Bashkir Curly Horse (Curly)

🧬 Origin and History

The origin of this breed is not entirely clear, but it is generally believed that it appeared in the late 19th century in central Nevada (USA), where the first curly horses were found in wild mustangs.

According to historical records, the founders of the breed, Peter Damele and his father, began breeding and selecting these horses in 1898, and the first breed registries were established in the 1970s.

Although the word "Baskir" appears in the name, it is not clear that the breed comes directly from Russian Bashkiria — the genetic connection is disputed, and most experts consider the breed to be an American product of selection and genetic mutations.

🐎 Appearance and physical characteristics

The Curly Horse is a medium-sized, well-built horse with several characteristic features:

Height at the withers: usually 14–16 hand units (≈ 145–160cm).

Body: Robust, muscular build with a deep chest and strong legs.

Hooves: Hard and durable, well adapted to a variety of terrain.

Head: Prominent eyes with often slightly slanted appearance, which increases the field of vision.

Coat colors: All common colors and patterns — bay, black, appaloosa, pinto, roan, etc.

🧶 Unique curly coat

The breed's most recognizable feature is its curly coat:

In the winter, it grows a long, thick, and distinctly curly coat — including the mane, tail, and ear hair.

In the summer, most curly horses lose their curliness, often most of the coat, which is replaced by a smoother or only slightly wavy coat.

Interestingly, curls are often passed on to offspring, even if the parent in question does not have pronounced curls.

🐴 How they live and their requirements
🐾 Location and environment

Curly Horses are hardy and undemanding to the environment:

They handle colder winters well and some individuals can adapt to extreme conditions to some extent.

They need space to move around — pastures, paddocks and daily walks are ideal.

🍽️ Nutrition

The basis of the diet is high-quality hay or pasture.

For greater loads, it can be supplemented with concentrates and minerals according to the recommendations of a veterinarian.

It is important to have constant access to clean water and monitor the condition to prevent obesity or digestive problems.

🪶 Grooming and care

Curly coat care includes combing to prevent tangles and facilitate the natural shedding of the coat between seasons.

Trimming the mane and tail frequently makes maintenance easier and maintains a healthy coat texture.

Regular hoof care, dental check-ups, and vaccinations are common veterinary requirements.

🧠 Personality and Temperament

The American Bashkir Curly is known for its calm, intelligent, and friendly nature:

These horses are calm, docile, and very teachable, with a high willingness to cooperate with their rider or owner.

They are not unnecessarily nervous, often react reasonably, and prefer to resolve a situation rather than flee.

They have a good work ethic, important in training and various equestrian disciplines.

Some describe them as "dogs among horses" — loyal, devoted, and attentive.

🩺 Health and Common Diseases

Most Curly horses are healthy and hardy, but like any breed, they can have certain risks:

🧬 Genetic and hereditary problems

Cerebellar abiotrophy (CA): a neurological disease that can occur in descendants of Arabian lines.

Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM): a metabolic disease of the muscles that can lead to stiffness, muscle tremors and pain.3

🐎 Common health risks in horses

Like other horses, they can occur:

Colic, gastric ulcers

Laminitis (hoof inflammation)

Arthritis or back problems

Infectious diseases such as tetanus or equine influenza

These problems can be partially prevented with proper care and veterinary examinations.

📊 Types and variants

In practice, the American Bashkir Curly is often divided according to the types and genes of the curvature of the coat:

"Extreme Curly" - individuals with very strong curls even in the summer.

Curls only on certain parts of the body (e.g. only on the mane and tail), which commonly occur when combined with other breeds.

The genetics of curls are complex, dominant and recessive genes are combined, so even an individual without pronounced curls can produce offspring with pronounced curly fur.

👍 Advantages of the breed

✔️ Hypoallergenic effect: many people with allergies to horse hair tolerate Curly horses better.
✔️ Calm, intelligent nature: suitable for riders and beginners.
✔️ Versatility: they can be used for riding, Western and English disciplines, dressage, enduro riding and family use.
✔️ Hardiness and good health: they adapt well to different weather conditions.

👎 Disadvantages of the breed

❗ Rarity and price: The Baskir Curly is quite rare, so it can be more difficult to find a suitable individual and the price tends to be higher.
❗ Coat care: curly coat requires more attention to maintenance, especially during the transition of seasons.
❗ Genetic risks: possible hereditary problems such as CA or PSSM should be taken into account when breeding.

🐎 How to choose a Baskir Curly horse
🔎 1. Check the pedigree

Check the breeding records and confirmation of the presence of the curly gene (e.g. in ABCR or other registries).