[1] They have a clean head with a straight or dished profile, well set onto a well-formed neck, high withers, and a wide, deep chest.

The Old Don was a medium-sized, agile horse with immense endurance; a result of the survival-of-the-fittest selection methods that guided the development of many Russian breeds.

[2] During the early 19th century, the breed was improved into the newer type through the addition of Orlov Trotter, Arabian, Thoroughbred, and Karabakh blood.

Private breeders began to focus on the Dons, and bred for conformation, endurance, height, and the characteristic color of chestnut with a gold sheen.

Known for their endurance and stamina, these horses could cover long distances in short amounts of time, with reserves of energy left for battle.