Horse Breeds: Budenny

The Russian Budenny, also known as the Budonny or the Budennovsky, has a bit of a sad origin. During both World War I and the Russian Revolution, many horses were killed. At that particular point in history, horses were still actively engaged in war on European battlefields and they died as often as soldiers did. This meant that horses in the area were in short supply. A horse had to be bred to replace the many who had died, and this breed had to be something a soldier would be proud and even honored to ride.

The best of the calvary riders were to Cossacks who rode their native Don. The new horse had to be at least as strong as the Don but with greater stamina, more height, and beautiful movement. So Thoroughbreds were bred to existing Dons, creating the Budenny. The Russians called his horse the Budennovskaia.

Standing 15 to 16 hands high, the Budenny horse can be found in many shades of chestnut, typically with white markings. The breed has large bones and powerful muscles and moves with both agility and fluidity. You might almost mistake the Budenny for a Thoroughbred since they have the same same long neck, slender and strong legs, and pretty head. But the  Budenny is sturdier by far.

Today, the Budenny can be found in dressage, show jumping, and eventing. They are a lovely breed, but because of restrictions put in place during the rise of the Soviet Union, Budenny horses are still relatively rare in the United States. There is currently no real breed association for the Budenny, but the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of the Horse (VNIIK) located outside Moscow manages the studbook and could even be said to oversee the breed itself.