The Pleven breed of horse was developed in 1898 in the Klementina stud (now called the Georgi Dimitrov Agricultural Center) in Bulgaria. The breed is essentially Anglo-Arabian, the result of crossing Arabian or half-bred mares (half Thoroughbred) with Russian Anglo-Arab and half-bred stallions. Gidran stallions were later added to the breed. The breed was officially recognized in 1951, and English Thoroughbred blood was further added to add refinement and size to the Pleven.

Although fairly unheard of, the Pleven is a great competition horse with a great natural jump. They are very nice movers, with free-flowing gaits making them excel in the dressage arena. The have a calm and willing temperament. The Pleven is typically very sound, tough, and economical to feed.

The Pleven is well put together. Its head has a straight profile, the neck is long, muscular, and the breed has a nice topline. The Pleven has a broad and deep chest, nicely sloping shoulders, and a deep, round barrel. The animals have a fairly long back with high withers. The quarters are muscular, the croup slightly sloping, and the tail is carried well. The legs are very well-conformed and muscular, with good bone and broad joints, well-defined tendons, and hard feet.

The Pleven has elevation in all its strides, probably inherited from its Arabian ancestors. The breed is always chestnut in color, and stands 15.2 to 16 hands.

The breed is still selectively bred throughout Bulgaria, and an effort is being made to increase their size, which would make it more attractive as an international sport horse.

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