Avelignese Pony

The Avelignese takes its name from Avelengo, an area of the Alto Adige, which has been an Italian region since 1918. The Avelignese is Italy's version of the Haflinger, and the two breeds bear a striking resemblance to each other. They are both believed to be related to the ancient Avellinum-Haflinger and are also both traceable to the stallion El Bedavi. El Bedavi was an oriental stallion bought by the Austrian Commission on Arabia, and although the Avelignese is considered a coldblood, and exhibits many coldblood characteristics, they do owe a debt to oriental influences. The Avelignese is widely bred through Tuscany, Emilia, and Central Southern Italy, although it si found throughout Italy and is considered to be the most prolific Italian breed. They are extremely tough and enduring, due in part to the rocky, mountainous environments in which they have developed. They are larger than the Haflinger, both in height and stature, and are a good middleweight type. The Avelignese is very versatile, and used in harness for working the land in regions inaccessible to motorized vehicles. They are very surefooted over rough country, and have exceptionally hard and well formed feet. They are often used both for pack purposes and for pony trekking.

Their quiet, unflappable temperament, typical of the coldblood, makes them ideal for children, novice, or nervous riders. Their extremely muscular frame makes them capable of carrying adults, and they make an ideal family pony. Although they have fairly massive build, they are not unattractive and generally have good conformation.

In appearance, the head is fine with quality; they are broad across the forehead, with the head tapering to a fine muzzle. They are thick through the neck, which is short and very muscular. The shoulders are powerful and are build to be suitable for carrying a harness collar. The shoulders is quite upright, and the stride fairly short. They are broad though the chest and have a compact and wide back. The hindquarters are muscular and rounded. Conformation of the legs is generally good and they have hard dense bone, well-formed joints, and some fine feathering around the fetlocks. They are chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail in color and can stand up to 14.3 hh.

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