The Posavac horse, also known as the Posavian, Croatian Posavina horseorCroatian Posavian (Croatian: Hrvatski posavac) is a cold-blooded breed of medium-sized draught horse with a high capacity for weight pulling. Throughout its history, the breed has been popular for pulling wagons. It is also used for forestry, agricultural and other work.
Characteristics
The Posavina horse ranges from 140 to 150 centimetres (13.3 to 14.3 hands) in height and weighs 500–600 kilograms (1,100–1,300 lb).[1] It is smaller than two other Croatian cold-blooded horse breeds, the Međimurje horse (160–170 cm) and Croatian Coldblood horse (155–165 cm). The Posavina horse may be bayorseal brown, less often blackorchestnut; other colours are much more rare.
The head of a Posavian is relatively small, the neck short and muscular, the shoulder deep and broad, the chest wide and deep, and the legs are short and strong, with broad hooves. The breed is known for its easy-going temperament; it is mild and patient, obedient and willing to work hard.
History
The breed was developed in Posavina, a region alongside the Sava river in Croatia. It was based on a local Slavonian-Posavian horse breed called bušak (bushak), whose mares were crossbred to quality stallions of other breeds including Arabian, Nonius, Noriker and Percheron.
The majority of Posavina horses are in Croatia, but the breed is also present in Bosnia, Herzegovina and Slovenia.[2]
Status
The registered population of Posavina horses in Croatia is estimated at slightly over 1.000 individuals, so the breed is considered endangered.[citation needed] The total population in Croatia was reported to DAD-IS as 4500–5500 in 2012.[1] In Slovenia the number was reported as 1260 in 2011.[3]
^ abBreed data sheet: Posavac/Croatia. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2013.
^Breed data sheet: posavski konj/Slovenia. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2013.
