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Big Book of Breeds
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[ INDEX ] Equine Type: Horse Breed: Zhemaichu   [ PREV ] [ NEXT ]
Zhemaichu Grey Coat (left view)
Grey Coat (left view)
Zhemaichu Sooty Linebacked Bright Wild Bay Coat (normal view)
Sooty Linebacked Bright Wild Bay Coat (normal view)

Zhemaichu Linebacked Brown Coat (front view)
Linebacked Brown Coat (front view)
Zhemaichu Dunskin Coat (right view)
Dunskin Coat (right view)

The Zhemaichu (also known as 'Zhumdka,' 'Old Zhemaichu,' and 'Zhumd') is a Lithuanian breed of a small light-draft horse. It is also the oldest native breed of Lithuania.

Origins:
Over a thousand years ago, wild horses known as 'forest horses' or 'Tarpans' had roamed the forests of Europe. Of these horses, the Zhemaichu was developed. By the 6th century, Zhamaichu horses had already roamed in Lithuania, and by the late middle ages they enjoyed the reputation of being exceptional cavalry horses.

During the next centuries, Lithuania was invaded by various cultures and armies, each brought with it its own horses. As such, Zhemaichu horses were crossed with a variety of breeds, but the result was always pleasing. Zhemaichus were regarded as all-around horses, and served for cavalry, trekking, and farm horse.

Decline:
In the 19th century, the development of agriculture required larger and stronger horses for farm work. The Zhemaichu wasn't strong enough, and was therefore crossed with either North Swedish drafts, in the south of Lithuania, or Orlov Trotters, in the north of Lithuania to make it larger and stronger (see the 'North Swedish Farm Horse' and 'Orlov Trotter.')

These crosses created a larger type of Zhemaichu horse, which became known as 'Modern Zhemaichu' and 'Large Zhemaichu.' It was widely used as a farm horse until agriculture was mechanized. In the second half of the 20th century, the Large Zhemaichu was officially declared as a separate breed from the Zhemaichu (see the 'Large Zhemaichu.')

During the second half of the 20th century, the numbers of Zhemaichu horses plummeted, to a point where only a couple dozens of horses were left. Today, the Zhemaichu is still being bred in Lithuania, but the breed is extremely rare. It is locally known for its endurance and agility, and is primarily used for show-jumping and endurance riding.

Conformation:
The head is wide and has a straight or slightly-dished profile, the eyes are large, the ears are small and thin, the neck is thick, the withers are unobtrusive, the back is straight, the croup can be doubled, the hooves are solid, and the overall conformation is compact.

The legs are clean from feathering, and the hair of the mane and tail is coarse and can be wavy.

Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Zhemaichus 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: 14.2-15.4, 14.7 (0.3), 0.05.
Sprint: 47-60, 52 (3), 0.54.

Accel: 0.94-1.12, 1.03 (0.04), 0.01.
Decel: 0.96-1.11, 1.02 (0.03), 0.01.

Jump: 4.93-5.30, 5.16 (0.06), 0.01.
Pull: 1.89-2.42, 2.12 (0.11), 0.02.

Turning: 52.99-67.20, 58.79 (2.6), 0.51.
Reverse: 2.4-3.0, 2.7 (0.1), 0.03.

Stamina: 45.33-49.62, 47.52 (0.93), 0.18.
Reaction: 0.75-0.83, 0.79 (0.02), 0.00.

Coats & Height:
Colors: bay, black, and brown are most common. Chestnut, grey, buckskin, palomino, smoky-black, and dun occur as well but are rarer.

Breeding notes: Double-cream dilutes are not found in this breed, and therefore breeders should avoid crossing two heterozygous-cream horses.

Additionals: Sooty and linebacked are both common. Flaxen also occurs.
Markings can occur on both the face and legs but are rare. Excessive marking will be penalized.

Height: 12.2hh to 14hh
Zhemaichu Black Coat
Black Coat
Zhemaichu Coal Black Coat
Coal Black Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Black Coat
Sooty Black Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Ebony Black Coat
Sooty Ebony Black Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Burgundy Seal Brown Coat
Sooty Burgundy Seal Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Dark Brown Coat
Sooty Dark Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Linebacked Brown Coat
Sooty Linebacked Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Linebacked Sepia Brown Coat
Sooty Linebacked Sepia Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Brown Coat
Linebacked Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Chocolate Brown Coat
Sooty Chocolate Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Chocolate Brown Coat
Linebacked Chocolate Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Red Mahogany Bay Coat
Linebacked Red Mahogany Bay Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Mahogany Bay Coat
Linebacked Mahogany Bay Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Linebacked Golden Wild Bay Coat
Sooty Linebacked Golden Wild Bay Coat
Zhemaichu Golden Bay Coat
Golden Bay Coat
Zhemaichu Liver Chocolate Chestnut Coat
Liver Chocolate Chestnut Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Red Chocolate Chestnut Coat
Linebacked Red Chocolate Chestnut Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Bright Chocolate Chestnut Coat
Linebacked Bright Chocolate Chestnut Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Red Chestnut Coat
Linebacked Red Chestnut Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Bright Chestnut Coat
Linebacked Bright Chestnut Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Smoky Black Coat
Sooty Smoky Black Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Smoky Brown Coat
Sooty Smoky Brown Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Linebacked Brown Buckskin Coat
Sooty Linebacked Brown Buckskin Coat
Zhemaichu Linebacked Brown Buckskin Coat
Linebacked Brown Buckskin Coat
Zhemaichu Brown Buckskin Coat
Brown Buckskin Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Isabella Palomino Coat
Sooty Isabella Palomino Coat
Zhemaichu Grey Coat
Grey Coat
Zhemaichu Light Grey Coat
Light Grey Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Grulla Coat
Sooty Grulla Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Slate Grulla Coat
Sooty Slate Grulla Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Silvery Grulla Coat
Sooty Silvery Grulla Coat
Zhemaichu Slate Grulla Coat
Slate Grulla Coat
Zhemaichu Sooty Dun Coat
Sooty Dun Coat
Zhemaichu Dunskin Coat
Dunskin Coat
Zhemaichu Red Dun Coat
Red Dun Coat
Zhemaichu Muddy Dun Coat
Muddy Dun Coat


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