Intro

The San Fratello Horse or Sanfratellani comes from San Fratello which sits at the foot of Nebrodi Mountains in eastern Sicily, Italy. They are the closet thing Sicily has to wild horses as a small herd roams Nebrodi Park.
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Intro

The Samolaco horse comes from Valtellina in Italy and they are thought to come from Spanish animals abandoned during the 17th century.

Origins

This area of Italy was largely agricultural and based on paintings of the era it is plausible to think that Andalusian blood was the foundation for the breed. These animals were used sparingly and there was never a high demand for them because native cattle was well suited for the tasks, so the focus was on cattle breeding.
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Intro

Also called the Metis Trotter, the Russian Trotter comes from careful crosses between Orlov Trotters & American Standardbred that were then re-crossed with the offspring.
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Origins

The Russian Riding horse was created for under saddle use by Count Orlov at the end of the 18th century. Orlov was was also responsible for the Orlov Trotter (used for harness).
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Intro

The Russian Heavy Draft is a small, sturdy & fast draft breed that was developed in the Ukraine.
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Intro

The Romanian Trotter or the Trapas Romanesc was developed in Muntenia in Romania as a result of the growing trotting industry.
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Origins

The Romanian Saddle Horse was created to provide a riding horse that excelled in sporting, dressage & jumping. They were created by crossing Thoroughbred, Arabian, Gidran, Furioso and some trotters for specific characteristics.
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Intro

The Polesian Horse or Polesakya comes from the marshy Pripet area of the Ukraine and the Byelorussian lowlands. These are native animals that belong to the forest type, similar to the Zhmud breed.
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Intro

Also called the Mulassier, the Poitevin Horse comes from the marshy lands in the west of France and is the least known of the French heavy breeds.
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Intro

The Pindos or Thessalonian Pony is a mountainous Pony breed that comes from mountainous regions of Thessaly & Epirus in Greece.
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