Adapted from "Breeding Objectives for the American Haflinger Registry (rev. 2/28/2004)

Origin:

The Haflinger breed was founded on the indigenous small horses of the Tyrolean Mountains' oriental half-blood 133 El'Bedavi XXII (1868) with the stallion 249 Folie.


Color:

Color may range pale chestnut to dark liver chestnut with pale mane and tail. Color impurities in the base color, as in roaning, black spots, etc. are undesirable and excessive deviations will be judged as negative and strongly discouraged for breeding animals. Color impurities in the mane and tail are undesirable and excessive deviation from white or flaxen will be judged as negative and strongly discouraged for breeding animals.


Markings:

Head markings are desirable, but not a prerequisite, too many markings are undesirable and can do as far as being strongly discouraged. Leg markings are not desirable. A white leg is a white sock that extends above the fetlock joint. White markings are signified by a change in skin pigment.


Size:

The desired size is from 54 in. to 60 in. Non-achievement of the minimum size should result in the horse being strongly discouraged from breeding. The maximum size may be exceeded in the case of an excellent or outstanding exterior evaluation.


Type:

A desirable appearance of the horse is one of elegance and harmony. To this belongs a lean and expressive head with large eyes, well-formed neck and supple mid-section, a good croup not too divided and not too short, a distinct musculature as well as correct, defined limbs with good joints. Stallions and mares for breeding should have clearly defined masculine or feminine features.
Undesirable is in particular a stout, plump, non athletic appearance, a coarse head, unclear contours, undefined joints, and coarse limbs with a lot of feathers as well as a lack of defined masculine or feminine features.


Body Structure:

A harmonious body structure that is suitable for all-around pleasure horse. It should have the following qualities:
1. The head should be noble and lean, the size in harmony with the horse, with large forward pointing eyes and wide nostrils. The head should have enough poll freedom to allow for correct flexion, a clean connection of the head to neck through the jowl area and correct positioning of the ears.
2. The neck should be medium long and slimmer toward the head, with no bulky lower line, not too wide and demonstrate good freedom of the lower jaw muscles.
3. A pronounced withers reaching well into the back, large diagonally lying shoulders and sufficient depth of chest are the most striking distinguishing features of the forehand.
4. The back should be medium long and muscular as well as displaying swinging, load-bearing capacity and balance in its movement.
5. The hindquarters should have a long, slightly sloping but not too steep with a not too obviously divided well-muscled croup. The tail should not be set too low.
6. All in all a harmonious distribution of the forehand, mid-section and hindquarters is to be aimed for.
7. Front and hind limbs are extremely important and should have correct conformation and clearly pronounced joints with a broad and flat knee-joint and a broad strong hock. Seen from the front and from behind limbs should show straight conformation, seen from the side a straight standing foreleg and hind leg angled at approximately 150° at the hock as well as a hoof angle of approximately 45° to 55° to the ground are desirable. The pasterns should be moderately long and well developed. The hooves should be round, distinct and hard.
8. The stride should be correct, supple and of a pure rhythm without serious faults.
9. The horse should have as good as possible long-reaching swinging stride at its disposal with an elastic and not too flat gait, showing good impulsion from behind.
10. In particular an excellent character without vices and an even temperament.


Movements:

The basic gaits: Desirable are hard-working rhythmic and swinging basic gaits. The movements at a walk should be relaxed energetic and elevated. The movements at the trot and gallop should be supple, swinging, light on the feet with a noticeable swinging phase and with a natural suspension. The clear thrust of the foot from an active working hindquarter should be transferred over a loosely swinging back to the anticipating forehand moving freely from the shoulder. Some knee action is desirable. In particular the canter should demonstrate a clear forwards and upwards springing sequence.

Health:
Desirable is a horse with a strong character, a good-natured, strong, all-around,eager and able to perform, an easy feeder, resistant, easy to acclimatize, that is useful for all purposes. In particular this is valued for riding, driving and vaulting in the pleasure and sport sector, but also as a working horse for pulling and carrying.