Origin
Don River steppes (former Soviet Union)
History
The Don is one of the best known of the Russian breeds. It became famous in the campains of 1812 to 1814 when 60.000 Cossaks, those irregular bands of tribal plunderers, fought Napoleonīs army. In the severe winter of 1812, Napoleonīs army lost many thousands of French horses while being relentlessly pursued by Cossaks riding their Don horses.
The breed evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries and was reared in herds on the pastures of the Don steppes. Its ancestors were the horses of the nomadic tribes, and the early influences were those of the unprepossessing but very hards Mongolian Nagai, the horses of northern Iran, the Persian Arabians, and the Turkmene, a desert horse closely associated with the Akhal-Teke. The Karabakh, a mountain horse from the Karabakh Mountains of Azerbaijan is a particular influence.
In the 18th century, there were lare numbers of these predominantly golden-dun horses let loose on the Don steppes. As a result of crosses with the Strelets Arabian, with the Orloy and to Thoroughbreds, the Don was subsequently improved and acquired greater size. Since the beginning of the 20th century, no outside blood has been introduced. By that time, the Don had emerged as a horse of a relatively fixed type and was used as an economical, easily kept cavalry horse, which also could be used in harness. It has also played a significant role in some of the breeds that have evolved at the state studs, in particular the Budonny, originally bred as a cavalry horse. The Budonny was based on the crossing of selected Don mares with Thoroughbreds. The progeny were called Anglo-Dons, and they were carefully inbred to produce the foundation stock for the Budonny breed.
Russian breeders make considerable use of performance testing. They test the Don on the racetrack at two and three years old, and also subject the breed to long-distance endurance tests. The Don is not impressive as a racehorse but it is a very strong performer over long distances. A standard test under saddle is a ride over 170 miles (275 km) which has to be covered in 24 hours.
Description
- Head:
of medium size and light with a straight or slightly dished profile; wide forehead, the jaw fleshy - Conformation:
-neck of average length running down into fairly well-defined withers
-shoulders, noticeably short, somewhat upright
-rib-cage, wide and welll-sprung
-back, straight and broad
-croup, sometimes straight
-legs, usually straight
-hooves, usually sound, free from disease and capable of standing up to hard wear - Average height:
between 15.3 h.h. And 16.2 h.h. - Colour:
the predominant colours are chestnut and brown, often with a golden sheen - Temperament:
the Don is incredibly tough, can work on the shortest of rations, and is well able to live outside all year and adapt easily to every sort of climatic hardship. It is enduring, frugal and equable in temperament. - Today:
it is much valued as an improver of local stock in areas where horse herds are traditional and commonplace . It is popular for mounted tourism.
