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Haflinger
The Haflinger is one of the toughest and most versatile pony breeds.
They descended from native ponies of the Tyrolean Mountains, but they also carry the genes of Arabian horses. Haflingers participate in a variety of sporting events.
Height: 13-15 hh (horse hands)
Color: Chestnut
Body Type: Pony
This breed comes from...
Southern Tyrolean Mountains
Explore the traits of this breed!
SIDE VIEW
The Haflinger is small. It's a popular ride for kids. This horse is 13.1 hands (4 ft 5 in, 135 cm) high at the withers.
The Haflinger has a long muscular back, This trait allows it to work as a packhorse and carry heavy loads.
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FRONT and BACK VIEW
The Haflinger has strong legs and feet. It is surefooted on steep, rocky terrain!
The Haflinger has large eyes and wide nostrils.
Look at its powerful chest. This trait enables the Haflinger to compete in driving and endurance competitions.
Look at its lush, full tail. It flows freely during competition.
All Haflingers have chestnut-colored coats of various shades. Their manes and tails are flaxen, a pale-yellow color.
See its strong and powerful hindquarters? In competition, this trait enables the Haflinger to pull carriages over challenging, hazard-filled courses. It also powers the horse to jump over fences.
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The Haflinger Story
In the southern Tyrolean Mountains of Italy, there is a town called Hafling. In 1874, it was in this town that a local mountain mare was bred with a half-Arabian stallion. The offspring was a stallion named Folie. People believe that all Haflingers descended from this horse.
Haflingers became popular light draft and pack horses. They were known for their ability to move across treacherous mountain slopes. Breeders traditionally raised young horses, called foals, in pastures high up in the mountains. They thought this would help strengthen the horses' lungs and hearts.
Today, Hafllingers are popular as working, pleasure, and competition horses. They are also popular with therapists. Therapists use Haflingers to introduce children with emotional and physical disabilities to horseback riding.
Appaloosa | Arabian | Belgian Draft | Connemara | Dutch Warmblood | Friesian | Haflinger | Hanoverian | Icelandic Horse | Lusitano | Miniature Horse | Morgan | Oldenburg | Paint | Percheron | Quarter Horse | Selle Français | Thoroughbred
Credits:
All images, © AMNH