Noriker (horse)
| Noriker | |
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| Important data | |
| Origin: | Austria |
| Main breeding area: | Austria and Bavaria |
| Distribution: | outside the main breeding area low |
| Stick measure : | 155-165 cm |
| Colors : | almost all |
| Main application area: | Riding and carriage horse |
The Noriker (also Pinzgauer) is a medium-heavy, strong and persistent mountain cold-blooded horse . The breeding area includes the mountain ranges of the Austrian and German Alps. The Southern German Cold Blood is a cold blood breed that emerged from the Noriker horse and into which other breeds were crossed from the Second World War. A smaller type of Noriker was the Abtenauer , which was bred in Abtenau , but has meanwhile been incorporated into the modern Noriker population in Austria.
Background information on horse evaluation and breeding can be found under: Exterior , interior and horse breeding .
Exterior
The Noriker is a medium-weight, long rectangular and sure-footed draft horse with a compact, well-muscled body and a strong foundation. A specialty of the Noriker lies in the variety of the colors that occur. In addition to the blacks, browns and foxes in the most varied of shades, the blacks , tigers and flat chicks are always an eye-catcher. The whiteborns, which seldom come from the mating of tabby horses, are a rarity .
interior
The Noriker is a strong, enduring cold-blooded horse and is considered a very agile and sure-footed breed with a balanced character. Centuries of selection for this good-natured character with a sense of independent work created the balanced temperament of this breed. These characteristics, combined with an exceptionally good step and a well-seated trot, make the Noriker horse a reliable leisure partner for all types of leisure riding. Noriker are used as sport horses, riding horses as well as carriage and recently again as work horses.
Breeding history
The origins of the Noriker are not, as has often been assumed since the end of the 19th century, to be found in Roman legionnaires' horses. This view was supported by the Austrian veterinarian Dr. Suchanka coined. Since then, this thesis, which cannot be proven historically, has been repeated without questioning. Only the name has Roman roots and corresponds to the geographical distribution area ( Roman province of Noricum ). The bridles, bridles, 2-axle cult chariots and single-axle chariots found during the excavations (between 800 and 300 BC) bear witness to the high level of the Celtic culture in the Alps at a time when Rome was only in labor. In the Middle Ages, the Noriker horse was a pack horse and ensured the movement of goods between the Italian seaports and the cities on the other side of the Alps such as Salzburg and Munich. Baroque horses played a major role very early in the Noriker's breed history. With the foundation of the Archbishop's Salzburg Stud Rief in 1565, the refinement phase began with Neapolitan and Spanish stallions, which exerted their influence on Noriker horses until 1806. Their characteristics are still visible in the exterior today: Rams heads combined with curved toplines and lush long hair are often found in black horses or black horses. The Mohrenköpfe (blue horses with a black head) get their name directly from the Baroque Italian name capo moro . In addition to the Moor's heads, the tiger drawing has also survived into modern times, in contrast to other European horse breeds. From 1903 this breed was recorded in a stud book and has been preserved in pure breeding until today. Salzburg was and remains the main breeding area of the Noriker and is allowed to keep the breeding book of origin according to EU regulations.
Development in Austria in the 20th century
In 1960 around 80% of Austrian horses were Noriker. In 1968 there were still 34,510 Noriker counted in Austria. By 1978, their number had decreased to a quarter. Due to the increasing use in sports and leisure, the Noriker has gained in importance again in recent years and has not died out thanks to the rural rider groups. Today this strong breed enjoys great popularity, especially at traditional events and in riding and driving, and the Noriker is also gaining importance again as a workhorse.
Stallion lines of the Noriker
Today there are five stallion lines at Noriker
Volcano Line: The Volcano Line has been the numerically strongest line since its inception. Over 50% of the Norikers now belong to the Vulkan line. It was founded by the brown stallion 13 Vulkan 635, born in 1887 in Pinzgau. The reason for this dominance was that the founder stallions and their successors were representatives of the desired heavy economic type.
Nero line: The Nero line is the second largest line that was founded by the stallion 554 lic. Nero. The best known among them is the fox 1378 Stoissen-Nero V / 977. The stallion, born in 1933, still fully complies with the ideas of contemporary Noriker breeding. In terms of type, model and expression of strength and nobility, this stallion has largely become the model for the Noriker's breeding goal. (Quote from Schöfl) His dry, noble, expressive head in particular corresponds to the desired cold blood nobility . The reasons for the widespread use of the Nero line are comparable to those of the volcanic line.
Diamond line: The diamond line was the second strongest line until the fifties of the last century (20th), but was subsequently pushed back by the Nero line. The founder of this line is 367 Bravo 149, born in 1877. The name of the line comes from his great-grandson 216 Diamant 496, who was born in 1903. These horses are consistently very typey cold-blooded horses with temperament, nobility and a lot of gait. Today the diamond line is only represented by a few Norikers.
Schaunitz Line: The Schaunitz Line goes back to the stallion Amor, who was born in Tyrol in 1888. The line was named after one of his two sons, 255 Schaunitz. He was born in 1896. Horses from the Schaunitz line were known in earlier times for their temperament and their ability to walk. Their lively character may also have been the reason for the problematic situation of this line in the 1980s, when the continuation of the line was only assured by three stallions. In recent times, the Schaunitz horse type in particular has met the taste of the modern Noriker breeder. The lively temperament, erect necks and forward urge in movement help this once threatened branch to a new height.
Elmar line: The stallions of the Elmar line are mainly tiger-colored, it was founded by the stallion 80 Arnulf 55, born in 1886. The baroque influence is most evident in this line. In addition to the color, typical Elmar horses tend towards the square format, lighter caliber, ram-headed profiles. The proportion of Noriker from the Elmar line is small, beautifully drawn tigers are very popular.
Branding
In Bavaria (for southern German cold blood) the brand shown is used, which was introduced in 1920. In Austria, a distinction is made between the following brands:
- Foal brandy: Edelweiss with country code, e.g. E.g .: ST for Styria
- Stud book brandy: Edelweiss with N for mares that have been entered in the stud book sections H or S.
See also
literature
- Thomas Druml & Gertrud Grilz-Seger: The Noriker Horse, Volume II . Vehling, Graz 2012, ISBN 978-3-85333-222-1 .
- Gertrud Grilz-Seger & Thomas Druml: The Noriker Horse . Asmussen, Bücherott 2010, ISBN 3-935985-49-5 .
- Dr. Helmut Feuersänger: The Pinzgauer Noriker . Landespferdezuchtverband Alpenland eV Salzburg, 1941.
- Thomas Druml: The Noriker horse . Vehling, Graz 2006, ISBN 3-85333-123-8 .
- Emil Suchanka: The Norican horse . Vienna 1900.
- Johann Schöfl: The autochthonous cold-blooded horse of the Alps, the Austrian 'Noriker', with the characteristic features of its bloodlines . Dissertation, Vienna 1960.
- Peter Wiesflecker: Festschrift: 100 Years of Horse Breeding Association K 15 Feistritz an der Gail. Self-published, Feistritz an der Gail 2004.
Web links
- Breed description and photos of the Noriker
- Working group of Noriker breeders in Austria
- Noriker Tiergarten Vienna
- Noriker Kaltblut-pferd.com