Origin: Georgi Dimitrov State Agricultural Farm, near Plevan, Bulgaria.
Color: Black or dark chestnut, sometimes with white markings.
Avg Height: 15.2 hh
Avg Weight: 1150 to 2000 lbs
Build: Massive and solid, but not coarse, in general appearance. Well-proportioned head with a straight profile, set on a crested neck of medium length. Prominent withers and a straight, long back. Body is deep, close-coupled, with strong quarters. Legs are long and slender with a long forearm, short cannons and pasterns and hard joints. Well-formed hooves that are very hard.
Temperament: Gentle and willing, but also energetic.
Main use: Although used primarily in harness and for light draft work, lighter specimens of the breed are sometimes ridden.
Special abilities: The Danubian is a powerful light draft horse and also a good riding horse. It has a solid build and is strong with a high endurance. The mares of this breed when crossed with English Thoroughbred stallions produce horses with good jumping ability.
History: One of the three principal Bulgarian breeds, the Danubian was developed during the early 20th century at the Georgi Dimitrov State Agricultural Farm, near Pleven. It was based on purebred Nonius stallions, which were crossed with mares of the Gidran strain to produce a strong, compact animal suitable for medium to heavy draft work.
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