Genealogical structure

Brief overview of the Eastbulgarian Riding Horse’ genealogical structure and present aspects of the breeding work

The Eastbulgarian Horse is a national riding breed, created through complex crossbreeding of local, arabian, anglo-arabian and half-thoroughbred English mares with half-thoroughbred and thoroughbred stallions. The breed formation process had been carried out mainly in the state studs "Kabiuk" and "Bozhurishte" ("Stefan Karadzha"). The breed is acknowledged with Decree No. 631/12.06. 1951, following report No. 250/10.02.1951 by the Minister of Agriculture. Sixteen genealogical sire lines and more than 27 families were created, which differed one from another with the degree of expressiveness of certain conformation, constitution and productive traits. The pure breeding with periodic use of noble crossing are the main methods for genetic improvementof the economically valuable traits.

Closed down Old Sire Lines

Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Sempiternal (GB), born in 1899 by Xaintrailles.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Kozak (HUN), born in 1901. He originated from Kozma, representative of the line of Buccaneer through Balvany out of Lady Hempton. Kozak contributed to breeding with exclusively qualified daughters, including Krastanka, a founder of a family existing even nowadays.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Gremi (GB) born in 1905 by Galtee More, grandson of fabulous in Thoroughbred horse breedingBend-Or out of Miss Logan. The line was closed in 1984.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Laudon (HUN), born in 1904 by Duncan out of Pamela. Duncan was a son of Doncaster and had won St. Leger in Budapest in 1893. This line was amongst the lines most widely spread in the past. The representatives of that line belonged to the lighter type of the breed, noble body shapes and very good racing and jumping abilities. With their hereditary talents, the stud sires and mares contributed for improvement and consolidation of the traits subject of selection.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Emilyen (AUS), born in 1913. The stallion Emilyen (AUS), was imported from Radauti in 1917. His parents were Captivation, son of the great Syllene and Emily Melton from the old line of Stockwell. The line was closed during the 60s.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Vereshkard (AUS), born in 1913 by King Rob, son of King Mahmaut from the old line of Harkaway out of Vestal Virgin, the daughter of Matchbox.The horses from the line of Vereshcard belonged to the lighter type of the breed and had very good conformation. The line was closed after the reduction of the breeding herd in 1942.
Line of the half-bred stallion Betyar (HUN),born in 1914. He was imported from Hungary in 1917. His mother Betyar III was the daughter of the stallion Yurmeni Nonius, and his father Barrister was a Thoroughbred stallion from the old line of Touch Stone, through the branch of the The Lombard. Having played an important role in the creation and improvement of the Eastbulgarian breed, the line was closed in 1968.
Line of the half-bred stallion Fenek (HUN), born in 1918. He was the grandson of the Thoroughbred stallion Fenek, who acted in Hungary. The line was closed in 1955. It contributed for improvement of the conformation and massiveness of the horses from the half-bred herd.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Edelknabe (GER),born in 1928, by Poisoned Arrow, son of Spearmint from the old line of Touchstone and out of the Dark Ronald’s daughter, Ebereshe. The horses from the line of Edelknabe possessed beautiful and noble body shapes, free and harmonic movements and very good sport abilities expressed in flat racing, steeplechase, hurdle racing and dressage. The line was closed a few years ago.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Gudlak (HUN), purchased from Hungary in 1933. He was the son of the stallion Tamar from the branch of Springfield through Rock Sand and the dam Godalming, grand-daughter of Flying Fox from the old line of Bend-Or through Ormonde. The line was closed at 3-rd generation.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Neron (HUN), born in 1930 by Naplopo out of Repuly Galamb. Naplopo was a representative of the old line of Birdcatcher, through the branch of Springfield. The line was closedat 90s due to lack of a suitable continuator.
Line of the half-bred stallion Galion (Slieve Gallion I-2) (HUN), born in 1932 by Slieve Gallion I (grand-son of the Thoroughbred Gallinule from the old line of Birdcatcher) out of 29 Filou I. The horses from the line possessed extreme performance capacity demonstrated at international steeplechase races and three day events. The line was closed at 80s, because of the sudden death of the main stallion during the steeplechase race.
Line of the half-bred stallion Furioso VII-3 (HUN), born in 1935 by Furioso VII out of 221 Furioso III. The horses from the line Furiozo VII-3 represented the heavier type of the breed and they were distinguished for their big size, good conformation, massiveness, robust constitution and very good jumping abilities. The enthusiasm for flat racing in the recent past resulted in underestimation of the qualities of the horses belonging to that line. It was closed in 1988.

Modern aspects of the breeding work on the breed

Stud SireLines

Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Vustershir (RUS), born in 1901 by Worcester out of Lady Barcaldine. The current continuator of the line is the stallion Vanto, born in 2005 out of Afrodita, the daughter of Akrundos (GER) and Familia.Familiabelong to the line of the stallion Furioso VII-3. Being a typical representative of his line, Vanto possesses noble body forms and harmonic movements.Presently and the other the producers are available.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Tihany (GB), born in 1928, by Son in Lowout of Ciceromer. In the past the line gave the most successful steeplechase horses. Now, the representatives of the line possess very good sport abilities especially in jumping and dressage. Presently the producers are available in “Kabiuk” Stud.
Line of the Thoroughbred stallion Sanger (POL), born in 1941 by Jumar out of Surma III. He founded a line with representatives distinguished for their proportionate build, very good muscling, strong dense constitution and good performance. Presently the producers are available. At “Kabiuk” Stud, the main continuator of the line is a stallion Zetor, by Zemen out of Tiburela. He has multiple wins at national and international jumping competitions.

Stud families

The investigators of the breed reviewedformation of 11 families at the studs "Kabiuk" and 16 at "Stefan Karadzha"Stud. "Stefan Karadzha"Stud was closed down a few years ago and some of the best broodmares were settled down in Kabiuk. The families of Hana, Hodeida, Kilia, Longuza, Likuyushta, Leila, Nerazdelna, Ohota, and Malta have wider genealogical developmentnowadays.

Stallions who tend to be founders of lines under formation

The Thoroughbred stallion Aster (POL), born in 1958 by Dorpat out of Azalia, had acted at “St. Karadzha” stud. He was a representative of the line of Phalaris through Fairway. The representatives of the linewithinthe Eastbulgarian breed were Arsenal and his son Alkazar1993, both famous jumpers.

In the early 80s, the stud farms commenced cross-breeding of Eastbulgarian dams with Hannoverian and Brandenburg sires. It was intended to improve the massiveness and temperament of the horses. Stallions Da Kapo (GER), Akrundos (GER), and Sturm (GER) left broodmares whose offspring from Eastbulgarian sires were within the type of the breed. A little later, the sire Eistanzer (GER) was imported who can be considered the founder of the genealogical line.

Eistanzer (GER) wasborn in 1985 and belongs to line A (Adeptus XX), one of the most widely spread lines within the Hannoverian breed. The thoroughbred Adeptus XX was the founder of that line in Germany. The sons of Eyestancer, Avantaj1990 and Aden1994 from the East Bulgarian mare Erigona, were important for the development of the line within the Eastbulgarian breed. Presently, the producers are Ambassador out of Deva and his son, Alegro out of Gramatika.

During the last 4 years for breeding purposes were used: 10 stallions from the blood line of stallion Alme Z1966; 9 stallions from the blood line of stallion Cor de la Bryer1968 and 5 stallions from the blood line of stallion Ladykiller XX1961.

Some aspects of the breeding work

The Eastbulgarian horse breed has the status of in dangerous breed. One of the priority tasks before the breeders is to monitor the effective size of the population, the change of the genealogical structure and the dynamics of the phenotype and genetic parameters of the breed.

Until the early 90s, the estimation of the breeding value of the horses in respect to their performance had been carried out through flat racing and steeplechase. During the last two decades, selection was directed towards the breeding of high-quality horses for the classic disciplines equestrian sport and thus noble crossbreeding commenced with sires from the Hannoverian, Trakehnen, and Holsteiner breeds which were proved leaders in sport horse- breeding. The offspring with 25% genetic plasm /blood/ from those breeds tend to be within the type of the Eastbulgarian horse and with their body development and conformation they corresponded with the international requirements for the sport horses.

The Eastbulgarian Horse Association is the licensed organisation for performance of works on selection and reproduction of horses from the Eastbulgarian breed for the period within 2010-2020 (by decision 40/05.03.2010 by the Minister of Agriculture and Food).

To 22.10.2009, the association had registered 439 horses including 25 sires; 175 mares, with 140 females out of them; 89 fillies between 1- and 3-years old; 89 colts between 1- and 4-years old; 46 geldings and 15 horses with unspecified origin. Out of the stallions, 28% were representatives of the genealogical lines, 16% originated from Thoroughbred sires, and 36% – from Hannoverian and Holsteiner sires. The fathers of the other sires belonged to other newly forming lines. Out of the dams, 33% were from the genealogical lines, 25% were daughters of Thoroughbred sires, 36% were daughters of Eastbulgarian dams and Hannoverian sires. The remaining 6% originated from Eastbulgarian dams and sires from newly forming lines. Eighty-one per cent of the broodmares belonged to the families created within the breed. The biggest mares’ bulks belonged to the families of Nerazdelna, Ohota, Likuyushta, Leyla and Longuza.

Eastbulgarian horses are widely distributed in regions of central and north-east Bulgaria. Nearly 43% of breeding mares are raised in "Kabiuk"Stud. Private owners usually possess 1-2 mares.

Eastbulgarian Horse Association is a member of World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH).

Assistant Professor Iliana Sabeva

25.05.2015
Shumen

Tarzan, 1993, by Tiberiy, out of Zeneida, continuator of the line of Stallion Tihany

Gevrerior, 1998, by Gelikon, out of Veriga (from the line of Vustershir)

Velizar, 1998, by Vilhelm from the line of Vustershir, out of Zakleta