Deliboz Horse

Deliboz, or Deliboz horse (Dilbaz atı, Dəliboz, Dilboz) is a breed of mountain-riding pack horses, is one of the ancient Azerbaijani breeds bred through folk selection. Launched on the territory of Gazakh, Agstafa, Tovuz regions of Azerbaijan. This breed is also known to many as the Azerbaijani horse. However, the Deliboz horse only belongs to a large group of the Azerbaijani breed. In addition to deliboses, this series includes such breeds as Karabakh, Shirvan, etc.

Until the 18th century, the breed was purebred, but after the 18th century, the Deliboses were crossed with the Arabs. The Karabakh horses also took part in the development of this breed. Several generations of horse breeders of the Gazakh region from the clan of Dilbazi and Zulgadary played an important role in the formation of the breed.

A characteristic feature of the Delibose horses is noted both for their unbalanced temperament and the widespread pace of the amble. They have good health, longevity and fertility. The temper is nervous and very energetic, a positive feature is high agility, negative fickle character and nervousness.

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Under herd conditions of upbringing, they complete their growth by 4-5 years. Horses spend the winter on pastures located 500 m above sea level and characterized by sharply rugged relief and semi-desert vegetation with a predominance of wormwood and saltwort.

The Delibosse horses are commonly used for mountain riding and national sports. Speed up to 10 km / h. Agility at a distance of 1600 m - 2 minutes 20.3 seconds, and at 1800 m - 2 minutes 39.1 seconds.

Great damage to the breed was caused during the First and Second World Wars, when the horses were sent to the front. Nowadays, Deliboz horses are widespread throughout the west and north of Azerbaijan, and in the northern part of Iran (South Azerbaijan), in Georgia and Dagestan.

In 1943, in order to improve the quality of the horse population of the Azerbaijan SSR, the State breeding nursery was organized. Since the 1960s, Delibos horses have been improved to a large extent by Terek stallions. Since the 1950s, the blood of the horses of Azerbaijan has been improved by the Arabian Terek stallions, while the Karabakh horse has been bred separately.

Has a horse type of constitution, height at the withers - 137-152 cm, chest girth - 172, cannon girth 19.4 cm, weight 280-350 kg. Colors: gray, mouse, dun, red, karak, bay, black, rarely nighting.

Delibose horses have a short head with a wide forehead and a narrow nose; dense massive neck; voluminous massive body; a long, straight back and lower back. The legs of the Delibosian horses are lean and slender with a larger pastern circumference than other horses. A typical feature in these horses is a longitudinal fold of the tongue.

The horses are very hardy, easily overcome 60-70 km per day in mountainous terrain under a pack weighing 120-130 kg and 70 km under a rider.

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At present, the breeding core of the Deliboses is represented by the descendants of the Terek stallions Tselostat and Pygmalion.

In the territory of the former USSR, from 1962 to 1990, the Delibose horses took part in the All-Union competitions 39 times and took 1st place eight times.