Haflinger

About The Breed

This beautiful breed originated in the Tyrolean Mountains, which runs between Austria and what is now Northern Italy. They got their name from the village of Hafling. They are known for their charming character and intelligence. All of today’s Haflinger’s trace their lineage back to a single golden stallion named Folie who was born in 1874.
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What was once just a local type of horse that helped farmers in the mountains, turned into an important breed, that was used in two world wars and today can be found all around the world.

These Multi-Talented Horses are popular for all sorts of disciplines: From driving, to endurance and trail riding, to gallop races, skijoring and dressage. They are used for therapeutic riding and even vaulting. A better question may be, what can’t this breed do? Haflinger’s are easy to recognize, with their golden hair and silky white mane. They are all chestnut in color, with shades varying from light to dark. They range in size between a pony size and a standard horse, with a general average of around 14.2hh (147cm.)

Quest Info

To help us experience the breed, I reached out to the Provincial Federation of South Tyrol Haflinger Horse Breeders and they are sending us to meet up with a family that has a long history with the breed.

Our adventure starts with some castles and a drive up a steep and windy road. Making it quickly obvious why these tough mountain horses were such an important part of this areas history.

We stay at Hotel& Inn Zum Hirschen. For the last five generations the women of the family have run this country inn. Dinner is delicious and made with locally sourced ingredients.

Our Quest Ride is at the stables (Unterwirt) just a few minutes away! What a special day experiencing the breed where Haflinger Horses have been bred for centuries!

For me, this ride has felt like stepping into a fairytale, a place where you canride along on a loyal and athletic horse, where Haflinger breeding has been atradition for centuries.

Special Thanks to: Provincial Federation of South Tyrol Haflinger Horse Breeders, Unterwirt, The Oberkofler Family, Georg Oberkofler, Hotel & Inn Zum Hirschen, Charlotte, Luca Marini & Gschnoferstall.