Horse
Breed Description:
The Karabakh breed of horse is an extremely rare breed that is primarily from Azerbaijan. The Karabakh horse is especially known for being sure footed and very tough. The head is small and features a wide forehead with an even profile. The neck is muscular and of medium length, and terminates in a deep chest. The back is short and compact, with muscular definition all around. Like other desert horse breeds, the skin of the Karabakh horse is exceptionally thin, and the nostrils have the ability to dilate beyond that of a normal horse breed. This helps the animal in high altitudes. The Karabakh breed of horse is usually bay, chestnut, or gray, and may have small white markings on the body. The withers are moderate, the shoulders sloping, and the girth is narrow throughout. The legs of the Karabakh horse are long and thin, but are incredibly strong and feature small but well-formed joints.
Temperament:
The Karabakh breed of horse is typically managed in the “taboon” structure of the highlands of Azerbaijan; primarily this means that the herd of Karabakh horses is moved from region to region as the seasons and available food and water sources allow. This generally results in an animal that is unaccustomed to close physical contact with humans. In most cases, the Karabakh horse is intelligent but wary, and willing to work hard when trained properly. The Karabakh horse adapts quickly to most types of environments and work situations, however, when released to its own devices, the Karabakh horse will quickly revert to a nearly feral state. Due to the high amount of Arabian blood present in the Karabakh breed of horse, there is a tendency in the animal to be headstrong; but this also serves well when under saddle, as the Karabakh horse makes a light and very fast mount.
Height:
14 hh to 15 hh
Health Problems:
The Karabakh horse was bred to be a hardy and efficient animal. There are very few health problems in this breed, and when cared for well the Karabakh is known to be very long-lived. However, due to the high amount of Arabian blood used to develop the breed, health problems normally associated with the Arabian should be bred-out or carefully watched for in the Karabakh. Some diseases and conditions that typically afflict Arabians are epilepsy, joint and bone disorders, SCID, and Lavender Foal Syndrome. Conditions afflicting the Akhal-Teke horse, which also contributed significantly in the development of the Karabakh, should be monitored closely.
Origin:
While evidence suggests that the early ancestors of the Karabakh existed in the Azerbaijan region as early as 2,000 years ago, the breed did not develop into its current state until the 18th century. The Karabakh has been a show horse in its native land for nearly 200 years, performing well and taking numerous trophies and awards. Because of the beauty and practicality of the breed, the Karabakh has been used extensively in Europe and other regions in many different types of disciplines and events, and has been used heavily to influence the Russian Don breed of horse, among others. Today, there are probably no full-blooded Karabakh horses in existence. Horses that have substantial amounts of Karabakh blood are rare, and in most cases do not have more than 50% Karabakh blood. The country of Azerbaijan has taken substantial efforts to sustain and further develop the remaining stock of diluted Karabakh bloodlines. 