The Noriker

Pinzgauer, Oberlander

Variously called the Pinzgauer, Oberlander, and South German Cold-Blood, the Noriker originated from the mountainous Styria and Carinthia area of Austria. One of the oldest heavy breeds, the Noriker is strong and surefooted. Today, this internationally important breed is distributed in Austria and Germany, and is used for heavy draft and farm work. These horses are often seen in large hitches at the German festivals and in parades wearing elaborately decorated harness and drawing beer wagons.

Its history dates back to the times of the Romans and the conquest of the Celtic mountain kingdom of Noricum by Drusus and Tiberius in 16 BC For many centuries, horses of many parts of Europe had crossed the region, thus making contributions to the hardy stock. When Charlemagne added the province to his empire, he apparently favored the Noriker. Local bishops took an interest in breeding these horses during the Middle Ages. The Studbook of these bishops have guided breeders since the late 17th Century.

This horse of meso-brachymorphic type was developed by the Romans in the province of Noricum, which is roughly where present-day Styria and Carinthia are located. In the 16th Century, the breed was improved with the introduction of Neapolitan and Andalusian blood. The name Pinzgauer applies to the version of this breed found in Tyrol. But in Germany's Bavarian mountains, a lighter version has been developed, called the South German Cold-Blood. The South German Cold-Blood is a distinct branch of the Noriker that has been obtained by 19th Century additions of some Norman, Cleveland, Holstein, Hungarian, Clydesdale and Oldenburg blood. The Stud Book for the Noriker was established in 1903.

This strong and sensible horse stands 15.1 to 16.3 hands high and weighs 1,540 to 1,980 pounds. The coat colors are generally bay, chestnut, brown, or black. Sometimes the chestnut is roaned, and the Pinzgauer may be spotted. Dappled and grey Norikers are rare. The slightly heavy head has a straight or slightly convex profile. The short, muscular neck has a flowing, wavy mane, and the broad withers are not very pronounced. The long back is slightly hollow, the wide croup is sloping, the tail set-on low. It has a wide, deep chest, and straight well-muscled shoulder. The well-muscled legs have broad, strong joints and short pasterns. There is feathering on the legs and the foot is broad, and the hoof well-formed. The Noriker has a calm and docile temperament.

Published June 1997 North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)

Update

The Noriker is bred in present-day Austria in the central Alpine region, near the Austrian Tyrol. The Noriker comprises around half of today's horse population in Austria, the other half mainly comprised of Haflingers. The breed shares many natural connections with its neighbor, the Haflinger, which is bred by the Venetii people since 900 BC. The breed's name is derived from the Roman vassal province of Noricum. The Romans developed heavy warhorses, which could be used to traverse the roads of the province's high mountain passes under pack or for draft. While the Romans were not great horsemen, they were skillful at breeding horses and established many breeding studs across they vast empire. The Noriker is among Europe's ancient coldblooded horses, possibly descending from the heavy warhorse produced in Juvavum (which is near Salzburg). The Javavum was also used for heavy draft and pack.

Exceptionally popular in Austria, the modern Noriker has been established as the all-purpose workhorse in the central Alps. It is a breed clearly recognizable and fixed to type, and it is subject to strictly enforced breed standards. Each horse must pass a rigorous system of inspection and performance testing. According to the Oklahoma State University website, the Noriker is a serious position in conservational breeding due to its recent census and rare status.

The breed was recognized as such from around 1565, when monasteries took over the breeding program. Local people required a smallish, heavy horse, which was surefooted and compact, to work in the mountainous country. By this time the best horses came from the mountain region of Gross Clockner. The Salzburg studbook was then initiated by the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, and new blood was introduced to improve the breed. Heavy Burgundian horses were used to increase the size of the stock, and Neapolitan and Spanish (Andalusian) blood was also introduced. The standards were set and new stud farms were created. As a result of the work of these monasteries, the characteristics of the Noriker became more regular and stock improved.

As a result of the use of Spanish stock for upgrading, spotted coat patterns began to appear by the 18th century. These coat patterns are still seen today in the Pinzgauer strain, from the Pinzgau district of Austria. These horses became known as Pinzgauer-Norikers and the stud book for this strain was not established until 1903 with a registration of 450 stallions and over 1,000 mares. The Pinzgauer strain was once recognized as a separate breed. Though absorbing crosses to other breeds, the Noriker retained its essential character and the type is still recognizable after 2,000 years. The Noriker survives today in great numbers and still fulfills a useful purpose.

Today there are four recognized strains of the breed: Carinthian (Kartner), Steier, Tyrolean (Tiroler), and Bavarian or South German Coldblood. Distinct color lines also exist and include dappled and brindle coat patterns, black-headed dapple-grey, brown and shades of chestnut. At Marbach in Württemburg, the oldest German state-owned stud farms. a typical strain with a liver chestnut coat and flaxen mane and tail is bred. These horses are locally referred to as the Black Forest Horse and they are used in forestry work. While the Spanish stock contributed to refinement and freedom of action in the breed, the Forest Horse provided the sturdy primitive base stock.

Today's Noriker is sure-footed, with a broad chest, heavy head set on a short, thick neck, good feet and clean legs - a draught horse of equable temperament. The breed is found throughout South Germany, where it is known as the South German Cold-Blood or Norisches Kaltbult, as well as in Austria. It is well suited for agricultural and pack work in the mountainous regions. Norikers are bred for light draught work in the mountains, and are used by the Austrian army.

Strict conformational standards are enforced and both Noriker stallions and mares are inspected and performance tested. Testing includes weight pulling, walking and trotting trials to ensure that the breed standard is maintained and improved. Stallions must undergo these trials prior to standing at stud. The Noriker has a compact overall outline and is typically liver chestnut in color with a flaxen mane and tail. Spotted horses still occur, as well as bays, and other colors. Its alert ears are placed high on its largish head, which is defined and never lymphatic, and the nostrils are noticeably wide. Its neck is short and thick and its chest is deep.

Dimensions of the girth must be not less than 60% of the height of the horse at the withers. Average height is 16-17 hands for these hard, powerful, medium-sized workhorses. The Noriker has a long back and its strong, symmetrical quarters have no heaviness. The Noriker's tail is well-set. According to conformational standards, there is to be 8.5-9.6 inches of bone in the legs, which are short, straight and exceptionally strong with plenty of bone and a long, sure action. It has strong, hard-wearing hooves and its joints are large and clean. It has a markedly strong action in the hind legs, and its hocks are well let-down. The very strong, adaptable, and quick-moving Noriker is known for its willing temperament, hardiness, and inherent soundness. The Noriker is both economical and easy to manage.

History

In the 8th century, the breeding of heavy stocks flourished under Charlemagne. The first documented stud farm for Noric horses was in SchloB Rief near Hallein. Here the archbishops of Salzburg breed horses in 1576. Frescos of the famous "Pferdeschwamme" in the city of Salzburg portray stylized horses with roman-nosed heads and massive bodies. While these were clearly coldblooded horses, many period depictions show how popular unusually colored and patterned horses were. This trend continued until the turn of the 20th century. The archbishops of Salzburg promoted their breeding program and drew up strict guidelines in the 17th century. Predominantly used for ceremonies and parades,demand for colorful individuals increased to a great degree.

In 1703, the first inspection regulations for stallions were drafted, and in the 18th century, Noric horses became important as agricultural work animals. While the horses breed by the archbishops (e.g. crossbred with Neapolitan and Andalusian stock) were considered to be better quality, they were not optimal for alpine work. These were better suited for riding and carriage, while the farmers were drawn to the more "common" type of heavy work horses. Hard work in the landscape and climate of the difficult alpine terrain aided in the establishment of horses with the build and characteristics of a versatile coldblood. The resulting alpine Noric ultimately served as a riding, carriage, and work horse to knights, farmers and merchants during the Middle Ages.

Since 1820, the studs were secularized,and the first state-owned breeding farms were established in the province of Salzburg. During the ensuing years, many other breeds were introduced in attempts to upgrade the breed, but the primary focus was to maintain pure blood. Breeds used included Clydesdales, Belgians, Oldenburgs, Holsteins, Spanish stock, and Neapolitans. Due to a lack of studs, Burgundy stallions were also used. As a result, new inspection regulations were established in 1885 in order to coutneract crossbreeding and apply strict criteria for selective breeding in order to improve the Noriker's declining quality and achieve pureblood.

A registry for both mares and stallions was established by the end of the 19th century, and by 1903, 135 stallions and 1081 mares were registered. A brand was introduced as a mark of the pureblood Noriker and the height of the breed's development was reached by the late 1920s. Then Bavarian and Austrian breeders joined forces to define the breeding targets for the Noriker. Following World War I and mechanization of both farming and forestry, numbers in the breed declined. However, a movement was made to re-establish the breed by the mid-1960s.

The typical coloration of a Noriker is bay, though crossbreeding to horses from the Mediterranean introduced unusual colorations which include brown, red, isabela, leapard and blue roan, and dappling.

Modern Noriker

There are five breeding lines in existence today: Volcana, Nero, Diamons, Schaunitz, and Elmar. During the post-war years, the focus of the breeding program has been toward a heavy breed that is not just to large, low-set, sturdy work horses. While half of the horses produced were bay, many chestnuts also resulted and leopard markings became rare. Following the introduction of performance tests, the population still continued to drop during the 1960s and 1970s. Numbers fell from 34,510 to 9,599 over these two decades, but recent renewal in the interest in coldblooded horses has brought a slight increase in the Noriker population.

Through use in the rough alpine environment, the breed developed strong physical characteristics desirable for working in forestry and agricultural throughout its region. The Noriker was bred for contendedness, endurance, and a tame character, and possesses good quality, nerves and personality. While it is not as heavy as eith the Belgian or the Percheron, the Noriker is best suited to its alpine environment. Due to the sensitive nature of the alpine ecosystem, heavy machinery may cause damage to soil and trees, but the horses are more ecologically sound. Today's Noriker is becoming more popular for driving and riding, causing a trend to meet these new demands. Horses are bred for a good gait, a sense of balance, sure step and climbing abilities. An increase in tourism to alpine regions contributes to the popularity of the breed as carriage and sled horses. Sadly, this breed's fertility rate is disappointing.

Today, about 90% of the Norikers may be black, bay or chestnut, with the remainder either leopards or roans. Stallions should be at least 155 cm hiegh, have 20-23 cm of cannon bone, and have 205-215 cm of chest girth. The Noriker is also used on carriage driving courses, horse skidding courses, and for riding, driving and work. Since the 1980s, spotted horses have been imported from the United States, rekindling an interest in colorful individuals.

Published April 2000 North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)

For more information on the Noriker draft, visit:

Published June 1997, April 2000 North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)
© 1997-2019 NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations
Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 1/27/2019
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