The Hucul – a horse breed in danger of extinction to be presented at the EQUITANA 2001

The Hucul, which is one of the horse breeds already on the ”Red List” of domestic animal breeds threatened by extinction, will be exhibited at the EQUITANA 2001. The Slovak National Stud Topolcianky will arrive with six of these rare small sturdy horses and present them at their typical work as draught and work horses, four and six in front of the carriage, with historic wooden packsaddles and led by hand during work with wooden boles. The Huculs will be on view in hall 2 during the fairs.

The Hucul which stands at 12.2 to 13.2 hands high is an indigenous breed of the Carpathians. Scientists assume that it is a direct descendant of the Tarpan, an Eastern European wild horse and accordingly a very old horse breed. Over the centuries the Huculs were used as pack horses to carry heavy loads over practically impassable mountainous paths in the Carpathians. Even today, these sturdy horses are indispensable on the high-lying mountain farms in the south of Poland. Nevertheless this old horse breed is in danger of extinction. It is thanks to the Slovak National Stud Topolcianky that the Hucul as a breed with its typical features and characteristics as a draught horse exists at all nowadays – not least due to the subsidies which the EU Commission has made available for the preservation of this breed, which constitutes hippological cultural heritage. The National Stud Topolcianky, founded in 1921, lies on the foot of the Slovak Tatra in the park of the Topolcianky castle, which has been designated the summer residence of the president of the 1st Czech Republic. The castle is used as a museum and hotel today. Lippizaners, Huculs, thorough-bred and Shagya Arabians and warmblood horses are bred in the stud. All in all, a total of 150 broodmares, foals, colts, fillies and stallions live on the farms Rybnik, Hostie and Breziny at an altitude of 400 metres. 23 mother mares and five stallions are used to breed the Huculs. The stud’s main function is to preserve gene reserves, particularly of the Lippizaner, Hucul and the Arabian.

Mrs Nahrmann, Tel. 02225-14 988 will be pleased to be of service to provide further information or connections to the manager of the national stud, Mr Horny.