Malapolski Horse

The Malapolski horse is a breed derived from South Eastern Poland. The breed was developed for use as a lighter farm horse and is still used in agriculture in some parts of the country.

More recently it has been used increasingly in ridding activities especially that of show jumping. The breed is also closely related to another Polish breed, the Wielkopolskin.

The Malapolski horse breed was developed in the South Eastern Poland during the 1800 to meet a growing need for farm horses. The breeders in developing the animal crossed this Polish horse with different types of horses with influence from the Arabic and English full-blood horse breeds.

To determine the breed type, horses were imported from Hungary the Furioson and the Gidran-Arab. Two different breed types were developed with the help of these Hungarian horse breeds.

The Sadeckin had the biggest influence from the Furioson and Darbowsko Tarnowski blood lines as influenced by the Gidran Arabs.

During World War II many of these horses perished in the war, and later the demand for these horses was drastically reduced due to farm mechanization.

To save the breed from extinction the horse was crossed with the more athletic warm bloods died, many of these horses in the war, while mechanized farms, which meant that demand for these horses may be drastically reduced. To save the breed was crossed at the end of the specimens with athletic Warmblood horses and to improve their looks from a rougher work horse.

In 1963, the breed was officially recognized and the growing interest from equestrian breeders has assisted in growing a market for thee animals.
The Malapolski is a heavier breed of saddle horse.

Today the breed is bred at five major state stud farms in Poland, among them the Janow Podlaski stud primarily known for their world-class Arabian thoroughbred horses. The Malapolski is also the most common breed at smaller, private stud farms in central and South Eastern Poland.

Attributes

The Malapolski is a fairly simple workhorse, or heavier riding horse.

In Poland it is still used in agriculture in many parts of the country, but the breed has become more commonly seen at racetracks. The horse has a natural athletic ability from the influence of the Warmblood horses that were used to cross breed into the Polish horse blood lines after the Second World War

The appearance of the horse can vary quite a lot of for different reasons, partly because there are two breed types, but mostly due to the different breed criteria used by the various private studs breeding the horses.

The Malapolski is usually between 155 and 165 inches at the shoulders and is usually dark brown to black or dark chestnut, although white or grey horses or a grey coat color may occur.

The head is proportionate with a straight nose profile; the neck is of medium build and well muscled.

The back is long, but strong with a slightly sloping croup. The legs are long and sound with good hard hooves.

The movements of the horse are smooth and comfortable.