The Bashkir Curly horse is known as one of the last greatest mysteries of the horse world. They were thought to be descended from the Russian Bashkir, but upon further examination the link could not be established. A study by Russian scientists, the Moscow Zoo, and researching and conducting independent studies of other types of Russian livestock came to the conclusion that there is no curly haired horse from the Bashkir. It was later proven though that the Lokai from the Tajikistan region does on occasion show characteristics of a curly coat. It is believed that Curly Bashkir could actually be the descendant of the Lokai, but this is also an issue of dispute.
The Bashkir Curly is one of the curly breeds that are hypo allergic, meaning that people that are allergic to horses can be around them with no allergic reactions. The reason for this immunity is that the curly lacks a protein, which causes the allergic reaction to horses in common sufferers of animal allergies. Because of this slight mystery, members of the scientific community have contributed towards the further research of it. The fur itself varies. Sometimes its curl is minor and then it can be the other direction and be completely curly.
They have made a name for themselves in the competition ring; they have excelled in dressage and jumping. They have also proven to be quite the loyal mount and are known for their ability to learn new competition routines in a short amount of time. Because the Curly Bashkir is a rare breed and one of the few horses a person who is allergic can be around, they are often the property of beginners who are unable to take part in practical lessons in a stable with other horses.
Three curly haired horses which were found in the remote mountainous region of Nevada in 1898 turned out to be the foundation of the American Bashkir Curly breed. One day while Peter Damele and his son were riding through the mountain range, they discovered this new interesting breed with a unique coat of fur. Since their discovery, these horses have spread to the countryside of Nevada; no one knows exactly how these Russian based horses ended up in the Americas; one speculation is that they were some of the horses that were brought over by the Russians that escaped and evolved in wild. It is also suggested that the horses that have been spotted in South America are what has evolved from the Spanish conquistadors brought in the 1500s. Other suggestions involve the presence of a dominant curly hair gene.
To ensure the future of the curly breed, they have been spread all throughout America and have even been spotted all around South America. The curly haired gene actually only transmits to fifty percent of the offspring when bred with a straight haired horse.
These horses are known to survive in freezing temperatures reaching as far down as negative thirty degrees Fahrenheit. They are said to have been particularly favored among the Native Americans. They have a natural running walk style like the Walking Horse, so they tend to be referred to as the "gaited horse."
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