Međimurje horse

Međimurje horse at an exhibition in Čakovec

The Međimurje Horse [ mɛdʑimu rjɛ ː ] ( also Murinsulaner German, Croatian Međimurski konj or Međimurec, Hungarian Muraközi ló, Slovenian Medžimurski konj ) is an indigenous Croatian cold blood horse breed originating from the Međimurje County.

History

These purebred horse breed originated most likely in the late 18th or early 19th century by crossbreeding domestic mares ( already with an admixture, or unit of Anglo- Arab blood ) and stallions of the Noric, Ardennes, Brabant and Percheron breeding lines. As today's Međimurje County in the Habsburg monarchy was temporarily administratively a part of the Hungarian county Zala, one often finds in the literature that the Međimurje Horse is a breed of Hungarian origin.

Once the entire northern Croatia ( counties Međimurje, Krapina -Zagorje, Varazdin and Koprivnica- Križevci ), and in southwest Hungary, eastern Slovenia, and Austria spreads remained today in the domestic County only a Međimurje horse population of about 40 animals. In the southwest of Hungary, however, beyond the banks of the Mur River, the population is slightly larger, although it is generally threatened with extinction.

Features

A typical Međimurje horse is stocky, compact and powerful, with a height at the withers 155-165 cm, making it, in comparison with other domestic cold blood horse breeds, significantly higher than the Croatian Posavac ( 140-150 cm) and similar to a Croatian cold blood ( 150-160 cm).

The head with relatively small ears sitting on a short, muscular and slightly arched neck, the chest and the back are broad and the body well developed, strong and harmonious, while the legs are solid and well trained. The most common coat colors are brown ( from light to dark), dark brown or black horse, other colors, however, are rather rare.

It is generally a good-natured, and willing to use perennial horse breed with an even temperament, which is mainly used as train and work horse in the agriculture and forestry. Since this is hardly represented due to the progressive mechanization, today Međimurje - horses are increasingly used for meat production.

Photos

Stallion

Mare