STUDIES OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE KARAKACHAN HORSE BREED

Gradimir Gradev, Vasil Nikolov, Nikolay Krastev, Maya Popova

Abstract: A study of the exterior of horses from the Karakachan breed and the influence of some factors on it was conducted. The study covers the period from 2013 to 2016. Data on the body measurements of 52 horses were used and 404 body measurements were analyzed. It was established that the horses from the Karakachan breed have average height at the withers 130.22±0.81 cm, the body length is 140.57±1.34 cm, the chest girth is 157.51±1.54 cm, and the cannon girth is 17.67±0.14 cm. Significant source of influence on the cannon girth are the populated area (P < 0.05), the sex (P < 0.001) and the sex in the populated area (P < 0.05), the last factor is influencing reliably the chest width (P < 0.05), too. The horses of the modern population of the Karakachan horse breed are bigger compared to those from the beginning of the last century. They are taller, with prolonged profile, the chest is larger, and the bones are more massive. The horses are slightly downhill built and with sway back, which is not characteristic for the Karakachan horses of the last century.

Keywords: autochthonous breeds; exterior measurements; Karakachan horses

Date published: 2019-04-09