A strong umbrella organisation

Introduction of the first Mare and Stallion Register

The mare and stallion register established by the 1st Haflinger Horse Breeding Cooperative at Meltina/Mölten comprised 250 horses. The entries are numbered and describe the horses according to criteria prescribed by the statutes, some of which are still applied today: "Name, date of birth, markings, height, girth and cannon bone, as well as references to the owner and the covering." The statutes and the register document that organised breeding was already being practised around 1900.

Cooperative acquires Tschauffenhof in Meltina/Mölten

On 16 July 1907, the 1st Haflinger Horse Breeding Cooperative at Meltina/Mölten acquired the Tschauffenhof and established a young mares stud farm there. The Imperial and Royal Ministry of Agriculture offered substantial support.

The turmoil of war brings major interruptions

From the founding of the cooperative in Meltina/Mölten to the outbreak of the First World War, Haflinger breeding had experienced a rapid upswing. The Imperial and Royal Ministry of Agriculture provided generous subsidies, premiums were paid for the summer grazing of Haflingers in the mountains, and prize money and medals were awarded at shows and exhibitions. The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 abruptly halted this promising development. In the course of general mobilisation, a large proportion of horses had to be handed over, causing the horse population to drop dramatically. The existing stallion regulations lost their effectiveness, and the turmoil of war undid valuable progress.

The situation after the First World War

After the First World War, which ended in defeat for Austria-Hungary, the predominantly German-speaking South Tyrol and the predominantly Italian-speaking Trentino were occupied by Italy in November 1918 and officially annexed on 10 October 1920 under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. This also had far-reaching consequences for Haflinger breeding. The extensive subsidies of the Imperial and Royal Monarchy were no longer available, and the previously strong demand declined. Times were extremely difficult for the population and for horse breeding. A further complicating factor for breeders was that most of the stallions had remained in Austria, while the high-quality broodmares were in South Tyrol. The complete collapse of breeding work was nevertheless averted, as the people who had been key to the breeding programme remained. One year after the annexation of South Tyrol, the Italian state intervened to regulate breeding, took over the former Imperial and Royal stallions and distributed the remaining and newly acquired stallions to existing and new covering stations.

Italy – The extraordinary provincial commission

In January 1921, an extraordinary provincial horse breeding commission was appointed for a period of three years. Its task was to establish covering stations, purchase stallions and organise horse shows and breeding exhibitions.

Austria – Foundation of the 1st North Tyrolean Haflinger Horse Breeding Cooperative

In Zams in Tyrol, the first Haflinger breeding cooperative was founded. A few years later, the breeding association counted 100 original Haflinger mares, known as OHAST for short. In 1927, a significant step forward was taken for Austrian Haflinger breeding when the Italian government granted permission to purchase 100 original Haflinger mares in South Tyrol. The majority of these mares remained in North Tyrol, with a smaller number going to East Tyrol.

Austria – Cooperative establishes mare studbook

The mare studbook compiled by Dr Karl Thurner brought order to Austrian Haflinger breeding. Its author is regarded as the intellectual driving force behind the reconstruction and actively promoted the purchase of high-quality broodmares from South Tyrol.

Italy – The first Italian Original Haflinger Studbook

In 1929, the ordinary horse breeding commission of the Province of Bolzano inspected around 1,000 broodmares and 70 stallions in use in South Tyrol. 40 stallions and 330 mares were selected, listed and described – including precise pedigree information. For South Tyrol, it represented the continuation of the first studbook of the Haflinger breed. The seven founders of the blood lines were defined.

The spread of the Haflinger across Europe

The origins of Haflinger breeding in Germany date back to the late 1930s, when the German army purchased horses in South Tyrol for its mountain troops, animals that soon also attracted admirers outside the military. Between 1936 and 1938, around 100 Haflinger mares were exported from South Tyrol to Bavaria. German buyers tended to opt for the heavier type, while Austrian buyers preferred the wiry and more noble Haflinger. The strong development and spread of the Haflinger at European level began after 1945, facilitated not least by numerous exhibitions. In 1958, the first Haflingers were exported to America. Special thanks for services rendered in marketing and internationally promoting the Haflinger are owed to the Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol.

Austria – Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol restructured

Shortly after the end of the Second World War, the association was restructured. Great emphasis was placed on introducing and implementing a rigorous breeding programme based on pure breeding, as well as on the strong promotion of the breed.

Italy – South Tyrolean Haflinger Horse Breeding Association founded

Since the founding of the 1st Haflinger Horse Breeding Cooperative at Meltina/Mölten, organised Haflinger breeding has been practised in South Tyrol, albeit not without the consequences of two world wars. The association was established in its current form in 1947 through the merger of several independent cooperatives; on 10 April 1953, it was officially incorporated as a cooperative with limited liability with its registered office in Bolzano/Bozen.

Italian National Association founded

On 20 December 1971, the Italian National Association of Haflinger Horse Breeders (ANACRHAI/Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Cavalli di Razza Haflinger Italia) was founded through the merger of several provincial associations and entrusted with the management of the herd book. Recognition as a legal entity followed on 5 October 1974 by Ministerial Decree No. 637.

Foundation of the World Haflinger Association

At the Fohlenhof in Ebbs/Tyrol, the first international organisation, the World Haflinger Association, was founded. Otto Schweisgut was elected as President, having devoted himself over the preceding decades above all to the worldwide promotion of the breed. He remained President until the year 2000. Following his resignation, Johannes Schweisgut was elected President.

International Haflinger Show

Around 250 horses are presented at the Fohlenhof Ebbs stud farm. The format marks the starting point for the subsequent development of the Haflinger World Show.

Foundation of the European Haflinger Horse Breeders' Federation

The great services rendered by the World Haflinger Association to the breed are undisputed; however, some breeding organisations felt, for various reasons, inadequately represented and founded the European Haflinger Horse Breeders' Federation in Bolzano/Italy in September 2003. The founding members were the studbook-keeping organisations in Germany, France and Italy.

Foundation of the World Haflinger Breeding and Sports Federation

The existence of two international umbrella organisations led to an ever-widening gap between the two main breeding regions of South Tyrol and North Tyrol. At the same time, a common point of reference at the international level was lacking: some breeding organisations recognised Italy and thus the Italian National Association ANACRHAI as the original studbook-keeping organisation and oriented themselves accordingly towards the European Haflinger Horse Breeders' Federation, while others followed the principles of the Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol and thus the World Haflinger Association. The change of leadership at the Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol led to a rapprochement between North and South Tyrol and ultimately to an agreement on the question of the original studbook between Italy and Austria, which was received with great goodwill at the international level. In February 2013, the World Haflinger Breeding and Sports Federation was founded with 16 full members and four associate members.

Expansion of cross-border specialist work and congress formats

Cancellation due to the pandemic

The planned World Show does not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions.

Strengthening international coordination through hybrid committee work

World Congress and major international events with high participation

Focus on data quality, comparability and modern association communication

Outlook

The next Haflinger World Show is scheduled for 2030 at the Fohlenhof Ebbs stud farm.