This book is an informative compendium about everything connected with breeding Haflinger
horses. Starting with a detailed introduction to the historic origins of this breed of horse
the 25 thoroughly researched chapters present the most up-to-date knowledge about the breeding
history modern breeding work and current scientific studies. In the historic section which
conveys interesting contemporary insights by means of a wide range of photographs and
illustrations the political and social frameworks for breeding Haflingers are portrayed and
historic stud farms which have largely been forgotten presented. The middle section of this
book then sets out basic knowledge about breeding. The historic and current breeding aims
breed standards and the administrative structure of international Haflinger breeding are
presented with the same level of detail as the genealogical structure of the sire and dam
lines. Deeper insights are provided by the scientific contributions on the genetics of colour
the structure of the population Y-chromosonal haplotype analyses and genetic diversity. No
publication on Haflingers would be complete if it did not also look at the variety of uses for
which this breed can be employed. Three chapters demonstrate impressively that the Haflinger
with its particular performance characteristics will continue to find a place in the
international horse scene in the future. A chapter dedicated to pasturing of the horses
explores the highly topical issue especially in alpine regions of the tense relationship
between ecology and the economy before an epilogue brings this collective volume to a close.
