Laid out in a detailed chart, the results are then added the horse passport

People looking for a Haflinger tend to have a clear idea of what they want: promising genetics that are great for breeding, a reliable partner for leisure riding, a Western-trained horse to start competing in tournaments or one with a talent for driving. Because beauty, that’s one thing they all have in common already – it’s in their nature. But each and every Haflinger also has a unique personality and a special aptitude.

To ensure that every horse can be trained to its full potential right from the start – and as a valuable decision-making aid for breeders and buyers –, all horses undergo a character test at the occasion of the annual Stud Book Registration event. The structure of the assessment was developed in cooperation with the Free University of Bolzano/Bozen, which is also where the results are analysed and evaluated. All judges are specially trained for the purpose. The process itself is very straightforward and does not require any lengthy planning or preparation: The mares simply complete an obstacle course that is designed to test their calm and composure and allows for reliable conclusions to be drawn about their character and temperament.

For more information about the procedure and the results, or to find out what breeders think of the test and what happens to the data, make sure to check out the upcoming issue of Haflinger Info!