The Tushetian (თუშური ცხენი) is a breed of small Saddle horse horses native to Tusheti, Georgia. It is probably the result of ancient selection, marked by harsh environmental conditions, under the influence of Arabian horse and Turkoman horse horses. Small in size, the Tushetian is known for its resistance, its adaptation to its mountainous region, and its ability to move at the Gait. Historically, they were mainly ridden for farm work with sheep, and coveted for off-road mountain transport. A rare breed, it is very local and could be threatened with extinction. Protection measures have been recommended in order to preserve it, notably because of its genetic heritage.
Denomination
The name of the Tushetian horse is transcribed თუშური ცხენი (
Tushuri /
Tushuri Cxeni) in Georgian, which literally means "from the region of
Tusheti". The name is transcribed as
Tushinskaya in
Russian language,
and Ninca de Spengler translated it in 1997 as
Touchine in
French language.
In
English language there are different names: Tushetian, Tush,
Tushin,
Tusheti, or even Tushetianan.
History
The Tushetian is one of two horse breeds identified in Georgia,
and it is one of the oldest horses in the
Caucasus.
Its ancestors, known as the "Old Georgian Breed", appear to have been present in the region as early as the 1st and 3rd centuries.
In addition to natural selection due to environmental and climatic conditions,
they were influenced by the
oriental horse, and in particular by horses from
Turkmenistan,
Turkey,
Iran and the
Arabian horse horse.
The breed is used in military combat by the inhabitants of Tusheti.
It has spread to all the sheep-breeding regions of Georgia, due to its use by agricultural horse riders.
Recent crossbreeding with the
Thoroughbred and the
Kabarda horse has resulted in a loss of adaptability, and these crossbreeds have been discontinued.
In 1976, the number of registered horses was very low, at around a thousand.
Description
A genetic characterization study published in 2017 shows that the Tushetian is the most specific of Georgian horses.
It presents the type of the
oriental horse and the mountain horse,
being a fine, rather compact and lean animal, with an elongated and shallow body.
The
DAD-IS database classifies it as a "light pony", with an average height of 1.34 m.
The CAB International study gives a range of 1.34 m to 1.42 m,
with the University of Oklahoma study specifying a maximum of 1.45 m.
L. A. Tortladze (Georgia Agricultural University) and Guide Delachaux give an average of 1.34 m for mares and 1.36 m for males.
Horses bred in good conditions are taller and more developed.
The head, with its straight profile, is light and broad between the eyes (medium size
Rather late, the Tushetian reaches maturity at around 5 or 6 years of age.
Coat
The coat is generally dark in color. According to Hendricks (University of Oklahoma), the most common is bay, followed by chestnut,
Gray horse, and
Black horse.
However, L. A. Tortladze cites chestnut as the most common (45%), followed by gray (28%).
Pinto and leopard complex coats are rare,
Temperament and gait
With a reputation for calmness and obedience, these horses are well suited to the harsh working conditions at altitude, with a strong capacity to store fat reserves during the summer in order to survive the winter months.
Its
Wayfinding is combined with sure-footedness.
Furthermore, it is described as courageous and enduring.
The breed is reputed to have an additional Horse gait,
The Tushetian was the subject of a study to determine the presence of the DMRT3 gene mutation responsible for the extra (and therefore the amble): this study did not confirm the presence or absence of extra gaits in the Tushetian, but it did confirm the existence of the genetic mutation responsible for them in the breed.
Usage
Usually put to moderate work from the age of 3,
the Tushetian is used as a
saddle horse,
particularly for working equitation.
Local breeders, nomadic pastoralists, ride them to maneuver their sheep from one grazing area to another in the mountains, depending on the season.
Thanks to its sure-footedness, the breed is highly appreciated locally.
These horses continue (2014) to be used as
to transport
goods,
including
cheese, around the region.
They also participate in the annual transhumance, when the animals and their keepers come down from the mountains for the winter.
[The Woman Keeping Georgia'
]
/ref> The absence of roads favors the use of horses for mountain travel.
While most provide milk,
Breeding distribution
The horse is bred in Tusheti, eastern Georgia,
The University of Oklahoma study (2007) considers the Tushetian to be rare.
See also
Bibliography
