Sluderno/Schluderns, 1874. At the stud farm of horse breeder Josef Folie, a golden colt is born. It is named after its owner: 249 Folie.
The sire is the Arabian stallion 133 El Bedavi XXII
The dam is a local mare of Galician origins.
Folie is the founder of the Haflinger breed: He was the first to have the Haflingers' distinctive golden chestnut coat with the typical dorsal stripe, which he inherited from his mother – together with her strength and the characteristics of a small, compact mountain horse. His nobility and elegance were derived from his father.
Folie was described as "deeply muscled with Arabian noblesse and long, sloped shoulders, a strong back, straight croup, strong joints, a long and correct stride and magnificent temperament".
Why "Haflinger"?
To answer that, let us take a brief look back at life in the 19th century. At the time, horses were the basis of all livelihoods: They pulled carriages and carried goods, and people relied on them for riding and all kinds of work. In South Tyrol, there was a strong demand for small, agile and above all sure-footed horses – especially among farmers and horse traders from the village of Hafling and the Tschögglberg area. That way, the name "Haflinger" – in other words a horse from Hafling – gradually established itself.
At first, the term did not describe a breed in itself, but rather a type of hard-working, light-footed, robust, compact and versatile horse. The name only became official at a later stage: On 2 May 1898, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Austro-Hungarian Empire decreed to officially recognise the Haflinger breed. At that time, South Tyrol was part of Austria-Hungary.
Historical breeding register +