Bashkir

Originating from the steppe zone and mountains of the Urals and Volga, the Bashkir breed is typically used for meat, milk, and as a utility or draft horse. Identifying characteristics of the Bashkir include its fleshy, short neck, massive head, and low withers. Typically, the Bashkir has a broad, erect back, with a rounded croup, long, sprung ribs, with bony, short legs.

As a bony, wide-bodied, small horse, it has a thick tail and mane. Typically colors include mouse grey, roan, chestnut, and bay. Stallions typically carry measurements of 143 cm tall at the withers, 144 cm long, 180 cm chest girth, and 20 cm bone girth. Mares typically carry measurements of 142 cm tall, 145 cm long, 178 cm chest girth, and 18.5 cm bone girth.

Because mares are typically used for milk, the average amount of milk produced by the mare is 1500 kilograms of milk for the market place. However, the high breeds of mares, in seven to eight lactation months, will produce 2700 kilograms of milk. The work endurance of the Bashkir is extremely high.

Work to improve the Bashkir breed is underway. Many breeders are breeding with pure bloods and attempting to cross the breed with the Heavy Draft of Russia. Other experiments have been tried with the breed, such as crossing with the Yakut horse and the Kazakh horse.