Žemaitukas
| Žemaitukas | |
|---|---|
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| Important data | |
| Origin: | Lithuania , especially Lower Lithuania |
| Main breeding area: | Lithuania (state and private studs) |
| Distribution: | Lithuania |
| Stick measure : | 128-142 cm |
| Colors : | Brauner, greufalben, gray-brown, gray mold, black horse |
| Main application area: | Breeding and Agriculture |
The Žemaitukas ( Lithuanian ; plural žemaitukai , diminutive of žemaitis , Niederlitauer ') - also Zhmud or Zhemaichu - is a pony breed from northeastern Europe. The ponies are very robust. Their use in agriculture is declining in favor of use in tourism and equestrian sports.
The breed must not be confused with the significantly larger breed Stambieji Žemaitukai, which was newly bred on this basis .
Background information on horse evaluation and breeding can be found under: Exterior , interior and horse breeding .
Exterior
The Žemaitukai are predominantly brown ponies. The head is medium in size and has a straight profile. The forelock is thick and framed by small ears. The neck is relatively short with lush, thick long hair. The trunk is long and has a pronounced arching of the ribs.
interior
The Žemaitukai are considered to be willing, calm and frugal with a high life expectancy of around 30 years.
Breeding history
In the breed institute's own presentation, the breed is already in the 5th / 6th Century shown well known. There is no reliable evidence for this, if only because written evidence from the area does not appear until much later - here one relies largely on archaeological finds. Much more plausible is the connection with information from the chronicles of the crusaders , where reference is made to the small persevering horses of the Lithuanians and especially the Žemaites. As the “horses of the Žemaiten” in 1615 in connection with a trip from Vilnius to Krakow in 1554, they were described as “small, probably because of the extreme cold, but robust”. After breeding in various private estates, the first state stud was founded in 1922 with a focus on Žemaitukai in Plungė . After the chaos of war in 1948 in modest remnants could Sowchos Biržuvėnai be gathered. In 1959 breeding was transferred to the state stud in Vilnius. The wave of privatization after 1990 dispersed this herd. In 1994, when breeding was resumed at the Institute for Cattle Breeding in Baisogala , only 30 horses were counted. The breed became particularly popular when, after Lithuania joined the EU, it was classified as worthy of support in the 2004-2006 village development program.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Macijauskienė 2002, p. 6
- ↑ Johan. Lasicii Poloni: De diis samagitarum ... Basel 1615. Reprint: Vilnius 1969
literature
- Valė Garbačauskaitė-Macijauskienė: Žemaitukai: istorija, tyrimai, išsaugojimas Šiauliai 2002, ISBN 9955-522-14-3
