Haflinger

The Haflinger is a compact, small horse that came out of the mountain country of the Tyrol, on what is now the border of Austria and northern Italy. Every one of them is chestnut. The body colour runs from a pale gold through to a deep liver, and the mane and tail are always a pale flaxen. Because the colour is fixed, the breed is easy to pick out in a paddock.

Height sits somewhere between about 13.2 and 15 hands. In New Zealand terms that puts the smaller ones in pony-club territory and the taller ones just into horse height. The size is modest but the frame is not: a Haflinger is muscular enough to carry an adult all day and to pull a cart. That build comes from generations of work on steep alpine ground, where a sure foot and staying power counted for more than pace.

The breed has a name for being friendly, quiet and easy to get along with. Haflingers turn up in dressage, trekking, harness classes, vaulting and light farm work, and riding schools and riding-for-the-disabled groups keep them for their settled way of going.

Who the Haflinger suits

This is a horse for people who want one animal that can turn its hoof to several jobs. The quiet nature and handy size suit first-time owners, younger riders and families on a lifestyle block. Experienced owners drive them and compete them in dressage as well. A Haflinger that is looked after properly will often still be working well into its twenties.

The breed is named after the village of Hafling in the South Tyrol. When the breed was taking shape the area belonged to Austria-Hungary; today it lies inside northern Italy. Horses of this type had worked the steep alpine valleys for generations, carrying packs and people along narrow tracks where a bigger horse was more trouble than it was worth.

The modern Haflinger goes back to one foundation stallion, 249 Folie, foaled in 1874. Folie was bred from a local Tyrolean mare and a half-Arabian stallion. Every Haflinger alive today descends from him through seven recognised stallion lines.

Organised breeding records and selection got under way in the early twentieth century. The Arabian blood still shows in the refined head and the free way of moving, while the mountain stock put in the bone, the hardiness and the steady head.

Over the twentieth century the breed moved out of the Alps, first through Austria and Italy, then on to Germany, the United Kingdom, North America and elsewhere. Breeding stayed tightly controlled so the chestnut colour, the flaxen mane and tail and the quiet working nature were kept.

A Haflinger is short-coupled and balanced, with a deep chest, a sloping shoulder and a strong back. The head is fine, often with a slightly dished profile that shows the Arabian ancestor, and it sits on a well-arched neck. The legs look short against the body but carry good bone, and the hooves are hard enough for rough hill country.

The horse moves freely and with plenty of spring. The walk is noticeably active and the trot covers ground. Taken as a whole, this is a small horse built for stamina and pulling power, not for height or speed.

Coat and colours

Colour is the one thing that never varies. The body can be anywhere from a pale, almost palomino gold, through bright chestnut, to a dark liver chestnut that is nearly brown. The mane and tail are always pale, from white through to light flaxen. Breed rules keep white markings to a minimum: a small marking on the face is accepted, but large white patches, or white on the legs above the knee or hock, are penalised. Mane and tail are usually long and full.

Haflingers are known for a level, willing temperament. Most are friendly with people, put up with handling well and are slow to spook, which is the reason the breed is so often found in riding schools, therapy work and family paddocks. With strangers they tend to be curious and accepting rather than nervy.

They are sociable with other horses and settle into a herd without much fuss. The breed is clever, and clever can tip over into opinionated, so consistent handling matters. A bored or under-worked Haflinger will try things on, but the breed answers well to clear, fair routines. Energy sits in the middle: enough stamina for a long day's work, yet still manageable for a less experienced rider.

The Haflinger copes well with cold and changeable weather, a legacy of its alpine background, and New Zealand's temperate climate suits it. Everyday care is simple enough. The catch is that the breed puts on weight very easily, so checking condition is a regular part of looking after one.

Grooming

• Brush the body several times a week to shift dirt and loose hair, and more often through the spring and autumn coat change.
• Comb out the long mane and tail regularly so they do not knot, using a detangler if needed.
• Pick out the hooves every day and check for stones, cracks or any sign of thrush.
• Wash only when there is a reason to; too much washing strips the natural oils from the coat.

Exercise

• Turn the horse out daily in a paddock so it can move about freely.
• Ride or drive it several times a week to keep it fit and to stop boredom setting in.
• Mix the work up between riding, harness work and groundwork so the horse stays interested.
• Bring the workload back up gradually after a spell.

Environment

Haflingers do best with shelter and paddock access rather than being kept in a stable or yard. Cold does not bother them much, but in summer they need shade and fresh water. Because they hold condition so easily, time on lush pasture may have to be limited, either with a grazing muzzle or by shortening the hours they spend out on it.

The Haflinger is a good doer, which is to say it holds its weight on very little. The bulk of the diet should be decent forage: grass or hay. Plenty of Haflingers need nothing more than forage and a vitamin and mineral balancer, and hard feed is usually unnecessary unless the horse is in heavy work or a mare is in late pregnancy. Overfeeding is a far more common problem than underfeeding.

Treats and supplements

A bit of carrot or apple now and then is fine as a treat, bearing in mind how easily the breed gains weight. Salt should be on offer at all times. Most Haflingers on good forage need little beyond a balancer to cover any gaps in vitamins and minerals. Clean, fresh water must be available around the clock.

Haflingers are generally sound and healthy, and one that is well looked after will commonly live 25 to 30 years. The breed's efficient metabolism cuts both ways. It keeps a horse in good order on very little feed, but it also leaves the horse prone to gaining weight and to everything that follows on from that. Most of the health management for this breed comes down to keeping the horse at a sensible weight.

Preventive care

• Keep the horse in healthy body condition through measured feeding and regular work.
• Follow a vaccination programme suited to the region.
• Base the drenching programme on faecal egg counts.
• Book the farrier every six to eight weeks and a dental check at least once a year.
• Have the vet do a health check every year, and more often for an older horse.

A Haflinger picks things up quickly and works well with people, which makes it a good prospect for a range of disciplines. The breed can be strong-minded, so handlers get the best from one with clear, consistent cues and a calm, patient approach. Repetition and routine help, and the breed's steady nerves mean it usually takes new surroundings, traffic and unfamiliar jobs in its stride.

Basics

1. Begin with groundwork: leading, standing quietly and yielding to pressure.
2. Build trust with regular handling and grooming before any ridden or driven work.
3. Bring in saddlery and harness a piece at a time and let the horse accept each item.
4. Teach one new thing at a time and make sure it has stuck before moving on.
5. Keep sessions short and finish on a good note so the horse stays willing.

Haflinger breeding runs to strict standards set by the breed registries, so that the chestnut colour, the flaxen mane and tail and the quiet temperament stay consistent. Breeding stock is inspected for conformation and movement before it is registered. Mares come to breeding age at around three years, though many breeders hold off until the mare has finished growing.

Gestation is about eleven months and normally ends in one foal. Foals tend to be born a darker shade and lighten as they grow. The breed matures slowly, and young horses are generally not started under saddle until about three years old so the skeleton has time to develop. Foals are weaned at around six months and, where it can be managed, raised in a group, which suits their sociable, easygoing nature.