Photo: Fefa Koroleva · CC BY-SA 4.0 horse breed · 671 on Animalso
Russian Don
- Animal
- Horse
- Type
- Riding horse
- Origin
- Russia
About the Russian Don
The Russian Don is a riding horse breed developed in Russia’s steppes around the Don River, the waterway that gives the breed its name. Its history is linked to the Cossacks, who originally used these horses as cavalry mounts. Today, the Russian Don is used for work under saddle and for driving. The breed belongs to the horse family and is identified as a horse rather than a dog or another animal. Its recorded origin is Russia. These details place the Russian Don in a regional Russian setting and describe both its historical military role and its current working uses. People looking into the breed can therefore see its geographic roots, its connection with Cossack cavalry, and the two forms of activity listed for it: riding and driving.
What stands out
- Originates in Russia’s Don River steppes
- Historically used as Cossack cavalry horses
- Used for under-saddle work
- Used for driving
Worth knowing
- The facts describe uses, not temperament or care
Who it suits
The Russian Don suits readers seeking a Russian riding horse with a history of Cossack cavalry use. It may interest people looking for a horse used under saddle or for driving.
In short
The Russian Don is a Russian riding horse tied to the Don steppes and Cossack cavalry history. Its listed modern roles are under-saddle work and driving.
More horse breeds from Russia
Anglo-Kabarda Russia Photo: Hü · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Kabarda horse Russia Photo: « ВЭС » · Public domain 
Kalmyk horse Russia Photo: « ВЭС » · Public domain Other riding horse breeds
Karachay horse Russia Photo: Mechenyj · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Narym Pony Russia Photo: Herbert Ponting · Public domain 
Orlov Trotter Russia Photo: Alexander · CC BY 2.0 
Russian Heavy Draft Russia Photo: Otto Erelman · Public domain 
Russian Trotter Russia Photo: Лена · Public domain 
Photo credits17 photographs on this page
- Russian Don — Fefa Koroleva · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Altai horse — Alexandr frolov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Anglo-Kabarda — Hü · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Bashkir horse — MöngkeKhan2 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Budyonny horse — Fefa Koroleva · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Chara — Alexandr frolov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Chernomor — SKas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Kabarda horse — « ВЭС » · Public domain · file page
- Kalmyk horse — « ВЭС » · Public domain · file page
- Karachay horse — Mechenyj · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Mezen horse — Engine9 · CC BY-SA 2.5 · file page
- Narym Pony — Herbert Ponting · Public domain · file page
- Ob pony — Назаренко Андрей Валентинович · CC0 · file page
- Orlov Trotter — Alexander · CC BY 2.0 · file page
- Russian Heavy Draft — Otto Erelman · Public domain · file page
- Russian Trotter — Лена · Public domain · file page
- Soviet Heavy Draft — Iskulikov · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.