Soviet Heavy Draft
Encyclopedia
The Soviet Heavy Draft is a breed of draft horse
, originating in Russia
at the end of the 19th century. The modern breed became established by the 1940s.
breed was recognized in Russia
during the latter part of the 19th century. An extensive breeding zone, encompassing Yaroslavl
, Vladimir
, Gorki, Penza
, Ryazan
, Tula
, Tambov
, Voronezh
and Oryol
regions and Mordovia
, and breeding success was ensured through a stable supply of fodder
. The initial breeding took place at the Khrenov stud
, and from there expanded to the Pochinkozsk stud.
The breed was created by crossing native mares with imported Belgian
stallions
. The native mares
were a mix of Percheron
, Ardennes
, Suffolk Punch
, Danish and various saddle horse breeds.
By 1936, during the Soviet era
, three state breeding centres were established: Pochinkovsk, Mordovian and Gavrilovo-Posad. Alexandroz farm in the Vladimir region
and Yaroslavl farm branched off from Gavrilovo-Posad. Later, the Pochinkovsk and the Mordovian facilities were transformed into studs.
The breed was named and officially recognized as a heavy draft breed in 1952. The same breeding techniques were used by the USSR to create the Estonian Draft
and Lithuanian Heavy Draft breeds.
Soviet Heavy Drafts are now the most common draft horse used in the nations that make up the former Soviet Union
, and they are frequently used in the improvement of other heavy breeds, both on state-run farms and in kol-khozes (agricultural cooperatives).
. The breed generally stands around 15.1 hands
high, and weighs 1,430 to 1,720 lb. They may be chestnut
, bay, or roan
.
The breed has a well-proportioned head with a straight or convex profile, although with a pronounced jaw
. The neck is usually short and muscular, the chest wide and deep, the shoulders straight and powerful, the back wide and strong, the croup muscular and sloping, and a rounded abdomen. Their legs are short and sturdy with solid joints and hooves that are broad and rounded. They are prone to pigeon toes in their front legs and sickle hocks in the rear.
The breed tends to mature quickly, but is also less resistant to disease than some other heavy breeds.
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, originating in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
at the end of the 19th century. The modern breed became established by the 1940s.
History
The need for a strong but relatively fast draft horseDraft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...
breed was recognized in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
during the latter part of the 19th century. An extensive breeding zone, encompassing Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , which is located in the Central Federal District, surrounded by Tver, Moscow, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Kostroma, and Vologda Oblasts. This geographic location affords the oblast the advantages of proximity to Moscow and St. Petersburg...
, Vladimir
Vladimir Oblast
Vladimir Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Vladimir, which is located east of Moscow...
, Gorki, Penza
Penza Oblast
-External links:* *...
, Ryazan
Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Ryazan, which is the oblast's largest city. Population: -Geography:...
, Tula
Tula Oblast
Tula Oblast is a federal subject of Russia with its present borders formed on September 26, 1937. Its administrative center is the city of Tula. The oblast has an area of and a population of 1,553,874...
, Tambov
Tambov Oblast
Tambov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Tambov. Population: down from 1,178,443 recorded by the 2002 Census.Tambov Oblast is situated in forest steppe.-Birth rate:...
, Voronezh
Voronezh Oblast
Voronezh Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on June 13, 1934.-Main rivers:*Don*Voronezh*Bityug*Khopyor-Economy:...
and Oryol
Oryol Oblast
Oryol Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Oryol. Population: -Geography:It is located in the southwestern part of the Central Federal District, in the Mid-Russian Highlands. Kaluga and Tula Oblasts border it in the north, Bryansk Oblast is located to...
regions and Mordovia
Mordovia
The Republic of Mordovia , also known as Mordvinia, is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the city of Saransk. Population: -Geography:The republic is located in the eastern part of the East European Plain of Russia...
, and breeding success was ensured through a stable supply of fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
. The initial breeding took place at the Khrenov stud
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
, and from there expanded to the Pochinkozsk stud.
The breed was created by crossing native mares with imported Belgian
Belgian (horse)
The Belgian Draft horse or Belgian, also known as Belgian Heavy Horse, Brabançon, or Brabant, is a draft horse breed from the Brabant region of modern Belgium, where it is called the or Flemish: . It is one of the strongest of the heavy breeds...
stallions
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
. The native mares
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
were a mix of Percheron
Percheron
The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Perche valley in northern France. Percherons are usually gray or black in color. They are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, the ancestors of the breed were...
, Ardennes
Ardennes (horse)
The Ardennes or Ardennais is one of the oldest breeds of draft horse, and originates from the Ardennes area in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. They are heavy-boned with thick legs and are used for draft work. The Ardennes is found in many colors, although black horses are very rare and are not...
, Suffolk Punch
Suffolk Punch
The Suffolk Punch, also historically known as the Suffolk Horse or Suffolk Sorrel, is an English breed of draught horse. The breed takes the first part of its name from the county of Suffolk in East Anglia, and the name "Punch" from its solid appearance and strength...
, Danish and various saddle horse breeds.
By 1936, during the Soviet era
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, three state breeding centres were established: Pochinkovsk, Mordovian and Gavrilovo-Posad. Alexandroz farm in the Vladimir region
Vladimir Oblast
Vladimir Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Vladimir, which is located east of Moscow...
and Yaroslavl farm branched off from Gavrilovo-Posad. Later, the Pochinkovsk and the Mordovian facilities were transformed into studs.
The breed was named and officially recognized as a heavy draft breed in 1952. The same breeding techniques were used by the USSR to create the Estonian Draft
Estonian Draft
The Estonian Draft or Eston-Arden is a breed of draft horse developed in Estonia. They were developed from a cross of Estonian Native horses and Swedish Ardennes and officially recognized by the Estonian government in 1953...
and Lithuanian Heavy Draft breeds.
Soviet Heavy Drafts are now the most common draft horse used in the nations that make up the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and they are frequently used in the improvement of other heavy breeds, both on state-run farms and in kol-khozes (agricultural cooperatives).
Breed characteristics
The selective breeding that created the Soviet Heavy Draft resulted in a massively-built horse with free-moving gaitsHorse gait
Horse gaits are the various ways in which a horse can move, either naturally or as a result of specialized training by humans.-Classification:...
. The breed generally stands around 15.1 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
high, and weighs 1,430 to 1,720 lb. They may be chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
, bay, or roan
Roan (horse)
Roan is a horse coat color pattern characterized by an even mixture of colored and white hairs on the body, while the head and "points"—lower legs, mane and tail—are more solid-colored. The roan pattern is dominantly-inherited, and is found in many horse breeds...
.
The breed has a well-proportioned head with a straight or convex profile, although with a pronounced jaw
Jaw
The jaw is any opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of...
. The neck is usually short and muscular, the chest wide and deep, the shoulders straight and powerful, the back wide and strong, the croup muscular and sloping, and a rounded abdomen. Their legs are short and sturdy with solid joints and hooves that are broad and rounded. They are prone to pigeon toes in their front legs and sickle hocks in the rear.
The breed tends to mature quickly, but is also less resistant to disease than some other heavy breeds.