Pleven horses are competition horses with a natural jump and
free-flowing gaits.
Pleven horses were developed in 1898 in the Klementina stud
(now called the Georgi Dimitrov Agricultural Center) in Bulgaria. Plevens are
mostly Anglo-Arab, but Gidran stallions were later added to the breed. They
were officially recognized in 1951, and English Thoroughbred blood was further
added to add refinement and size to Plevens.
The breed is still selectively bred throughout Bulgaria, and
an effort is being made to increase their size, which would make it more
attractive as an international sport horse.
The Pleven's head has a straight profile, a long, muscular
neck, and a nice top line. They are excellent movers, whose free-flowing gaits
make them excel in dressage. They have fairly long backs and high withers, with
quarters that are muscular, croups which are slightly sloping, and a tail that
is carried well. Their legs are well-conformed and muscular, have good bone
joints, well-defined tendons, and hard feet. Their temperament is calm and
willing. The Pleven is usually sound, tough, and economical to feed.
Plevens are always chestnut in color, and stand at 15.2 to
16 hands high.
About Pleven Horses
