging to the breed of purebred horses and having excellent running qualities. Thoroughbred breeds in the world are read only three. One of them is called the "English racehorse". But, as a rule, not only representatives of these three breeds, but also all horses of riding breeds intended for competitions are usually called racehorses.

Horse Racing and Riding

The oldest stud farm in England was founded by King Henry VIII in the 16th century. The case was continued by his successors. In the 17th century among the English aristocracy it became fashionable to breed horses for sports. It should be noted that in the modern sense of "horse racing" and "equestrian sport" are several different things. Under horse racing is understood the test of horses for their suitability for further breeding. The main thing that is required from a horse in a race is speed. The distances in the races are short.

Another thing is equestrian sport. Relatively new breeds of racehorses (for example, Don), originally intended for use in the army, have proven themselves in sports, in various games and competitions, involving the interaction of horses and riders. There are many kinds of equestrian sport. It is included in the program of the Olympic Games.

Race Horse: Exterior and Behavior Features

Of course, from such a horse waiting first of all for speed. However, a spectacular appearance is an indispensable attribute of a thoroughbred stallion or mare. Sports horses - stately, with long sinewy and muscular legs. Their heads are small, their bodies are elongated. These animals look taut and dry. They must have the ease of stride, endurance, energy. The character of the horse, its willingness to interact with the person is also important. It happens that the horse of the race breed is passionate and full of strength, but the choleric temperament prevents it from succeeding.

Indeed, not every sports horse is given at least once in his life to take a prize. Riders that did not differ at the competitions, nevertheless, are able to serve the improvement of other breeds or the breeding of new ones, passing on to their offspring individual signs in which the breeders are interested.

The oldest breed: Akhal-Teke

Akhalteke people are the oldest racehorses . Breeds of horses in those distant times, when these horses were known, did not yet exist as such, - more precisely, did not have names. But ancient authors already knew about the Akhal-Tekeans (for example, Herodotus and Appian). These horses were formerly called Persian, Turkish, Turkmen. They were confused with the more popular Arabs. The breed was reopened only in the 19th century, and then it got its name: in honor of the Turkmen oasis, the inhabitants of which preserved the blood of these animals for centuries.

The aim of the Central Asian nomads was to remove a fighting horse: a hardy, strong, able to manage a small amount of water. Akhaltekeans are relatively high for riding horses, narrow-chested, have a small head, an elegant straight neck. Their tail and mane are rare, the wool is short and has a characteristic metallic luster. Through the skin, the vessels are visible. Their legs and back are long, the constitution is dry. Akhalteke's step is smooth, so it's convenient to ride them. But these horses differ in a complex character: they recognize only one master, are easily excitable and vindictive. Not everyone can cope with them.

Not without the participation of these Turkmen horses new breeds of racehorses were brought out: for example, the English and the Don. And Arabian horses, most likely, carry the blood of Akhal-Teke in their veins.

The most famous breed: Arabic

The formation of the rock began on the territory of the Arabian Peninsula in the 4th-7th centuries AD. E. The progenitors of these horses are the Central Asian (the ancestors of the Akhal-Teke) and the North African horses of the Berber nomads. The Arabs were very jealous of the purity of the blood. They created a set of rules, according to which strict selection of producers was carried out. The pedigree was taken to be female. It was forbidden to sell mares, they were highly valued.

The horses of the Arabian breed are small, graceful, dry, but with a soft back. They have well-placed curved necks and small heads. The skull of the Arabian horse is markedly bent, the forehead is wide, and the muzzle is narrow. The tail is high. "Arabs" are distinguished by athleticism, speediness, exquisite exterior and perfection of movements. These horses had an impact on world horse breeding: almost all the breeds of racehorses that now exist in Europe and America have Arab ancestors. In modern equestrian sport, however, Arab horses do not shine: larger rivals overtake them. But these horses were raised for exhibition purposes.

Throughbred - "excelled in perfection"

At first this breed was called "English race". Later it began to be cultivated all over the world, and a new name arose - "thoroughbred horse breed of horses". Her ancestors are royal mares from the English royal stables and Arab and Akhal-Teke stallions captured or bought in the east. This breed was bred in the 18th century exclusively for sporting purposes. Only horses, regularly showing high results at the races, were allowed to continue the genus. All conditions were created for animals; Their training was done by experienced specialists. And here is the result: the English race is the fastest horse in the world.

It is larger, more proportional and "easier" than its ancestors, has a medium-length neck, a small head and a straight muzzle. These horses are bold, impetuous, but not as nervous as their eastern forefathers. For today it is the most numerous breed of sporting horses.

Other breeds of racehorses

With the help of the "English", new breeds of both horse and horse-harness horses were obtained: Hanoverian, Eagle-Rostopchinsky, Terek, Takenen, Ukrainian and many others. In the photo below - a horse of the Budyonnov breed, bred for the needs of the army.

As a result of crossing the English stallions with the mare of local breeds, hardy and relatively calm racehorses appeared. The breeds of horses, created on the basis of the genetic material of the three "pure" breeds, have somewhat surpassed their ancestors: some - in force, others - in speed, others - in wit.