Haflinger | Facts & Information

Used for: agricultural work and rough terrain with slopes up to 40%

The history of the Haflinger horse traces its origins back to medival times when the writings of an oriental horse race were found in the Tyrolean Mountains in the southern part, today Austria and the northern part of Italy.

Many villages and farms in Tyrol were accessible only by narrow paths that could only be crossed by agile horses with a good balance for human and package transport.

Writings from that region in the early 1800s described a small, Noble, hazel-colored horse with packs and riders crossing the mountain paths.

The first official document of the present-day Haflinger breed (named after the village in Tyrol, Hafling) was in 1874 when a base stallion 249 Folie was born from a half-arab stallion 133 El'bedavi XXII crossed with a refined native breed of Tyrol.

All purebred Haflinger horses must draw their obarsia directly from the foil through seven different stallion lines: A, B, M, N, S, ST, and W.

During the Second World War there was a significant shift in breeding practices as horses were needed by the army and a shorter Haflinger horse for work suited the area.

After the war, the height and refinement of the breed returned, with an emphasis in the development of a small horse that was agile in both riding and driving, with a strong Costitution, a solid conformation with strong bones and an uncomplicated personality. The uniqueness of this horse lies, of course, in its golden color and fluttering white tail and Mane.

But a unique thing is also his love for people, the quiet and forgiving temperament that has established itself over the centuries of living and working together Mountain peasants, serving all the purposes of all members of the family. These horses very easily became part of the family.

Most Haflinger horses are still imported from Austria today. State stud farms own stallions from Austria, carefully maintaining the quality of the breed.

The first Haflinger horse arrived in the United States in 1958 when Tempel Smith of Tempel farm, Wadsworth, Illinois began importing from Austria to begin a breeding program with his imported Lipizzan horses.

The modern Haflinger horse is now found all over the world, active in all kinds of uses as a work animal, chariot, Harts and combined driving, western riding, endurance racing, dressage and jumping, vault and therapeutic riding programs.

This breed can successfully participate in competitions with other breeds, sometimes showing surprising strength and ability for its size.

Haflinger Appearance

Haflinger horses are hazelnut-colored from pleasant golden to chocolate-colored with a light mane and tail that varies from white to flax-colored.

They have an average height between 138 cm and 150 cm. The appearance of the horse should be elegant and harmonious, with a refined and expressive head with large eyes, a well-shaped croup that should not be too steep or too short.

The horse should have well-developed muscles and have correct and clear limbs with well-defined and formed joints. Stallions used for mating should have well-formed male traits and mares should show lines and female traits that are not in doubt.

The head should be noble and sloping, and it should match the rest of the body. The eyes should be large and set forward. The nostrils should be large and wide. It should have a small head with well-positioned ears.

The neck has an average length and should become tighter near the head. The head should be quite free to the jaws.

The legs should be well-shaped, distinctly sloping joints, and the four legs should have an equal position.

The legs should be in a straight line when viewed from behind or in front. From one side the front legs should be straight and the hind legs should show an angle of 150 degrees from the joint and an angle of 40-45 degrees from the chisel to the hoof lying on the ground.

The knee should be wide and flat and the joints should be large and strong. The chisels should be long and well developed and the hooves should be round, clear and strong.

The Haflinger breed has a serious, rhythmic gait that covers the ground. The Walk is relaxing, energetic, proud and Cadent.

The trap and Gallop are elastic, energetic, athletic and cadented with their own natural outfit, being well balanced with a distinct moment of suspension. The hind legs should actively work with a lot of propulsion.

This propulsion should be transferred through the elastic back to the free movement of the shoulder and front legs. A little knee action is necessary. Especially the gallop should have a distinct back and forth movement.

Haflinger Behavior

The first World War saw the discontinuation of breeding programs for Haflinger ponies, and many were taken into military service.

After the war under the terms of the Treaty of Saint Germain South Tyrol(including Hafling) was ceded to Italy while North Tyrol remained in Austria. This split was damaging to the race.

Although now halfinger breed is found all over the world prasila majority comes from Austria, but there are also prasila farms in the USA, Canada, Germany, Holland and England.

A study conducted in 2009 showed that the population of ponies has been increasing slightly in recent years. In 2005, nearly 250,000 copies were found worldwide.

Haflinger was originally developed to work in mountainous regions where it was used in forestry and agricultural work.

In the late 20th century, the Indian Army tried breeding animals in mountainous terrain, but the program was unsuccessful due to the animals ' inability to withstand the heat of the desert. Austrians still use ponies on alpine terrain with slopes of up to 40% and steps of up to 40cm.

Ponies are also used by the German army for rough terrain work and demonstrated purposes.