Alpine Meadow Breeding

Since 1947 the Haflinger Breeders' Association Tyrol has reared all of its stallions in one large herd of about 50 stallions together from colts to three year-olds at Fohlenhof Ebbs and the associated alpine meadows. The Tyrolean stallions are perfectly reared with this natural keeping and with at least six months a year spent together on the alps. 25 of the best colts are selected according to several selection stages, from young colts in May, over the preview in August to finally the stallion candidate selection in Mid-October. These weanlings are then reared together until shortly before the breeding selection at three, always on the first Saturday in February before their first covering. During the winter months there are always three age groups in the pens on the alpine meadow as summer lies between breeding selection and weanling selection there are only two age groups. These rearing conditions are not only animal friendly and appropriate to the species horse as a herd animal but also a basic prerequisite that the most exclusive stallions in the world can naturally maintain their characteristic traits. These trips into the Tyrolean mountains at over 1,200 m with the earlier living conditions in the Alps are essential for their surefootedness, stamina, toughness as well as their strong health. Natural meadows with herbs that have not be fertilized since they were bought by the Haflinger Breeders' Association Tyrol 60 years ago offer ideal grazing. Still very natural rocks and alpine forests with a large variety of trees assure skill and surefootedness. Extreme differences in temperature, from 30 degrees celsius during the day to frost at night ensure a natural resilience. Also several times a year there are winter onsets where the herd often has to stand several days in snow. On the alpine meadow which lies in the very high mountians chamois can often be seen in the middle of the stallions. The fights for rank and the natural rearing in the herd are character forming. Haflinger stallions from Fohlenhof Ebbs are as Tyrolean stallions a trademark. A prerequisite for the upkeep of this trademark is not only an optimal heritage during selection but also the healthy rearing. The edelweiss brand, based on the alpine flower of the high mountains and the registered trademark of the  Haflinger Breeders' Association Tyrol was chosen as a symbol to represent this. This tough but natural rearing applies of course to almost all Tyrolean Haflinger horses and the fillys at the auction and guarantees even-tempered and healthy horses in a class of their own. 

Fohlenhof Ebbs has decisively inlfuenced world Haflinger breeding with over 10 generations of Tyrolean stallions and its over 60 year tradition of stallion rearing in natural herds, not just for a few weeks or as a show for the media but as species-appropriate rearing. There is no breeding area in the world that does not have in their pedigrees a dominance of Tyrolean stallions from the Haflinger alpine meadow. A few stallions can change a whole breeding area.

Purebred Haflinger stallions from Tyrol are famous for type, modernity, character, temperament, performance and above all for heritage security through quality assurance over generations and are in more than 50 nations on all continents.