Noriker

Last updated

Noriker
Noriker horse in Salzburg (state) 3336.jpg
Noriker stallion with official edelweiss brand
Other namesPinzgauer, Norico-Pinzgauer
Country of origin Austria
Traits
Distinguishing featuresAgile, sure-footed draft horse of medium height
Breed standards

The Noriker horse, also called the Norico-Pinzgauer and historically known as the Pinzgauer horse, is a moderately heavy Austrian draught horse breed. The Noriker is considered indigenous to the central Alpine region of Europe, and is believed to have originated around the highest mountain of Austria, the Grossglockner. This region was once known as the Roman province of Noricum. At the end of the 19th century the original name Pinzgauer horse was changed to Noriker horse, due in part to the Romanophile attitude in this time.

Contents

The breed played an important role in the transportation of goods through the Alps, carrying salt, gold and Celtic iron from Salzburg to Italy, and on the return journey bringing back wine and spices. This use developed a powerful, long, deep-barreled and sure-footed draught horse as an adaptation to the alpine terrain. The use of Noriker horses in agriculture started much later, during the industrialisation period in the 20th century.

History

Harnessed pair at the Freilichtmuseum Roscheider Hof in Konz, in Germany Roscheider Hof - Lebende Geschichte - Preussen um 1900 Kusche, Noriker H19.jpg
Harnessed pair at the Freilichtmuseum Roscheider Hof in Konz, in Germany
The Noriker horse is ridden in the Kufenstechen, part of a traditional folk event in Feistritz an der Gail during the annual Kermesse on Whit Monday, wherein unmarried young men attempt to smash a wooden barrel with an iron Ritt zum Kufenstechen.jpg
The Noriker horse is ridden in the Kufenstechen, part of a traditional folk event in Feistritz an der Gail during the annual Kermesse on Whit Monday, wherein unmarried young men attempt to smash a wooden barrel with an iron

Up to the end of the 19th century, Noriker horses were an important link in the trade between central Europe and the Adriatic. Very early in the breeding history of the Noriker horse, baroque horses also played an important role. With the establishment of the stud farm Rif, near Salzburg in 1565, the phase of the refinement by Neapolitan and Iberian stallions began, which exerted their influence on the Noriker horse until 1806. Down to the present day this influence is visible in the conformation of these horses: Roman heads with a powerful and compact topline, long manes and tails. Baroque influence is also visible in coat colours, with a large number of black horses as well as blue roans, called Mohrenköpf referring directly to the Italian expression testa di moro or capo moro, meaning "dark head" or "Moor (dark) head". Besides Mohrenköpfen, the leopard spotted coat colour, named tiger, is still an active breeding objective of the breed as well, which is unusual for nearly all other European horse breeds.[ citation needed ]

In 1903, the studbook was closed, and since then Noriker horses are strictly purebred. [1] The Italian stud book was established in 2011, but because Noriker is a cross-border breed and Austria holds the original stud book, the AIA defers to the Austrian rules of selection. [2]

The years between the two world wars were when the popularity of the Noriker horse peaked, and the population grew constantly. However, after the Second World War, mechanisation started to take over, though in the poorer mountainous regions of Austria the machinery was not affordable, so horses in the Alps have continued to be part of everyday life until about 1968, when the Noriker horse population, then at 34,510 head, began to decline.

The late 1970s were called the crisis of horse breeding in Europe, and within about twenty years, 80% of the Noriker horses disappeared, a fact that was directly connected to the third wave of mechanisation. By 1985, only 6,996 Noriker horses survived. While today, many draught horse breeds of Europe are endangered, the Noriker has rebounded to some extent, and currently about 10,000 Noriker horses are living in the Austrian countryside. The Noriker is also bred in Italy, predominantly in the Puster Valley and the Ladin valleys. [3] The Noriker is considered an indigenous horse breed recognised by the Associazione Italiana Allevatori (AIA), the Italian breeders' association, [4] which also publishes the Italian breed standard. [1] :6 The regional breeders' federation is the same as that for the Haflinger, the Provincial Federation of South Tyrol Haflinger Horse Breeders. [5]

The Abtenauer

A smaller sub-type of the Noriker, standing about 147–152 centimetres (14.2–15.0 hands ; 58–60 in), was reared in the area of Abtenau, in the Lammertal to the south of Salzburg. Unlike the main population, this Abtenauer strain did not carry the leopard-spotting gene; the most usual colours were chestnut, black and blue roan. [6] :432 It had quality gaits and was noted as a good trotter. The breed's primary use was to transport wood over steep terrain. It was absorbed into the main Noriker population. [7] :97

Characteristics

A spotted "tiger" Noriker horse at Fieracavalli, Verona Spotted Noriker horse.JPG
A spotted "tiger" Noriker horse at Fieracavalli, Verona

The Noriker is a moderately heavy mountain draught horse with a low centre of gravity, sure-footed, and with a good sense of balance. The height at the withers lies between 158 and 163 cm (15.2 and 16.0 hands ). The head should be dry, typy and should express draught horse characteristics. The neck is strong with visible musculature. The shoulder should be long and well positioned. The width of chest is broad and deep, the croup is very muscular. Special attention is placed on correct position of the short legs having strong clean joints and little feathering. [8] Circumference of cannon bones of mares has to be between 22 and 25 centimetres (8.7 and 9.8 in).

Norikers present in several colors: bay, black, chestnut, roan (called Mohrenköpf), leopard (tigrato in Italian and tigerschecken in German) and, rarely, tobiano. The latter three originate from a clerical baroque stud farm near Salzburg. [9] [1] :16

Founding sire lines

There are five sire lines: Vulkan, Nero, Schaunitz, Diamant, and Elmar. [1] :11 [10] :2 Male foals are named with a double name—the first name starting with the same first letter as their sire, the second name is the foundation sire's name, followed by a roman numeral indicating the number of generations since the founding sire. Female foals are named starting with the same letter as their dam. [1] :11 [10] :2

Vulkan-Line
Since the foundation of the Noriker stud books, this sire line has been the most popular one. More than 50% of all present Noriker horses belong to the Vulkan line. The line was founded by the brown stallion 13 Vulkan 635; born in 1887 in the Pinzgau. The reason for the dominance of this line was the fact that the founder stallions and their descendants represented the heavy draught horse type favoured in those times.
Nero-Line
The Nero line is the second largest line in the Noriker breed, founded by the stallion 554 liz. Nero. The famous Noriker stallion 1378 Stoissen-Nero V/977, foaled in 1931 belonged to this line. He possessed all qualities which are also desirable in the present time. The reasons for the major influence of the Nero-line are the same as for the Vulkan-line.
Diamant-Line
The Diamant-line started promisingly in the early 20th century, but after 1950, it was surpassed by the Nero-line. The founder of this line was 367 Bravo 149, foaled in 1877. The name of this line origins from his great-grandson 216 Diamant 496, foaled 1903. Horses of this line are very typy and agile.
Schaunitz-Line
The Schaunitz-line was founded by the stallion Amor, born in 1888 in Tirol. The line is named after one of his sons, 255 Schaunitz, who was born in 1896. In former times, Schaunitz horses were famous for their lively temperament and their durable constitution. Their sometimes difficult character could be the reason for the decline of this line in the 1980s. Nowadays, their smaller size and pleasing conformation, combined with good movement has led to a new era of this line.
Elmar-Line
The stallions of the Elmar line are mostly leopard-spotted. The line was founded in 1896 by the stallion 80 Arnulf 55. For this line, the Baroque influence is seen in the special coat colour, as well as a smaller size and lighter build. It is a small sire line but valued for its leopard-spotting.

Related Research Articles

Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses. Furthermore, modern breeding management and technologies can increase the rate of conception, a healthy pregnancy, and successful foaling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arabian horse</span> Horse breed originating in the Middle East

The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse with historic roots on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest modern breeds. Although modern DNA cannot trace breed purity in the modern population beyond 200 years, there is archaeological evidence of horses in the Middle East with landrace characteristics that resemble modern Arabians dating back 3,500 years. Throughout history, Arabian horses have spread around the world by both war and trade, used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, and strong bone. Today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lipizzan</span> Horse breed noted for use in the Spanish Riding School in Vienna

The Lipizzan or Lipizzaner is a European breed of riding horse developed in the Habsburg Empire in the sixteenth century. It is of Baroque type, and is powerful, slow to mature and long-lived; the coat is usually gray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holsteiner</span> Breed of horse

The Holsteiner is a breed of horse originating in the Schleswig-Holstein region of northern Germany. It is thought to be the oldest of warmblood breeds, tracing back to the 13th century. Though the population is not large, Holsteiners are a dominant force of international show jumping, and are found at the top levels of dressage, combined driving, show hunters, and eventing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haflinger</span> A breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy

The Haflinger, also known as the Avelignese, is a breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy during the late 19th century. Haflinger horses are relatively small, are always chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, have distinctive gaits described as energetic but smooth, and are well-muscled yet elegant. The breed traces its ancestry to the Middle Ages; several theories for its origin exist. Haflingers, developed for use in mountainous terrain, are known for their hardiness. Their current conformation and appearance are the result of infusions of bloodlines from Arabian and various European breeds into the original native Tyrolean ponies. The foundation sire, 249 Folie, was born in 1874; by 1904, the first breeders' cooperative was formed. All Haflingers can trace their lineage back to Folie through one of seven bloodlines. World Wars I and II, as well as the Great Depression, had a detrimental effect on the breed, and lower-quality animals were used at times to save the breed from extinction. During World War II, breeders focused on horses that were shorter and more draft-like, favored by the military for use as packhorses. The emphasis after the war shifted toward animals of increased refinement and height.

The Colorado Ranger is a horse breed from the Colorado High Plains in the United States. The breed is descended from two stallions imported from Turkey to the US state of Virginia in the late 1800s. These stallions were then bred to ranch horses in Nebraska and Colorado, and in the early 1900s the two stallions who every registered Colorado Ranger traces to, Patches #1 and Max #2, were foaled. The breed was championed by rancher Mike Ruby, who founded the Colorado Ranger Horse Association in 1935. Original registry membership limits resulted in many Colorado Ranger horses being registered instead as Appaloosas, but pedigree research is ongoing to discover additional horses who trace their ancestry back to the original stallions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murgese</span> Breed of horse

The Murgese is an Italian breed of riding horse. It is named for its area of origin, the plateau of Le Murge in southern Italy, most of which lies in the region of Puglia. It was formerly used as an agricultural or military horse; selection for a lighter type more suitable for riding began in the second half of the twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian Heavy Draft</span> Breed of horse

The Italian Heavy Draft, or Rapid Heavy Draft, is a breed of draft horse from Italy. The full Italian name of the breed is Cavallo Agricolo Italiano da Tiro Pesante Rapido, "Italian Rapid Heavy Draft Farm Horse", and the abbreviation TPR ) is often used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bavarian Warmblood</span> Breed of horse

The Bavarian Warmblood is a horse breed of southern Germany that developed from an older Bavarian heavy warmblood breed called the Rottaler. Since mechanization in the mid-20th century, the Bavarian Regional Horse Breeders' Society has concentrated on producing a riding horse for the Olympic disciplines and recreational riding based on other European warmblood bloodlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sardinian Anglo-Arab</span> Italian breed of horse

The Sardinian Anglo-Arab or Anglo-Arabo Sardo is an Italian breed of riding horse from the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. It derives from cross-breeding of local mares with stallions of Arab, Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred stock. Breeding began in 1874; the breed was officially recognised in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bardigiano</span> Breed of horse

The Bardigiano is a breed of small horse from the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. It takes its name from the town of Bardi, in the Apennines of Parma, and is principally associated with the surrounding area and the Valle del Ceno. The mountain environment and steep, rough terrain of the area have contributed to produce a robust, hardy breed, agile and sure-footed over difficult ground. Although some males and all females are under 14.2 hands, the Bardigiano is always considered a horse in its home country. The stud book was established in 1977, and is held by the Associazione Provinciale Allevatori, the regional animal breeders' association, of Parma. The breed is widely distributed in Italy, with breeders in 26 Italian provinces; a recent study examined 3556 stud book entries for living horses. Due to these relatively large numbers, the breed is not considered to be at risk of extinction, but is classed as "vulnerable".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neapolitan horse</span> Breed of horse

The Neapolitan Horse, Italian: (Cavallo) Napoletano, Neapolitano or Napolitano, is a horse breed that originated in the plains between Naples and Caserta, in the Campania region of Italy, but which may have been bred throughout the Kingdom of Naples. The Neapolitan horse was frequently mentioned in literature from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and is noted for its quality. Corte wrote in 1562: "in Italy the horses of the Kingdom of Naples are greatly esteemed; [there] many fine coursers are born ... suitable for use in war and in the manège and for every service that the rider may require". The decline of the breed was noted in the early 20th century by Mascheroni (1903) and Fogliata (1908). Some sources state that by 1950, the original Neapolitan horse was deemed extinct, but its lines were incorporated into other breeds, most notably the Lipizzaner. An attempt to recreate this breed resulted in the modern breed called Napolitano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoroughbred</span> Horse breed developed for racing

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed developed for horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit.

The Catria Horse is a breed of horse originating in the mountainous area of the massif of Monte Catria in the Marche region of Italy, and surrounding areas in the provinces of Ancona, Perugia and Pesaro. It is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association.

The Samolaco is a rare breed of horse originating from the Valchiavenna and Valtellina, in Lombardy, northern Italy. It takes its name from the town of Samolaco, near Chiavenna in the province of Sondrio. Gravely endangered, it is not among the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. The population is listed in DAD-IS as over 12 in 1994, and under 100 in 1998; one further example of the breed may have been identified during a television broadcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South German Coldblood</span> Breed of draught horse from southern Germany

The South German Coldblood is a breed of draught horse from southern Germany. It is distributed mainly in Bavaria. It is the most numerous of the four principal German draught horse breeds – the others being the Black Forest Horse, the Rhenish German Coldblood and the Schleswig Coldblood – and is the only one not listed as endangered by the FAO or by the Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen, the German national association for the conservation of historic and endangered domestic animal breeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Allan (horse)</span> Foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse

Black Allan or Allan F-1 was the foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse. He was out of a Morgan and Thoroughbred cross mare named Maggie Marshall, a descendant of Figure and the Thoroughbred racing stallion Messenger; and sired by Allandorf, a Standardbred stallion descended from Hambletonian 10, also of the Messenger line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horses in Slovenia</span> Slovenian equine culture and equestrianism

Horses in Slovenia are represented above all by the traditional Lipizzan breed, inherited from Austria-Hungary; like Austria, Slovenia claims the Lipizzan as its national symbol. Horses have long been present on Slovenian territory; draft horses suffered a sharp decline in the 20th century, with only the native breeds of Slovenian Cold-blood and Posavina surviving. Slovenian breeders also have sport horses, such as the Slovenian Saddlebred and the Ljutomer Trotter. Slovenians distinguish their native horse breeds from traditional breeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavy horse (general)</span> Horse

A heavy horse, or slaughter horse, is a horse bred for its ability to yield meat. Coming from draft horses formerly used for agricultural work, these horses are threatened with extinction by the motorization of agricultural activities. This state of affairs has prompted breeders to look for new economic outlets. Heavy horse breeding was very popular in France in the 1980s, helping to safeguard these breeds. It has developed in Italy and Spain, but is declining in France, since the reduction of work activities with draft horses.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Disciplinare del Libro Genealogico" [Breed standard](PDF). Associazione Italiana Allevatori (in Italian). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. "Relazione attività 2014" [Activity report 2014](PDF) (in Italian). Associazione Italiana Allevatori. 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  3. "Norico o Noriker" [Norico or Noriker : Atlas of horse breeds - Italian breeds]. Agraria.org (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  4. Razze-Popolazioni: D.M. 24347 del 5/11/2003 (in Italian). Associazione Italiana Allevatori. Archived 7 June 2007.
  5. The Noriker - History. Provincial Federation of South Tyrol Haflinger Horse Breeders. Accessed June 2017.
  6. Porter, Valerie; Alderson, Lawrence; Hall, Stephen J.G.; Sponenberg, D. Phillip (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (Sixth ed.). CAB International. ISBN   9781780647944.
  7. Jaritz, Günter; Altmann, Fritz Dietrich (2010). Rote Listen gefährdeter Tiere Österreichs 4. Alte Haustierrassen: Schweine, Rinder, Schafe, Ziegen, Pferde, Esel, Hunde, Geflügel, Fische, Bienen [Red lists of endangered animals in Austria] (in German). Vienna: Böhlau. p. 97. ISBN   9783205784807.
  8. Summerhayes, RS (1948). The Observer's Book of Horses and Ponies. London & New York: Warne & Co. OCLC   8385572.
  9. Druml, T.; Baumung, R.; Sölkner, J. (2009). "Pedigree analysis in the Austrian Noriker draught horse: genetic diversity and the impact of breeding for coat colour on population structure". Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics. 126 (5): 348–356. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0388.2008.00790.x. ISSN   1439-0388. PMID   19765161 . Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Zuchtbuch über den Ursprung der Rasse Noriker" [Stud book about the origin of the Noriker breed](PDF). Austria Horse (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2023.

Sources

  • Druml, Thomas, ed. (2006). Das Noriker Pferd[The Noriker Horse] (in German). Graz, Austria: Vehling Verlag. ISBN   3-85333-123-8.
  • Feuersänger, Helmut (1941). Der Pinzgauer Noriker. Landespferdezuchtverband Alpenland e.V. Salzburg.
  • Grilz-Seger, Gertrud; Druml, Thomas (2010). The Noriker Horse: Meeting the 21st century. Bücherott: Asmussen Verlag. ISBN   978-3-935985-49-9.
  • Schöfl, Johann (1960). Das autochthone Kaltblutpferd der Alpen, der österreichische 'Noriker', mit den charakteristischen Merkmalen seiner Blutlinien[The autochthonous draft horse of the Alps, the Austrian 'Noriker', with the characteristic features of its bloodlines] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Dissertation BOKU Vienna.
  • Suchanka, Franz J. (1900). Das norische Pferd. Historische Studie über die Abstammung und Zucht des norischen Pferdes, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Zucht des Pinzgauer Pferdes im Lande Salzburg[The Noric horse. Historical study of the ancestry and breeding of the Noric horse, with particular attention to the breeding of the Pinzgauer horse in the state of Salzburg] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag von H.H. Hitschmann. OCLC   49464151.