The Austrians call the Haflinger a “leisure time sport horse”, a rather quaint phrase which probably sums up its versatility as accurately as anything else could. It has also been referred to as a “blonde bombshell” and a horse that conquers everyone’s heart. These comments are very appropriate to the Haflingers spectacular looks and loving temperament. Once one has seen a Haflinger, it is rarely forgotten, being easily identifiable by its uniformity of color and type, while its kindly nature and engaging character endears it to young and old alike.
The Haflinger was the family horse for mountain farmers and had to be versatile enough to perform all tasks from heavy haulage to taking a child to school. As such, their temperament is kind and sensible.
The Haflinger originated from a breed of small mountain horses which had roamed the area south of the Austrian Alps for many centuries. This small horse gradually developed most of the characterist
ics which are present in the Haflinger today: hardiness, strength and surefootedness in particular. The founding sire of today’s Haflinger breed was the half Arabian stallion Folie about 120 years ago. All present Haflingers can trace their genealogy to this stallion.
The Haflinger ranges in size from 138cm to 148cm. Recent successful breeding attempts in Austria and Germany have scope to increase the size of the Haflinger up to 155cm. Color is always chestnut (although this may range from a very pale shade of gold to a dark chocolate color) with profuse and flowing flaxen mane and tails. They have strong bodies with comparatively short legs (short cannon bones), and excellent bone. The Haflinger has an attractive head lacking coarseness and clean legs without an excessive amount of feather.
Ancova Farm has bred Amberg to performance pony mares and horses with sound physical ability and friendly temperaments to create true Hunter Type “Allrounders” with athletic ability and kind & sensible temperaments.
