Karakachan horse

Karakachan horse is a local primitive breed of horse, extremely durable and adapted to the hard ways of living. For centuries it has served the Karakachans in their long mountain hikes during their seasonal migrations from summer pastures to winter and vice versa. Horses were pasture raised, no matter the season, they have never been sheltered throughout the year and are kept open. The horses kept the predators away by themselves. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and collectivization in the 50s of the twentieth century the Karakachans are forced to settle, and their animals are seized. This leads to a drastic reduction of Karakachan horses in Bulgaria.

The Karakachan horse is relatively small, with an average height at withers 128 cm. It’s with broad forehead with a straight profile line of the head and stocky mountain, freight and riding horse, well-developed body shapes. Legs are relatively short, with strong hooves. The color varies - black, brown, gray and chestnut. Typical of the breed are the very long and rich mane on his forehead and neck and long, almost reaching the ground, tail.

The Karakachan horses are not demanding, incredibly strong and durable. Their breeding is in herds as the horses themselves change the height of pastures according to the seasons throughout the year.

In the Eastern Rhodopes semi -wild The Karakachan horses could be seen on the peninsula of the Kadrzhali lake against hut "Borovitsa". Representatives of the breed can be seen in the herd, established under the project "The New Thracian gold" in IBA Byala reka near Kostilkovo village in the municipality of Ivaylovgrad.

Print this page | Send to friend