Looking at this photo, 90% of people cannot recognize the truth.
When asked to describe a horse’s coat, most people use adjectives like smooth and silky, but the reality is not all horses have beautiful, straight hair. In fact, there is a breed of horse with curly hair that looks exactly like the Mangalica pig or the labradoodles. And this photo is proof of it!
Maybe everyone thought it was just a fake cotton horse?
The Curly Horse, also known as the Bashkir Curly, American Bashkir Curly, or North American Curly, is a special breed of horse of all sizes, colors and body types. They have a very different curly coat, and when winter comes, they get even more impressive. This is the interesting thing about this breed, they mostly “show off” their special coats in winter.
In summer, their coats may be ruffled in places to form “light waves” or fall off completely, so that you can only see the special coat of the Bashkir Curly in the cold season without stopping.
The origin of the Bashkir Curly is one of the great mysteries of the horse world. Named after the Russian Bashkir breed, Russian scientists agree that there is no historical evidence of curly-haired Bashkir horses. Some experts suggest that it could be related to the Lokai, a horse breed from Tajikistan, as the two breeds share some similarities. Another theory is that the breed originated in Liberia. But in a nutshell, no one knows for sure where Bashkir Curly came from!
However, the origins of the American Bashkir Curly breed are much clearer. They are likely from the Damele Range in the high, remote mountains of central Nevada near Austin, where they were first bred by Peter Damele and his father in 1898.
According to the Oklahoma State University website, Peter and his father were once riding in the mountains when they saw three horses with tight curls all over their bodies. They found them very attractive and therefore decided to bring them back to their farm. Since 1898 there have always been special curly-haired horses in the Damele range.
The Bashkir Curly is said to be the only hypoallergenic horse breed in the world. Most people with allergies to horses can be exposed to this species without any allergic reaction. Preliminary research suggests that the same protein missing in the feathers of this species may be the type that causes allergic reactions in humans.
Interestingly, the Bashkir Curly comes in all popular coat colors, from Palomino, Appaloosa, and Pinto. They are of medium height and are known for their great stamina and endurance.
