CROATIAN AUTOCHTHONOUS BREEDS - POSAVINA HORSE

Posavina horse The Croatian Posavian or Posavina horse, like the majority of horses (Lat. Equus caballus) originates according to one theory from a living genuine form, the wild Mongolian horse (Equus Przewalsky). There is also another theory, i.e. that horses originate from several genuine species. It is a fact that the Posavina horse is a conjoined form of large European feral horses and the smaller, mobile oriental horses. The reason for this theory is that it was created in the area the river Sava basin, stretching from Zagreb to Županja. In these areas of our country in the past various clashes of civilizations have occurred. The first attempts of the matriculation of the horse took place on two occasions, in 1978 and 1980. At that time a total of 83 horses were registered, to be precise in settlements of the Sisak-Moslavina County: Tišina Kaptolska, Mahovo, Posavsko Jezero, Ljubljanica and Martinska Ves. The work on the matriculation was stopped until the year 1991 when systematic work began in this part of our horse breeding (HSC [Croatian Livestock Centre], 2006). Up to that time the breed was left over to disorder and it was their environment, free breeding in great herds as well as natural selection that influenced its formation (Posavi et al., 2003). The greatest part of the population of the Croatian Posavina horse can be found in one location (Nature Park Lonjsko Polje). Nowadays we believe that herds of some 200 head each are big herds, though the animals would not infrequently be found in herds of more than 2,000 head. The total head number covered by the selective grasp is 3,321 head (Yearly report for the year 2005; HSC [Croatian Livestock Centre], 2006). In the 70s of the 20th century their population numbered round 12,500 head. The Croatian Posavina horse is temperamental, strong and resistant, modest and obedient (Posavi et al., 2003). It is a working horse of medium weight. The mean height of the stallion’s withers is 155 cm, and in mares it is 150 cm. The most frequent colours are reddish brown and dark reddish brown, rarely black, grey or dappled. Its head is not too elongated, spare, with characteristically wide nostrils, markedly clear eyes and small, protruding ears (“mouse ears”). Its neck is firmly attached to the withers; it is short and nicely shaped, with a thick mane. Its body is compact and strong. Its croups are cleft, more frequently steep, with the tail positioned lower with ample horsehair. The legs are relatively thin with a short cannon-bone; they are straight in posture with the pasterns grown over by hairs standing erect (HSC [Croatian Livestock Centre], 2006). The hoofs are flat and prominently wide which means that they have been adapted to the long-term breeding in soft swampy grounds This breed has excellently adapted to the conditions of keeping, which is proved by the fact that these animals used to be kept in the swampy pastures along the Sava almost throughout the year (from March to the first snow). In the course of the winter they would be scantily fed on hay, with a little maize and sometimes a bit of oats. The animal has been used for pulling out oak logs from the hundred-year-old forests; it used to pull ships and ferryboats, carry riders and pull carts. Like the majority of horse breeds today, it is not so much valuable as a working animal but as a horse for recreation purposes and therapeutic riding. It has an even higher value for the preservation of the landscape where it had been created. Though much effort is put into the preservation of this breed, it is still endangered, particularly through the export of a great number of animals for the purpose of getting horse meat. The state uses financial incentives to stimulate the preservation and safety of the breed, first of all in its primary habitat. In the preservation of the breed a significant role was performed by the associations of breeders of the Posavina horse.