- Danubian -

The Danubian has no pretensions toward being a competition or performance horse, having been created as a general riding and strong light draft horse. It was founded at the start of the 20th century by crossing original type Nonius stallions with Gidran Arabian mares.

The resulting stock was a compact, strongly built horse, which was upgraded with the addition of further Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred blood, and the Danubian today is a popular riding and light harness horse in Bulgaria. Despite the Arabian and Thoroughbred blood in its veins, the Danubian is a workmanlike and rather plain animal, having inherited the rather unglamorous characteristics of the Nonius. The Danubian is a rather cob-like horse in many respects, and has a docile, even temperament.

Used as a general riding and light draft horse, the Danubian is not intended as a competition horse, although when the mares are mated with Thoroughbred horses, they produce good performance horses.

The Danubian is compact and solidly built, with a "cobby" look to it. Their heads are workmanlike and well proportioned, with a straight profile. Their ears are of medium length, and the eyes a little small but very lively, and the expression alert and amiable. Their nostrils are always small but open. The Danubian is almost always either black or dark chestnut, and they generally stand about 15.2 hh.

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