Haflinger – A Rising Star Among Race Horses

The horse from the Haflinger- or Avelignese, according to the Italian name- is a small mountain breed originating in Tyrol, a historical region located between Austria and northern Italy.

The breed’s ancestors are the horseradish populations living in this region since the Middle Ages.

It started to be considered as a race by the end of the nineteenth century.

It is characterized by the robe and open sleeve, through comfortable but energetic alloys, but also through its muscularity and elegance.

From its exclusive growth for rough terrain work, the Haflinger has inherited great robustness.

The morphology and current appearance of the breed are the result of regular crossbreeds between Arab horses and Tyrolean labor ponies.

The founding stallion of the breed, Folie, was born in 1874, and the first stud farm dedicated to breeding was established in 1904.

All current Haflingers have an ancestor in the Folie stallion along the seven bloodlines.

The two world wars have affected the race, and to save it from extinction we use animals of the poorest quality.

During the Second World War, the breeders’ efforts focus on the traction paths used by the army.

After the war, the focus switched to producing larger and refined specimens.

The Haflinger was then crossed without any control, with other breeds, and the risk of extinction increased.

However, since 1946, the breeders have a duty to bring pure horses to the world, which is why a strong stud-book is created.

Interest in this breed grows in other countries as well, particularly Australia.

Besides online casino Australia real money is also a great market for sports betting, particularly horse racing, and this is a scene where the Haflinger can truly shine.

In 2005, there were about 250,000 horses in the Haflinger breed specimens in the world.

There are Haflinger herds in many countries, although most of the horses come from Austria.

In 2003, a Haflinger mare became the first cloned horse in the world, giving birth to a cloth called Prometea.

His birth, on May 28, was supervised by Italian scientists.

It is cloned from a skin cell and is born in perfect condition.

In 2008, Prometea even gives birth to a hound called Pegaso, obtained by artificial insemination with the sperm of a Haflinger stallion.

Haflingers are used in a large number of equestrian disciplines such as light traction, horseshoe training, endurance riding, dressage, volleyball and hippotherapy.

The Austrian and German armies continue to use it as a working animal on difficult terrain.

The World Haflinger Federation (WHF) is the global structure that controls the breed standard.

It consists of 22 national confederations and manages growth targets, guidelines and rules for member organizations.

National bodies are authorized to become members of WHF (World Haflinger Federation) provided they promote the growth of the pure breed and maintain the hereditary character of the breed.

At the same time, Austria has developed a strict inspection system to ensure the good quality of the horses for growth.

The name “Haflinger” derives from the Tyrolean village of Hafling, located in northern Italy.

The name is officialized on 2 May 1898 by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture decree.

The breed is known as “Avelignese” in Italy, a term reminiscent of the Italian name of Hafling-Avelengo or Aveligna.

The Haflinger breed is characterized by homogeneity and is the result of a rigorous selection by breeders, carried out in an isolated environment of external influences.

This resulted in a rugged, sturdy and rustic mountain trunk that became very popular throughout the world.

Some sources recognize two types of Haflinger horses: heavy horses and light horses.

Heavy horses have a smaller weight, a higher weight and excel in traction and farming.

The light type is used in recreational riding, light traction and riding competitions.

All other race organizations recognize only one type.

Raised as a work animal, the Haflinger has retained some features such as the double-croup, the long and thick hair and relatively short legs.

While in some countries, horses from the Haflinger breed are classified among as horses, in others they are deemed as ponies.

Category: Special interest