The characteristics of the Muraközi horse and its current situation in Hungary

Abstract

The Muraközi horse originates from the area between the Dráva and Mura rivers. This place was a bustling trade area in the XVIII. Century where the goods were shipped in carriages and for this they needed horses with strenght and good trot. Between the two world wars these horses were liked for their economical meintanence. After World War II the muraközi horse were bred under the name of the hungarian coldblood breed but they started a seperate studbook. The second half of the XX. century had changes that endangered the muraközi’s subsistence. However, the importance of traditional breeds’ protection appeared just in time. But in gene protection we have to highlight the importance of the type distinction. The use of horses was diverse and this is why the selection and breeding methods are also diverse. The Muraközi horses were never truly unified. In breeding an obedient and active horse’s formation is the desired which has cold blooded traits. The reproductive indicators should be looked at in both mares and stallions. The preservation of the relative modesty against feeding and meintanence circumstances is desired. During breeding the breed reconstruction program’s success and genetic progress can be achieved when we use the results of the performance tests and also use purposeful and consistent selection. Nowdays the Muraközi horse’s popularization is the main aspect since this is needed for the subsistance and econimical breeding. In all of this the Őrségi National Park has a main role currently.