Origin of the Uzunyayla breed dates to 1854 in
Turkey. Ancestors of the breed came from the
Caucasus, and it is believed that they were of the
Kabarda (horse)
The Kabarda, Kabardin or Circassian horse is a breed from the Caucasus, originating from Eastern Circassia, currently part of the Kabardino-Balkaria region of Russia. Historically the breed has been known for at least 400 years, but its origi ...
breed. They were bred pure in Turkey until 1930, when
Anadolu pony and
Nonius (horse) blood was introduced.
The Uzunyayla has a large head with a concave profile; the eyes are small; the neck is of medium length; the
withers are well pronounced; the legs are strong with good joints; the pasterns are sloped and very strong; the feet are well shaped and of tough horn. The Uzunyayla is usually
bay
A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a Gulf (geography), gulf, sea, sound (geography), sound, or bight (geogra ...
in colour. Feathering on the legs is coarse, and the tail grows very long. They stand between high.
This breed is very good for riding long distances. Uzunyayla horses have a good gallop but cannot do the ''rahvan'' walk like some other Turkish breeds. The normal walking speed is not fast as is seen in the Anadolu breed. They are used as a
pack horse
Pack or packs may refer to:
Places
* Pack, Austria, a municipality in Styria, Austria
* Pack, Missouri
* Chefornak Airport, Alaska, by ICAO airport code
Groups of animals or people
* Pack (canine), family structure of wild animals of the b ...
, a light
draft horse and as a general
riding horse.
There is no association or stud book for the Uzunyayla breed, but breeders hope that one will be formed in the near future. Presently there are only about 2,000 specimens of this breed.
References
Breeds and their Legal/Common colors* Hendricks, Bonnie. ''International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds'' page 430
Horse breeds
Horse breeds originating in Turkey
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