Horse Breed Comparison Tool

This tool lets you compare two breeds of horses, ponies, or donkeys in the blink of an eye. See their geographical origins, heights, and weights to better understand each type of equine.

 Chestnut Don horse with a glossy sheen. - CC BY-SA 4.0 - Fefa Koroleva

Russian Don

Origin:

Cradle in the Don steppes

The Don horse takes its name from the Don River and the vast steppes of southern Russia, where it developed. This harsh environment, marked by cold winters and arid summers, shaped a resilient breed, capable of surviving on few resources and covering long distances.


Link with the Don Cossacks

Historically, the Don horse is closely linked to the Don Cossacks, famous horsemen and warriors of Tsarist Russia. The Cossacks selected and bred these horses for their endurance, hardiness, and combat aptitude. The Don was used for swift raids, patrols, and military expeditions.


Oriental and local influences

The breed was formed over centuries through crossings between Oriental horses (Arabian, Turkmen, Karabair), introduced by invasions and trade, and local Russian horses. This blend produced an elegant, enduring, and sober horse, perfectly adapted to nomadic and military life.


Official recognition

In the 19th century, the Don horse was recognized as a distinct breed by the Imperial Studs. It became a symbol of Cossack breeding and a cultural and military heritage of southern Russia.

Height: 155 – 165 cm

Weight: 450 – 600 kg

Welsh B in CSO - CC BY-SA 4.0 - Elevage de maika

Welsh Pony Section B

Origin:

The Welsh Pony Section B originates from Wales, where it was developed from the Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A) to produce a larger, more elegant riding pony.


Its creation resulted from selective crossbreeding between traditional Welsh ponies and Arabian and Thoroughbred stallions during the 19th and early 20th centuries.


The goal was to preserve the hardiness, liveliness, and robustness of the mountain pony while refining its gaits and conformation, thus creating a show and sport pony suitable for children and young riders.

Height: 127 – 137 cm

Weight: 250 – 350 kg