Nadine Gyllhamn
Curly horse breed
American Bashkir Curlies Breed Facts:
Name: Bashkir Curly
Origin: Unknown
Height: 14hh-16hh
Color: All common coat patterns, including Pinto and Appaloosa
Temperament: Friendly personality
Usage: Trail riding, harness driving, western disciplines, and ranch work.
Other: The only hypoallergenic horse breed in the world
History American Bashkir Curlies
The origin of the Bashkir Curly horse is a mystery and an ongoing debate, as no one knows the exact origin of the American curly horse. They may have originated from the Russian Bashkir breed from Bashkortostan; however, recent research points towards the curly Lokai breed as the ancestor of the American Bashkir Curlies. Therefore, the name ‘Bashkir’ does not make sense, but the American Bashkir Curly Horse Registry (ABCR) kept the name to avoid confusion amongst horse owners.
The curly horses became known when the Damele family of Nevada, United States, discovered them in their local wild herds in the late 1800s. The breed was limited in numbers by the 1930s; hence, it was decided to crossbreed it with other breeds to increase the population of the Curly hair horse breed. Even today, modern curly horses can be traced back to the Damele herd. The breed has developed into a hardy breed with a short back, wide-set eyes, and a short neck. Without curly hair, they look similar to Mustang horses in terms of their body types and conformation, possibly because both breeds originated from wild horses. The Bashkir Curlies come in all common horse colors, including Pinto and Appaloosa. They are a relatively small breed, standing between 14hh-16hh.
American Bashkir Curlies Today
Breeders try to keep the curly gene through selective breeding today. The breed is still rare today, and breeding two curly horses does not automatically result in a curly coat, even though it’s a dominant gene. The foal will only have the curly characteristic 50% of the time, even when bred to horses with or without the curly coat. This rare breed is mainly used as trail riding horses today but is increasingly used for English disciplines and western riding. Many allergy sufferers buy the breed as they tend to tolerate it better than an average short-coated horse.
Do Curly Horses Shed?
Yes, curly coats will shed in spring. Even though curly-coated horses look like they have a lot more upkeep – they are easy to care for, and their coat do not need any extra attention, their mane will need regular brushing to avoid knotting. Curly-coated horses will grow a longer winter coat, sometimes resulting in a dreadlocked mane if it’s not brushed regularly. These tight curls can knot easily, so regular upkeep is required. The coat is so short in the summertime that the curls barely show.
Their thick coats can thrive even during a harsh winter. Their unique curly coat of hair will also grow as curly manes, tail hair, fetlock hair, ear hair, and curly ringlets in the nose hair.
Are Curly-Coated Horses Hypoallergenic?
Curly-haired horses are the only hypoallergenic horse breed in the world today. Horse riders that have allergic reactions to a horse with a regular coat can usually tolerate a curly-haired horse better:
Curly Horses were not associated with lower allergen levels in hair and in air samples collected during grooming. Our approach provides no molecular explanation why Curly Horses are considered to be hypoallergenic NCBI
Where Can I Find Curly Horse Breeds For Sale?
Some reputable breeders across the United States that are in the American Bashkir curly registry include:
- Hidden Cave Curly Horses
- Promise Land Curly Ranch
- Curly Pines Ranch
- FloraLake Curly Horses
