Asked: Why Haflinger horses play an important role in South Tyrol

Horse lovers recognize them immediately: The medium-sized Haflingers with their blonde manes and their strong forms. The mountain horse owes its name to the small mountain village of Hafling, which is located above Merano. At that time, Merano was a well-known spa town and the guests were repeatedly brought to Hafling with the packhorses. In 1898, the designation "Hafling" was finally officially approved by the Imperial and Royal Ministry of Agriculture. For a very long time, Haflingers were used as working animals, today they are very popular among leisure riders, as they are extremely reliable and uncomplicated animals. Because of these characteristics, the Haflinger is particularly well suited for a ride in the countryside, but also for show jumping or western riding.

The Haflinger gallop race is very well known, which takes place every year on Easter Monday in Merano. In the morning there is a parade with numerous decorated wagons, brass bands and of course the Haflinger horses, which parade from the city center to the racecourse. In the afternoon, the traditional gallop race is on the program, which takes the participants over a distance of 1600 meters. In between, visitors can look forward to musical interludes, a trotting race and performances by goat racers and dance groups. The exciting final race finally determines the winner.

The homeland of the Haflingers is of course also ideal for a riding holiday. Riding courses and rides for beginners and advanced riders are offered on various farms, because the dreamlike South Tyrolean landscape can be explored optimally on the back of a horse. Private lessons, trail riding or trekking are also possible. Haflingers move very reliably in the mountains, so rides with the popular horse breed have now become a real popular sport. In addition to rides, carriage rides can also be taken in the summer, while in winter you can look forward to horse-drawn sleigh rides through the snowy nature.

But also extremely well known is the Meran-Mais horse racing track, which was opened in 1935. The area is 40 hectares and has a 5 km long racecourse, which is one of the most demanding tracks in Europe. The racing season starts here in May and lasts until October, with around 25 race days. A must for all horse lovers is of course the "Grand Prix of Merano", which is considered the highlight of the racing season.