The Budenny, pronounced "bood-YAW-knee" (and, depending on transliteration from the Russian also spelled Budyonny or, less commonly, Budonny or Budennovsky) horse is one of Russia's most popular and versatile native warmblood sport horses. The primary impetus for the development of the breed came from the army; indeed, the horse takes its name from Marshall S.M. Budenny, a distinguished cavalry officer whose name is synonymous with the legendary Red Cavalry. Carefully cultivated as a remount horse, the Budenny achieved recognition as a distinct breed in 1948, ironically only a few years before the Russian cavalry was officially disbanded. For a short time thereafter, the future of the breed seemed bleak. Today, however, the Budenny horse enjoys a reputation as an energetic and multi-talented sport horse, both within Russia and, increasingly, abroad. The Budenny horse has the potential of becoming a major player in world-class sport competition.


From the Thoroughbred the Budenny has acquired its elegant appearance and agility; from the Don it has received substantial bone and an undemanding nature. The Budenny has grown significantly in size and substance over the years, primarily as a result of the infusion of Thoroughbred blood. Since 1952, for example, the average measurement for stallions at the withers has increased by over 8 centimeters. Most specialists concur that the breed has now reached optimum size. The 1999 measurements in centimeters for stallions were 169.9 (withers), 198.7 (girth) and 21.5 (cannon bone), and for mares 166.5 (withers), 196.2 (girth) and 21.0 (cannon bone).


The Budenny stud book is technically open, but several restrictions apply. There is an upper limit of ? on Thoroughbred, Arab and Trakehner blood. Before WWII there was a fairly balanced distribution of Thoroughbred, Don and Anglo-Don mares, but subsequently the preponderance of breeding mares have been Anglo-Dons. In effect, that has meant that the percentage of Thoroughbred stallions within the breed has dramatically declined. In the period 1991-1995, for example, 33% of Anglo-Don mares had 9/16 to 5/8 of Thoroughbred blood and 49% of mares had 11/16 to ? Thoroughbred blood. In terms of current pedigree, the breeding of a Thoroughbred stallion to an Anglo-Don mare is no longer the norm.


The predominant color is chestnut, and among the various shades, the golden cast (which traces back to the Don, and, some would argue, further back to the Akhal-teke) is especially admired. Bay and black are less common. White markings are acceptable.