Kustanai

Developed in collective-farm and state-farm studs, the Kustanai is concentrated at Kustanai and Maikulski studs.  The last date the breed was officially recognized was in 1890.  The new breed was developed when breeders crossed the native Kazakh with Stralets, Astrakhan, Don and halfbred Thoroughbred stallions.  Breeding was unsuccessful at first, until improved breeding was formed at Kustanai stud.

In the 1920's, a new breed began to be developed at Kustanai stud.  There was two management systems, including taboon keeping with year round grazy and keeping sheds for bad weather- free mating and hay feeding, as well as keeping them in stables and pastures, winter grazing throughout good weather and feeding with abundant hay.  This second group also had concentrate feeding, hand mating and the foals were weaned at about 7 months of age.

The purpose of the breeding was to develop two types at the same time, a steppe and saddle type.  Horses with high proportions of Thoroughbred blood were for saddle horses, while the other crossbreds were used in higher concentration for the steppe type.

Modern day Kustanai horses combine saddler characteristics and the pronounced basic steppe lineage.  They have a medium sized head, well muscled, medium height withers, and strong, healthy fitness levels despite continental climate. 

The Kustanai horses display record breaking speeds.