Bosnian Pony

Bosnian Mountain Pony

The Bosniak ( Bosnian or Bosniak also mountain horse ) is the typical, undemanding mountain horse of the Dinarides. Bosniaks are spread from Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia to Macedonia for. They were until the 1960s the main agricultural working animals in the mountainous regions of the Western Balkans have been varied and exported to Western Europe.

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

Exterior

The Height of Bosniaks is 130-148 cm. It occurs in the colors Falbe, Rappe, fox, brown and gray, white markings and mold are rare. The medium-duty, pretty head with a broad forehead, large dark eyes and pronounced nostrils stands on a strong neck with lush mane and a sloping shoulder and broad chest. The low withers follows a stocky body with well sprung ribs and straight, short, strong back, ending in a sloping croup with a low tail set and thick tail. The stocky, slightly kuhhessigen legs are very hard little hooves.

Interior

The Bosniak is considered robust and undemanding. As a typical mountain horse he is enduring, sure-footed and strong nerves. Thanks to their perseverance, they are ideally suited for hiking and Endurance.

Breeding history

The origin of these tough horses from the Dinarides probably goes back to the Tarpan. The Bosniak is a reliable and perennial pack animal on difficult mountain paths and the general-purpose horse of the Dinaric high peasants. During the Turkish occupation of the Balkans from the 14th to the 17th century often Arabians were bred. The robustness of the Bosniaks suffered and they were rather useless for the farmers. Therefore, in 1933 again reinforced grown on the original, strong type. The three stallions Barut, Misko and Aslan were used as sire. The stallions and mares had a performance test complete in order to be approved for breeding: they had to carry a load of 120 kg over a distance of 16 km. The best time amounted to 71 minutes. It was bred in the Yugoslav state studs " Borik " and " Han Pijesak " in Sarajevo, Mostar and Gorazde. In addition to the farmers was mainly interested in the military for these horses. After the Second World War but went through the increasing motorization demand sharply. In the state stud " Borike " was trying to establish a regulated breeding with first-class animals. The civil war in Yugoslavia, the breed has smashed there. In the 20 years before that but over 3000 animals were imported to Germany. Here are two interest groups have emerged that seek to preserve the breed. The stock is severely threatened both in Germany as well as in the rest of Europe. In Germany the breed mainly from the Rhineland Stud book (5 stallions / mares various registers ) and additionally supervised by special breed association in Bavaria.