Balikun Horse
The Balikun horse originates from Balikun County in the Hami region of China. There are currently around 15,000 horses, mainly distributed within the county and in the mountain pastures in front of the county. It is speculated that the present-day Balikun horse is a local breed formed through long-term crossbreeding and acclimatization of the historical indigenous Balikun horses with Mongolian and Kazakh horses.
The Balikun horse is a versatile draft and riding breed. It has a relatively coarse and heavy head, large pointed ears, large nostrils, bright and spirited eyes, a wide and deep chest, thick joints in the limbs, and small but sturdy hooves. The main coat colors include bay and chestnut, with some grayish-blue and piebald variations. Adult stallions stand about 1.35 meters tall and weigh around 370 kilograms. In speed tests, they cover 1,600 meters in 2 minutes, 34.5 seconds. Their draught ability is also commendable—when three horses are harnessed to a rubber-tired wagon carrying a load of 1,500–2,500 kilograms, they can travel 45–60 kilometers in 8 hours. Mares yield an average of over 7 kilograms of milk per day. The slaughter rate can reach 54%. Stallions begin breeding at 3–4 years old, while mares start at 3 years. The average reproductive survival rate of the horses is around 52.2%, with a maximum of over 70%.
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Yanqi Horse
The Yanqi horse enjoyed great fame in both Central Plains and the Western Regions as early as the Han Dynasty. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Yanqi produced up to 100,000 horses annually and was known by the laudatory titles “Dragon Colt” and “Sea Horse.”
The Yanqi horse originates from the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, China, and is closely related by blood to the Mongolian horse. It has a relatively long head, medium-high and long withers, a long and straight back, and coat colors primarily in bay, chestnut, and black. Adult measurements: stallions stand 142.4 cm tall, measure 144.9 cm in body length, 168.7 cm in chest girth, and 19.5 cm in cannon bone circumference; mares measure 135.2 cm, 141.5 cm, 161.4 cm, and 17.7 cm respectively. Their riding speed is 1 minute 23 seconds per kilometer, and 8 minutes 23 seconds per 5 kilometers. Maximum draught force is 400 kilograms, and a single horse can carry 600 kilograms. They produce 4.36 kilograms of milk per day, with a 90-day lactation yield of 392.4 kilograms. The slaughter rate is 45.7%. Stallions begin breeding at 3 years old, mares at 4 years, with a conception rate of 53.5% for mares.
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