Haflingers

The Haflinger is a breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy during the late 19th century. Haflinger horses are relatively small, are always chestnut in color, have distinctive gaits described as energetic but smooth, and are well-muscled yet elegant. The breed traces its ancestry to the Middle Ages, and there are several theories for the breed’s origin. Haflingers were developed for use in mountainous terrain, and are known for their hardiness. Their current conformation and appearance are the result of infusions of bloodlines from Arabian and various European breeds into the original native Tyrolean ponies. The foundation sire, 249 Folie, was born in 1874, and by 1904 the first breeders’ cooperative was formed. All Haflingers can trace their lineage back to Folie through one of seven bloodlines.

 

Shadowfax - Haflinger Gelding

Shadowfax – Haflinger “S” Line

Starting in 1946, breeders focused on producing purebred Haflingers, and a closed stud book was created. Interest in the breed increased in other countries, and between 1950 and 1974 the population grew, even while the overall European horse population decreased. Population numbers continued to increase steadily, and as of 2005, almost 250,000 Haflingers existed worldwide. There are breeding farms in several countries, although most of the breeding stock still comes from Austria.

Haflingers have many uses, including light draft, harness work, and various under-saddle disciplines such as endurance riding, dressage, equestrian vaulting and therapeutic riding. The World Haflinger Federation (WHF) is the international governing body that controls breed standards for the Haflinger. The WHF is made up of a confederation of 22 national registries, and helps set breeding objectives, guidelines and rules for its member organizations.

Breed Characteristics

The name “Haflinger” comes from the village of Hafling, which today is in northern Italy. Haflingers are always chestnut in color, 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. The height of the breed has increased since the end of World War II, when it stood an average of 13.3 hands (55 inches).  The desired height today is between 13.2 and 15.1 hands (54 to 61 inches). Breeders are discouraged from breeding horses under the minimum size, but taller individuals may pass inspection if they otherwise meet the requirements of the breed registry. The breed has arefined 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, showing clear definition of tendons and ligaments.  The Haflinger has rhythmic, ground-covering gaits. The walk is relaxed but energetic. The trot and canter are elastic, energetic, and athletic with a natural tendency to be light on the forehand and balanced. There is some knee action, and the canter has a very distinct motion forwards and upwards. One important consideration in breeding during the second half of the 20th century was temperament. A requirement for a quiet, kind nature has become part of the official breed standards, and is checked during official inspections. Some sources recognize two types of Haflinger, a shorter, heavier type used for draft work and a taller, lighter type used for pleasure riding, light driving and under-saddle competition.

Stallion Lines

All Haflingers today trace their lineage through one of seven stallion lines to Folie, the foundation stallion of the breed. Colts are given names beginning with the first letter of their sire’s name, and fillies are given names beginning with the first letter of their dam’s name. The only place this differs is Italy, where each year all foals are given names beginning with a predetermined alphabetical character. The seven lines are:

  • A-line. Founded by Anselmo, born 1926. This is one of the most prevalent lines today, and descendants include the second-largest number of stallions at stud. Anselmo was brought back to stud at the age of 21 when a lack of stallions after World War II led to concerns that the line would not survive and produced several stallions who are represented in all Haflinger breeding populations worldwide.
  • B-line. Founded by Bolzano, born 1915. Bolzano founded a less common line, which although strong in Austria is not prevalent elsewhere. The line is spreading nevertheless; the US and several European countries including Great Britain are establishing Bolzano lines.
  • M-line. Founded by Massimo, born 1927. An Italian stallion, Massimo founded a line that is prevalent in Austria and Italy.
  • N-line. Founded by Nibbio, born 1920. Early in its history the Nibbio line split into two branches, one in Italy and one in Austria. The N-line is one of the populous lines, with the greatest number of stallions at stud. It is one of two (the other being the A-line) that has a presence in all Haflinger breeding countries. The line is the most prolific in Austria and Italy.
  • S-line. Founded by Stelvio, born 1923. The Stelvio line is the least numerous of thelines,threatened with extinction after non-Haflinger blood was introduced in Germany. It is currently most populous in Italy, but the Austrian authorities are working to re-establish the line.
  • ST-line. Founded by Student, born 1927. Although the ST-line has a large number of stallions, its geographic spread is limited because of unselective breeding in some countries. Germany and the US hold the most horses of this line outside Austria.
  • W-line. Founded by Willi, born 1921. The W-line was threatened by crossbreeding early in its history, but maintains a strong presence in Holland, Canada and the US, with a smaller population in Austria.

History

The history of the Haflinger horse traces to the Middle Ages. The origins of the breed are uncertain, but there are two main theories. The first is that Haflingers descend from horses abandoned in the Tyrolese valleys in central Europe by East Goths fleeing from Byzantine troops after the fall of Conza in 555 AD. These abandoned horses are believed to have been influenced by Oriental bloodlines, and may help explain the Arabian physical characteristics seen in the Haflinger. A type of light mountain pony was first recorded in the Etsch Valley in 1282, and was probably the ancestor of the modern Haflinger. The second theory is that they descended from a stallion from the Kingdom of Burgundy, sent to Margrave Louis of Brandenburg by his father Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, when the Margrave married Princess Margarete Maultasch of the Tyrol in 1342.  It has also been suggested that they are descendants of the prehistoric Forest horse. Haflingers have close connections to the Noriker, a result of the overlapping geographic areas where the two breeds were developed. Whatever its origins, the breed developed in a mountainous climate and was well-acclimated to thrive in harsh conditions with minimal maintenance.

The breed as it is known today was officially established in the village of Hafling in the Etschlander Mountains, then located in Austria-Hungary. The Arabian influence was strongly reinforced in the modern Haflinger by the introduction of the stallion El Bedavi, 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, and was the sire of the breed’s foundation stallion, 249 Folie, born in 1874 in the Vinschgau. 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. The small original gene pool, 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.  After the birth of Folie in 1874, several Austrian noblemen became interested in the breed, and petitioned the government for support and direction of organized breeding procedures. It was 1899 before the Austrian government responded, deciding to support breeding programs through the establishment of subsidies; high quality Haflinger fillies were among those chosen for the government-subsidized breeding program. Since then the best Haflinger fillies and colts have been chosen and selectively bred to maintain the quality of the breed. Horses not considered to meet the quality standards were used by the army as pack animals. By the end of the 19th century Haflingers were common in both South and North Tyrol, and stud farms had been established in Styria, Salzburg and Lower Austria. In 1904, the Haflinger Breeders’ Cooperative was founded in Mölten, in South Tyrol, with the aim of improving breeding procedures, encouraging pure-breeding, and establishing a studbook and stallion registry.

Uses

Haflingers were bred to be versatile enough for many under-saddle disciplines, but still solid enough for draft and driving work.  The Haflinger was originally developed to work in the mountainous regions of its native land, where it was used as a packhorse and for forestry and agricultural work. Today the breed is used in many activities that include draft and pack work, light harness and combined driving, and many under-saddle events, including western-style horse-show classes, trail and endurance riding, dressage, show jumping, vaulting, and therapeutic riding programs. They are used extensively as dressage horses for children, but are tall and sturdy enough to be suitable riding horses for adults.

Registration

Breed organizations exist in many countries to provide accurate documentation of Haflinger pedigrees and ownership, and to promote the Haflinger breed. The WHF establishes international breeding guidelines, objectives and rules for studbook selection and performance tests. They also authorize European and World Shows and compile an annual list of Haflinger experts, or adjudicators.

In the United States the American Haflinger Registry (AHR) is the governing body for Haflinger registration.

For more information on Haflingers click on the American Haflinger Registry link.

For a complete history of the Haflinger click on the wikipedia link.

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