The Austrian Haflinger – Livestock

The Horse of the Alps Comes West

The Austrian Haflinger

by the Western Haflinger Affiliation

The Haflinger horse is commonly mistaken for different breeds by folks unfamiliar with them: it should be a “child Belgian” or higher but “a freeze-dried Belgian – simply add water.” Their measurement and construct brings to thoughts the Norwegian Fjord, however their coloring differs significantly. We’ve been requested if the identify meant that the Haflinger is “half a horse” or “the place are the quarterlingers and the wholingers?” We benefit from the guessing recreation notably as a result of as soon as somebody has met a Haflinger, or higher but, has seen one work, they’ll always remember this highly effective little horse.

The fact is that the Haflinger is just not “half” of something, however reasonably named for the village of Hafling the place the breed developed within the Southern Tyrolean mountains, and has been thought of a breed native to Austria for hundreds of years. The mountain ponies that served the farming peasants in that difficult surroundings have been notably robust and difficult, subsisting on extraordinarily sparse forage, and thriving within the worst of winter climate. These early Haflingers have been all-purpose staff for his or her farm households, offering transportation, pulling energy, packing, milk, and reliable quiet companionship. The Haflinger needed to do all of it.

Small quantities of Arabian blood launched refinement and top, creating the “fashionable” Haflinger. The inspiration stallion “Folie” was born in 1874, out of a Tyrolean mare and an Arab sire. The next generations of Haflingers continued to work the mountainsides because the “tractor of the Alps” and when the World Wars got here to Austria, the Haflinger was known as to motion as a pack horse in probably the most difficult and troublesome fronts in Russia and elsewhere.

The Haflinger nonetheless works in Austria, and is kind of widespread in Germany and Holland as nicely. They’re used for every type of actions, together with dressage, pleasure driving, leaping, and packing, however the conventional function of the farm work horse has by no means been misplaced. Nor has the Haflinger temperament been misplaced – this horse is an keen and keen employee, fast to be taught, faster to forgive, and at all times searching for out human companionship.

Haflingers are distinctive for his or her coloring: a chestnut coat starting from blonde to chocolate, with heavy mild or white mane and tail. Their top ranges from 13.2 to 14.3 arms, with weight from 800 to 1,200 lbs. They ideally have a lean, noble, and clever face, with and inquisitive and pleasant expression, a good looking eye outlined by black eyelids, and infrequently white stars or stripes. They’ve a deceptively lengthy stride for such a small horse – they cowl floor simply and with nice endurance. Additionally they have an unbelievable “engine” – highly effective, muscular hindquarters – which is why the Haflinger is known as “a prince in entrance, a peasant behind.” No surprise the Haflinger is now being found in North America, and no the place extra quickly than the west coast.

Satirically, one of many first importations of Haflingers from Austria to North America was within the early 1960’s to Washington state, by the Heisdorf and Nelson Firm. This herd was dispersed various years later into Canada and Montana, with lots of them now unaccounted for, however some descendants of those authentic imports are nonetheless discovered on some west coast breeding farms. Haflingers turned nearly unknown within the west till a number of breeders in western Canada bought Haflingers within the late 1970’s. Washington and Oregon didn’t have registered Haflingers once more till the mid ’80s. Now the variety of homeowners and breeders is markedly rising, with over 100 homeowners on the west coast from Alaska to southern California. Over 350 registered Haflingers are considered residing west of the Rockies, up from barely 100 solely 5 years in the past.

West coast Haflingers are serving their households with nice versatility. In Alaska, they’re packing and transportation horses in probably the most distant areas. In northern British Columbia, they’re the mounts and packers for looking outfitters. Within the Okanogan area of center British Columbia, they’ve been the college horses for a summer season driving academy, attracting college students from all around the world. Within the Cariboo nation of japanese British Columbia, they’re the household farm horses, doing the sphere work, skidding logs and packing the again nation. Within the decrease mainland of British Columbia, they’re competing efficiently in driving and driving competitions with many different breeds. In Alberta, they’re profitable in western pleasure and reining competitions. In Washington, they’re offering sleigh and carriage rides for vacationers, profitable in dressage and leaping exhibits, doing 4-H and pony membership, in addition to cowpenning and 30 mile path rides within the mountains. In Oregon, they’re in parades, collaborating in poker rides and wagon trains, pulling carriages for weddings, competing in draft present exhibitions, and in mixed driving occasions. In California, they’ve been within the Rose Bowl Parade, and have been mounts in a therapeutic driving faculty. It’s arduous to search out every other horse breed that has been capable of finding its area of interest, irrespective of who owns it.

The Western Haflinger Affiliation, a promotional breed group, was organized in 1993 by a handful of west coast Haflinger homeowners to enhance communication for sharing information and knowledge, and to assist “get the phrase out” about our horses. Beginning with a core of 13 farms, the affiliation now has over 100 farm members up and down the coast. We host an annual assembly every summer season, and are discovering many “public” alternatives to exhibit and exhibit the Haflinger’s uniqueness, at gala’s, breed exhibitions, and open exhibits.

Our most up-to-date assembly came about in September on the Mason County Fairgrounds in Shelton, Washington, with over 40 Haflingers and their homeowners in attendance for 2 very moist, wet days. Despite the lower than excellent climate, the keenness of horses and homeowners was by no means dampened. There have been ongoing demonstrations of draft and light-weight harness driving, English and Western driving occasions, path rides and many good quaint visiting. We plan to fulfill in Canada subsequent yr, and are hoping to arrange an all-Haflinger present and sale on the west coast sooner or later.

Many people discovered concerning the Haflinger as a result of we first learn concerning the breed in two articles printed within the Small Farmer’s Journal. Quite a few us have been drawn to the Haflinger as a result of the breed provided all the benefits of a draft horse in a smaller package deal, becoming our acreage or our skill to elevate a harness. Many Haflinger homeowners had determined to change from draft horses to Haflingers of their “retirement”, nonetheless wanting a staff to work and drive, however lower than the big horses anymore. It doesn’t matter what brings an individual to a Haflinger, the reality is it’s arduous to show again – these horses love their folks as a lot because the folks love their horses. And that, finally, is what it’s all about.

For extra details about the Haflinger horse:

Western Haflinger Affiliation

American Haflinger Registry