This is a list of the horse breeds considered in Russia to be wholly or partly of Russian origin, including breeds from the Russian Federation and from the former Soviet Union.
Russian Trotter
The Russian Trotter is a breed of trotting horse from the Russian Federation. It originated from cross-breeding of native Orlov Trotter horses with imported American Standardbred stock from about 1890, by about 1950 the Russian Trotter breed was considered established, although some cross-breeding with American stallions continued.
he Russian Trotter is widely distributed, from the Baltic to Siberia.
Bashkir horse
The Bashkir is the horse breed of the Bashkir people. It is raised mainly within Bashkortostan, a republic within the Russian Federation which lies in the southern Ural Mountains and westwards. The principal centre of breeding is the capital, Ufa.
Yakutian horse
Yakutian is a native horse breed from the Siberian Sakha Republic (or Yakutia) region. It is large compared to the otherwise similar Mongolian horse and Przewalski’s horse. It is noted for its adaptation to the extreme cold climate of Yakutia, including the ability to locate and graze on vegetation that is under deep snow cover, and to survive without shelter in temperatures that reach −70 °C.
Soviet Heavy Draft
The Soviet Heavy Draft is a Russian breed of a heavy draft horse. It derives from the Belgian Brabant heavy draft breed. It was developed in the former Soviet Union for agricultural draft work and was recognized as a breed in 1952. It is one of several heavy draft breeds developed in the Soviet Union in the twentieth century, others being the Russian Heavy Draft – which derived mainly from the Ardennais – and the Vladimir Heavy Draft, which was derived principally from the Clydesdale.
Budyonny horse
The Budyonny is a breed of horse from Russia, Budyonnys was bred from a cross of local Don and Chernomor mares and Thoroughbred stallions. They were developed for use as a military horse following the Russian Revolution and are currently used as an all-purpose competition horse and for driving.
The Vyatka horse
The Vyatka or Viatka is an endangered breed of horse native to the former Vyatka region, now the Kirov Oblast of the Russian Federation. It is mainly found there and in the Udmurt Republic. It is named for the Vyatka River. The Vyatka was valued for its endurance, speed and frugality. By the middle of the nineteenth century, it was considered the best horse for pulling troikas.
Russian Don
The Russian Don is a breed of horse developed in and named after the steppes region of Russia where the Don River flows. Utilized originally as cavalry horses for the Cossacks, The main use of the Russian Don breed in past times was as the mount of the Cossack cavalry. Known for their endurance and stamina, these horses could cover long distances in short amounts of time, with reserves of energy left for battle.
Orlov Trotter
It is the most famous Russian horse. The breed was developed in Russia in the late 18th century by Count Alexei Orlov. During the 19th century, Orlov trotters were used mainly for riding and harness racing by Russian nobility. They were valued for their beauty and elegance combined with the ability to work hard. They were also used for the improvement of other Russian horses.