Kabarda horse
Kabarda stallion
The Kabarda is an elegant mountain horse from the Caucasus, is there still needs intensive from the rural population and today finds many friends among leisure, hiking and especially endurance riders in Western Europe. It stands out for its sure-footedness, stamina and mental strength and takes its name from the people of Kabarda, a tribe of Circassians.
Background information on the evaluation and breeding horses can be found at: exterior, interior and horse breeding.
Exterior
The Kabarda is an elegant Robust horse and ideally designed for his breed purpose. The position of the legs is slightly bow-legged, which - allowing safe passage even in difficult terrain and is an evolutionary adaptation to its operational area - in combination with a well muscled, croup severed. The head is long with a slight Ramsprofil, dry and noble. The long ears have often inwardly curved tips. Mane and tail are full. The eye is clear and alert, the neck of medium length, well set and muscular. The depth of chest is good, medium length of the back and the hooves firmly and correctly. The cannon bone circumference is 18 to 21 centimeters. Mares have a Height 148-156 cm, 150-158 cm stallions. At coat colors Brown, Dark Brown, Black Brown and black horse are represented, molds are rare. Badge, there is little.
Interior
The Kabarda is famous for its hardness and its sense of direction, which have their basis in the fact that he was primarily used by shepherds and hunters in the mountains. As a typical mountain horse he is shy free and very strong nerves. It is particularly interesting for the distance and trail riding, but also for many other equestrian sports, such as dressage, Jumping, Eventing, Western Riding.
The movement is energetic and ground covering, the gaits but rather flat (higher action, however, is not a defect) with acceleration and thrust from the hindquarters and high slip resistance. Tolt and pass may occur.
The Kabarda is considered performance- ready, frugal, robust, prolific, of good sense of direction and high regenerative capacity, as well as leichtfuttrig.
Breeding history
The breed probably dates to the 12th century. From this period show Circassian branding the local horse breeding of Tscherkessenpferdes, which is known as Kabarda horse today. The roots of the breed are - as probably in all breeds of that time - the Persian and Arabian horse. But Turkmen and Nogai and Mongolian steppe horses are certainly represented in the ancestral lines. The breed was family-oriented, that is, every prince had his own breed and his own branding, a higher-level control was not available. This changed approximately around 1900. A first national studbook was launched and targeted breeding with a cross- breed description and breeding goals has been set. At this time Thoroughbred blood was also started introgress in the breed to make the breed with the aim of something lighter and more elegant, as well as to increase the speed. At this time, only a small proportion of whole blood was sought that would arrive at about 5-10 % in the race means. Around 1960, the cross-breeding of the English thoroughbred was strengthened and thus created a new Kabarda type, the Anglo -Kabarda. It defines this for a cross of Kabarda and thouroughbred with a whole blood content of more than 12.5 % ( Studbook VI) ( from 25 % Studbook V). The objective here was to get a faster horse that is competitive for the popular flat races - especially at the larger distances 2-5 km.
Generally English thoroughbred has a significant impact throughout the race - not only in the form of the Anglo - Kabardiners - leave. So today find themselves in almost all lineages approximately 5% whole blood units - as planned in 1900 as a target. The result is that the primitive significantly heavier and more smaller Kabarda - type is found only rarely today. The Kabardinerrasse itself was thus something more elegant.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the documentation of the Kabarda horse ended up in the form of a state-organized breeding. Only on private and local basis documentaries were continued. Many horses ended up in slaughter transports and the breed had declined sharply. Only the use of lovers, it's thanks to them that today over 4000 horses are found in the Caucasus, as well many who were saved from the great State Studs, or derived from these.
In 2007, then started again to found a new state stud book, based on the Initiate in the Caucasus, as well as supported by a European initiative " Friends and Supporters of Kabarda horse eV ", and especially the part Autonomous Republic of Kabardino -Balkaria and its President arsenic Baschirowitsch Kanokov. Under the direction of the stud book allstaatlichen Russia ( VNIIK ) a re-registration was performed both in the Caucasus, as well as in Europe. The 6th studbook was published in Russia in September 2008. In Europe, the corresponding entry in breeding and care is provided currently by the Bavarian farming association for small horses and special breeds of horses.
The Kabarda has also helped in the creation of Terskers, much of the foundation mares were mares of Kabarda breed.
The Kabarda are grown mainly in the northern Caucasus and adjacent regions, and have and had influence on many breeds of horses around the southern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Most of the year they graze even today in natural herds on pastures at altitudes up to 3000 meters within sight of Mount Elbrus.
Were in the area of origin and Kabarda be used as riding and pack animals. In particular, the Border Patrol in the mountains ( packhorses ), but also the daily errands and visits will be done in the Caucasus on horseback. Particularly intense is the use of shepherds who accompany the herds in the high mountains.
Dissemination and use in Germany / Western Europe
In Germany there are about 400 horses in 2013 the Kabarda breed, with the majority of horses are imported from the Caucasus. In breeding only a few of the horses are used, only 4 approved stallions at stud, and only about 30 mares are registered in breeding associations. Nevertheless, there is a small, stable and high quality breeding with some very good foals (2012: 8 foals, 4 of premium foals and 2 gold premium foal).
The Kabarda be a good 90 % used in Western Europe as leisure horses, often by traveling horsemen for long rides. A small proportion of Kabarda is also active in sports and owing in large part in the Endurance or Working Equitation. In endurance competitions are clear successes of the breed show off and they evolve alongside the Arabs to the second strongest race in the sport.
Some successes in endurance racing
- 2012: 1st place Bayerncup
- 2011: 1st place CEI * 80km Switzerland, 3rd place CEI ** 120km Gartow, 1st place Bayerncup
- 2008: 1st place at Central European Endurance Topolczianky over 160 km
- 2006: 1st place in West Germany International 160km
- 2005: 16th in the World Championships in Dubai, 14th place at the test ride the 2006 World Cup
- 2004: 2nd place at the German Championship