Croatian Coldblood
An autochthonous Croatian draught horse breed.
The Croatian Coldblood is an autochthonous medium-heavy draught horse breed from Croatia. It was developed through crossbreeding local warmblood mares with imported Noriker stallions beginning in the first half of the 19th century.
Quick Facts
- Features
- Medium-heavy draught horse; average height 150–160 cm / 4.92–5.25 ft
- Country
- Croatia
Facts from the source article.
Characteristics
The breed stands 150 to 160 cm tall, with stallions reaching up to 850 kg. It has a medium-sized refined head, small ears, large eyes and nostrils, a medium short arched muscular neck, a wide deep chest, a broad muscular breast, and powerful legs with broad hooves. Bay or seal brown predominates; about 10-15 percent are black, and less than 10 percent are chestnut, gray, or flaxen chestnut. Croatian Coldbloods are mild, obedient, easy keepers, willing workers, and adapt well to various conditions. Originally used for pulling wagons or agricultural and forestry work, they are now widely used for horse meat production.
History
The breed originated in the first half of the 19th century by crossing local warmblood mares in central Croatia with imported Noriker stallions. Later, Ardennes, Brabant, and Percheron blood was added. By the early 20th century, the breed had spread east into Slavonia and west into Gorski kotar and Istria. In recent decades it became the most numerous horse breed in Croatia. The registered population rose from 5,334 in 2008 to 5,907 in 2012, an increase of 10.74 percent.
More in Conservation Priority Breeds of the Livestock Conservancy
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