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The Avelignese gets its name from Avelengo, an area of the
Alto Adige, which has been an Italian region since 1918. The Avelignese pony is
Italy's version of the Haflinger. The two breeds
bear a striking resemblance to each other. They are also both believed to be
related to the ancient Avellinum-Halfinger and both breeds have bloodlines
traceable back to the stallion El Bedavi. El Badavi was an oriental stallion
bought by the Austrian Commission in Arabia. Although the Avelignese is
considered a coldblood, and exhibits many characteristics of a coldblood, they
do owe a debt to oriental influences.
Today the Avelignese is widely bred
throughout Tuscany, Emilia, and Central Southern Italy, although it is also
found throughout Italy and is considered to be the most prolific Italian breed. They
are very tough and enduring, which is due in part to the rocky, mountainous
environments in which they were developed. They are larger than the
Haflinger,
both in height and stature, and are a good middleweight type.
The Avelignese is
a very versatile pony, and is used in harness for working the land in regions
inaccessible to motorized vehicles. They are very surefooted over rough terrain
and have exceptionally hard and well-formed feet. They are often used for both
pack animals and for pony trekking. Their quiet, unflappable temperament, which
is typical for a coldblood, makes them the ideal mount for children, novice, or
nervous riders.
Their very muscular frame makes them capable of carrying adults,
and they typically make the ideal family pony. Although their build is fairly
massive and stout, they are not unattractive and generally have good
conformation. In appearance, the head is generally fine with quality. They have
broad foreheads, with the head tapering to a fine muzzle. They are thick through
the neck, which is short and very muscular, and they have powerful shoulders and
are built for suitability for carrying a harness collar.
The shoulder is quite
upright, and the stride fairly short; they have broad chests and wide, compact
backs. The hindquarters are muscular and well-rounded. Conformation of the legs
is generally good and they have hard, dense bone, well-formed joints, and some
feathering around the fetlocks. They are
chestnut
with a flaxen mane and tail and can stand only up to 14.3 hh.
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