The Tushin (also 'Tushuri', 'Tusheti', and 'Tushetian') is a Georgian breed of a small saddle horse.

The mountain horse from the hidden region:
Horses are not new to Georgia and especially to the Caucasus where horses were bred for over 2,000 years. Horses were even bred in Tusheti, a remote region in eastern Georgia nestled between the Caucasian Mountains. It was there that between the 1st and 3rd centuries local horses were crossed with Arabian, Persian, and Turkmen horses, resulting in the Tushin.

Over the next centuries, the Tushin became famous for its surefootedness and endurance, traits that made it a capable mount for those who wish to travel the mountains. It was because of this attribute that the Tushin survived all the way into the 21st century.

The Tushin today:
Today, the Tushin is a rare breed but its breeding is stable. It is found in east Georgia, especially in Tusheti, where it lives all year round on the pastures that the Caucasian Mountains have to offer. The only exception is horses who are in regular use and may be stabled for ease of access.

Tushin horses have two primary uses in Georgia. The first is serving as mounts for Georgian shepherds when they herd sheep or horses across the mountains from one pasture to another. The second is serving as mounts for tourists who wish to travel the Caucasian Mountains. Many also serve as pack animals during such journies.

Attributes and Gaits:
Tushin horses are known locally for their exceptional ability to climb safely on steep mountains while carrying a rider or cargo on their backs. Some Tushin horses can pace and even amble, making them comfortable mounts.

Conformation:
Tushin horses have a short, light head with a straight profile and medium eyes and ears, a short neck that can be ewed, slightly prominent withers that connect to a short and straight back, a short croup that has a light slope, and slender legs with small hooves.

Although the mane can grow long, the hair is still fairly sparse compared to manes seen in other breeds, and so in Horse Isle the manes of the Tushin are short or medium in length. The hair of the mane and tail is usually straight, but in rarer cases it can also be wavy.

Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Tushin Horses in Horse Isle (not bred ones). In rare cases, horses might have metrics outside of the range. Breeders can produce horses that are beyond this range.

Speed: 13.8-14.9, 14.3 (0.3), 0.05.
Sprint: 36-47, 41 (3), 0.49.

Accel: 0.87-1.05, 0.96 (0.05), 0.01.
Decel: 0.78-0.92, 0.85 (0.03), 0.01.

Jump: 4.91-5.15, 5.04 (0.05), 0.01.
Pull: 1.36-2.00, 1.64 (0.12), 0.02.

Turning: 47.03-62.34, 53.41 (3.24), 0.64.
Reverse: 2.4-3.0, 2.7 (0.1), 0.03.

Stamina: 42.51-47.64, 44.93 (0.98), 0.19.
Reaction: 0.67-0.77, 0.72 (0.02), 0.00.

Coats & Height:
Colors: bay, black, brown, chestnut, and grey.

Additionals: flaxen, sooty, dark mane & tail. The coat can either be solid or tobiano, and sometimes has prominent white markings.

Height: 13hh to 14hh.