Estonian horse

The Estonian Klepper (Estonian eesti hobune, also Estonian Pony) is a very ancient breed of horses from Estonia. The breed has received the properties of earlier throughout the Baltic region common house horse in Klepper type today. Furthermore, it formed the basis for other Estonian breeds of horses like that of Torgelschen horse.

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

Exterior

The Estonian Klepper is a well-proportioned small horse with a pretty, sometimes rather coarse head and a medium length neck and back. Sometimes the neck is set rather short and somewhat deep. The withers are low and wide, the chest wide and deep. He has a strong, sloping croup, dry limbs and hard hooves.

At dun coat colors and brown are predominantly represented, and occasionally foxes and mold. The summer coat is short and smooth, the long winter coat has a dense, oily undercoat that keeps the moisture. The Height is 135-142 cm in the original Klepper type. There are also the larger so-called double Klepper, who is 145-150 cm tall.

Interior

The Estonian Klepper is a no frills horse. He is tenacious, tough and willing to perform. His calm and friendly nature make him a horse that is very versatile. Both in agriculture, as well as a riding horse for children and adults and in tourism. The Estonian Klepper is late maturing, but also durable, a mare born in 1946 reached the age of 40 years.

Breeding history

By the end of the 19th century, this small, tough horse was primarily used by the Estonian peasants in agriculture. Increasing motorization he lost more and more importance to other breeds, such as the Torgelschen horse, on whose development he had large proportion. Today in Estonia are very few pure-bred Estonian Klepper, especially on the mainland, they are almost impossible to find. On the Estonian islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu and Vormsi pure breeding of the Estonian Klepper has survived until today, there are still about 1000 horses of this breed. Despite the small number of inbreeding depression has not occurred.

Swell

• Jasper Nissen: Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-440-09723-4