Albanian horse

Albanian
	Near Shishtavec, in Kukës County
Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk[1]
Other names	Albanian: Kali shqiptar
Country of origin	Albania
Use	pack; harness; riding;
Traits
Weight	Male: average 304 kg (670 lb)[2]; Female: average 260 kg (570 lb)[2];
Height	mountain type: 127–130 cm[3] (12.2–12.3 hands); Myzeqeja type: 132–142 cm[3] (13–14 hands); ; Male: average 140 cm[2] (13.3 hands); Female: average 136 cm[2] (13.1 hands);
Colour	dark colours or grey
	Equus ferus caballus;

The Albanian (Albanian: Kali Shqiptar) is the only indigenous horse breed in Albania. It is a small horse, and similar to other Balkan horses. Two types are distinguished, a mountain type and a lowland type, which may be called "Myzeqeja" after the lowland Myzeqeja region.[4]^: 11[3]^: 433

History

Before the communist era in Albania, the Albanian horse had a good reputation for endurance and stamina. From 1904 Arab stock was used for cross-breeding;[4]^: 11 Haflinger and Nonius stock was later used.[3]^: 433

Use

The horse was until recently the principal means of transport in the country, which had no tractors: it was thus essential to the national economy. Horses were used by the Albanian military until 1974. The Albanian horse is used almost exclusively in harness or as a pack animal, and only occasionally for riding.[4]^: 11

References

Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.
Breed data sheet: Comune/Albania. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2014.
Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
Robin Hanbury-Tenison (2009). Land of eagles: riding through Europe's forgotten country. London; New York: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 9781441641274. p. 11.

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[barb-1] Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.

[dad-2] Breed data sheet: Comune/Albania. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2014.

[cabi-3] Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.

[robin-4] Robin Hanbury-Tenison (2009). Land of eagles: riding through Europe's forgotten country. London; New York: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 9781441641274. p. 11.