The Malopolski horse
The Malopolski or Polish Anglo-Arab half-blood is the result of crossing native stock with the Thoroughbred, the Furioso and the Hungarian Gidran Arab. A distinction was made between the Furioso-based Sadecki variety and the predominantly Gidran Darbowski-Tarnowski variety. After the Second World War, French stallions were used. The animal’s name means “Little Poland Horse” in Polish. Today, there are just over 2,000 registered Malopolski horses, most of them living in Poland, the horse’s birthplace. Some organizations therefore point to the potential threat posed to this breed by its low numbers.
Caractère et aptitudes du cheval
Calm, courageous, enduring, vigorous, ardent, energetic, and fast. They are good jumpers.
Utilisations du cheval
Able to compete at the highest level, they also excel under harness. However, numerous feedbacks point to Malopolski’s low potential for show jumping, despite numerous efforts by breeders in the 1980s to make this horse more attractive to foreign sport horses. In the past, it was also used as a light draught horse, but today it is more of an all-rounder.
Morphologie du cheval
Well-proportioned head. Straight or slightly concave profile. Broad forehead. Well-flared nostrils. Ears of medium length. Eyes set wide apart. Body of elongated type. Fairly high withers. Shoulder long, sloping. Deep chest. Straight back. Croup powerful, rather oblique. Long, strong limbs. Good joints. Well-shaped foot, hard horn. Tail set high. Coat: all simple colors and roan. Size: 1.55 to 1.65 m.
