Haflinger

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Haflinger
File:Rijden, harry 069.jpg
Haflinger in motion
Other namesAvelignese
Country of originAustria, Italy
Traits
Distinguishing featuresSmall horse, sturdy build, chestnut coloring
Breed standards
This article is about the breed of horse. For the Haflinger car, see Haflinger.

The Haflinger is a breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy during the late 1800s. The name comes from the village of Hafling.[1] The breed is also called the Avelignese, from the Italian word for Hafling, which is Aveligna or Avelengo.[2] Haflingers have many uses, including light draft and harness work as well as various under-saddle disciplines such as endurance riding, dressage, equestrian vaulting and therapeutic riding programs. Haflinger horses are fairly small, are always chestnut in color, and have distinctive gaits described as energetic but smooth. The breed is well-muscled, but with an elegant appearance.

History

The history of the Haflinger horses can be traced back to the Middle Ages, but precise origins of the breed are unknown. However, there are two main theories as to the original evolution of the breed. The first is that they descend from horses abandoned in the Tyrolese valleys in central Europe by East Goths fleeing from Byzantine tropps after the fall of Conza in 555 AD. These abandoned horses are believed to have been influenced by Oriental bloodlines, and would help explain the high percentage of Arabian blood seen in the Haflinger. The second theory is that they descended from a stallion from the Kingdom of Burgandy sent to the Margrave Louis of Brandenburg by his father Louis IV, King of Germany, when the Margrave married Princess Margaret Maultasch of the Tyrol in 1342.[3] They may also be a descendant of the Forest Horse, and they have close connections to the Noriker due to overlapping geographic areas where the two breeds were developed.[4] The breed was originally established in the village of Hafling in the Etschlander Mountains.[5]

File:Marko 244.jpg
Haflinger horse

The Arabian influence was reinforced more strongly in the modern Haflinger by the introduction of the stallion El Bedavi,[3] imported to Austria in the 19th century. El-Bedavi's half-Arabian great-grandson, El-Bedavi XXII, was bred at the Austro-Hungarian stud at Radautz,[5] and was the father of the breed's foundation stallion, 249 Folie, born in 1874 at Val Venosta.[3] Folie's dam was a native Tyrolean mare of refined type. All Haflingers today must trace their ancestry to Folie through one of seven stallion lines (A, B, M, N, S, ST, and W) to be considered a purebred.[6] The small original genepool and the mountain environment in which most of the original members of the breed were raised has resulted in a very fixed physical type and appearance.[5]

After World War I, when the Treaty of Saint Germain resulted in South Tyrol (including Hafling) being annexed by Italy,[2] the breed was reorganized in the Austrian Tyrol and kept alive through crosses to the Hucul, Bosnian, Konik and Noriker breeds.[5] During World War II the breed was bred to produce shorter, more draft-like horses for use as packhorses by the military. After the war, an emphasis was placed on refinement and height, and horses were bred to be versatile enough for many under-saddle disciplines, but still solid enough for draft and driving work.[6] Although it was feared after World War II that the breed was dying out due to indiscriminate crossing with other breeds,[7] by 2003 there were almost 250,000 Haflingers in the world.[8]

The first Haflingers were imported to the United States from Austria in 1958 by Tempel Smith of Tempel Farms in Illinois[1] and the first Canadian Haflinger was registered in 1977.[9] They were imported to Great Britain in the 1960s[10] and to Australia in 1974.[11] Although the modern Haflinger is now found all over the world, the majority of breeding stock still comes from Austria, where state studs own the stallions and carefully maintain the quality of the breed.[12] However, there are breeding farms located in the United States, Canada, Germany, Holland, and England.[1]

Breed Characteristics

Haflingers are always chestnut in color,[12] and come in shades ranging from a light gold to a rich golden chestnut or liver hue. The mane and tail are white or flaxen.[13] The height of the breed has increased since post-World War II, when they stood an average of 13.3 hands (55 inches (140 cm)).[7] They now range in height from 13.2 to 15 hands high (54 to 60 inches (140 to 150 cm)), although they may be taller if all other characteristics are correct. The breed has a refined head and light poll. The neck is of medium length, the withers are pronounced, the shoulders sloping, and the chest deep. The back is medium long and muscular, the croup is long, slightly sloping and well-muscled. The legs are clean, with broad, flat knees and powerful hocks, with clear definition of tendons and ligaments.[13]

The Haflinger has rhythmic gaits that cover large amounts of ground. The walk is relaxed but energetic. The trot and canter are elastic, energetic, and athletic with a natural tendency to be off the forehand and balanced. There is some knee action, and the canter has a very distinct motion forwards and upwards.[12]

Uses

The Haflinger was originally developed to work in the mountainous regions of its native land, where it was used as a mountain pack horse and for forestry and agricultural work.[14] Today the breed is used in many activities that include draft and pack work, light harness and combined driving, and many under-saddle events. In riding, they disciplines, appearing in western show classes, trail and endurance riding, dressage, show jumping, vaulting, and therapeutic riding programs. They are used extensively as dressage horses for children, although they are also strong enough to carry adults, despite their small size.[12] There are several national shows for Haflingers worldwide, including in Great Britain and the United States.[15][16] Haflingers were used by the Indian Army in an attempt to breed pack animals for mountainous terrain, but were unsuccessful due to the Haflinger's inability to withstand the desert heat.[14]

Breed Organizations

A Haflinger training for show jumping.

Breed organizations exist in many countries to provide accurate documentation of Haflinger pedigrees and ownership, and also to promote the Haflinger breed. Most are linked to each other through membership in the World Haflinger Federation (WHF). The WHF establishes international breeding guidelines, objectives and rules for proficiency examinations and aptitude tests. They also authorize European and World Shows and compile an annual list of Haflinger experts, or adjudicators. The WHF is the international umbrella organization, with 22 member organization in 18 countries. Membership organizations include the Haflinger Horse Society of Australia, the Australian Haflinger Horse Breeders Association, the Canadian Haflinger Association, the Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol (Tyrolean Haflinger Breeding Association) and the American Haflinger Registry, as well as a division for breeders in countries that are not already members.[17]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Haflinger". Oklahoma State University. Referenced July 16, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "The Haflinger Horse in its Country of Origin". Haflinger Horse Italy. Referenced January 26, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Bongianni, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies, Entry 157
  4. ^ Edwards, The Encyclopedia of the Horse, p. 185
  5. ^ a b c d Edwards, The Encyclopedia of the Horse, p. 52
  6. ^ a b "Breed History". American Haflinger Registry. Referenced January 26, 2008.
  7. ^ a b Hayes, Points of the Horse, p. 400
  8. ^ "Association History". Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol. Referenced July 16, 2008.
  9. ^ "Haflinger Breed". Canadian Haflinger Association. Referenced July 16, 2008.
  10. ^ "History of the Haflinger". The Haflinger Society of Great Britain. Referenced July 16, 2008.
  11. ^ "History of Haflingers in Australia". Australian Haflinger Horse Breeders Association. Referenced July 16, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c d "Haflinger". International Museum of the Horse. Referenced January 26, 2008.
  13. ^ a b "Inspection & Classification Breeding Objectives for the American Haflinger Registry". American Haflinger Registry. Referenced January 26, 2008.
  14. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Edwards53 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Breed Show 2008". The Haflinger Society of Great Britain. Referenced July 16, 2008.
  16. ^ "AHR National Show". American Haflinger Registry. Referenced July 16, 2008.
  17. ^ "World Haflinger Federation". Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol. Referenced January 26, 2008.

References

  • Edwards, Elwyn Hartley (1994). The Encyclopedia of the Horse (1st American Edition ed.). New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 1564586146. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  • Hayes, Capt. M. Horace, FRCVS (1969, Reprinted 1976). Points of the Horse (7th Revised Edition ed.). New York, NY: Arco Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN ASIN: B000UEYZHA. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
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