The true origins of the Haflinger horse are a little murky, but they may have been present in the southern Tyrolean Mountains of Austria and northern Italy since medieval times. Perhaps even longer, though independent evidence of this is hard to come by. At any rate, this horse breed is named for the village of Hafling in the Tyrolean Mountains where they served as farm horses. This stocky breed has always been a general purpose horse, so its uses on farms was almost limitless.
The breed has been kept fairly pure throughout the centuries, with only one known outcrossing having occurred during the recorded breeding of Haflinger horses. This outcrossing happened in the 1800s when the stallion Folie was bred to a Haflinger mare. Folie's sire was half Arabian, making Folie only mostly Haflinger (he was one-quarter Arabian). All other recorded breedings have been pure.
All Haflingers have a similar appearance. Chestnut, whether light or dark, is the only acceptable color. The mane and tail are always white (or very near to white). White markings, particularly on the face, underbelly, and legs, are common. Standing from 13.2 to 15 hands high, the Haflinger horse is a sturdy but elegant medium-sized breed. They are also athletic enough for farm or other work.
Today the Haflinger is used primarily for riding and driving, though there are still some used for farm work in the Tyrolean Mountains. They are no longer confined to Austria and Italy, but can be found around the world.
In the late 17th and early 18th century, rutted tracks were replaced with smooth roads in Great Britian, at least in the cities. This meant that the heavy cart horses of previous centuries were just too bulky and slow for the new carriages that were developed. A light, fast carriage horse was needed, and this is where the Hackney has its roots.
Thought to be descended from Friesians, the Hackney horse was selectively bread from the Arabian, the Norfolk Trotter, the Thoroughbred, and the Yorkshire Roadster. The Hackney was beautiful and had a lovely gait, but that wasn't all that led to their widespread use. When it became known that the Hackney could trot 60 miles in a single day, the demand for these lovely horses outshone the supply very quickly.
The Hackney ranges in size from 14 to 15.3 hands high. The smaller of the horses are more accurately referred to as ponies. Regardless of size, the Hackney horse is an elegant equine with a small head, delicate muzzle, and pretty little ears. They have a high-stepping gait that is their trademark and a lean and graceful body. Hackneys can be found in most colors and patterns, including bay, black, brown, and chestnut. Spotted hackneys, though unusual, are not unheard of and are particularly lovely.
Today, the American Hackney Horse Society is the most popular society to deal with this lovely show horse. Known for its graceful trot, this horse breed is a popular driving horse is found often in the show ring.
