When I read your family history and recollections, I feel like I'm taking a step back in time(that's a good thing Dawn). I kept thinking the other night, maybe Dawn could/would write history link articles for the AHR magazine, so Haflinger owners don't lose track of why and where we've come from. That could be why I enjoy the Small Farmers Journal that comes out of Sisters, Oregon....has pictures and information that goes to the roots.
Anyway, just a thought.
Laura of Cal.
--- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, "rivervalleyph" <rivervalleyph@...> wrote:
>
> OH BOY!!
> DO I HAVE A LOT TO SAY HERE! Hold on....
> First of all, the horses from Temple Smiths Farm to begin with.... I will leave some of my thoughts out for everyones comfort...however, those very horses were the foundation of Mr. McArthur and my granpas' herd, as they were buisness partners. So, with that being said I will tell you that yes, that original haflinger imported into this country was the smaller, draftier type. However, they were also not Austrias top horses I hope you realize. AND, in those days the haflinger was only bought to wander the hills for the Temple's to view! Literally. Then they drove them a bit. However, haflingers gained in popularity throughout the pony pulling world in those times. Now coming into the 60's and 70's the pony pullers were loosing ground and like many other disciplines, became a vanishing breed, furthermore the haflinger became less and less popular in this area as well because other pullers made more rules not allowing haflingers to pull against them either by weight, or by size. Because the haflinger was a very strong pulling pony and hard to beat if in good condition. How do I know this you ask? Well, granpa was one of those pullers! And he worked the haflingers in the woods as he still today owns a sawmill.
> Now, time progressed.... the haflinger progressed too. The first haflingers in this country well, lets just say many of them weren't nice moving, good footed horses. So, after the pulling trend ended, in came the draft show ponies. However, the haflingers needed to be able to move much better than just shuffle along. So, for years that was exactly granpa's intent, he bred to feet and legs. At that time there was no big want for size increase, as the pony laws back east state that a pony must be 14.2 and under. Without plates. So, the haflinger was bred by many to be draft ponies. Now think of this, can a fancy moving, high stepping, getting their feet out their in front of them type of pony be wider than it is tall? I think not. But what most of you don't seem to understand is that the average haflinger even in those times, were not tanks with no legs. They may have been overfed, which as you all know isn't hard to do with haffies, but without the extra weight, they aren't much different than a lot of others.
> SO.... we lead into todays haflinger in the USA.
> Their are those of you that group haflingers as either being old style or new, or draft verses modern. I will say that their are exeptions to both ends, some very short and stocky haflingers and some very refined and tall haflingers, no doubt. However, the average haflinger across this country and I would go so far as to say across Europe as well, is very much the same. How much they weigh is very different, how much they look different at different times in their life is again different, however, almost every haflinger is within 1/4-1/2" the same in bone. Don't believe me? Go find every haflinger you can and measure their bone. Almost every haflinger out there if they were to weigh in good condition, not fat, not skinny, but all about the same flesh would all girth within inches of one another. Don't believe me? I will say this, I have had the pleasure of owning 100's of haflingers, all of which I have girthed, measured the circumfrence of bone, and height. I can't honestly single out one in my mind that was soo different that I can honestly remember them by it. My mom has too haflingers that are shorter than some of mine, however, even in the 70's the sought after haflinger was between 56-58"s in height, and her girls are out of mares that were 58"s and a stud that was 56"- they are 55"s. Do you think they were bred to be 55"s? Nope, they were bred to be between 56 and 58"s. Just so happens they are 55". Does my mom love them. YOU BET! Do they measure differnt than most of mine, nope, other than one inch in height! They have the same bone and the same girth. Sounds funny you think I'm sure, but it isn't.
> Yes, there are those people out there that are going beyond what some of us like, however, their are MANY of us that still want the same horse...the all around pleasure horse.
> I have said it before and will say it again, just as granpa did with Lawana I have done with some of mine and that is to win with the same horse, draft hitch classed and pleasure classes in the same day! Granpa did it more than once at the National Show, before they changed the rules (ha) and I have done it too! How you say? Harness up and watch me!
> The goal for many breeders out there is not to detter from the haflingers strong points, but to gain in their weaknesses. Is everyone breeding for a 15+ hand haflinger? I Sure Don't Think So!
> Does it happen? Of course. Just like my mom's mares are short. They are not little tanks however (they are too fat I will admit) but they still are beautiful little, well porportioned haflingers that fit into that exact catagory of a all around pleaasure! Some of you may think you have the OLD Style, or the NEW style, but what you really have is a haflinger! Feed him to be as wide as you want, shoe him to satisfy your wants, trim his mane and tail anyway you like, he is still a haflinger, not so different than any other if you would have them all shod the same, weighing in good not over fat flesh, and manes all the same length.
> ALSO, one other disturbing thing to me... The original haflinger from Temple Smiths farm as well as Austria and other parts of the country had a gorgous, araby head, not a big head! I am not saying that all haflingers have that head today, it is sought after however, and known by almost all breeders to be the "old style" head that people wish they had more of today!
> With all of that off my mind... I can go back to work now! I have a two year old stud colt I am working with, as well as I have just haltered three colts that are new to halters...So I better go get back to work.
> If you are really confused now...I understand. My main point. Most haflingers are avereage. Most could be used for either draft or pleasure. Just fit them to suit your needs and you will soon find out!
> Sincerely, knowing this will chap someones rearend,
> Dawn
>
> --- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, "Suzy Moren" <critterkeeper1@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks John... I certainly agree with you, except for the last paragraph. "People" do want the small drafty types, we're just not the show folks with big bucks who control what happens to the breed. So much upset over the Spotted Haflingers, which I absolutely do not agree with, but no concern at all over the loss of the historic little chunky heart stealers. Also, I agree that they are show stoppers. Every where I go with my little wide butt gelding people ask about him and admire him. I was on a trail ride recently, and a woman was there riding the most majestic Fresian mare I've ever seen. She rode up to me and said "your horse is beautiful!! Made my day!
> > Suzy
> >
> >
> > From: John Borucki ...
> > To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 7:23 AM
> > Subject: Re: [haflingerfriends] re: Into the fold ....breeding out the Drafty
> >
> >
> >
> > Yes the drafty Haflinger Horse. When I first say my first Haflinger it was
> > at Temple Smith Farms, in Wadsworth Illinois. I was a apprentice Horseshoer
> > and the guy I was learning from did Temple Smiths horseshoeing.
> >
> > What brought me to this breed was the drafty good looking horse/pony type
> > horse. If you go back in the registry you had Drafty type Haflingers....old
> > breeders are still around but just not breeding anymore. They can shed some
> > light on this subject...
> >
> > Our little drafty stile haflingers were the show stoppers! Then came the
> > tall leggy, skinny type haflinger. The small breeder was not in demand
> > anymore. Only big Dollar horses, tall,skinny Haflingers were showing up.
> > Prices fell...well before the recession and sales fell.
> >
> > The affordable Little Haflingers were OUT. So was the people that paid into
> > the registry. The Haflinger Highlite stopped publishing. Why?
> >
> > Judges won't even look at the small type Haflingers. The tread was turning
> > and not to the good either. The registry is in the shape it is to day
> > because the modern type haflingers are here and the old style drafty horses
> > are out.
> >
> > The people that like the tall and skinny type Haflingers can enjoy there
> > registry. The small breeder. Didn't bring the Skinny type Haflingers here. I
> > enjoyed the Drafty type.
> >
> > Let's stop all the complaining. You buy what you like to look at. Do not buy
> > the little guys for resale...! people don't want them anymore...there not
> > modern.....
> >
> > John J. Borucki
> > Farrier Service
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <RkyMtnTrls@>
> > To: <haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 8:19 AM
> > Subject: [haflingerfriends] re: Into the fold ....breeding out the Drafty
> >
> > > "...a pet peave of mine... the breeding out of the drafty type Hafy. I've
> > > never understood why people buy a certain breed of horse and then decide
> > > to
> > > "change it" to suit what they choose to do with it..."modern"
> > > haflingers...to me look more and more like Arabs every day... there are a
> > > lot of people
> > > who love our drafty wide loads!..."
> > > .
> > > Hello, Suzy -
> > > My girl Ellie is also a drafty n' short Haffie (non-reg.) Her
> > > photo here _rockymountaintrails.net/TrailBuddies_
> > > (http://rockymountaintrails.net/TrailBuddies) (first on the left)
> > > shows her in top shape, on our
> > > ride to the top of the Continental Divide. You can see there - short,
> > > round, very drafty old-style Haffie. (The photo to the right, she's
> > > actually
> > > standing on a slope and shadowed, it was taken on the same trip - doesn't
> > > really show her conformation well.)
> > > I don't have anything against the modern Haffie - and understand
> > > their place in the show ring & breeder's needs.
> > > For my personal like in build type ... what I wanted was a short,
> > > muscled trail buddy ... the shorter the better! At the same time, didn't
> > > want to break my mount's back, LOL! I am a hair under 5' tall, but not,
> > > welllllllll, skinny ;-) So, the two breeds that really filled that
> > > description (short and drafty) were the Haflinger and Fjord.
> > > Fjords are gorgeous but also PRICEY!! Haflingers are beautiful
> > > and more affordable.
> > > I tried both types - and like with any breed of horse, one has to
> > > hunt a bit before finding a good match (good for rider & for the horse.)
> > > My Fjord trial ended up in two hospital trips, with permanent damage -
> > > not
> > > because of breed but because of a nut-case horse ;-) My two
> > > Haflinger
> > > trials, prior to Ellie, met the short n' drafty build, but were both
> > > barely
> > > describeable as "half trained" and much hotter than my enjoyment-level.
> > > (Who wants "hot" on the side of a cliff?????) ;-) Ellie is my third
> > > Haffie trial - and it's a MATCH, halleluja!! :-) Short, drafty,
> > > cold-blooded, and reliable. She's not a saint - has the same pony-tude
> > > (attitude)
> > > of any "pony" breed .... but she is still a relaxing fun ride that I can
> > > trust in the Rockies when we're mountain riding. Dispite no registration
> > > papers - she's my riding partner till one of us can not physically do it
> > > anymore. (I have scoliosis & arthritis, with limited years before I can
> > > no
> > > longer ride.)
> > > Just wanted to chime in - I'm in the same boat - LOVE the
> > > Haflinger breed for the classic old-style build! :-) When hunting
> > > for my
> > > buddy, I passed up all other breeds - because I wanted a short draft ....
> > > no
> > > Quarterhorses, no Arabs, no Icelandics .... wanted that little draft
> > > partner! ;-)
> > > .
> > > Sher & Ellie in CO
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
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> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
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