Kazakh Horse

a native steppe horse bred in the Kazakh SSR and adjacent regions. Kazakh horses were developed long ago by crossing native horses with Mongolian, Middle Asian, and European breeds raised together in herds. The Kazakh horse is found over an extensive area with diverse natural conditions and is represented by several strains: the Western Kazakhstan, Central Kazakhstan, Adaev, Southern Kazakhstan, Semirech’e, Naiman, and Southern Altai. They are generally small, rugged horses with coats of different colors. They measure 131–138 cm at the withers and have a transverse body length of 140–144 cm; the girth is 156–164 cm, and the circumference of the cannon bone, 16–18 cm. The weight ranges from 320 to 360 kg. Mares produce 8–9 liters of milk daily. The Kazakh horse is used as a saddle, pack, and work horse and for milk and meat. The most valuable animals are the heavy set, sturdy Dzhabe horses of the Western Kazakhstan strain, bred at the Mugodzhary Horse Farm in the Aktiubinsk Oblast and at several sovkhozes and kolkhozes in the Karaganda and other oblasts of the Kazakh SSR.