Body indices of the Karakachan horse breed

Maya Popova, Vasil Nikolov, Nikolay Krastev

Abstract: Based on the 404 body measurements of 52 horses from the autochthonous Bulgarian breed Karakachan horse are calculated the main body indices. The indices are with the following average values: for body extension - 108.0 ±0.8%, chest index - 59.07±0.99%, massiveness – 121.0 ±1.0%, compactness – 112.2±1.0%, leg length - 54.17±0.43%, body ratio – 100.7±0.4% and for bone development - 13.56±0.11%. The populated area has no reliable influence on the body proportions of the horses from the Karakachan breed, but the sex is a reliable source of variation (P < 0.01) only on the bone development index as the bones of the stallions are better developed. The body of the horses from the Karakachan breed is prolonged and with slightly downhill built. The chest is bulky as its girth is larger than the height at the withers and the length of the body, which makes the animals look massive enough and compact.

Keywords: autochthonous breeds; body indices; exterior; Karakachan horse

Date published: 2019-09-05