Ever walked up to a horse that looks like it just stepped out of a high-end hair salon after a perm gone slightly rogue? That’s the American Bashkir Curly horse. They are weird. I mean that in the best way possible. Most people see that tight, poodle-like coat and assume it’s some designer crossbreed cooked up in a lab ten years ago, but the reality is way more mysterious.
They have these ringlets. Sometimes they look like crushed velvet. Other times, they look like a sheep that’s trying to pass as a stallion.
But here is the kicker: nobody actually knows where they came from.
The Mystery of the "Bashkir" Name
Let’s clear something up right away because it drives breed historians absolutely nuts. For a long time, people thought these horses were related to the Bashkir horses from the Ural Mountains in Russia. It makes sense on paper, right? Cold climate, curly hair. But when researchers actually started looking into it, the Russian Bashkir horses didn't have the curly gene. Not even a little bit.
The name stuck anyway.
Genetically, the American Bashkir Curly horse is a bit of a maverick. Some people point to Spanish explorers. Others swear they’ve been in the Americas since the last Ice Age, though the fossil record is pretty quiet on that front. What we do know for sure is that the modern history of the breed started in Nevada. Specifically, the Damele family ranch in the late 1800s. Peter Damele and his sons noticed these curly-coated wild horses surviving brutal winters that were literally killing off every other horse on the range. They weren't just survivors; they were thriving.
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That’s a huge part of their DNA. Hardiness. You can’t kill their spirit, and you definitely can't freeze them out.
The Hypoallergenic Miracle (Mostly)
This is usually why people start googling this breed in the first place. You have a kid who loves horses but turns into a sneezing, watery-eyed mess the second they hit the stable.
Is the American Bashkir Curly horse actually hypoallergenic?
Mostly, yes. It sounds like marketing fluff, but there’s actual science behind it. Most horse allergies are triggered by a protein called Fel d 1 (actually, in horses, it's various proteins found in the dander and skin oils). For some reason that still baffles a lot of vets, Curlies lack the specific protein that triggers the typical allergic reaction in humans.
I’ve seen people who carry an EpiPen around horses sit on a Curly for three hours and not even sniffle. It’s life-changing for some families. However, it isn't a 100% guarantee. If you're highly sensitive, you still need to go rub your face on one—honestly, that's the only way to be sure—before you drop five figures on a registered mare.
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Coat Patterns That Make No Sense
Their hair is fascinating. It’s not just "curly." It changes with the seasons.
In the winter, they grow these thick, dense ringlets or "micro-curls." They look like Teddy bears. Then, summer hits, and a lot of them shed it all out. And when I say shed, I mean some of them go almost completely bald. You’ll see a American Bashkir Curly horse in July looking like a naked mole rat with a mane, and by December, it’s a puffball again.
The mane and tail are even weirder. They have "corkscrew" manes. But here is a tip if you ever own one: don’t brush the tail. You’ll ruin the curl pattern and end up with a frizzy mess that looks like an 80s rock star’s bad hair day.
Temperament: The "Bomb-Proof" Reputation
If you want a horse that’s going to jump at its own shadow or lose its mind because a plastic bag drifted across the arena, don’t buy a Curly.
They are eerily calm.
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Some owners describe them as "dog-like." They tend to think before they react. Where a Thoroughbred might bolt, a Curly usually just stands there and looks at the scary object like it’s trying to solve a math equation. This makes them incredible for trail riding and therapeutic work. They have this weirdly low pulse rate and a recovery time that makes endurance riders drool.
Buying and Care Realities
Don't expect to find one for five hundred bucks at a local auction. Because they are relatively rare—the American Bashkir Curly Horse Registry (ABCR) only has a few thousand registered—they hold their value.
- Hoof Quality: They generally have incredibly tough, black hooves. Many owners keep them barefoot even on rocky terrain.
- Feed: They are "easy keepers." If you give them high-sugar grain and lush pasture, they’ll founder. They evolved to eat scrub brush in Nevada, so keep the diet simple.
- The "Curly" Gene: Not every horse born to Curly parents is curly. Some are "smooth-coated." They still carry the hypoallergenic traits sometimes, but they look like any other horse.
How to Actually Get Involved with the Breed
If you’re serious about these animals, stop looking at "cute" Instagram photos and look for breeders who prioritize conformation over just the "curly" look. A horse that’s curly but has a swayed back and poor legs is still a poor-quality horse.
- Contact the ABCR: The American Bashkir Curly Horse Registry is the gold standard for lineage. Start there to find reputable breeders who aren't just "backyard" operations.
- Test your allergies: If you are buying for the hypoallergenic factor, ask the breeder to send you a bag of hair. Rub it on your arm. Sleep near it. If you don't react, you're probably golden.
- Check the mane: Look for the signature kink. Even smooth-coated Curlies often have a little wave inside their ears or at the fetlocks.
- Prepare for the shed: Get a good shedding blade. When that winter coat lets go in the spring, it comes off in literal carpets. It’s satisfying but messy.
These horses aren't just a novelty. They are legitimate athletes. You'll find them in dressage rings, pulling carriages, and working cattle. They just happen to look like they’ve been through a crimping iron while they do it.
If you want a horse that stands out, doesn't freak out, and won't make you sneeze, the American Bashkir Curly is basically your only option. They’re a piece of American history that we still haven't quite figured out, and honestly, that’s part of the charm.