The Don is named after the Steppes region of Russia where the Don river flows.

Breed Characteristics

The horses have a eastern-type, medium-sized head with wide forehead, and a broad, straight back and loins. The horses have muscular forearms and gaskins, but also have a tendency to have calf knees, sickle hocks, and upright pasterns. The shoulders are usually quite upright, leading to choppy strides. The Don's quarters can be weak, with a rather straight croup.

The Don is usually chestnut or brown with a golden metalic sheen reminiscent of their Akhal-Teke ancestry. They stand 15.3-16.2 hh. The Akhal-Teke horse breed (pronounced Ah-cull Tek-y) is a breed from Turkmenistan, where they are the national emblem. ...

The horses evolved in harsh conditions with severe weather, so the Don is naturally extremely hardy and tough. They have a quiet, yet energetic, temperament.

Breed History

The Don probably originated in the 18th and 19th centuries from crosses between the Mongolian horses and the Turkoman Horse, Karabakh, Akhal-Teke and Orlov Trotter stallions. The breed is well-known for their hardiness from the militry campaigns of 1812-1814, when the Cossacks drove Napoleon's troops from Russia. The Don survived the extreme cold and harsh winters. The Turkoman horse, or Turkmene, was an ancient breed from Turkmenistan, now extinct. ... Karabakh is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse. ... The Akhal-Teke horse breed (pronounced Ah-cull Tek-y) is a breed from Turkmenistan, where they are the national emblem. ...

Selective breeding for the Don began in the 1830s. They were primarily bred for cavalry mounts and for use in harness. Thoroughbred and Arabian blood was added in the 20th century, but since then the breed has remained relatively untouched. Breeders are currently trying to get rid of the major conformational faults common in the Don, including sickle hocks and calf knees. The Thoroughbred is a horse breed developed in 18th century England when English mares were bred with imported Arabian stallions to create a distance racer. ... The Arabian The Arabian horse first appeared in the Arabian Peninsula at least 2,500 years B.C.E. They were carefully inbred to maintain desirable features (e. ...

The Don is introduced to other Russian breeds, the most noteable being the Budyonny. The horses are used for riding and light draft work. It is also used for endurance riding. Semyon Budyonny Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny (also spelled Budennii, Budenny, Budyenny etc, Russian: Семён Михайлович Будённый) ( April 25, 1883 - October 26, 1973) was a Soviet military commander and an ally of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. ... Endurance riding is an extremely strenuous sport, requiring the horse to complete, when competing at the top levels, up to 100 miles. ...