It is raised mainly within Bashkortostan, formerly known as Bashkiria, a republic within the Russian Federation which lies to the west of the southern Ural Mountains and extends to the Volga River.

In the nineteenth century its economic value was recognised, and steps were taken to increase both its working abilities and its traditional qualities as a producer of milk and meat.

[4]: 333 Bashkortostan has the third-highest horse population of the federal subjects of Russia, after the Altai Krai and the Sakha Republic.

It is wide in the body and deep-chested, with a thoracic circumference (chest girth) averaging about 180 cm (70 in); it has a large head and a short neck, low withers and a flat back.

It shows remarkable endurance; there are reports of these horses drawing troikas, three-horse sleighs, over distances of 120–140 km (70–90 mi) per day.