10/14/2026
Haflinger History Tuesday--Did you know... that there are Haflinger breed registries all over the world, and other countries require inspections of breeding stock like Warmblood and sport horse organizations do? In the United States they are unfortunately not required for the Haflinger breed.
Great Britain is one of the countries where inspection of breeding stock is required required. It is very interesting to see that they are even stricter than the AHR in the U.S., as they require six generations of pure breeding in England. (AHR requires five generations here in the U.S..) Their scoring system is also set up differently for inspections. The below information is taken from the Haflinger Society of Great Britain's website on inspection requirements for the breed. (I have also included the stallion lines that are traced back to Folie, because it's interesting that they have the date of birth of the foundations stallions of each line.)
"...The Haflinger Society of Great Britain holds the Registry of the only Purebred Haflinger Studbook in Great Britain and is approved by Defra to issue all Haflinger Passports. As a Breed Society, we seek to constantly improve our breeding program in conjunction with our breeders, following the Tyrolean Haflinger Breeder’s Association (The Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tyrol) in the betterment of the breed in the UK.
Performance breeding
Within the framework of the prescribed aims of the GB breeding program for the Haflinger, the Society pursues the following aims:
1. The promotion of diverse uses based on performance predisposition
2. The retention of breed standards, whilst promoting health and fertility
3. The retention of the Haflinger breed's genetic diversity (bloodlines) in pure breeding
Part of the Society’s aims is to promote the Haflinger within the UK by breeding animals that are versatile (because of performance predisposition) as well as maintaining the breed standards and encouraging the retention of the Haflinger breed’s genetic diversity (bloodlines) in pure breeding.
For registration of offspring within the HSGB studbook, breeding is exclusively with purebred Haflingers, with ancestors that are purebred for at least 6 generations on both paternal and maternal sides. The permitted mares and stallions of the Haflinger breed are those in section 1 of our studbook and are in accordance with the rules of the mother studbook, (Haflinger Pferdezuchtverband Tirol) with Haflinger breeding horses being descendants of the compact small horse, with the stallion 249 Folie (1874) as the founder of the Haflinger breed.
The paternal line of ancestors all go back to Folie, with 7 distinct lines currently recognised:
A – Anselmo (1926)
B – Bolzano (1915)
M – Massimo (1927)
N – Nibbio (1920)
S – Stelvio (1923)
St – Student (1927)
W – Willi (1921)
INSPECTIONS
The Society holds an inspection (usually annually) for purebred colts and fillies who may potentially want to be used for breeding in the future, to ensure that the horses being inspected meet the minimum standards we require for their offspring to be registered with us.
Colts must be inspected by the age of 3 (although they can come forwards earlier for assessment on a progressive basis) for final assessment as a potential stallion and also require to have a veterinary report completed within the week before the inspection or at the inspection itself. Any colts not brought forward at 3, or who fail inspection, should be gelded and would be entered into class 3 of the purebred studbook at that point. Fillies should be inspected at 3 also but can be inspected at an older age, although this may affect marks awarded, usually dependent on how much older.
The inspection also enables the inspected horses to be permanently entered into the relevant section and class of our studbook and thereby enables them to compete at the breed show and county shows where a permanent registration in the studbook purebred section is required.
Although preparation can start long before, on the day itself the horses will be checked against their passport details (including microchip confirmation) and have a number of measurements taken (height, girth, bone) as well as a DNA sample being obtained.
Following the initial checks, measurements, and photographs, the animals are then assessed by judges from the Haflinger international judges panel for their conformation and movement. This is done in an enclosed arena and includes an assessment of walk and trot for all the horses, plus a free school assessment of canter/gallop for colts.
Following the assessments, the awarded marks are recorded and the overall score is calculated from the individual marks.
The required standards for Section 1 Class 1 mares are
Free from undesirable health-related defects
Have on the assessment under the judging system at the minimum age of 3 reached an overall score of 7.0
Have no individual score on sub-criteria of 5 (adequate) or lower.
Mares reaching an overall score of 7.7 or more will be awarded the status of “British Elite”
Mares reaching an overall score of 7.9 or more will be awarded the status of “International Elite”
The required standards for Section 1 Class 1 stallions are:
Free from undesirable health-related defects
Have on the assessment under the judging system at a minimum age of 2.5 years reached an overall score of 7.6
Whose height at withers does not exceed 155cm
Have no individual score on sub-criteria of 6 (satisfactory) or lower.
Following the inspections, a parade of the animals may be held for audience information and the animals' passports are sent in for updating with the permanent registration number and photograph."
Below are photos of Sultan, who has been Supreme Champion in England and is owned by Emily Bambridge. Sultan is siring some outstanding offspring, including his son, Hobart Socrates, also owned (and bred) by Emily Bambridge, who is following in his steps in England and already a three-time National Champion, and Santa Cruz in France.
