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Horses in Russia

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Horses in Russia
Trick riding demonstration, 1950s

The presence of horses in Russia is evidenced by prehistoric fossils and has remained consistent throughout its history, particularly during the Soviet era, due to the integration of territories with a strong equestrian tradition. Trick riding has its origins in the military practices of the Russian Cossacks. Russian equestrian culture is characterized by the exclusive use of the "duga" yoke, known in particular through the troika.

History

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Main article: History of Russia

According to Carole Ferret, the history of the horse in Russia has predominantly been explored by Soviet researchers from the relevant regions, resulting in limited accessibility to material and knowledge on the subject.[1] Equine fossils dating from the Plio-Pleistocene have been found at Liventsovka, near Rostov-on-Don.[2]

During Imperial times and shortly thereafter, horse breeding was primarily conducted by peasants, for whom it represented a vital resource. Horse theft was both common and feared, with numerous accounts documenting the lynching of thieves recognized by the community.[3] Under the Soviet regime, regions with a strong equestrian tradition included Yakutia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Buryat populations.[4] The integration of horses from conquered territories into the Russian army remains a topic of debate.[5] The equestrian culture of the Cossacks, known for their ability to ride freely and exhibit considerable agility,[6] is closely linked to the military practices that gave rise to trick riding.

Breeding

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Group of Bashkir horses

home to a diverse array of horse breeds. The University of Oklahoma identifies 64 distinct horse breeds that were developed in the country during the Soviet era.[7] Including extinct horses and Przewalski's horse (which is not classified as a breed), the FAO lists 69 horse breeds present or formerly present on the territory of the Russian Federation.[8]

Among the most notable breeds, the Don horse is traditionally associated with the Don Cossacks, who bred it from crosses with oriental horses as early as the 16th century. The breed gained prominence due to its contributions to the Don Cossack victories over Napoleon's armies in 1812 and 1814. While French horses struggled with the unfamiliar climate, the Don horses were selectively bred for resilience in the harsh Russian winter.[9]

In 1948, the Russian Federation had an average of 15 horses per 100 inhabitants. This statistic highlights significant regional disparities within the USSR: the number increased to 34 in Buryatia and 50 in Yakutia.[10]

Applications

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Troika utilizing the "douga" (on the middle horse).

The Russians and Yakuts use four-wheeled horse-drawn vehicles known as "telegas" for transportation. The Russian "douga" yoke, named after one of its components, is most recognized in its form as the troika, which was first documented in the 16th century. This yoke is characterized by the douga, an elastic wooden arch that connects the stretchers over the horse's withers, serving to keep the stretchers apart. The douga is used exclusively in Russia and offers the advantage of more efficiently harnessing the horse's strength, but it has the limitation of accommodating only one horse in a troika configuration, where only the middle horse is fitted with the douga.[11]

Traditionally, Russians do not consume horse meat. However, there has been a gradual integration of populations, such as the Yakuts, for whom horsemeat consumption is customary. This cultural exchange did not result in a prohibition of horsemeat in Sakha; rather, it led to a "partial conversion of the Russians to horse-eating", as Russian settlers in the region began to adopt this practice.[12]

Tomb of a horse that belonged to Alexander III.

Patrimony

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Russia is home to the Imperial Horse Graveyard, which is likely the largest horse cemetery in the world. Active from 1834 to 1915, the cemetery fell into disrepair during the Soviet era. French writer Jean-Louis Gouraud, who rediscovered the site, has undertaken efforts to raise funds for its restoration.[13]

The Central Moscow Hippodrome, one of the largest in Russia and the oldest in Europe, organizes renowned trotting races, hosts research and experimental teams on horse breeding, and houses a riding school.[14]

Culture

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The tale of The Little Humpbacked Horse, written in 1834 by Pyotr Yershov, based on Russian folklore, is the inspiration for a ballet and an animated film.

Nicolas Swertschkoff (1817-1898) was a prominent artist specializing in horse painting, particularly equestrian portraits.[15] He demonstrated a remarkable mastery of the animal's anatomy and expressions.[16] Similarly, the Russian sculptor Evgueni Alexandrovitch Lanceray (1848-1886), recognized as "one of the best horse portraitists in the world", created approximately 400 works, with half dedicated to his favored subject. His work also inspired the American artist Frederic Remington. Despite remaining somewhat in the shadows, Lanceray was passionate about his subject and owned around twenty horses at his residence in Neskoutchnoïe.[17]

  • Caught in the storm, painting by Nicolas Swertschkoff (1950)
    Caught in the storm, painting by Nicolas Swertschkoff (1950)
  • Drawing from the tale "The Little Humpbacked Horse"
    Drawing from the tale "The Little Humpbacked Horse"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ferret 2009, p. 15
  2. ^ Forsten, Ann (January 1998). "The fossil horses (Equidae, Mammalia)from the Plio-Pleistocene of Liventsovka near Rostov-Don, Russia". Geobios. 31 (5): 645–657. Bibcode:1998Geobi..31..645F. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(98)80052-1.
  3. ^ Worobec, Christine D. (1987). "Horse Thieves and Peasant Justice in Post-Emancipation Imperial Russia". Journal of Social History. 21 (2): 281–293. doi:10.1353/jsh/21.2.281. ISSN 0022-4529. JSTOR 3788144.
  4. ^ Ferret 2009, p. 16
  5. ^ Ferret, Carole (2009-12-01). "Des chevaux pour l'empire" [Horses for the empire]. Cahiers d'Asie centrale (in French) (17/18): 211–253. ISSN 1270-9247.
  6. ^ Seaton, Albert (1972). The Cossacks. Men-at-arms series. Reading: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85045-116-0.
  7. ^ Hendricks 2007, p. 456.
  8. ^ "Breeds reported by Russian Federation". Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  9. ^ Hendricks 2007, p. 157.
  10. ^ Ferret 2009, p. 34.
  11. ^ Ferret 2009, p. 242.
  12. ^ Ferret 2009, p. 85.
  13. ^ Jean-Pierre Perrin (29 June 1996). "Jean-Louis Gouraud, 53 ans, n'a pas son permis de conduire mais court le monde pour défendre la cause des chevaux, de tous les chevaux. Un petit cheval dans la tête" [Jean-Louis Gouraud, 53, doesn't have a driver's license, but he travels the world defending the cause of horses - all horses. A little horse in his head] (in French). Libération. Retrieved 11 November 2015..
  14. ^ RBTH (12 January 2014). "L'hippodrome de Moscou, entre architecture, vitesse et paris sportifs" [The Moscow racecourse: architecture, speed and sports betting] (in French). Russia Beyond the Headlines. Retrieved 11 November 2015..
  15. ^ Šapošnikova, Nataliâ Vadimovna; Gurevič, David Âkovlevič (2001). Nikolaï Egorovitch Svertchkov: le peintre russe du cheval, 1817-1898 [Nikolai Egorovich Svertchkov: the Russian horse painter, 1817-1898]. Collection Zingaro (in Russian) (2e éd. rev. et corr ed.). Lausanne Paris: Favre. ISBN 978-2-8289-0713-6.
  16. ^ Gouraud, Jean-Louis (2014). "Nikolaï Svertchkov". Jours de Cheval (4): 124–132.
  17. ^ Introduction de Jean-Louis Gouraud dans l'ouvrage de Geoffroy Walden Sudbury (trad. Marie-Édith de La Fournière), Evgueni Alexandrovitch Lanceray: 1848-1886, Coll. Grande Écurie de Versailles, Favre, 2006, 212 p.

Bibliography

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  • Horace Hayes, Matthew (1900). Among Horses in Russia. R. A. Everett.
  • Igor Bobilev (1977), Le grand livre du cheval en Russie (in French), translated by Nina de Spengler, La bibliothèque des Arts, ASIN B0014LVT3Q, Wikidata Q57933003
  • Ferret, Carole (2009). Une civilisation du cheval (in French). Paris: Belin. ISBN 978-2-7011-4819-9.
  • Gouraud, Jean-Louis; Prat, Thierry (2001). Russie, des chevaux, des hommes & des saints (in French). Paris: Belin. ISBN 2-7011-3019-0.
  • Hendricks, Bonnie Lou (2007). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3884-8.
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