Mongolian Horse: description and features

The breed of Mongolian horses has the oldest origin. Horse breeding in this people was developed quite widely by the XII century - the time of the unification of the tribes of Mongolia. The cavalry is the main line of the troops of Genghis Khan and his successors. The harsh climate, the nomadic way of life and economy, the semi-wild maintenance of horses for many centuries - all this contributed to the survival of the strongest individuals, who had a high level of fitness and strength of health.

General characteristics of the breed

The main quality that a Mongolian horse has is the ability to quickly accumulate and economize the fat stock. In addition, it can be satisfied with a small amount of water even in summer, and in winter it is covered with a long hairline with a thick undercoat. Despite a long period of existence, the breed has not undergone significant changes. In terms of productivity, the Mongolian horse refers to breeds for use under pack, saddle and harness. However, it can perform work with not very heavy load and pulling force, as it has small growth and live weight.

The Mongolian climate

The climate in Mongolia is sharply continental, heavily arid, with abundant winds. It is especially cold in the north, with large temperature fluctuations (up to 80 °). The hot dry summer is replaced by a long, harsh winter (up to 40 ° below). It happens that the blizzard rages for several days, and in the summer, southern, southwestern strong and hot winds come. Precipitation is rare. Snow does not last long.

The north of the country is full of herbs. On the slopes of the mountains grow cereals - fescue, ostrich, timothy, bluegrass, wheatgrass; In the river valleys, on the northern slopes of the mountains, in the marshy meadows, there are many nutritious grasses: the saber, the saxifrage, the hammer ... The steppe flora prevails in the center of the republic. Desert plants are unsuitable for a breed such as a Mongolian horse. Photo horses show the external characteristics of the build and the environment, reflected in such an exterior.

The influence of climate on the rock

The stern and half-savage maintenance of horses in Mongolia, their natural selection nullified attempts to improve the breed. It remains unpretentious and small in size. Tabunnaya Mongolian was amenable to improvement with the help of the captured horses of Mongolian breeds, for example, from Central Asia. The old horses and crossbreeds could not adapt to life in the herds in a harsh climate.

However, the bred breeds near Mongolia (Kirghizia, Kazakhstan) and to the north (the Minusinsk breed) are much larger than Mongolian in size. Most likely, the reason is a higher technological level of horse breeding and a softer climate. The situation is similar in the areas adjacent to Mongolia - the Chita region, the Buryat-Mongolian, the Altai ... Horses in these areas have a large body weight, which can only be explained by the harsh conditions of detention of the latter.

Types, which has a Mongolian horse. Description of the ex-terrier

Some regions of Mongolia differ significantly in terms of climate, landscape and conditions for breeding equestage. This affected the breed types: in the west they are larger, and in the south - smaller ones. The lowest ones have a height at the withers from 123 cm to 125 cm. They are bred in semi-desert southern regions of Mongolia. The constitutional features of the constitution of Mongolian horses are expressed in a squat, cylindrical body, large interlayers of fat and thick coat of wool. This helps animals protect the body from excessive heat release. The ability to store fat reserves is designed to create in the body energy reserves, necessary to maintain life at critical moments.

Physique features

The constitution and exterior of the Mongolian horses are as follows:

• Heavy, massive head.
• Small eyes.
• Thick, short neck with low yield.
• Broad and deep thorax.
• Straight back.
• The saggy croup.
• Stems straight, short.
• The limbs are short (chestnuts may be absent).

The Mongolian horse is not typified in style. Mostly light gray, brown, salt, red, bay, kaurai, spotted, savrasaya, chubara predominate. Horses in Mongolia are distinguished by their longevity (20-24 years) and late maturation (development is completed in 6 years).

Endurance

Researchers such as Przhevalsky, Kozlov and many others emphasized the excellent endurance that the Mongolian breed of horses has, and its undemanding fodder and care. An ordinary horse will pass without difficulty with a rider up to 80 km per day, and with one-day hikes - even up to 120 km. Horses in large quantities are used for horseback riding, pair harness, national sports competitions, transportation of packs, grazing of cattle, goats, sheep and other domestic animals in agriculture. Their role is so great in the life of the Mongols that there are more than one horse per person. Mongolian stamina of horses attracts breeders to obtain new types, but so far this area can not boast of special breeding results.

Agriculture

The development of technology has created the conditions for innovations in the field of horse breeding. Many farms harvest hay for the winter, build simple buildings for shelter in bad weather, practice selection selection, test the crossing of local horses with Don horses, heavy horses and other kinds of thoroughbred horses. Work is underway on the prevention of various diseases that can cause great damage to the state economy in general and horse breeding in particular. In agriculture, horses are also used to produce meat and milk.

Breeding

Today, the Mongolian horse is bred at the fodder in the herds. Its constitution, physique, other qualities are mainly formed under the influence of climate, relief, features of content, feeding, pasture and use. The very territory of Mongolia is a plateau, surrounded by mountain ranges. The terrain is elevated above sea level up to 1300 meters. The northern part has a mountain-taiga landscape and is replaced by a forest-steppe toward the center, which goes south to a broad steppe belt. This zone of Mongolia is saturated with half and completely deserted places.

In winter, the herds are kept on the areas that are most protected from the winds, with grass, and the horses are thirsty with snow. In summer, horses are moved to pastures to the water (rivers, lakes, keys). Here the weight of the Mongolian horses is restored. But they suffer many hardships: the strongest heat, scorching winds with clouds of dust, lack of water, the attack of flies and mosquitoes. In autumn, the air temperature drops, so horses accumulate large amounts of fat, preparing for a heavy winter.

The content of young animals and the longevity of horses

The first and second year of the foal is very difficult, he lacks food. Within two (three) months of summer, the mare is milked for milk. During this period, the foals spend most of their time on the leash. Thus, they can drink mother's milk only at night. Grazing foals also goes at night. They are very early in moving to pasture foraging, which affects their growth and development.

The horses of Mongolian breeds are durable. Many of them remain operational for far more than 18 years. At one time the cabmen bought the old horses that had been written off by age from the army (20-22 years), which worked for them for a very long time.

Features of the outfit

Masters of horse harness always paid special attention to its decoration. The design, which has a Mongolian bridle for a horse, allows you to pull a snaffle without removing it. Bridle is made of narrow rawhide straps. They, as a rule, have a thin forged snaffle, to which a long, made of braid, is fastened. It remains always in the hands and is often used as a whip. For the holiday, the saddle and the saddle are richly decorated.

Saddles are made in the national style. The wooden lunchstick consists of two very short shelves and a wide size, trapezoidal bow, the front part of which is slightly higher than the back, and the attachment to the shelves is made at an angle. The appointment of the saddle, the age of the rider and his gender are necessarily taken into account. The saddle is everyday and festive, all parts of which are richly decorated with silver, as well as a bridle. The stirrups on the holiday are also decorated with chasing and engraving. Cheprak, the jig is decorated with embroidery and embossing. Saddles have reddish, pink, brownish, yellow and other mottled shades.

Using

Mongol without a horse, that without arms and legs. Every family needs it - if not for moving, working, then for milk exactly. Its purpose: army service, oznaya, riding, where a special Mongolian saddle is used. Horses, however, have a significant drawback, hampering their use in jobs with a large load capacity - this is small growth. Simultaneously, the Mongolian horse does not tolerate a climate with pronounced dampness, which makes it difficult to widely use them in other areas.

Due to its fast, productive step, easy gallop, good characteristics in swimming, Mongolian horses perfectly move in the sands, easily climb the hills, descend from them. You can meet a pacing horse, which is highly valued among the population.

Very popular among entertainment horse racing. Among them, the most common are long distances (25 km). The average horse gallops under a light rider 25 km about forty-two minutes. The best horses used to come from Undurhan. From it they were transported to different regions of Mongolia and exported even to China. In Ulan Bator there is a racecourse where horse races take place. Of course, the rock is valued by the rock, the constitution and the exterior. Not every horse has the speed inherent only in horses. The best breeds for racing are obtained by crossing, when they take a local mare and a thoroughbred stallion of a different kind. While there was no socialization, Mongolia had many centers for racehorses.

For example, rocks: borzigon, galshar, bayantsagaan. After the socialization of livestock on the thoroughbred breeds of horses, there is no question. But, thanks to the intelligent approach of cattlemen, they managed to save some of the breeds of racehorses.

Modernity imposes its imprint on Mongolia. Today, the population is becoming increasingly unaccustomed to riding. Therefore, horses lose their innate innate qualities. Although the horse is the pride of the Mongol, cars and motorcycles come to replace them ...