Stiefelkönig HU-G crowned winner
‘´Plenty of type, very harmonious and with strong gaits’ is how the breed experts described the winner of the 29th Italian National Selection of Haflinger Colts, which took place on 31 January at the Alps Coliseum Equestrian Centre in Egna/Neumarkt, in conjunction with the selections in Stadl-Paura and Ebbs (A).

Winner STIEFELKÖNIG HU-G BZ31878 (from right, owner: Georg Oberkofler from S. Genesio/Jenesien) and runner-up WILLIAM-G-DI-MW TV11147 (owner: Michela Dalan from Castelfranco Veneto TV)
It was a successful event with an unprecedented number of visitors: interested parties came from far and wide to see the new generation of stallions. A total of 29 Haflinger stallions, including 22 three-year-olds, were presented to breed experts Dr. Michela Villa and Lapo Braschi for evaluation and thorough inspection – this year, for the first time, using a points system that also allows half points.
At the end of the event, it was clear that this was a year group of young stallions of varying quality, five of whom stood out in particular and were awarded an IB-very good rating.
A Noriker stallion also came to Egna/Neumarkt for licensing: the 5-year-old Tom-Vulkan XIX, bred and owned by Hubert Baumgartner from Rio Pusteria/Mühlbach. The impressive black stallion was rated IIA-good.