Curly Horse

The curly horse, often called the North American Curly Horse or Bashkir Curly, is defined by a curly or wavy coat rather than by one uniform body type. The connection to the Bashkir horse of Russia is unproven, and modern Curlies come from diverse North American foundation stock. Many grow a tight curled winter coat, wavy mane and tail, curled eyelashes, or hair inside the ears; some appear nearly smooth in summer. They can be stock-horse, sport-horse, gaited, pony, or draft-influenced in build, and they occur in many coat colors.

Curly horses are kept for trail riding, ranch work, driving, therapy programs, and sport, depending on the individual line and training. Some allergy-sensitive people tolerate certain Curlies better than other horses, but reactions vary, so time spent with the specific horse is wiser than relying on the label. Grooming should protect the coat and skin without excessive stripping, especially during heavy seasonal shedding. Breeders work within several registries and should still prioritize sound conformation, temperament, and usable movement over curl alone.

Colors: Amber Champagne, Appaloosa, Bay, Bay Dun, Bay Roan, Black, Blanket Appaloosa, Blue Roan, Brown, Buckskin, Champagne, Chestnut, Classic Champagne, Cremello, Dun, Dun Roan, Fewspot Appaloosa, Flaxen Chestnut, Frame Overo, Gold Champagne, Gray, Grullo, Leopard Appaloosa, Liver Chestnut, Overo, Palomino, Perlino, Piebald, Pinto, Rabicano, Red Dun, Red Roan, Roan, Sabino, Seal Bay, Silver Dapple, Skewbald, Smoky Black, Smoky Cream, Snowcap Appaloosa, Sorrel, Splash White, Tobiano, Tovero, Varnish Roan, White