Bardigiano

The Bardigiano is a mountain horse from the Northern Apennines, which takes its name from the town of Bardi in the upper Ceno Valley.

Background information on the evaluation and breeding horses can be found at: exterior, interior and horse breeding.

Exterior

The Bardigiano has a small head with a straight profile or slightly dished head, small pointed ears, wide- set eyes, large nostrils and dense mop of hair on a strong shapely neck, wearing a thick mane on both sides often. The shoulders are short and steep, the chest wide and deep. The flat withers goes into a strong and broad medium length ridge above the following is a beautifully arched, muscular and broad croup with an attached deep lush tail. The short, strong and dry limbs are on large, very hard black hooves.

The typical color of the breed Bardigiano goes beyond the color brown ( baio ) of light brown ( baio Ordinary ) to almost black ( morello maltinto ). However, preference is a dark brown ( baio oscuro ), both mares and stallions.

For registration in the stud book a Height of 135-147 cm is permitted in mares, which must be 140-149 cm of the stallions.

Interior

The Bardigiano regarded as friendly and good-natured but still lively horse. As for Mountain Horses also typical of Bardigiano is persistent and fearless, also very docile.

Breeding history

This mountain horses are located in Italy in the northern Apennines. Your name they have received in the upper Ceno Valley to the town of Bardi. In the times of migrations Belgian horses to have come to northern Italy ( Bardi ), which will form the basis of race. Probably the Bardigiano is also related to the Avelignese. Later the breed was refined by cross-breeding with an Arabian stallion, the offspring are called Bardarab. This breeding program has now been completed.

During the two world wars, the Bardigiani were used for mule breeding and also Haflinger stallions were bred so that hardly purebred foals were born. This inventory has been significantly reduced. After the Second World War, has increasingly crossed other breeds. This proved to be a mistake, because the breed lost its characteristic appearance and their strengths. 1972, therefore, formed a committee to preserve the race and finally managed herauszuzüchten the old type again. Today you can find the Bardigiani in the area around Parma, in a part of Tuscany, in the mountains of Emilia, Liguria and Corsica region. In Parma is also the regional breeders' association Associazione Provinciale Allevatori, which manages the studbook was founded in 1977. The Stud Book was founded by a decree of the then Minister of Agriculture Senator Marcora, whose son is president of Bardigiano - breed society today.

While in Germany about 180 Bardigiani living (as of August 2013), approximately 3,300 horses of the breed are listed in Italy, as at November 2004. The Italian Stud 1650 mares, 120 stallions and 750 one-to two -year-old will be listed among the approximately 650 breeders.