BBPS Semperviva

Karakachan horse

Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society Semperviva

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Karakachan horse (Karakachanski kon in bulg.)

In contrast to other nomad people in Asia and on the Balkans, which use donkeys, Karakachans use as a transport facility only horses. The Karakachan horse is the most consolidated breed from all the local primitive horses. This is due to the very conservative livestock breeding traditions of these nomads. A specific feature has been the wide use of close inbreeding when breed this horse (A. Petrov, 1940). The Karakachans had used these horses for transportation of their whole household, during the seasonal migrations from the summer pastures to the winter ones and back. The pasture had been the only food for those horses. The horses which had not been currently used by people had stayed all year round high in the mountain in groups taking care about themselves. Even during cold winters they had found food and protected themselves from predators. Each Karakachan man had owned 50-100 horses in the past. In 1940s this number was decreased to 10-15 and seldom 50 animals from which 5 - 10 breeding mares from old breeding lines.

The Karakachan horse is comparably short (about 128 cm at withers) (A.Petrov, 1940). It is thickset with good musculature, with wide forehead. The legs are perfectly set and strong. The hoofs are exceptionally solid and strong. Horses often work without horse-shoes. Among people Karakachan horses are known as exceptionally strong and tough animals.

Factors influencing for extinction of the breed

In 1957-58 after the government took away the livestock from private owners, the Karakachan horses have not been in use by the state farms anymore. They had been killed and given to chickens and pigs for food. Recently such horses are being exported for meet (mostly to Italy). Attempts have been made in the state farms to "improve" the breed by crossbreeding with Hucul, Kabardin and Haflinger. The government does not have policy to save the aboriginal breeds of horses. There is no promotion of their valuable qualities.

Current status of the breed

According to the Red Data List of autochthon forms of domestic animals, included in the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy of Bulgaria (1994) the Karakachan horse is put in category II - disappearing forms (or critical) by Y. Danchev (1994).

According to the BBPS - SEMPERVIVA investigations, nowadays the Karakachan horse number has been decreased so much, that if urgent measures are not taken it will disappear in few years. During our expeditions we have seen only single specimen, or small groups from 2 - 4 horses, usually in Rila and Rhodopes mountains, but also in Pirin and Stara Planina Mts. and Kraishte region. Those horses are with proved origin. Until this moment we know about three bigger compact groups of horses which are owned by local people from Rhodopes Mts. The first one consist of 18 animals owned by a 60 years old man. These horses are very typical, with perfect working qualities and very good, calm characters. The other group is bigger. It is owned by a man who is relative to the old man. These are 54 typical Karakachan horses, which are let free all year round high in Rila Mts. and nobody works with them. Because of this fact and also because people chase them out of the potato fields, these horses are very wild and scared. They reproduce within the group on the principal of the natural selection. The owner has only five working horses with perfect working qualities. The destiny of the 54 horses is not clear, because the man does not mind to sell horses for meat. The third group of 16 horses belongs to a Karakachan man from Rhodopes Mts.. Those horses work as the first group does. They carry wood material on pack saddles transporting it from forest to settlements. Those horses are also bred traditionally. They belong to several generations of that family. According to the opinion of their owner they have not been crossbred with other horses. This group varies a bit more in exterior. We have information about such horses in South Stara Planina Mts., but it needs to be checked.

The project work

Semperviva has already bought and secured 18 of the remaining Karakachan horses.

The project is adviced by SAVE Foundation and financed by 'Fondation pour les Animaux du Monde, Vaduz/Liechtenstein.

2003-01-25

BBPS Semperviva
Sider Sedefchev, chairman
kv. "Tvardi livadi" bl. 51 ap.90
BG-2300 Pernik / Bulgaria

phone: +359-76/2 57 70
e-mail: semperviva@bluelink.net


		Karakachan horse
		Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society Semperviva optimized for 800x600 screen resolutions
Home Actuality Dog project Horse project Sheep project Links Portal Bulgarian Version		Karakachan horse (Karakachanski kon in bulg.) In contrast to other nomad people in Asia and on the Balkans, which use donkeys, Karakachans use as a transport facility only horses. The Karakachan horse is the most consolidated breed from all the local primitive horses. This is due to the very conservative livestock breeding traditions of these nomads. A specific feature has been the wide use of close inbreeding when breed this horse (A. Petrov, 1940). The Karakachans had used these horses for transportation of their whole household, during the seasonal migrations from the summer pastures to the winter ones and back. The pasture had been the only food for those horses. The horses which had not been currently used by people had stayed all year round high in the mountain in groups taking care about themselves. Even during cold winters they had found food and protected themselves from predators. Each Karakachan man had owned 50-100 horses in the past. In 1940s this number was decreased to 10-15 and seldom 50 animals from which 5 - 10 breeding mares from old breeding lines. The Karakachan horse is comparably short (about 128 cm at withers) (A.Petrov, 1940). It is thickset with good musculature, with wide forehead. The legs are perfectly set and strong. The hoofs are exceptionally solid and strong. Horses often work without horse-shoes. Among people Karakachan horses are known as exceptionally strong and tough animals. Factors influencing for extinction of the breed In 1957-58 after the government took away the livestock from private owners, the Karakachan horses have not been in use by the state farms anymore. They had been killed and given to chickens and pigs for food. Recently such horses are being exported for meet (mostly to Italy). Attempts have been made in the state farms to "improve" the breed by crossbreeding with Hucul, Kabardin and Haflinger. The government does not have policy to save the aboriginal breeds of horses. There is no promotion of their valuable qualities. Current status of the breed According to the Red Data List of autochthon forms of domestic animals, included in the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy of Bulgaria (1994) the Karakachan horse is put in category II - disappearing forms (or critical) by Y. Danchev (1994). According to the BBPS - SEMPERVIVA investigations, nowadays the Karakachan horse number has been decreased so much, that if urgent measures are not taken it will disappear in few years. During our expeditions we have seen only single specimen, or small groups from 2 - 4 horses, usually in Rila and Rhodopes mountains, but also in Pirin and Stara Planina Mts. and Kraishte region. Those horses are with proved origin. Until this moment we know about three bigger compact groups of horses which are owned by local people from Rhodopes Mts. The first one consist of 18 animals owned by a 60 years old man. These horses are very typical, with perfect working qualities and very good, calm characters. The other group is bigger. It is owned by a man who is relative to the old man. These are 54 typical Karakachan horses, which are let free all year round high in Rila Mts. and nobody works with them. Because of this fact and also because people chase them out of the potato fields, these horses are very wild and scared. They reproduce within the group on the principal of the natural selection. The owner has only five working horses with perfect working qualities. The destiny of the 54 horses is not clear, because the man does not mind to sell horses for meat. The third group of 16 horses belongs to a Karakachan man from Rhodopes Mts.. Those horses work as the first group does. They carry wood material on pack saddles transporting it from forest to settlements. Those horses are also bred traditionally. They belong to several generations of that family. According to the opinion of their owner they have not been crossbred with other horses. This group varies a bit more in exterior. We have information about such horses in South Stara Planina Mts., but it needs to be checked. The project work Semperviva has already bought and secured 18 of the remaining Karakachan horses. The project is adviced by SAVE Foundation and financed by 'Fondation pour les Animaux du Monde, Vaduz/Liechtenstein.
		2003-01-25
		BBPS Semperviva Sider Sedefchev, chairman kv. "Tvardi livadi" bl. 51 ap.90 BG-2300 Pernik / Bulgaria phone: +359-76/2 57 70 e-mail: semperviva@bluelink.net