Budyonny horse

Lore & Background

The Budyonny was created by Marshal Semyon Budyonny in the early 1920s in the Rostov region of Russia, with the intent of producing cavalry horses to replace those lost during and after World War I. The foundation stock consisted of 657 mares of Anglo-Don, Anglo-Chernomor, and Anglo-Don/Chernomor crosses, which were crossed with Anglo-Don and Thoroughbred stallions. The resulting horses were used in Russian cavalry divisions during World War II and after.

Reader's Guide

The Budyonny breed is of interest because it is the result of complex state-sponsored cross-breeding programs implemented after the Russian Revolution and still in place today. Initially recognized in three types—Massive, Oriental, and Medium—the breed later evolved into a single type with a larger proportion of Thoroughbred blood to meet demand for competition horses. The Budyonny is used as an all-round competition horse, competing in dressage, steeplechasing, three-day eventing, and endurance, and also as a light carriage horse. Its ability to adapt to harsh conditions was demonstrated in the 1950s when a number of horses were turned loose on an island in Manych Lake and survived without human help, proving the breed's hardiness.

Did You Know?

• The Budyonny was named after Marshal Semyon Budyonny, a Bolshevik cavalry commander and horse breeder.
• In the 1950s, a group of Budyonny horses survived for extended periods without human assistance on an island in Manych Lake.
• The breed was officially recognized in 1949.