South Tyrol, the home of the Haflinger horses

The Haflinger was bred at the end of the 19th century, namely from the pairing of an oriental stallion with a Galician country mare. The magnificent stallion, born in 1874, a chestnut named 249 Folie - after his breeder, Josef Folie from Schluderns in Vinschgau - became the founding father of the new, extremely successful breed. He is described as a "muscle package with Arabian nobility," an almost ideal mix of mountain and riding horse. All bloodlines of today's Haflinger breeding can be traced back to this stallion.

In a mountainous country like South Tyrol, there was a great demand at that time for strong, agile, sure-footed, and reliable horses, even on narrow paths. Since the farmers around Hafling (on the Tschöggelberg near Meran) were among the first to buy this new small horse, the name Haflinger soon became common. The name Haflinger was finally approved as a breed designation in 1898.

Naturally, the characteristic and appealing appearance of the Haflinger, its chestnut coat and blonde mane, has contributed greatly to its popularity. Even a layman can recognize a Haflinger at first glance. The worldwide success of the Haflinger is primarily based on its consistently positive character traits. Endurance, willingness to perform, and reliability are among its most striking features. It also develops a strong relationship with humans and, when raised correctly, is an absolutely reliable partner. The Haflinger is not only a durable working and draft horse, but also wonderful to ride. Haflingers are very successful in dressage and show jumping, and they are ideal for vaulting or therapeutic riding. All of this makes the Haflinger the perfect family horse for young and old alike.

In South Tyrol, the homeland of the Haflinger, there are plenty of opportunities to practice equestrian sports or to simply give it a try. Here, the Haflinger is the horse par excellence. In every holiday region, you will find riding stables with a wide range of offerings, from riding lessons to Western riding and horse trekking. The South Tyrolean Haflinger Road offers a network of places historically significant for Haflinger breeding, as well as current riding stables and breeding farms. The Haflinger Road leads from Bruneck in the Puster Valley, across the Seiser Alm, Jenesien, Hafling, Meran, and Laas to Schluderns, the "birthplace" of the Haflinger. All members are tested to the highest quality standards and recommended by the South Tyrolean Haflinger Horse Breeding Association. One of the most prominent Haflinger enthusiasts and breeders is Norbert Rier, the singer and leader of the legendary Kastelruther Spatzen!