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Breeding goal

Tyrolean Haflinger Horse Breeders Association

Breed

Haflinger

Origin

From indigenous small-breed horses and oriental half-blood 133 El`Bedavi XXII (1868) with stallion 249 Folie (1874) as founders of the Haflinger breed.

Descent

Introgression with a horse of a different breed after the stallion Folie is not allowed. In mares, it applies to the closing of the applicable studbook in 1920. Purity is a primary requirement in the breeding goal of the Tyrolean Haflinger Horse Breeders Association who is the keeper of the origin studbook for this breed. Both stallions and mares currently must therefore be recorded up to 20 generations and more. Each addition of foreign blood is prohibited since the beginning of the breeding book and a level of 0.0% foreign blood is required

External appearance

Colour

All shades of chestnut, from pale chestnut to dark liver, are possible. The color should be full and pure, trace black spots etc. are not desirable and will be judged negatively, to the exclusion of Book I and II.

Markings

Head markings are acceptable, but not required. Too many markings are not desirable and may lead to disqualification. Leg markings are not desirable, but markings up to half shin will not be judged negatively Light or white mane and tail are desired, slightly reddish ones are tolerated; red, salt-and-pepper and grey are undesirable. Two leg markings lead to a one point deduction, three leg markings to a two point deduction. Four leg markings will lead to an exclusion from Book I and II. Lag markings on the ankle also mean exclusion from Book I and II.

Dimensions

Required is a height between 140 to 150 cm. If the minimum is not reached, it means exclusion from Book I and II. The maximum height can be exceeded if the horse reached high marks in the exterior assessment.

Type

Important is the overall impression of how individual parts of a horse harmonize together. This includes a noble head with large eyes, a well-shaped neck, a well-muscled, long forehand with pronounced withers and sufficient depth of chest. A long and deep centerpiece with a firm yet supple back and hindquarters which are well-shaped, well-muscled, sufficiently long, not too broad or too strongly divided croup. Breeding stallions and mares should have a clear gender expression. Undesirable is a coarse, clumsy, unsportsmanlike appearance, a rough head, blurred contour, unclear joints, a coarse foundation, as well as a lack of gender expression.

Body structure

  • 1. The head should be noble and dry and harmoniously fit to the size of the body. It should have wide nostrils, large eyes, a correct position of the ears and be good through the jowl
  • 2. The training collar should not be too short and should be tapering towards the head
  • 3. The forehand includes the withers, shoulders and chest. The foremost part of the back spine is the withers, which should be distinctive, wide, and high and reach far into the back. The chest should be wide. These are the most distinctive features of the forehand.
  • 4. The back should be of medium length and well-muscled, and unite in the movement vibration, capacity and balance
  • 5. The ideal hindquarters have a long, slightly inclined, strongly muscled croup, which is not too drained and split. The tail should not be set too low.
  • 6. Overall, a harmonious division of the torso applies in forehand - metacarpal - rear, which fit in proportion to each other!
  • 7. The foundation should be stable, correct and dry, with clearly pronounced joints and durable hoofs. The limbs should be in a straight position if seen from behind. From the side the front leg should be straight and the ankle of the hind leg should be at an angle of about 150° with a straight toe axis of about 45° to 50° to the floor. The pasterns should be long and well developed and the hooves should be round, clear and hard.
  • 8. The gait should be correct, supple, with pure rhythm and without serious errors.
  • 9. The horse should have a striding, even gait, energetic, spirited and supple trot, light on the feet with uphill tendency at the gallop and pure rhythm, good ground coverage and accuracy.
  • 10. The breeding goal is in particular to breed a horse with an outstanding character without deficiencies and a calm temperament are fundamental requirements.

Undesirable is:

  • 1. A discordant physique and a lack of gender expression.
  • 2. A coarse or large head, a ram’s nose and also a wide or too small head are unwanted. Likewise a dental flaws are undesired. The ears should not be too long.
  • 3. A short, heavy or low collar.
  • 4. A small, steep shoulder, short or little prominent withers.
  • 5. A back which is too short, long, soft or firm with a hard or hollowed loin and a low chest with raised flanks.
  • 6. A short or straight croup with a high set tail or a too broad or strongly divided croup.
  • 7. Incorrect limbs; these include small, narrow or constricted joints, weak or massive cannon bones and short, steep or excessively long or too soft shackles and too small or too steep hooves. Toes, ankles and forefeet which are too narrow or too wide. Furthermore, undesirable are knock-knees, cross-legs and bandy legs.

Movement

Gaits

Desired are correct, supple and expansive gaits (step 4-beats, trot 2-beats, gallop 3-beats).

Desired is that the horse uses a supple, energetic step in secure four-stroke, that goes through the whole body. The step is a translational motion in the four-cycle without a floating phase, which consists of a series of aligned steps.

There should be a thrust coming from the hindquarters which transfers over a loosely swaying back and shoulders to the forehand. A little knee action is desirable. In particular the gallop with clear jumping moment of suspension and well under-stepping hind leg.

Undesired are especially short, flat and non-elastic movements, a stiff back, ponderous, falling on the forehand or movements which are out of rhythm, as well as swaying movements with narrow or wide toes and high knee action.

Internal characteristics and health

Desirable is a horse that is healthy and fertile, that has a strong character, is good-natured, robust, an all-rounder, eager and able to perform, an easy feeder, resistant, readily acclimatized and suitable for all types of use. This especially applies to use in riding, driving, vaulting in the leisure sector, less so in sports, but also for the labor input as pack animal.

To identify the required character features foals have to undergo performance assessments at the age of one, before the stud book registration.

They will be checked for:

  • 1. Character and temperament
  • 2. Exterior
  • 3. Gaits (walk and trot)
  • 4. Health shortcoming

Stud book entry and licensing

At stud book entries and licensing again the following features are exclusively rated by international judges (judges from the list of the World Haflinger Federation):

  • 1. Character and temperament
  • 2. Exterior
  • 3. Gaits (walk, trot, and possibly canter)
  • 4. Health shortcomings

At the stud book entry and licensing free running can be checked. The stud book entry and the stallion licensing are, like previous breeding shows, final decisions of the assessment and cannot be changed at all afterwards. A failure on reaching the minimum number of points means a final departure.

The measurements for the studbook registration be taken at the age of three. These measurements correspond with the minimum and maximum measurements given in the breeding goal. A failure of the minimum measurement at the age of three, also means the definitive exclusion from the main studbook. In the Tyrolean breeding area it is only possible to present the horse up to an age of four years. At this age, however, the minimum measurement increases.

A final measurement is taken at the age of six and will be registered in the stud book.