About East Bulgarian Horses

East Bulgarian horses are an elegantly-built light horse that developed over the last 100 years. They are used mainly for under saddle and light draft work, and are well-suited for a variety of competitive sports, ranging from dressage to eventing.  

They began develop at the end of the 19th century at the "Kabiuk" stud farm (former Vassil Kolarov) near Shumen and at stud farm in Bozhurishte near Sofia, in Bulgaria, by crossing local horses with Arabians, Anglo-Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and English half-breds. Once established, only additional Thoroughbred blood was added to improve their quality. They were officially recognized as a breed in 1951.    

They generally stand 15 to 16 hands high, and are usually chestnut, black, or bay. Typically, East Bulgarians have quiet but energetic temperaments and are nicely put together, with good conformation. They have a fine head with a straight profile that is well set onto an elegant, muscular neck. Their withers are prominent, and they have strong shoulders, a full and deep chest, a straight, long back, a slightly sloping croup, and well-made, though muscular, legs.