Posavac
{{Short description|Breed of horse}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{use list-defined references|date=October 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox horse breed
| name = Posavac
| image = Hrvatski posavac.JPG
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| image2 = Posavec horse Sentrupert dec 26 2009.jpg
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| alt_name = {{ubl|Croatian Posavac|Croatian Posavina|{{langx|hr|{{noitalic|Hrvatski posavac}}|{{noitalic|Posavski konj}}}}}}
| country = Croatia
| distribution = {{ubl|Croatia|Slovenia|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
| use = {{ubl|draught|tourist attraction|meat}}
| colour =
| height =
| male_height = average 143.5 cm{{r|dad}}
| female_height = average 140.8 cm{{r|dad}}
| weight =
| male_weight = average 600 kg{{r|dad}}
| female_weight =average 500 kg{{r|dad}}
| status =
| note =
| group1 = Croatian Posavina Horse Society
| std1 = http://www.sshp.hr/breed-standard
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The Posavac or Posavina, also known as the Croatian Posavac and the Croatian Posavina ({{langx|hr|Hrvatski posavac}}, {{langx|sl|Posavski konj}} or {{Lang|sl|Posavec}}), is a 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.
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 and Herzegovina and Slovenia,{{r|ivank}} where it is reared principally for meat.{{r|dad2}}
The registered population of Posavina horses in Croatia was estimated at 5131 individuals in 2013., so the breed is considered endangered (FAO classification No. II). The total population in Croatia was reported to DAD-IS as 5800–6000 in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Croatian Posavina horse / Croatia (Horse)|url=https://fao-dadis-breed-detail.web.app/?country=HRV&specie=Horse&breed=Croatian%20Posavina%20horse&lang=en|access-date=2021-10-28|website=fao-dadis-breed-detail.web.app}} In Slovenia the number was reported as 1910 in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Posavski konj / Slovenia (Horse)|url=https://fao-dadis-breed-detail.web.app/?country=SVN&specie=Horse&breed=posavski%20konj&lang=en|access-date=2021-10-28|website=fao-dadis-breed-detail.web.app}}
Characteristics
The Posavina horse ranges from {{convert|140|to|150|cm|hands|lk=out|abbr=off}} in height and weighs {{convert|500|–|600|kg}}.{{r|dad}} It is smaller than two other Croatian cold-blooded horse breeds, the Međimurje horse (155–165 cm) and Croatian Coldblood (150–160 cm). The Posavina horse may be bay or seal brown, less often black or chestnut; other colours are much more rare.
The head of a Posavina 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.
See also
References
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External links
{{Commons category|Posavac horse}}
- [http://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/153417.Eksterijerne_odlike_hrvatskih_hladnokrvnih_autohtonih_pasmina_konja.doc/ Features of Croatian autochthonous cold-blooded horse breeds]
- [http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?id_clanak_jezik=4052&show=clanak Exterior features of the Posavina horse from the area of the Odra and Lonja field]
- [http://www.etnoselo-staralonja.com/en/ako-vas-zanima/hrvatski-posavac/ Croatian Posavina horse – not only a working animal, but a horse for recreational purposes and therapeutic riding]
- [http://www.dzzp.hr/dokumenti_upload/20120530/dzzp201205301233130.pdf Posavina horse – one of the genuine Croatian breeds protected by State Institute for Nature Protection (in Croatian)]
- [http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/t0665e/t0665e10.htm Endangered horse breeds (FAO)]
- [http://www.hpa.hr/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Izvorne_pasmine-konji_25082014.pdf Totally 5131 Posavac horses were registered in Croatia in 2013. (in Croatian)]
{{Geographical regions of Croatia}}