Horses : HAFLINGER

Origin: Austria and northern Italy

International Status: 

International Status: popular in its home country and globally.

Arrived in Australia: 1974

Australia Population: 45 breed age mares, 72 mares in total. 28 stallion, 4 at an age of retirement and 15 colts 3 years and under, along with 105 geldings - 2020

History: The breed traces back to a stallion bred in 1874, the progeny of an Arab stallion and a native Tyrolese mountain mare - bred at the town of Hafling in the Tyrol mountains, Italy. The Tyrol mountains run into Austria and the mountain people made this an iconic breed. In Austria they are a tourist drawcard, seen grazing in wild mountain meadows and galloping through the snow; one picturesque stud conducts paid tours and carriage rides around the stud.

Breed traits: Height 13.2hh to 15.1hh. A strong small horse. Bred in the mountains they are very surefooted, hardy, able to live in the open and work at a high altitude. All a beautiful chestnut often confused with palomino as it's visually similar - mane and tail white, the body rich chestnut. Full mane and tail. Their safe friendly temperament is one of the breed's points of pride. Strength is seen in the robust build, good bone, powerful chest and quarters.

Uses: riding, driving, mountain stock work, farm work, trekking, pony club

Breed Organisation: The Australian Horse Breeders Association https://www.haflinger.org.au/  - they follow the rulings of  The World Haflinger Breeding and Sports Association http://www.haflinger-world.com/news-en/. In its homelands of the Tyrol mountains, there are at least two breed organisations.

Additional Notes: Foal chart for the past decade https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eCFXMZRm1509Ho1sSiQnC0Y38yPhiwoT/view?usp=sharing

Photo: Wikimedia Commons from Flickr by Julian Berry.

(population updated 12/05/2020 by A.Y.)

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